Police begin probe as thugs attack Oyo ex-deputy gov
The Oyo State Police Command has commenced investigations into the attack on the private residence of a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, following violence that trailed the Peoples Democratic Party state congress in Ibadan on Saturday. Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday night, the former deputy governor alleged that the state governor, Seyi Makinde, was complicit in the attack. When asked how he was certain the assailants were linked to the governor, Gbolarumi said videos had captured some of them. However, the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo PDP, Michael Ogunsina, denied any involvement by the party leadership, insisting the incident was unrelated to the party. “I am yet to be aware that they attacked and injured the former deputy governor, but I know the attack took place at his house.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 08:10 UTC
US & Israel hit five Iranian oil sites in overnight strikes
Explosions erupt following strikes at Shahran Oil Refinery in Tehran on March 7, 2026. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which responded with missile attacks across the region. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)The United States and Israel hit five oil facilities with overnight strikes in and near the Iranian capital that killed four people, an official told state TV on Sunday. Veyskarami said Iran’s oil depots have “sufficient gasoline reserves.”On February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a war in the Middle East. Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US interests across the region.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 07:47 UTC
Manufacturers cut output as electricity supply plunges
“Between 06:00 hours and 08:00 hours, several generating units were forced to shut down as a result of inadequate gas supply to the plants. At Moppet Foods, a Lagos-based baby food manufacturing company, interruptions to electricity have cut deeply into productivity. Worsening power supply undermines productivity and competitiveness at a time when businesses need stability to grow.”Residential and commercial customers are also pushing back as supply becomes unreliable. Band A customers, those who pay premium tariffs for designated supply hours, are increasingly questioning why they continue to be billed at higher rates when actual availability falls far short. “If they can’t meet the minimum 20 hours’ supply for Band A customers, can they downgrade us so we pay less?” asked one Lagos resident and business owner, Ubochi Joshua.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 07:46 UTC
BLACKPINK's LISA Visits Punch the Monkey, Brings Orangutan Stuffed Animal
LISA met up with a star possibly even bigger than herself ... the viral monkey Punch! The BLACKPINK star stopped by Ichikawa City Zoo in the Chiba prefecture just outside Tokyo, Japan to visit the monkey who went viral because other apes in his enclosure were bullying him. The star wanted to support the monkey's habit of carrying around a stuffed orangutan by bringing her own to the zoo ... holding it up for the little macaque to see. She also shared a few snaps of Punch hanging around his cage ... relaxing on his own in the enclosure -- with his stuffed pal close at his side.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 07:45 UTC
IWD: Partners unveil month-long women programme
By Agatha EmeadiAs part of activities marking International Women’s Day, Federal Palace Hotel in collaboration with The Guardian Nigeria have unveiled a month-long programme aimed at advancing women’s leadership, collaboration and institutional investment in gender development. The initiative was announced during a press briefing by the Executive Director of Federal Palace Hotel and Chief Strategy Officer, (Global), of The Guardian, Anita Athena Ibru. She explained that the programme will run throughout March and will culminate in The Guardian Woman Festival scheduled for March 27. “It is a first-of-its-kind month-long programme that will run throughout March right here at Federal Palace Hotel. Ibru also highlighted the significance of the venue, describing Federal Palace Hotel as a historic landmark widely associated with Nigeria’s independence era and national heritage.
Source:The Guardian
March 08, 2026 02:53 UTC
Trump attends return of US troops killed in Iran war
US President Donald Trump on Saturday attended the return of the bodies of the first six US soldiers killed during the escalating war with Iran. Trump, wearing a white “USA” baseball cap and accompanied by several Cabinet members, saluted as each flag-draped case was carried from a military transport plane at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of US troops killed overseas are returned to American soil. The troops were killed last Sunday when a drone struck a key US command centre in Kuwait, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran. Earlier, the United States condemned Iran’s drone strikes earlier this week on an Azerbaijan border region, describing the attack as a “needless escalation” of aggression by Tehran during the Middle East war. The State Department said Thursday’s “unprovoked drone attack” targeted an airport and school in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan bordering Iran, and that innocent civilians were injured.
