I t was supposed to be a routine flight from South Africa to Lagos. But for passengers on an Air Peace flight on Thursday night, the journey turned chaotic after two men allegedly lit cigarettes inside the cabin. The Airport Police Command in Lagos confirmed on Friday that the two passengers will be arraigned. They were named as Enaruna Prince Aghama, 51, and Tony Ajayi, 43. According to police spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Adeola, Aviation Security personnel handed the men over to the International Airport Police Division at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, immediately after the plane landed. The trouble reportedly started at about 7:44 p.m., while the aircraft was still in the air. “At 1944 hours, the suspects brought out cigarettes and started smoking on board,” the police statement read. “That triggered the aircraft’s smoke detector and emergency alarm. Passengers and crew panicked.” Things didn’t stop there. Police said the men also had alcohol with them and got hostile...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN   B efore the recent reform announcement, many Nigerians had called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), while others called for a reform. Critics argued that the scheme poses significant risks to corps members posted to high-risk regions, while others claimed the program is outdated and it's an inefficient use of time. ‎In response to these concerns, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announced on Monday, June 29, 2026, that it had approved a structural overhaul to reposition the scheme. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stated that the reforms are necessary because "our needs as a country have changed." According to the Minister, the new framework will transition the NYSC from its current mobilization model to one centered on skills development, employability, and national unity. ‎In this commentary, I will refrain from discussing the debate regarding the iconic uniform to address a more pressi...

T he Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has thrown his weight behind the push for state police, saying it will significantly improve security across the country. Lawal made the comment on Wednesday while speaking as a guest on Arise News Townhall, a public affairs programme by Arise News Channel that brings together policymakers and experts to discuss national issues. He said one of the main reasons insecurity has continued to grow in many states is because governors do not have direct control over security agencies operating in their states.  “The structure we have now ties the hands of governors,” Lawal explained. “We are called Chief Security Officers, but we don’t command the police. If state governments manage security in their areas, we can provide better funding, employ more officers, and respond faster when there is trouble.” The governor also addressed concerns that state governors could abuse a state police system to harass political opponents. He said the fear is no...

S everal police officers are now in detention after a routine stop-and-search in Ebonyi State ended with a motorcyclist losing his right eye. The incident occurred Monday morning in Ngbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, when Arinze Eze was riding from Ishieke to Ohaukwu. According to Premium Times, officers flagged him down for a search. Trouble began when they demanded he hand over his small bag. Eze refused, insisting they could search him with the bag still on his neck. One officer, identified only as Kingsley, allegedly attacked him first. Others joined in. During the fight, an officer reportedly hit Eze with the butt of his rifle. The blow was so severe it forced his eyeball out of its socket. The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed Tuesday that the officers involved have been “officially identified and detained.” Police spokesperson Joshua Ukandu said Commissioner of Police Hope Okafor ordered them transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation. “Th...

F ederal investigators in South Florida are checking more than $300 million in payments tied to the Argentine Football Association, Miami New Times reported. The money allegedly moved through a Florida company that handled sponsorship deals for the World Cup champs. The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice want to know if cash from big brands like Adidas and Warner Bros. Discovery was sent through U.S. banks in ways that broke American laws. They’re looking at possible money laundering, wire fraud, and tax evasion. The main company under review is TourProdEnter LLC. It was set up in Florida in August 2021 and reportedly collected international sponsorship money for the AFA. Investigators say over $300 million passed through its U.S. bank accounts. The investigation started in 2025, according to reports. It involves prosecutors in Washington, D.C., and the Southern District of Florida. Argentine media said one of the prosecutors is Michael Berger. He helped convict former Ecuadorian comp...

F ear swept through Ojoo, one of Ibadan’s busiest markets, on Wednesday after a violent confrontation between Yoruba traders and Hausa scavengers left two people dead and forced shops to close across the commercial district. The unrest began late Tuesday night around 11 p.m. when a commercial tricycle operator, popularly called _Maruwa_, went to a Point of Sale outlet to withdraw cash. Witnesses say a disagreement erupted after the POS operator insisted the money had been paid out, even though the transaction did not show up on the rider’s account. To prove he wasn’t trying to escape, the rider handed over his tricycle key and phone to the POS attendant as collateral while they sorted out the issue. Minutes later, a group of suspected Hausa scavengers arrived and attacked him. He was stabbed multiple times and died at the scene. News of the killing spread quickly, sparking anger among residents and traders. By Wednesday morning, the situation had spiraled into armed clashes. Gunshots e...

A rmed attackers abducted three students from a lodge near the Federal University of Lafia on Tuesday night, prompting a swift police operation that rescued one victim. The Nasarawa State Police Command said the incident happened at about 9:20 p.m. at Living Seed Lodge, a remote student residence on the outskirts of campus. Police spokesperson SP Ramhan Nansel confirmed the university’s Chief Security Officer reported the attack. Commissioner of Police CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed immediately deployed tactical and patrol teams to the area. Officers combed nearby forests and successfully freed one of the students during a coordinated search-and-rescue mission. “One student has been rescued thanks to the quick response of our operatives,” Nansel said. Efforts are now focused on locating the two others still held and capturing the suspects. The commissioner has ordered all intelligence and operational units to sustain the search until the remaining victims are safe. He vowed that no resource...

T he Senate on Tuesday asked the federal government to halt the practice of pardoning and reintegrating surrendered Boko Haram fighters, saying the policy is no longer working with insecurity getting worse nationwide. The call came during plenary after senators debated a motion on the kidnap and killing of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and other military officers by bandits. The motion was sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of Katsina Central. While discussing the matter, Senator Joseph Ikpea from Edo Central proposed that the government should scrap the rehabilitation programme for repentant insurgents entirely. Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North supported him, saying it makes no sense to pardon and retrain people who committed crimes.  Oshiomhole, a former Edo governor and senior member of the APC, also asked the Senate to pass a law that will permanently stop the rehabilitation of former Boko Haram members.  Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin presided over t...

