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The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government over the abduction of a University of Jos student, John Arum, warning of nationwide protests if urgent action is not taken. In a Tuesday statement signed by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, the student body expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as a reflection of worsening insecurity across the country. NANS said Arum was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna, with disturbing evidence of his captivity already circulating publicly. “The National Association of Nigerian Students expresses its utmost grief, outrage, and condemnation over the abduction of one of our own, John Arum, a student of the University of Jos, who was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna,” the statement read. It added that visuals from captivity showed “duress and inhumane conditions, brutality, and torture,” while the abductors have reportedly deman...

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna State Command, has confirmed an incident involving a fully loaded Liquefied Natural Gas tanker that caught fire in the Kwangila area of Zaria Local Government Area. The state Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Andrew Longkam, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna. Longkam said the tanker, belonging to Greenville Company, was parked by the roadside along the Funtua–Zaria road when a gas valve malfunctioned, leading to ignition and a fire outbreak. He said the fire affected some nearby shops and left three adult males with varying degrees of burn injuries. “The injured victims were promptly evacuated to Nakowa Hospital at Yangoro for initial treatment, and later referred to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, for further medical care,” he said. The sector commander added that emergency responders swiftly brought the fire under control, though it briefly reignited before being completely extingu...

An airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly resulted in civilian casualties at a market along the Borno–Yobe border. ‎ The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Dilli Market in Yobe State, near Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. ‎ The Yobe State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed the development to PUNCH Online but said no official casualty figures were available as of the time of filing this report. He added, “We are aware of the incident that occurred at Dilli Market along the Borno–Yobe border, and we are currently gathering information on what transpired. At this moment, we do not have confirmed casualty figures, as details are still being verified. “Security agencies are on the ground assessing the situation, while efforts are ongoing to ensure proper documentation and response, after which the public will be duly informed with accurate and official updates.” Dilli Market is known to attract traders and buyers f...

Commencement Of 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course The Management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released a schedule of major activities for 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II Orientation Course. The 21-day exercise will hold in all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory simultaneously. The Orientation Course will commence with reception and registration of Prospective Corps Members on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, and end at midnight of Friday, 24th April, 2026. Prospective Corps Members mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year will be sworn-in on Friday, 24th April, 2026. Meanwhile, the Orientation Course will come to an end on Tuesday, 12th May, 2026. Management wish Nigerian graduates mobilized for the 2026 Batch 'A' Stream II service year safe trips to the various orientation camps across the country, while reiterating its warning against night journeys. Accordingly, Prospective Corps Member...

Paris Jackson has accused the executors of her late father Michael Jackson’s estate of bullying her amid an ongoing legal dispute over financial decisions. According to court documents, Paris alleged that the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain, have filed legal documents that “mock and belittle” her while dismissing her concerns about how money from the estate is being handled. The dispute centres on payments made to third-party law firms, with Paris questioning the process behind large bonuses and fees issued by the estate. In response, Branca and McClain argued that Paris and her legal team have been spreading inaccurate information and attempting to present routine court proceedings as major rulings in her favour. They also maintained that their management transformed the estate from being heavily in debt into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, from which Paris has significantly benefited. In her latest filing, Paris rejected claims that her concerns are dr...

Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their ripple effects on global energy markets, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased the gantry price of petrol and diesel, further tightening pressure on consumers and businesses across Nigeria. A top official at the refinery, who confirmed the development to our correspondent on Tuesday night, said the facility adjusted its pricing in response to prevailing international crude oil benchmarks and market realities. The new pricing template shows that petrol rose by N75 per litre to N1,275, representing an increase of about 5.02 per cent, while diesel jumped by N200 per litre to N1,950. This marks a sharp increase from last month’s prices of N1,200 per litre for petrol and N1,750 for diesel, signalling that diesel is now on track to breach the N2,000 per litre mark at the pump, further intensifying cost pressures across the economy. “The adjustment is in line with global market trends. You are aware of the ongoi...

