Gunmen kidnap three INEC staff in Kogi

 

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kogi State.

 

The victims, all women, were abducted along Aloma Road in Kogi State on Tuesday evening, October 21, 2025. 

 

It was gathered that the victims were travelling from Abuja to Anambra State on an official assignment ahead of the forthcoming governorship election when the incident occurred. 

 

According to reports, the assailants blocked the highway, fired shots at the vehicle, and shattered its windscreen before whisking all the occupants away to an unknown destination. 

 

 

US revokes visas of six foreigners who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death online

The United States has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals who made social media posts celebrating or justifying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In a statement shared on X, the US Department of State said the country “has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.”

According to the Department, those affected are from South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, and Argentina, and have all been declared “no longer welcome in the US.”

Among the examples shared, an Argentine national allegedly wrote that Kirk “deserved to burn in hell,” while a South African mocked Americans mourning him. Others called him “a racist,” “a misogynist,” and even said he “died too late.”

Each of the six individuals has now had their US visa revoked.

The decision comes shortly after former President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, describing him as a “martyr for truth.”

Kirk’s death sparked intense reactions online, with both his critics and supporters clashing over his legacy.

Following the incident, the State Department said it will continue identifying and penalising visa holders who use their platforms to celebrate violence against Americans.

“Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed,” the statement read.

View post below…

 

 

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri resigns from PDP

Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His resignation was made known today October 15. 

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, along with 22 lawmakers, have also resigned from the opposition party.

Governor Diri’s exit from the PDP comes 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is believed that the governor is set to join the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.

Trump threatens to end cooking oil purchases from China

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at China for suspending purchases of American soybeans, calling the move an “economically hostile act” and warning that Washington could retaliate by halting imports of cooking oil and other goods from the world’s second-largest economy.

“We are considering terminating business with China having to do with Cooking Oil, and other elements of Trade, as retribution,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, October 14.

The remarks came just hours after the president struck a more conciliatory tone when speaking to reporters at the White House, saying: “We have a fair relationship with China, and I think it’ll be fine. And if it’s not, that’s okay too.”

The back-and-forth comments underscore renewed trade tensions between the two economic superpowers during Trump’s second term, with tariffs once again soaring into the triple digits on key imports.

In a separate interview with the Financial Times on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Beijing of trying to destabilize global markets after it imposed sweeping export controls on rare earth materials, which are vital for high-tech manufacturing and defense industries.

Trump told reporters the US must remain “careful” in its dealings with Beijing, emphasizing his complex relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I have a great relationship with President Xi, but sometimes it gets testy because China likes to take advantage of people,” he said. “When punches are thrown, you’ve got to put up the blocks.”

The president’s online statement also acknowledged the strain China’s soybean halt is placing on American farmers, a key political constituency for Trump. US exports of animal fats, greases, and processed oils, including used cooking oil, have surged in recent years, driven by booming domestic demand for biofuels.

Despite occasional attempts to cool tensions, the trade truce between Washington and Beijing remains fragile.

After China imposed new restrictions on rare earth exports, Trump announced plans to introduce a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1, a move that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said could be accelerated depending on Beijing’s next steps.

“Much depends on what the Chinese do,” Greer said in an interview with CNBC, adding that Beijing had “chosen to make this major escalation.”

China remains the world’s largest producer of rare earth minerals, which are critical for the production of magnets used in electronics, electric vehicles, and defense systems.

Bessent described Beijing’s latest measures as evidence of a “weak economy” attempting to “pull everybody else down with them.”

Tensions have also spilled into diplomacy. Last week, Trump hinted he might cancel a planned meeting with President Xi at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, citing China’s trade policies.

Beijing responded by accusing the United States of “double standards”, while vowing on Tuesday, October 14, that it was ready to “fight to the end” if a full-scale trade war resumed.

With both governments digging in, analysts warn that the renewed US-China confrontation could have global economic repercussions, potentially disrupting supply chains, raising prices, and further straining diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing.

Ex-convict arrested for beating his girlfriend to d3ath after she demanded the N100,000 he borrowed from her

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 37-year-old ex-convict for beating his girlfriend to d3ath in Idanre Local Government Area of the state. 

 

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 said the suspect, Omokinwa Ademola, repeatedly assaulted Joy Jimoh, after she demanded the refund of N100,000 he had borrowed from her. 

