Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Pedestrian in Ogun
A hit-and-run driver has killed a yet-to-be-identified male pedestrian along the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode Expressway on the morning of Christmas Day. PUNCH Metro learnt on Thursday from the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the accident occurred at about 8am. Multiple pictures from the scene of the incident, sighted by our correspondent, showed the lifeless body of the deceased by the roadside. The pictures also showed the impact of the vehicle run-over on the head of the deceased. “The earlier reported hit-and-run at Odogbolu Junction has been evacuated by his family members for burial,” Akinbiyi added.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 09:29 UTC
COAS tells soldiers to remain loyal and disciplined
Shaibu commended the officers and soldiers for their resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment to duty in the face of evolving security challenges across the country. “Remain loyal to constituted authority, uphold the highest standards of discipline, and continue to conduct yourselves professionally in all engagements,” he urged. The COAS reassured the troops of the Army Headquarters’ commitment to improving their welfare, training, and operational effectiveness, noting that these remain critical to sustaining morale and enhancing mission success. He also encouraged them to maintain harmonious relationships with host communities and to remain vigilant during the festive period. The event featured interactions with the troops and the exchange of goodwill messages, underscoring the Nigerian Army’s resolve to remain a united, disciplined, and professional force committed to the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 09:27 UTC
NDLEA cracks down on Jigawa drug peddlers
The NDLEA Jigawa State Command has issued a stern warning to drug peddlers and users amid heightened patrols across the state during the Christmas season. The agency’s stance comes as Christian faithful celebrate Christmas worldwide, including in Jigawa State. In an exclusive telephone interview with the PUNCH correspondent on Thursday in Dutse, the state capital, the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA Jigawa State Command, CSN Abdullahi Wada, outlined the command’s robust strategy for the festive season. The PRO stated that under the leadership of the State Commander, CN Hassan K. Kabaju, the NDLEA Jigawa team is fully prepared to tackle drug and substance abuse during the Christmas period and beyond. “Let’s celebrate responsibly, avoid harmful substances, and be aware that the consequences of getting caught will be severe,” the Jigawa NDLEA PRO advised.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 09:22 UTC
Nigeria & US Airstrikes Show Resolve to Counter Terrorism
The Armed Forces of Nigeria has said the recent airstrikes in the North West demonstrate the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to confront terrorism, carried out in collaboration with the United States. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with the United States of America, has successfully conducted precision strike operations against identified foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in parts of North West Nigeria,” Uba said. “This action clearly demonstrates the unwavering resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with strategic international partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from gaining any foothold within our borders,” he said. Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Nigeria remains engaged in structured security and intelligence cooperation with international partners, including the United States, in addressing terrorism and violent extremism. In a separate social media post, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington acted with the cooperation of the Nigerian government, expressing gratitude for Nigeria’s support during the operation.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 09:16 UTC
Christmas Day tanker explosion in Lagos claims two lives
At least two people were confirmed dead after a fully loaded 33,000-litre petrol tanker exploded along the Badagry Expressway in Lagos in the early hours of Christmas Day. PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred at about 4 a.m. on Thursday near the Oto-Ijanikin axis, close to the Lagos State University of Education. Confirming the incident in a statement on Thursday, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority said the accident involved a fully loaded tanker, which reportedly lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle. The agency also alerted the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Ijanikin Police Division for emergency response and security reinforcement. Also reacting, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, attributed the incident to negligence, noting that emergency responders had successfully contained the fire.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 08:57 UTC
Trump says US struck IS targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians
Mr Trump said the airstrikes were launched against Islamic State militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”. “Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Mr Trump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try and curb the so-called Christian persecution. US forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any larger-scale military intervention in Nigeria. Mr Trump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced a series of attacks on schools and churches in violence that experts and residents say targets both Christians and Muslims.
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 07:46 UTC
What to know about the militants targeted by US airstrikes in Nigeria
Nigeria, which is battling multiple armed groups, said the US strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic co-ordination between the two countries. That coup resulted in fractured relations between Nigeria and Niger, and affected their multinational military operations along the porous border. Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and has become known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, Mr Samuel said. But some of the attacks blamed on Lakurawa are by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger’s Dosso region to northwestern Nigeria, according to the US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. In states such as Sokoto, the military often carries out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts and Nigeria has embarked on mass recruitment of security forces.