P resident Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate major tech companies and AI platforms over claims they are unfairly using Nigerian news content. The order was made public on Monday by FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu. It comes after the Nigerian Press Organisation, which includes NPAN, NUJ, BON and GOCOP, sent a joint petition to the Presidency. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, formally delivered Tinubu’s directive to the commission in a letter. The FCCPC will now look into allegations that Meta, Google’s parent company Alphabet, X, and some generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria may be hurting fair competition and threatening the survival of local media houses. The commission said the probe is a major step for Nigeria’s media industry. Many news organisations have raised concerns that global tech firms are making money from Nigerian journalism without paying fairly or...

T hree men standing trial for the murder of popular Ogun broadcaster Kitan Oyesiku and her security guard will spend the next 60 days behind bars, an Abeokuta court has ruled. Sitting in Isabo on Monday, Chief Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo granted the police request to remand the suspects at the Nigerian Correctional Centre. They will remain there until September 10, 2026, when the matter will be mentioned again. The case stems from the killing of 67-year-old Oyesiku, fondly known as “Aunty Kitan,” and her guard, Pelumi Adetayo. Their bodies were found on June 20 inside the broadcaster’s home in Agodo, Kobape area of Abeokuta. Oyesiku, a retired OGTV presenter, was discovered in her room lying face up with bloodied tissues close to her. Adetayo was found dead inside the gatehouse, with the door locked from outside. Police said their investigation led to the recovery of Oyesiku’s missing vehicle and the arrest of three people. The suspects are Sodeinde Olajunwon Phillip, 22, who once worked ...

U nited Bank for Africa has announced a change at the top, with Tony Elumelu set to step down as Group Chairman on August 21, 2026 after serving for 12 years. The bank disclosed this on Monday, explaining that the move is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s rule limiting non-executive directors to a maximum of 12 years. UBA also named Emmanuel Nnorom, a current board member, as Elumelu’s replacement. Nnorom will assume office on the same day, August 21, 2026. The Board approved both appointments during its meeting on July 6, 2026. Elumelu joined the UBA Board in 2014. In that period, he helped grow the bank into a major force across Africa. Under his watch, UBA expanded to 20 countries on the continent and opened offices in four key global financial centres. The bank’s customers also grew to more than 50 million. Digital banking, governance and support for business across Africa all saw major improvements. The Board praised Elumelu’s role in shaping the bank.  “The Board app...

T he Nigerian Education Loan Fund has launched investigations into 34 tertiary institutions accused of failing to refund students whose fees were paid twice under the Federal Government’s student loan scheme. NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this on Sunday during an interview on ARISE NEWS, saying the probe followed several complaints and petitions from affected students nationwide. Sawyerr said the agency is working with the EFCC, ICPC, NANS, internal auditors and other stakeholders to determine the scale of the infractions and ensure students get their money back. “There are about 34 institutions we are currently looking at, based on the number of petitions we have received,” he said. He explained that the problem started after President Bola Tinubu ordered an immediate rollout of the loan scheme mid-session. As a result, many students had already paid their tuition before NELFUND also paid the same fees directly to their schools, leading to duplicate payments....

G rief has hit two communities in Cross River State after police confirmed separate deaths in Ikom and Calabar within days of each other. The State Police Command said it is investigating both cases. ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the Command’s spokesperson, confirmed the incidents on Monday and Sunday. In Ikom, an argument ended in tragedy. A 36-year-old man, Charles Ekuma Eze of Etayip Community, lost his life on Friday. Eitokpah said the Ikom Division got the report at 10:37pm on July 4, 2026 from Ndifon Ndifon of Aya Street and Felix Agbor of Mankono Village. Ndifon chairs the local Task Force, while Agbor is Youth Leader of Asse-Asin Community. According to police, at about 5:46pm that day, Michael Ndifon, 42, allegedly stabbed Eze in the ribs with a dagger during a heated quarrel. People around rushed Eze to Holy Family Hospital in Ikom. Because his injuries were severe, doctors referred him to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, where he later died. Police have...

P resident Bola Tinubu on Saturday received Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, at his residence in Abuja and expressed his desire to host Pope Leo XIV in Nigeria. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Ojukwu attended the meeting, held as part of activities marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See. In a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the visit as timely and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to peace, religious tolerance and national unity. The president said interfaith dialogue remains key to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.   “I appreciate the Pope. Leading Nigeria’s delegation to his inauguration was a great honour. His commitment to world peace is clear,” Tinubu said. “Millions look up to him. I look forward to welcoming him to Nigeria.” Tinubu recalled his long association with the Catholic Church from his time as Lagos governor. He cited the church’s ...

T he Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha, says she will not be intimidated over her decision to dismiss five senior lecturers found guilty of misconduct. The university announced the sackings last month. The lecturers, drawn from different faculties, were accused of sexually harassing students and failing to perform their duties. After the announcement, some of the affected staff responded with counter-allegations. They accused the university leadership of corruption and a drop in academic standards, claiming the sackings were meant to hide bigger problems. But speaking to journalists in Awka on Thursday, Prof. Omenugha dismissed the claims. She said the allegations were only a ploy to shift attention from the real issues that led to their removal. “I should be praised for this, not attacked,” she said. “For years, cases of lecturers abusing students sexually happened and nothing was done. When I came in, I put a stop to it. “You cannot intimi...