A heavy downpour on Tuesday, April 7, caused a major traffic gridlock along the Nyanya–Keffi Expressway in Abuja, following severe damage to the Kugbo Bus Terminal.  The rainfall impacted parts of the newly built terminal, with sections of the roof affected and debris scattered onto the highway, obstructing vehicular movement.  The incident led to severe congestion along the busy corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory to neighbouring Nasarawa State, leaving many commuters stranded for hours. The terminal was commissioned in June 2025

Bandits have attacked Lanta, Tunga and Bagna communities in Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving four peopled d3ad and several others injured.  The attack reportedly began around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in Bagna, the hometown of former Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, before spreading to neighbouring villages.   A source in Bagna told Daily Trust that while casualties were believed to be high, the exact number had yet to be confirmed as the situation remained tense.   According to the source, the assailants, who arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, operated unchallenged for several hours.  "So far, we have recovered three bodies. Many others sustained injuries of varying degrees. Many people have fled to Erena town, the only nearby community considered relatively safe. We are calling on the government to come to our rescue,” the source said.  The Niger State Commiss...

The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced that its directive requiring telecom operators to compensate subscribers for poor service quality will take effect from this month. In an FAQ released on Tuesday, April 7, the Commission clarified that the directive applies specifically to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) that fail to meet their Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These include major operators such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, although the NCC did not specify which of them fell short of the required standards. The Commission explained that the compensation framework covers service failures affecting voice calls, data services, and SMS. It also applies to both individual and corporate subscribers. According to the NCC, subscribers will qualify for compensation if they experienced poor network service in an affected Local Government Area and carried out at least one revenue-generating activity, such as a billed call, SMS, or...

Iran has reportedly cut off all diplomatic and indirect communication channels with the United States following a series of escalating developments tied to statements by Donald Trump. The move comes after Trump posted a strongly worded message on Truth Social, warning of severe consequences and suggesting the possibility of “complete and total regime change” in Iran. His comments followed reports of a strike on Kharg Island, a key oil export hub located in the Persian Gulf. According to Mehr News Agency, multiple explosions were heard on the island, with claims that the attacks were carried out by what it described as an “American-Zionist enemy.” However, initial reports indicated that oil refineries on the island were not directly hit. The developments occurred just hours before a deadline set by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for international oil shipments. Iran’s decision to sever communication channels signals a further escalation in te...

After a long battle with blood clotting on his leg, veteran actor, John Okafor aka Mr Ibu has died. The actor passed away in a hospital in Lagos state on Saturday, March 2.  According to family sources, the actor has been on life support after he underwent a second surgery for his ailment recently. The family source said that his blood pressure has been over 200 after he had the surgery and that efforts were being made to stabilize it before he sadly passed away this evening.  The actor battled with constant clotting of blood on his leg (diseased blood vessels) and other health challenges for years. In October 2023, he came out publicly to seek financial assistance to treat his ailment. There were plans to fly him abroad for further medical care but that plan was aborted by his doctors who believed he wasn't fit to fly. During the cause of his treatment, his leg was amputated in November 2023. The actor is survived by his wife and children. He was 62 years old. ...

A 26-year-old female National Youth Service Corps, NYSC member, Sanni Mariam, of 2023 Batch C Stream 2, was among those who died in an accident in Imo State on Thursday. Other passengers and the driver were also reported dead when their vehicle had an accident en route to Lagos. It was gathered that Mariam was returning from her state of deployment, Benue State, and boarded a commercial bus heading to Lagos through Imo. According to information gathered by Vanguard, Mariam took a camp exit from Benue State. She was undergoing the three-week compulsory orientation. And camping was expected to end by Thursday next week. Mariam, a Computer Science graduate from Universite Protestante de Lafrique de l’Ouest, Benin Republic, was said to have won many awards for her platoon, including the Scrabble platoon game. Efforts to contact the Benue State NYSC State Coordinator proved unsuccessful. He was neither taking calls nor responding to messages at press time.

A Mercedes Benz was seen burning to aches in Kaduna State,  no casualties of life was recorded and the cause of the fire is unknown.  video

A 20-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, Sanni Hameedat, reportedly committed suicide after lending a boy she met on the social media platform, Snapchat, the sum of N500,000.   Rubiks, the private hostel management she resided in before her death confirmed the incident to  Punch  in a statement on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.    According to the management, Hameedat was undergoing her SIWES programme before the incident happened.   The management asserted that the cause of her death was not unrelated to the pressure from the app agents, who were demanding fast repayment, coupled with her brother’s inability to assist her financially, which led to depression.    “The cause of suicide was traced to financial misappropriation. She was entrusted with a significant sum of money by her mother. She crossed paths with a guy on Snapchat and developed a friendship," the statement said.    "When the boy claimed that his mother...

