Author: Opalim Lifted

An international crackdown on West African organised crime networks, including the Black Axe group, has resulted in the identification of 263 suspects and the arrest of 58 people across 22 countries. INTERPOL disclosed the results of Operation Jackal IV in a statement published on its website on Tuesday. The operation was coordinated by INTERPOL and conducted between November 2025 and June 2026, targeting criminal networks involved in cyber-enabled fraud, financial crime and violent crime. Law enforcement agencies from 22 countries across six continents participated in the operation, which focused on identifying key suspects, tracing illicit financial flows, recovering criminal proceeds…

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Monday picketed the Abuja Continental Hotel over alleged violations of workers’ rights, including the denial of unionisation and collective bargaining. The action brought union leaders and workers’ representatives to the hotel premises after the TUC said repeated attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue had failed. TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, said the union had exhausted peaceful avenues after writing to the hotel management on August 4. “The issue is very clear. Workers are being treated as slaves at Abuja Continental Hotel. Their rights are being violated,” Toro said. According to him, the…

Chelsea made a flying start to the Xabi Alonso era on Monday, beating London rivals Fulham 3-2 in an entertaining Premier League opener. Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all scored as Chelsea survived a late Fulham fightback to claim three points at Craven Cottage. The visitors needed just 31 seconds to take the lead. Palmer found Joao Pedro, who lifted the ball over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno to register the fastest goal scored in the opening round of a Premier League season in the competition’s 34-year history. Fulham responded in the 24th minute when Josh King beat Robert…

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has uncovered emerging tactics used by terrorist financiers to conceal the identities of those controlling illicit funds, including the use of pre-registered SIM cards, accounts linked to deceased persons and bank accounts opened in women’s names. The disclosure was contained in the NFIU’s 2025 Annual Report, which identified weak customer identification controls, disconnected SIM-Bank Verification Number (BVN) linkages and proxy accounts as emerging enablers of financial crime and terrorist financing. According to the report, terrorist financiers exploit gaps between mobile phone identities and financial records by using SIM cards that are not registered to…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a new system allowing candidates to upload their O’level results from home while the board verifies them directly with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and other examination bodies. JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin announced the development in a statement on Monday, describing it as part of the board’s renewed effort to make its services easier, faster, safer and more convenient for candidates. Under the new arrangement, candidates can upload their results through JAMB’s eFacility platform without making unnecessary visits to computer-based test (CBT) centres. The board said the system will also…

Tesla is recalling nearly three million electric vehicles in China over concerns that interior door handles could make it difficult for passengers to escape after a serious crash. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said Tesla’s recall covers about 2.9 million domestically produced Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The recall is due to begin on September 25. The US electric vehicle maker is also recalling about 46,000 imported Model 3, Model X and Model S vehicles, according to the regulator. SAMR said the affected vehicles have emergency mechanical handles that are similar in colour to the interior, potentially…

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for intercepting 184.50 kilogrammes of cocaine worth an estimated N39 billion, while giving President Bola Tinubu a three-week ultimatum to establish an independent judicial commission of inquiry into alleged human rights abuses in the South-East. HURIWA, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the NDLEA’s seizure represented more than a law-enforcement success, describing it as a significant intervention that could prevent young Nigerians from being exposed to addiction, crime, violence and other consequences of drug abuse. The association…

New Zealand’s government has introduced legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media, joining a growing international push to protect young people from online risks. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the proposed law on Monday, August 24, 2026, saying the government could not ignore the harm social media was causing among children. Luxon said one in three New Zealanders aged between 13 and 17 now spends at least five hours a day on social media. He said excessive use exposes young people to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to handle, affecting family life,…

Iran has executed a man accused of carrying a chainsaw and other weapons during anti-government protests, according to the country’s judiciary. Majid Adineh was executed on Sunday morning after being convicted of “operational action in favour of hostile groups”, Iran’s judiciary said through its Mizan Online website. Authorities accused Adineh of deliberate arson, gathering and collusion to commit crimes against Iran’s internal security during nationwide protests that began in late December over rising living costs and economic hardship. The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death and ordered the confiscation of his property. His appeal was unsuccessful, and Iran’s Supreme…

About 600 women, children and older people have reportedly been abducted after gunmen attacked worshippers at a mosque in Niger State, north-central Nigeria. An armed group released a video on Sunday showing large groups of people seated in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Several children could be heard crying in the background. Residents said the people shown in the footage were among those abducted during attacks on several communities in the area. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, while police and Niger State authorities did not respond to requests for comment. The video emerged…