Source:Punch
March 08, 2026 00:56 UTC
Army debunks report of 40 soldiers killed in Borno attacks
The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report claiming that more than 40 soldiers were killed during recent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno State, describing the account as misleading and based on unverified sources. The reaction followed a report published by Sahara Reporters, which alleged heavy military casualties during attacks on communities in the state. According to the statement, the attacks were carried out by remnants of Boko Haram who had earlier been dislodged from Sambisa Forest during sustained military operations. The army said the attacks targeted communities and troop locations around Konduga, Ngoshe, Mainok, and Jakana. “The Nigerian Army assures Nigerians that it will maintain the operational momentum until all terrorist elements are completely neutralised,” the statement added.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 22:16 UTC
BBC Breakfast shares 'positive' update on Punch the monkey as fans say 'so glad'
BBC Breakfast shares 'positive' update on Punch the monkey as fans say 'so glad'BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty delivered a heartwarming update about Punch the monkey, who was rejected by his mother and bullied at a Japanese zooView 3 Images Punch has parted ways with his beloved teddy (Image: BBC)Naga Munchetty shared an uplifting update on Punch the monkey, who had previously been shunned by his mother and subjected to mistreatment by fellow primates at a Japanese zoo. During Saturday's BBC Breakfast, Naga and Charlie Stayt offered a "positive" progress report on the adored monkey, whose plight has captured hearts across social media. Naga continued, "We have an update there, a positive update. View 3 Images Charlie and Naga delivered the positive update on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)As footage showed Punch dangling from a branch, Naga remarked, "I think it kind of comes a bit more naturally to Punch. View 3 Images Punch the monkey has been taken in by a female monkey (Image: BBC)Meanwhile, BBC Breakfast featured an interview with the family of missing student Jack O'Sullivan, during which his mother made a fresh emotional appeal.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 21:41 UTC
Insecurity: Terrorists demand drugs, virgins as ransom, says Afenifere
He drew attention to the barbaric treatment of kidnapped victims, noting the merciless beatings and humiliations endured by abductees. “Elder Igwe, father of a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, was abducted on his way to church on Sunday, 1 March. In Erinmope-Ekiti, a family of five was taken at 7 p.m., while people were at mosque for evening prayers. Highlighting the role of foreign actors, he stated: “Confessions from apprehended and tried bandits revealed they had sponsors. The group praised Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for inaugurating a committee to determine modalities for state police deployment.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 20:55 UTC
US-Iran war: Nigerians lose millions in dashed Umrah dreams
Tehran has attacked military bases and assets in about 10 countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq and Oman. “It is a painful experience that we couldn’t proceed with the Umrah trip because of the war. “Beyond the spiritual aspect, I usually use the Umrah trip to buy goods to stock my shop for Sallah. I then return to Saudi Arabia on the 25th day of Ramadan and come back home on Sallah day. Although I am stranded here because travelling has become difficult, there is no tension in Saudi Arabia.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 19:23 UTC
Petrol price to hit N1,050
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit gantry price to N995 per litre, marking a sharp N221 rise within four days. With the latest revision, the refinery’s petrol price has climbed from N774 to N995 per litre within four days. Checks on petroleumprice.ng, also confirmed that the new gantry price had already been updated on the portal, signalling a shift in domestic downstream pricing benchmarks. Officials at the refinery have repeatedly defended its pricing decisions, insisting that petrol prices must reflect prevailing global crude oil prices, logistics costs and operational realities. Data by MEMAN indicated that Dangote’s petrol gantry price was N874 per litre as of Monday, while the landing cost of imported petrol was N809.37 per litre, showing a difference of about N64 between the two sources.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 14:59 UTC
Lisa of Blackpink delights dans with visit to viral macaque Punch
The baby monkey has been reportedly abandoned by his mother and has later been rejected by other monkeys at the zoo. To ease his anxiety, Punch has been given a small orangutan plush toy by caretakers.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 14:50 UTC
Tata Punch.ev Drive Review: India's most VFM EV! | TOI Auto
The development has cleared the path for his son Nishant Kumar to formally enter politics through the Janata Dal (United). During a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Patna, party leaders unanimously backed Nishant’s entry into the organisation. He is expected to travel across Bihar and engage directly with party workers at the grassroots level. However, the sudden shift has also sparked protests among sections of party workers who believe Nitish Kumar should continue to lead Bihar. As political activity intensifies in Patna, all eyes are now on Nishant Kumar and whether he can transform a powerful political legacy into a new leadership journey for the party.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 10:07 UTC
In Pics: BLACKPINK LISA Visits Viral Monkey Punch In Japan, Touching Moments Win The Internet
In Pics: Lisa treats fans with a visit to the viral macaque Punch-kun in JapanThe post included several photos and quickly went viral, leaving social media users smiling. In the pictures, Lisa carried an orangutan plush toy that looked identical to the one the seven-month-old macaque often clutches. Soon after, people noticed that he constantly carried an orangutan plush toy and held it tightly, using it as a substitute for a mother’s embrace. Eventually, they gave Punch an orange, bug-eyed IKEA orangutan plush toy. Viral videos showed the tiny monkey dragging the oversized plush toy around his enclosure.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 09:43 UTC
Dangote Refinery hikes petrol price to N995 per litre
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit gantry price to N995 per litre, marking a sharp N221 rise within four days, amid volatility in global crude oil prices and shipping costs. The new price represents an increase from N874 per litre, which itself was introduced earlier this week after the refinery raised its ex-depot price from N774 to N874 per litre. With the latest revision, the refinery’s petrol price has climbed from N774 to N995 per litre within four days, representing about a N221 or 29 per cent increase over the period. Officials at the refinery have repeatedly defended its pricing decisions, insisting that petrol prices must reflect prevailing global crude oil prices, logistics costs and operational realities. “The Dangote Refinery will ensure that Nigeria is insulated from these supply shocks by prioritising supply to the domestic market.
Source:Punch
March 07, 2026 09:35 UTC