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 07:35 UTC
How the Supreme Court ruling assaults Nigerian federalism
In an enterprise where 24 hours is a long time, the Supreme Court’s nine-month delay has needlessly altered the democratic and federalist landscape in Nigeria. The Supreme Court reserved judgement in the case after hearing it on 21 October and pronounced judgement on December 15. The Rivers emergency rule issue is a sensitive national matter that holds precedent for the country’s democracy and federalism. For instance, when Tinubu took the centre to court for seizing LG funds in Lagos, the Supreme Court ruled that the centre was wrong and ordered that the seized allocations be released. The Supreme Court has just stamped the anomaly with its judicial imprimatur.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 07:35 UTC
DHQ confirms U.S. strikes ISIS elements in Nigeria
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with the United States of America, has conducted precision strike operations against identified foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in parts of Northwest Nigeria. Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed this in a statement in the early hours of Friday. “The strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage. Recall that United States’ President, Donald Trump, had on Thursday night said American forces carried out air strikes against Islamic State elements operating in north-western Nigeria. He said the strikes were carried out by what he described as the “Department of War”, adding that it “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing”.
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 07:26 UTC
Pastor Okafor demands DNA test as lady claims to be daughter
Dr. Chris Okafor, senior pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, has issued an immediate ultimatum to one Ms. Chi Okafor, who alleges to be his daughter, to present herself for a DNA test to prove her claims. Pastor Okafor also asked the alleged daughter to retract all publications, which he said falsely associated him with her claims of paternity or abandonment, and to issue a public apology for attempting to tarnish his reputation by portraying falsehoods against him. She has been making false, misleading, and defamatory claims regarding his personal life and family relationships, including allegations of abandonment and neglect of paternal responsibilities. “Immediate cessation and desistance from further presenting or implying any familial relationship with our Client and immediate removal of all content that falsely associates our Client with claims of paternity or abandonment. “This statement is issued to clarify the facts, prevent further dissemination of falsehoods, and reaffirm our Client’s unwavering commitment to truth, dignity, and fairness.” the lawyer added.
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 06:33 UTC
Trump announces US strikes on terrorists in Nigeria
United States President Donald Trump said US forces conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, and vowed more attacks if the militants keep killing Christians. He described terrorist groups operating in Nigeria as “cancerous cells” and emphasised that their attacks do not target a single religious group. “The narrative that the evil terrorists only target one faith remains absolutely false and misleading,” he added. I was on the phone yesterday for 19 minutes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the United States. We spoke extensively, and we agreed that I was going to speak with President Tinubu for President Tinubu to give the go-ahead,” he said.
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 06:25 UTC
Trump news briefing: President praises military after launching Christmas Day strikes on IS in Nigeria
Donald Trump has launched “powerful and deadly” strikes on Christmas Day against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, weeks after the US president warned against any systemic assault on Christians in the country. Here are the day’s top Trump administration stories at a glance. US launches Christmas Day strikes on IS targets in Nigeria The US military’s Africa Command said the attack on Islamic State militants was carried out in Sokoto state in north-western Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian authorities. Read the full story What else we read today: When Donald Trump addressed supporters in Pennsylvania early this month, he asked: “Susie Trump – do you know Susie Trump? The bombshell article raised questions over Wiles’s motivations, her ideological alignment with Trump and her future as the linchpin of his administrationCatching up?
Source:The Guardian
December 26, 2025 06:10 UTC
2026 State Education Funding: Anambra & Enugu Lead the Way
So far, 34 governors have laid their 2026 budget proposals before lawmakers. The analysis reveals thatAnambra tops education funding nationwide with46.9 per cent of N757bn allocated to education. Enugu State follows, allocating N522bn out of its N1.62tn 2026 budget to the sector, representing 32.3 per cent. Enugu has maintained this strong commitment, having consistently earmarked over 30 per cent of its total budget for education in both 2024 and 2025. In some states, education funding is subsumed under a broader social services heading, which also covers health, social welfare and protection, housing, and community services.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 05:47 UTC
US launches airstrikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria
The United States military has, in collaboration with the Nigerian government, launched airstrikes against terrorists belonging to the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria. This was disclosed by the US President Donald Trump who said the “perfect” airstrikes followed his directive to the US War Department, targeting “terrorist scum” which he accused of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”. According to Trump, the US military “executed numerous perfect strikes”, while the US Africa Command (Africom) later reported that Thursday’s attack was carried out in co-ordination with Nigeria in the Sokoto state. Trump, in his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, said that “under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper”. This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
December 26, 2025 04:33 UTC
FG reshuffles NCAA directors amid corruption allegations
The reshuffle of the senior officers may not be unconnected with allegations of inefficiency and compromised oversight in the agency’s Directorate of Airworthiness Standards. This comes as the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board, on December 14, 2025, and December 16, 2025, respectively, issued reports indicating major aircraft incidents involving unscheduled aircraft. Keyamo vowed to launch an investigation into the allegations and said he would make the results of the investigation public. The Directorate of Airworthiness Standards in the NCAA is a powerhouse through which the agency ensures civil aircraft are safe and meet high standards. The allegations gained urgency following a series of aircraft incidents investigated by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Board.
Source:Punch
December 26, 2025 04:13 UTC