The suspect, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, was apprehended on Monday by personnel of the 152 Task Force Battalion, in collaboration with other security agencies, at Banki town in Bama Local Government Area. The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-East, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed that Mustapha was found in possession of primed IED components, indicating an imminent intent to carry out an attack. The military reaffirmed its commitment to securing the North-East, stressing that troops would continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement. The WASA event, a long-standing tradition since 1901 to promote unity and cultural integration among West African soldiers, was attended by the Sokoto State Governor’s representative, Col. Ahmed Abdoul (retd. Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu Bakori disclosed that these arrests spanned 78 Police Divisions, 11 Area Commands, and 7 Tactical Units, and included:

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intercepted materials intended for the manufacturing of Improvised Explosive Devices and arrested a suspected suicide bomber, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, in Borno State. The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Northeast Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. According to him, the suspect was arrested on Monday by troops of 152 Task Force Battalion in collaboration with other security agencies in the Bama local government area of the state. PUNCH Online had on December 24 reported that a suicide bomber killed five and injured 35 in Al-Adum Jumaat Mosque, Gamboru market, Maiduguri. The suicide bomber detonated the bomb while worshippers were observing their evening prayers at 6 o’clock

Saudi Arabia warned on December 27, 2025 it would back Yemen's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces and urged them to withdraw "peacefully" from recently-seized provinces. The strongly worded foreign ministry statement came hours after the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it had struck a United Arab Emirates weapons shipment destined for separatist forces. Experts say their successes have embarrassed Saudi Arabia, a regional heavyweight and the main backer of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. A source close to the Saudi military coalition told AFP on Tuesday after the strikes that a diplomatic solution remained on the table. Following the strikes, broadcasters in Saudi Arabia aired segments showing surveillance footage of the alleged Emirati ships delivering the combat equipment to the port of Mukalla in southern Yemen.

The Western Nigerian Security Network, otherwise known as the Amotekun CorpsThe Western Nigerian Security Network, otherwise known as the Amotekun CorpsThe Western Nigerian Security Network, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps, has assured that the South-West region of the country will be fully fortified against bandits and terrorists facing military onslaught in the North-West and North-East parts of the country. The Amotekun boss said: “across the 18 local governments of the state. “I look at this as a concerted effort by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, to rid Ondo State of criminal enemies. We equally want to thank His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, Honourable Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for giving us an enabling environment to thrive. “On rape and assault on Amotekun Corps officers, we have a 19-year-old Daniel Ojo, a 33-year-old Usman, and a 41-year-old Bejide for raping in Isinkan.

The Puritan emerged at the turn of the 20th century as a mixture of gin, French vermouth, yellow Chartreuse and orange bitters. Will Thompson first encountered it when he was working at Drink in Boston and has brought it all the way to his Miami bar, Sunny’s, where it’s featured on a menu of Martini variations. The understated counterpart to its sibling, the Alaska, the Puritan gets herbal, honeyed complexity from the yellow Chartreuse while still remaining firmly in Martini territory. Read More →

“It is important to state that the purported suspension of Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa is of no effect. He remains the legitimate chairman of NNPP in Kano State. Dungurawa, however, in an interview with PUNCH, had publicly rejected the action, insisting that he remains the legitimate state chairman and threatening legal action against those parading themselves as party leaders. I am also a member of the National Executive Committee, and they cannot override that authority,” he said. The NWC reiterated its support for the Kano State chairman, urging all party members to remain loyal to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader, and to continue working for the unity and advancement of the NNPP in Kano State.

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, South South, Victor Giadom, has told Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he must pass through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to win anything in Rivers State. Giadom gave the advice on Tuesday during Wike’s ‘thank you’ visit to the people of Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. “I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu and nobody will challenge Wike’s influence in Gokana. For him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike,” he said. Earlier, the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Confidence Deko, pledged total support to the minister.

