Media professionals have advised emerging journalists to avoid publishing unverified reports, warning that the spread of fake news could expose practitioners and media organisations to legal consequences. The caution was given on Monday in Abuja during activities marking the centenary celebration of the Daily Times newspaper.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The directive was conveyed by a high-level Federal Government delegation that visited the affected Esiele and Yawota communities on Sunday. The delegation also informed residents that their request for a military base in the area had been forwarded to the President for consideration.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested five suspected arms traffickers, including two nationals of the neighbouring Niger Republic, over their involvement in supplying weapons to a Boko Haram faction linked to a series of high-profile school abductions in Nigeria. An insider source disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during intelligence-driven operations that uncovered a cache of arms and ammunition believed to be destined for insurgent commanders operating in the northwest and north-central regions.
A joint air operation conducted by the Nigerian military under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in collaboration with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has reportedly eliminated 21 suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State. The strike targeted a terrorist stronghold in Arege, located in Kukawa Local Government Area, on May 30 after intelligence indicated the presence of insurgents in the area.
The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly (NEYGA) has chided Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, presidential candidates of the All Democratic Congress (ADC) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), for what they described as their "politicisation" of Nigeria's security challenges. The group tasked both presidential candidates to learn from politicians in the United States and Israel who buried their political interests and supported their governments in the heat of the 9/11 and the October 7, 2023, attacks by Al-Qaeda and Hamas on US and Israeli soil.
United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in its fight against insurgency, stating that the U.S. military will continue to collaborate with Nigerian authorities in tackling terrorist threats. Hegseth said the U.S. Department of Defence has been acting on directives from President Donald Trump, whom he said is determined to protect Christians facing attacks from extremist groups.
