Police confirm abduction of brothers in Edo
The Edo State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the abduction of two brothers in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. The abduction of the two brothers, identified as Ibrahim and Tahir Abu, has reportedly thrown their Iyetse Clan, Utsogun Heritage Zone, into panic. Ibrahim, who is currently on his housemanship at Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi, was said to have been abducted with his brother while trying to access his residence after work on January 2. A family source said: “The abduction occurred in front of his residence, off City Pride Road, Ibira Camp, Auchi, Edo State, while he was attempting to open his gate after returning from work. She said, “Yes, this unfortunate incident was brought to the attention of the Edo State Police Command on 2nd January, 2026 at about 8:30pm.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 20:44 UTC
Boat capsize in Nigeria kills 25 and leaves 14 missing
The boat was carrying residents who had gone to the local market as well as some who were involved in fishing or farming when it capsized along the Yobe River in Yobe state's Garbi town on Saturday night, the Yobe emergency management agency said.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 20:34 UTC
Fire destroys Mopol 13 office complex in Makurdi
The Police Command in Benue said fire gutted the Mobile Police 13 (Mopol 13) Unit office complex of the Nigeria Police Force in Makurdi on Sunday morning. The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by telephone. Udeme said the fire destroyed the office complex but refused to comment on the status of the armoury. I called my boss, who contacted the fire service, but the building was already engulfed,” the source said. NAN further reports that the office complex was cordoned off by police, preventing media and public access to the scene.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 20:31 UTC
Car accident kills 5 persons, injures 13 in Jos
No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead, while 13 others sustained injuries in a road crash that occurred at Zangzat Roundabout, Langtang, in Langtang North Local Government Council of Plateau State on Sunday. The accident involved a trailer conveying marketers from Shendam to Jos through Langtang and happened at around 3 a.m. yesterday. The Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area, Hon. He notes that this unfortunate incident highlights the dangers associated with reckless driving and disregard for road safety regulations. The Local Government Council remains committed to collaborating with relevant agencies to safeguard lives and promote road safety across the local government area, the statement further read.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 19:38 UTC
Brahim Diaz sends Morocco to AFCON quarter-finals
Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz maintained his goal-a-game record at the Africa Cup of Nations by scoring to take Morocco into the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday. The goal came after Morocco squandered numerous scoring chances while stretching an unbeaten run in competitive and friendly matches to 23. Morocco will face South Africa or Cameroon, who meet later on Sunday at a different Rabat venue, in the quarter-finals on Friday. Ayoub El Kaabi was the next Moroccan to come close, heading over before being injured in a collision with Masaranga. A goal seemed inevitable given the relentless pressure from the host nation, and it came thanks to Hakimi and Diaz.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 19:35 UTC
Imo releases First School Leaving Certificate exam results after four-year delay
After four years of delay in releasing the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) examination results of Imo State primary school pupils, the State government has asked those concerned to go to their respective schools and collect their authenticated certificates. In a statement issued at the weekend, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard T.O. Ikegwuoha, appealed to the pupils, students, parents, stakeholders, and the general public to take note and do the needful. The statement read: “All First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) Examination results for Imo State (2020–2024) are now released. Results will be reviewed and printed from the Ministry of Education website.”The statement continued: “As from March 2026, all released FSLC Examination results will be reviewed and printed online from: Ministry of Education website: https://education.im.gov.ng/ Please take note!”
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 17:31 UTC
ADC will sweep Oyo in 2027, Aborisade boasts
It clearly shows that the party is becoming increasingly popular and attractive to genuine progressives across Nigeria,” Aborisade, a governorship aspirant in Oyo State in 2027, said. Aborisade also described the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as a party in decline, blaming its prolonged internal crisis for the mass movement of its members into the ADC, particularly in Oyo State. Many of its members in Oyo State have realised that the party no longer offers a credible platform, and they are now joining the ADC,” he stated. Aborisade urged party members and supporters to remain focused and united, assuring them that the ADC is committed to internal democracy and credible leadership. He added that with the growing support base and expanding political structures, the ADC is well-positioned to sweep Oyo State in the 2027 general elections and play a leading role at the national level.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 17:31 UTC
2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 31 people who died in custody
Some died at ICE detention centers and field offices, others after they had been transferred to hospitals, but were still under ICE custody. In October 2024, he was apprehended by local law enforcement, and then transferred to the Krome immigrant detention center in South Florida. He was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection air marine operations two days prior to his death, according to ICE. His family told the Guardian they grew alarmed by his deterioration in jail, and worried about the medications he was being given. “He was a great-grandfather.”7 JuneJesus Molina-Veya, a 45-year-old citizen of Mexico, died at the Stewart detention center in Lumpkin, Georgia.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 16:10 UTC
2027: Ijaw Youth Council endorses Fubara for second term
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has formally endorsed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for a second term, praising his leadership, development agenda, and ability to navigate political tensions within the state. “The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, under the leadership of Dr Alaye Tari Theophilus, hereby reaffirms its total, unwavering, and unequivocal support for His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and formally endorses him for a second term in office in the 2027 general elections,” he declared. The Ijaw Youth Council also took aim at critics, particularly Minister Wike, asserting that political patience should not be mistaken for weakness. “On behalf of over 30 million Ijaw youths across the Niger Delta, we hereby formally and unanimously endorse Governor Siminalayi Fubara for a second term in 2027. We believe his continuity in office is vital to sustaining peace, unity, and development in Rivers State,” Alaye said.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 16:06 UTC
No sign of life in Lakurawa camps after US strikes — Sokoto residents
Their accounts come days after President Donald Trump announced that the US military carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria. However, there were controversies over the success of the operations, as some people believed that the missiles hit the wrong targets in Sokoto and Kwara states, where no casualty was recorded. At Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a missile reportedly hit a farmland, while some buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State. Although there were no deaths, several residents sustained injuries, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in Offa, Kwara State after being hit by missiles. A traditional herbal medicine seller, Nafiu Umar, said Lakurawa terrorists had destroyed his means of survival.
