The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested two suspects over the abduction and killing of Professor Ekanem Philip Ephraim, a professor of neurology, nearly two years after the incident. A credible source confirmed to Channels Television that the suspects—Patrick Essien Etim, 24, and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40—were arrested on December 27 at a medical facility in Cross River State while allegedly planning another kidnapping. The source said the suspects confessed to abducting and killing the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family. Professor Ephraim was kidnapped on July 13, 2023, by gunmen who posed as patients at…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
Saudi Arabian authorities have deported more than 13,000 illegal residents within one week as part of intensified nationwide enforcement of residency, labour and border security laws. The Ministry of Interior disclosed that between December 18 and December 24, security agencies conducted coordinated inspection campaigns across the Kingdom, leading to the arrest of 18,877 individuals for various violations. A breakdown of the arrests shows that 11,991 people were apprehended for breaching residency regulations, 3,808 for border security violations, while 3,078 were detained for labour law infractions. Nationalities involved Among those arrested while attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, Ethiopian nationals accounted…
MTN Nigeria has presented a N2 million cash gift to a newlywed couple in Lagos under its “Yello Tide” initiative, aimed at spreading festive cheer. The cheque presentation took place on Saturday in Lagos as part of the company’s “Yellow Season of Surprises,” launched in December. Speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Digital Officer, Ms Aisha Mumuni, said the initiative was designed to celebrate milestones with Nigerians. According to her, intending couples were required to nominate themselves for a chance to receive a surprise visit and gift from MTN. “The initiative is part of our Yellow Season of Surprises.…
Nine travelers have been killed following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Magami–Dansadau highway in Zamfara State, in what authorities describe as a bandit attack on civilian movement. The explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon near the Yar-Gada community in Maru Local Government Area, causing panic among motorists and residents in the area. Witnesses said the blast hit a trailer conveying passengers and farm produce, as well as motorcyclists traveling on the route. Five passengers in the trailer and four motorcycle riders reportedly died at the scene, while several others sustained injuries. One of the injured victims…
The Sokoto State Government has confirmed that a joint airstrike conducted by the Nigerian military in collaboration with the United States targeted suspected terrorist locations in Tangaza Local Government Area, with no civilian casualties recorded. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, and made available to journalists in the state. According to the statement, the full impact of the air operation could not be immediately determined, as authorities are awaiting a comprehensive assessment from the joint military operations team. The government also addressed reports concerning objects…
Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has called on residents of Sokoto State, particularly those in Sokoto South, to remain calm and law-abiding following reports of a counterterrorism airstrike conducted through cooperation between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States. In a statement issued on Friday, the senator said he had taken note of public concerns surrounding the reported operation and assured constituents that he was engaging relevant security authorities to obtain full details on the circumstances of the airstrike. “I wish to assure the people of Sokoto South that I am in active talks with relevant security authorities to…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed that he authorised the recent United States strikes on terrorist camps in Nigeria’s Northwest region. Tinubu, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this on Friday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Defense announced that American forces had carried out strikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria. ALSO READ Trump announces U.S. strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Tuggar said the operation was jointly coordinated and approved by the Nigerian government. “Now that the U.S. is cooperating, we are doing it…
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) stated that seven men sustained varying degrees of burns in the Wednesday fire incident at the 22-storey building of Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos. The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Oke- Osanyitolu, disclosed in a statement on Thursday in Lagos, that three male and two female victims who suffered smoke inhalation were treated with first aid at the scene, and discharged after stabilisation. ALSO READ Blaze hits 22-storey insurance tower on Martins street He said that the fire has now been contained through the combined efforts of emergency responders, after spreading to a…
An explosion struck a mosque in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Wednesday evening, causing panic among worshippers and residents in the area. The blast occurred at a mosque located within the Gamboru Main Market axis at about 6:00 p.m., while worshippers were observing Maghrib prayers. The explosion is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted inside the mosque. Eyewitnesses said the explosion damaged parts of the mosque and triggered chaos as worshippers and traders fled the scene for safety. Several people were reportedly injured, while some casualties were feared, although…
The Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS) has rolled out plans to explore collaboration with international tertiary institutions, including the University of East London. This exploration came to the fore when the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, received in audience a lecturer and Head of Undergraduate Programme of the Department of the Computer Science and Digital Technologies at the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering of the University of East London (UEL), Dr Bilyaminu Auwal Romo on Tuesday. Dr Romo, an indigene of Sokoto state and a beneficiary of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s scholarship, said he could facilitate collaborations with not…