Nigeria maintained their perfect record at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 victory over Uganda in their final Group C match at the Fez Stadium in Morocco on Tuesday. Nigeria dominated much of the opening period, creating several chances while Uganda struggled to cope with the three-time champion pace and movement. The Eagles stepped up their intensity after the break and doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute. Uganda, reduced to 10 men, pulled one back in the 75th minute when substitute Okello released Mato, who coolly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. The win sees Nigeria finish top of Group C with a maximum nine points, while Uganda end the group stage at the bottom and exit the tournament.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, as the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice. The statement added, “Mr Oyedepo is a 2007 Law graduate from the University of Ilorin and attended the Law School in 2008. “He is expected to deploy his expertise to reduce reliance on external counsel for critical prosecutions and to ensure greater coherence and consistency in the Federal Government’s legal strategies. “Before this appointment, Mr Oyedepo worked at EFCC for over 15 years, specialising in the prosecution of complex economic and financial crimes. “He was named the EFCC Outstanding Staff of the Year in 2014 as well as the Best Financial Crimes Prosecutor in 2019.”

This tragedy once again reminds us that road safety in Nigeria is not optional; it is a matter of life and death,” she said. Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify enforcement of existing traffic and safety regulations, warning that weak compliance and lax monitoring have contributed significantly to fatal crashes nationwide. The Federal Road Safety Corps must be empowered and compelled to fully enforce road safety regulations across all highways in Nigeria, without fear or favour,” she said. The senator urged policymakers to treat road safety as a national emergency, stressing that sustained reforms would save thousands of lives annually. It must be a turning point for serious highway safety reforms in Nigeria,” she added.

The Kano State Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party, Hashimu Dungurawa, has reaffirmed that he remains the legitimate leader of the party in the state, dismissing recent attempts by some ward executives to sack him. The NNPP chairman expressed surprise over the purported expulsion, adding that he was yet to understand the reasons behind the move. “We will arrest them for impersonation for parading themselves as leaders of the NNPP,” Dungurawa added. The Kano State NNPP has been experiencing internal tensions, particularly following rumours of a possible move by the governor to the All Progressives Congress, which has triggered mixed reactions among party members. Dungurawa urged party members to remain calm, law-abiding, and focused on strengthening the NNPP in Kano State, asserting that leadership disputes would be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution.

The Federal Government has dismissed allegations of a clandestine multi-agency operation aimed at unlawfully arresting, detaining, or prosecuting opposition politicians. The document claimed the initiative was designed to weaken opposition activity ahead of the 2027 general elections. “The Federal Government of Nigeria categorically states that it harbours no plans to unlawfully arrest, detain, or prosecute opposition figures. This clarification is in response to a fabricated document in circulation alleging the establishment of a non-existent multi-agency task force for a purported programme tagged ‘ADP4VIP’,” the statement read. The FG cautioned against the spread of fake news and disinformation, warning that such tactics were likely to intensify as the 2027 elections draw closer.

This is a film made with the best of intentions – and it has some good insights into the loneliness and isolation of seeking asylum in the UK. Bosco is sent to live with other asylum seekers on a military base while his application is processed. Bosco and Yasmin hang out together, though it’s obvious that for him the friendship feels like something more. Then, one of the asylum seekers at his accommodation is threatened with deportation to Rwanda. It all feels muddled and contrived – a further script edit might have resulted in a more rewarding drama.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said the implementation of the new tax laws, including those enacted on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will take effect as planned. In a statement he personally signed, Tinubu said the reforms represent “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation” for the country. “Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures,” the statement added. Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to due process and the integrity of enacted laws, pledging to work with the National Assembly to resolve any issues promptly. PUNCH Online had earlier reported that following a high-level meeting withTinubu on Friday, December 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed that the final implementation phase—specifically covering the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act—is firmly on schedule.

View image in fullscreen The office at 2150 Shattuck Avenue is home to a number of AI safety researchers. Many AI safety researchers come from academia; others are poachers turned gamekeepers who quit big AI companies. He helped expose how social media platforms were designed to be addictive and worries some AI companies are “rehashing” and “supercharging” those problems. “The race is the only thing guiding what is happening.”Investigating the possible threats posed by AI models is far from an exact science. In one, human computer scientists use a new type of superintelligent AI to develop more powerful AI models.