Source:Punch
January 04, 2026 15:13 UTC
God's Mercy Saved Anthony Joshua, Says Pastor Adeboye
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has attributed British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s survival in a fatal auto crash to what he described as the mercy of God. Adeboye spoke on Sunday during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service, while illustrating the role of divine mercy in preservation, citing Joshua’s accident. While explaining the value of God’s mercy in preservation, Adeboye said, “Lamentations 3:22–23 says it is by the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed. “The people he exchanged seats with died. I don’t know why, but the mercy of God said someone would still be alive today,” he said.
Source:Punch
January 04, 2026 15:02 UTC
Terrorists kill seven in Plateau
Another gory incident happened on Friday night when gunmen attacked Bong Village of Doemak District in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, leaving no fewer than seven persons dead in the process. Also, troops of Operation Enduring Peace of the 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, neutralised five terrorists in a remote community in Wase Local Government Area of the state. The Defence Headquarters made this known on Saturday in a press statement, adding that the wounded community people have been rushed to the hospital for treatment. In Qua’an Pan, the terrorists were said to have stormed the village while the residents were already asleep, adding that the attackers launched a house-to-house invasion. The Director of Press and Publicity to the Chairman of Qua’an Pan Council, Danaan Cletus Sylvanus, confirmed the happenings to journalists.
Source:The Guardian
January 04, 2026 14:44 UTC
New Tata Punch Turbo SUV Teased – 6 MT, Sierra Like Thigh Support Extension In Seat
Most notably, Tata has officially confirmed the introduction of the iTurbo petrol engine, marking a big shift for the Punch, which until now has been limited to naturally aspirated petrol and CNG options. Tata Punch Turbo Petrol TeaserThe Punch Turbo Petrol is expected to use the familiar 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine seen on Altroz Racer. In that application, the motor delivers around 120 PS and 170 Nm, and similar output figures are likely for the Punch as well. Behind the 6 speed gear lever, you can also see the enhanced under thigh support in driver seat – a feature we have seen in the new Sierra. With a stronger engine, more advanced technology, and a richer feature list, the Punch facelift is shaping up to be a significant upgrade rather than a cosmetic refresh.
Source:Punch
January 04, 2026 14:30 UTC
Anthony Joshua pays tribute to deceased friends in emotional post
Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has made his first social media post since a fatal car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members. Joshua sustained minor injuries in the incident that killed his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele on Monday, December 29, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. He made his first public comment since the accident in a post across his social media handles on Sunday. Joshua shared the post, pictured alongside the families of Sina and Latz, with the caption “My Brother’s Keeper ❤️🕊️❤️.”The image, posted across his social media pages, shows the ex-heavyweight champion offering support and solidarity. He sustained a leg fracture but was reported to be in stable condition without needing emergency medical intervention.
Source:Punch
January 04, 2026 14:25 UTC
Police to Discipline Officer Caught for Extortion on Video
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered one of its officers, caught on a viral video allegedly extorting a motorcyclist, to report to Force Headquarters for disciplinary proceedings. The force also called for the officer’s Divisional Police Officer to report for possible sanction. The incident, captured in a video widely circulating on Sunday, shows a uniformed officer, reportedly in Cross River State, stopping a motorcyclist on the roadside and demanding cash. The footage depicts the officer counting the money while the motorcyclist appears reluctant. “The Force high command has sent for the DPO and officer seen in this viral video to report to the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, for disciplinary actions accordingly.
Source:Punch
January 04, 2026 12:52 UTC