“The Ondo State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that on the 7th of October, 2025, at about 1730 hours, one Ngozi Gregory, female, aged 45 years, reported at the Idanre Divisional Police Headquarters that one Omokinwa Ademola, male, aged 37 years and an ex-convict, assaulted his girlfriend, Joy Jimoh, female, over a disagreement concerning the refund of the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) which he had earlier borrowed from her,” the statement read. 

 

"The report revealed that during the altercation, the suspect became violent and repeatedly assaulted the victim until she became unconscious. She was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention, where she was sadly confirmed d3ad by a medical practitioner. 

 

"Upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Idanre Division, promptly led a team of detectives to the scene, where the suspect was arrested. 

 

"The remains of the deceased were thereafter deposited at the morgue for post-mortem examination, while preliminary investigation commenced at the Division.

 

"The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Adebowale Lawal, psc+, mnips, has strongly condemned the dastard act of violence that led to the unfortunate d3ath of the victim. 

 

"He reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring justice is served, emphasizing that acts of domestic violence and brutality will not be tolerated under any guise. 

 

“Consequently, the Commissioner has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for discreet and comprehensive investigation to ensure a thorough and professional handling of the matter.” 

Days after clash with Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni, Minister Umahi gives update on the cost of the first section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has given a download on the cost of the first section of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal road. 

Recall that Umahi clashed with Arise TV reporter, Rufai Oseni, during an interview last week after Unahi was asked to state the cost per kilometer of the road.

Umahi at the time insisted that the question was ‘’nonsensical' and should not be asked. 

However, in a new video, Umahi gave a breakdown of the cost while stating that he will not allow anyone dent his image.

Hamas releases all living Israeli hostages

Hamas has released all 20 living Israeli hostages as part of a landmark prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Monday morning, October 13, that the hostages had safely crossed back into Israel from Gaza, marking the end of a tense and emotional standoff that had gripped the world for weeks.

According to the IDF, the freed hostages were immediately received by Israeli medical teams for initial evaluation before being flown to hospitals across the country for further treatment and reunification with their families.

Among those released are Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Omri Miran, three of the first hostages to be freed earlier in the day. IDF helicopters airlifted them to hospitals following preliminary medical checks.

Heartwarming images released by the military showed 48-year-old Omri Miran embracing his wife, Lishay, after months of separation. Miran, who was abducted from his home in Nahal Oz during the October 7, 2023, attack, appeared emotional but in stable condition.

In a separate statement, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed the names of 13 additional hostages released by Hamas, including Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, and Bar Kupershtein, who was taken while working at the Nova music festival.

Buses carrying dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners, meanwhile, arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Prisoners Office said. Israel is freeing more than 1,900 prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal.

No need for the Minister to be dancing around the cost - Governor Makinde calls out Umahi over coastal highway

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, criticising the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for what he described as evasiveness over the project’s true cost.

Makinde addressed the issue while speaking at a public event, saying there was “no need for the Minister to be dancing around the cost” of the project. His comments came days after Umahi engaged in a heated on-air exchange with Arise TV journalist Rufai Oseni, who had pressed the minister to disclose the cost per kilometre of the 700-kilometre highway.

During the interview, Umahi appeared visibly agitated by the question, declaring himself “a professor of practice in engineering” and dismissing Oseni’s inquiry as “elementary.” He argued that road costs could not be calculated uniformly because each kilometre presented unique engineering challenges.  

“These are elementary questions,” Umahi said during the live broadcast. “The money is meant for the project, and it will be paid according to the work done. The prices are different — the next kilometre is different from the next kilometre. Keep quiet and stop saying what you don’t know. I’m a professor in this field. You don’t understand anything.”

Oseni, refusing to back down, replied, “Minister, it’s alright. Keep dignifying yourself, and let the world know who you truly are.”

Weighing in on the exchange, Governor Makinde sided with the journalist, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know the average cost of such a massive public project.

“They asked a minister how much the coastal road is, and then you (Umahi) are dancing around and saying that the next kilometre is different from the next kilometre. Then what is the average cost?” Makinde asked.

Makinde then compared the coastal highway to road projects completed under his osn administration saying; “When we did the Oyo to Iseyin road, it was about ₦9.99 billion — almost ₦10 billion — for about 34 or 35 kilometres. That’s an average of ₦238 million per kilometre,” he said.