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen attacked a Benue Links bus conveying passengers to Otukpo en-route Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state at Tyolaha village.    The assailants, said to be heavily armed attacked the vehicle on Thursday, October 12, 2023, killing one passenger.    Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident on Friday, said three people including women were injured and one person died.    Gwer West State Assembly Member, Hon. Gyila Solomon Terlumun, in a statement issued by his Senior Legislative Aide/Media Aide, Akem Peter, said three persons were killed in the attack while several others are still missing.    “Gwer West State Assembly Member, Hon. Gyila Solomon Terlumun, condemns the massacring of a Benue Links bus conveying passengers to Otukpo en-route Naka road Gwer West LG at Tyolaha village by suspected heavily armed Fulani herdsmen killing three perso...

Headteachers in the UK will be told to ban pupils from using mobile phones during the entire school day under new government guidance. The Department for Education wants children to be barred from using devices on breaks as well as in class. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will announce the plans at the Conservative Party conference on Monday, October 2.   The government already encourages head teachers to limit phone usage and many schools have restrictions in place.   Gillian Keegan will ban smartphones from classrooms both during lessons and in break times to ensure pupils can concentrate, the Daily Mail reported. Sources close to the discussions say that Ms Keegan will issue new guidance to schools requiring them to put new measures in place to stop pupils from using their phones. A source told The Daily Mail: “Gillian believes that mobile phones pose a serious challenge in terms of distraction, disruptive behaviour, and bullying. It is one of the biggest issues that children an...

Knuckleballer and 2x World Series champion, Tim Wakefield is dead. The former Boston Red Sox star passed on at the age of 57, days after former teammate Curt Schilling revealed that the longtime starting pitcher was battling brain cancer. Ex-Boston Red Sox knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield is dead Announcing his death, the Boston Red Sox said in a statement;  "Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield. Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation. “Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna, and the Wakefield family.” Wakefield won 200 games and retired with a 4.41 ERA. Tim struck out over 2,100 batters and earned a trip to the All-Star Game in 2009. He won two World Series in 2004 and 2007. Wakefield retired in 2011 and was later inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Headteachers in the UK will be told to ban pupils from using mobile phones during the entire school day under new government guidance. The Department for Education wants children to be barred from using devices on breaks as well as in class. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will announce the plans at the Conservative Party conference on Monday, October 2. The government already encourages head teachers to limit phone usage and many schools have restrictions in place. Gillian Keegan will ban smartphones from classrooms both during lessons and in break times to ensure pupils can concentrate, the Daily Mail reported. Sources close to the discussions say that Ms Keegan will issue new guidance to schools requiring them to put new measures in place to stop pupils from using their phones. A source told The Daily Mail: “Gillian believes that mobile phones pose a serious challenge in terms of distraction, disruptive behaviour, and bullying. It is one of the biggest issues that children and te...

Casualty figure in the road accident involving some students of the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, on Thursday rose from the initial three to six, following the death of another three passengers at the hospital where they were being treated after the crash. The PUNCH  earlier reported that three occupants of the bus travelling along Osogbo/Ifon/Oyo boundary road late on Wednesday were burnt to death in the road crash. But six other occupants were reportedly rescued by the operatives of Osun Ambulance Scheme that responded to the distress call from the scene of the accident which occurred near Ojutu Bridge, Ilobu. A resident of Okinni, identified as Adeyanju, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, said the driver of the bus conveying the victims had hit a commercial motorcyclist in the town, and was making attempt to escape the rage of some angry residents chasing after him. “Few meters from Ojutu Bridge, the driver lost control of the vehicle and the bus somersaul...

Terrorists have reportedly killed six persons in the Takanai community of Atyap Chiefdom in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.  The attack occurred on Tuesday night, September 26, 2023, barely five days after gunmen attacked a village in Kaura, killed a woman and kidnapped two of her children.   The acting Secretary to the District Head of the Community, Mr. Samson Markus, who confirmed the sad incident to  Punch  on Wednesday, said the terrorists invaded the village at around 7:pm and opened fire, killing four people in the same compound while two in another family.   According to Markus, two children were also victims of the deadly attack.   "We were going about our normal businesses when we heard gunshots, we thought it was the military at first until we saw it was the Fulanis who came in from Zango Urban,” Markus alleged.   Before the military arrived, they had succeeded in killing six persons, including 2 children....