Author: Vincent Osuwo

President Emmanuel Macron promised on Thursday that France would do everything to avoid a repeat of the jihadist attacks in Paris 10 years ago that took the lives of 130 people. “Everything will be done to prevent any new attack and to ruthlessly punish those who would dare to attempt it,” he said. Salah Abdeslam, 36, the only surviving member of the ten-person jihadist cell responsible for the assaults, is incarcerated for life. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the other nine attackers either blew themselves up or were slain by police. The last remnants…

Seven persons were allegedly kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram terrorists who stormed Shikarkir village in the Chibok Local Government Area in Borno state, including two daughters of a pastor (names withheld), a lady, and her infant. Residents and sources claim that the event happened on Wednesday at around 8 p.m., when about 15 people were kidnapped. However, eight of them managed to escape because the Boko Haram terrorists were few in number and lacked full weapons. A local, John Yusuf, said, “The insurgents did not shoot at anybody, nor destroy any property in Shikarkir during the invasion.” “I am shocked…

The kidnappers of six Federal Ministry of Defense directors along the Kabba–Lokoja route in Kogi State are requesting N150 million in exchange for their release. On November 10, 2025, the directors were abducted while en route from Lagos to Abuja for a promotion examination at the Directorate level. According to sources, it was a well-planned ambush. A family member, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said, “We are still in shock over the whole incident. To worsen our pain, the kidnappers are demanding N150 million to free all six of them. Where and how can we raise such…

The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to postpone the planned implementation of computer-based testing for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE. The instruction followed the acceptance of Kelechi Wogu’s resolution of urgent public concern during Thursday’s plenary session. His motion read as follows: “Need for Intervention to Avert Massive Failure in the Proposed 2026 WAEC Computer-Based Examination.” The congressman warned that hurrying to implement the CBT paradigm could result in widespread failure, frustration, and emotional discomfort among pupils. Wogu voiced worry that despite opposition from…

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off as the Republic of Ireland defeated Portugal 2-0, forcing Roberto Martinez’s team to wait to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The reigning Nations League champions believed a win would be enough to secure their spot in next summer’s competition, but a Troy Parrott double ended that prospect. The former Tottenham and current AZ Alkmaar striker opened the goal just after the 15-minute mark with a close-range header, then doubled Ireland’s lead on the stroke of halftime. Portugal’s hopes of making a comeback were dashed when talisman Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing defender Dara…

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, including a Panenka penalty, while Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike scored his first goal for France in a dominating victory over Ukraine, securing a place in the 2026 World Cup. After a scoreless first half, the hosts erupted in a dominant second half, with the glut of goals beginning with a penalty kick granted after Michael Olise was fouled inside the box. Real Madrid attacker Mbappe stepped up to shoot a chipped penalty down the middle as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin dived. Ukraine will have felt cheated because they only moments ago thought they might be handed a penalty.…

The North-Central Forum of the All Progressives Congress has once again urged Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC. The reiterated call was made on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State’s capital, during the forum’s third-quarter meeting, according to a press statement signed by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga. According to the statement, Zazzaga stated that the forum was the first political body to officially push Governor Mutfwang to switch from the PDP to the APC based on political analysis and projections made before and after the 2023 general elections, many of which,…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and British broadcaster Piers Morgan on Thursday exchanged words on social media over the broadcasting of the minister’s recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Tuggar had earlier requested that the full and unedited version of his interview be broadcast, warning that selective editing could distort Nigeria’s image and amplify “misleading narratives and allegations of religious persecution.” In a statement on his X handle on Wednesday, Tuggar stated that he appeared on Morgan’s program to provide a factual and contextual response to claims about religious persecution in the country. He mentioned that his statements were…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied gifting a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the navy officer engaged in a recent confrontation with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, made a statement on his X Twitter on Thursday, describing the report, which has been extensively circulated on social media, as absolutely false and lacking any factual basis. Ibe advised the public to dismiss the bogus narrative. “His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift Lt. Ahmed Yerima—or any other individual—a brand new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false…

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has spoken about his confrontation with a naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over a disputed plot of land allegedly belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd). Wike briefed journalists ahead of Thursday’s FCT Executive Council meeting, condemning the retired naval chief’s impunity in deploying serving officers to guard the disputed property. Responding to critics who faulted his visit to the site, the minister said he could not sit idly as a public officer while government officials were being attacked. Chronicle NG reported that Wike was…