“When we did Iseyin to Ogbomoso, that was 76 kilometres at about ₦43 billion, averaging ₦500 million per kilometre. And that project included two bridges — one over the Ogun River and another at the Ogbomoso end.”

Makinde’s comments have reignited debate over the transparency and cost structure of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, stretching across nine states with two additional spurs leading northward.

The project, awarded to Hitech Construction Company Limited, was officially flagged off in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, with the first phase comprising 47.47 kilometres of dual carriageway constructed with concrete pavement.

In a statement issued at the time by Umahi’s media aide, Uchenna Orji, the Minister stressed that all contractors handling federal road projects must deliver within record time, warning that delays would not be tolerated and that the government would not accept cost variations once mobilisation had been paid.

Russia launches massive attack on Ukrainian energy grid

Russia conducted a "massive attack" on Ukraine's energy infrastructure early Friday, October 10 according to top Ukrainian officials. The widespread strikes left parts of the capital, Kyiv, and several other regions without power.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the action as a "cynical and calculated attack," stating that Russia launched "more than 450 drones and over 30 missiles" aimed at civilian and energy infrastructure. He stressed that these attacks are Russia's tactic to deprive Ukrainians of power and heat as the bitter winter season approaches, with the goal being "to leave us in darkness, without water and heat."

Ukrainian officials report the attacks on energy facilities, including gas production and distribution, have been almost daily since late September. The latest offensive caused significant damage and casualties across the country. A 7-year-old boy was killed in a strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, and dozens of people were injured, including at least 12 in Kyiv.

The attack resulted in extensive power cuts in multiple regions. In the Kyiv region, approximately 28,000 families in the Brovary and Boryspil districts lost electricity, according to Governor Mykola Kalashnik, while the left bank of the capital also experienced power and water supply issues.

Further east, the Poltava region saw more than 16,500 households and 800 businesses without power. Other affected areas included Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia.

The country's largest private energy producer, DTEK Group, reported that its stations were specifically targeted, the third such strike in one week with the attack severely damaging equipment and injuring an energy worker.

Emergency services documented the devastation, sharing video of firefighters battling a massive blaze in Kyiv and helping residents to safety. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk assured the public that workers are taking all necessary steps to minimize the negative consequences of the attack.

House of reps condemns US bill alleging genocide against Christians in Nigeria

The House of Representatives has strongly condemned a bill proposed by United States lawmakers that seeks to hold Nigerian officials accountable for allegedly “facilitating the mass murder of Christians.”

During Wednesday’s plenary session, the lower chamber passed a resolution rejecting the allegations, stressing that there is no state-sponsored persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The motion was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu alongside 359 lawmakers.

The bill in question, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025,” was introduced by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. It calls for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials accused of enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws, urges the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” and maintains that Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa should remain listed as entities of particular concern.

The proposed legislation follows recurring international claims that Nigerian Christians face systematic persecution, a narrative the Nigerian government has consistently rejected.

Moving the motion, Kalu said that while the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently recommended Nigeria for designation as a country of concern, the claims fail to reflect the true situation. “Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,” he said, emphasizing that “successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders, and civil society continue to take measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders.”

He argued that insecurity in Nigeria stems from complex and multi-dimensional issues — including insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, separatist violence, and communal disputes — which affect citizens across all faiths. Kalu warned that “external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.”

Contributing to the debate, Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere noted that the U.S. bill has already passed its second reading in the Senate, warning that its passage could damage Nigeria’s reputation and cost significant resources to reverse. “Nigerians are facing economic, social, and security challenges, not religious persecution,” he said, describing the move as a “deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress.”

Oluwole Oke, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, criticized the U.S. Senate for excluding Nigerian officials and diplomatic representatives from the bill’s public hearing, describing it as “a deliberate attempt to damage Nigeria’s image.” Similarly, Billy Osawaru, representing Edo State, called it a case of “global politics” and lamented that Nigeria currently lacks an ambassador to the United States who could have engaged with the American lawmakers.

Following the debate, the House rejected narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious conflict or as state-sponsored persecution and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to constitutional freedom of religion and belief.

The parliament directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to lodge a formal complaint at the United Nations and urged U.S. legislators to consider a joint Nigeria-U.S. fact-finding and dialogue mission.

The Committee on Legislative Compliance was tasked with ensuring the execution of the resolutions and reporting back to the House within 28 days.