US announces terrorism, drug charges against Venezuelan President, wife
The United States on Saturday announced terrorism and drugs charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This comes a few hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York. Bondi vowed in a...
Woman claims neighbours burnt her home over traditional beliefs in Kwara
A female practitioner of traditional religion in Ilorin, Kwara State, has accused her neighbours of deliberately setting her home on fire because of her religious beliefs. In a video shared online, the woman said she built the house legally and moved into the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, where some residents reportedly objected to her practice of traditional religion, known locally as...
Medical doctor, brother abducted in Edo
Two brothers, including a medical doctor, were kidnapped in Auchi, Edo North, Edo State, the police have confirmed. The victims — identified as Abu Ibrahim Babatunde, a doctor completing his housemanship at Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi, and his sibling Abu Tahir — were abducted on January 2, 2026, while trying to enter their home after work. The incident occurred at...
Resident doctors set to begin nationwide strike January 12
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that it will resume an indefinite nationwide strike on January 12, 2026, citing the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill previously agreed welfare commitments. The decision was reached during an Extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on January 2 and was revealed in a statement signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammed...
AFCON 2025: CAF appoints 29-year-old referee for Nigeria-Mozambique clash
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed match officials for Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 Round of 16 tie against Mozambique. The knockout encounter between the Super Eagles and the Mambas will be played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco on Monday. Centre referee Abdou Abdel Mefire, 29, will take charge of the match, making him the youngest referee at...
Troops arrest coordinator of Maiduguri Mosque attack
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a man identified as Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, who is suspected of coordinating a network behind recent bombing plots and attacks in the North-East. The Army announced the arrest in a statement on Friday, explaining that it followed an intelligence-led operation carried out on December 31, 2025, in the Kalmari area...
Boxing world buzzes over “Jake Paul curse” after opponents’ misfortunes
A viral online theory suggesting a “curse” on fighters who face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has gained traction after a string of unusual events involving some of his former opponents, with the latest tied to British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua. The idea resurfaced after Joshua, who knocked out Paul in a high-profile Netflix-streamed bout in Miami on December 19, 2025, was...
Funeral for Anthony Joshua’s friends set for Sunday at London Central Mosque
The funeral prayer (Janaza) for two of British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua’s close friends will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque. Sina Ghami and Abdul Latif “Latz” Ayodele, both members of Joshua’s training team and long-time companions, tragically lost their lives in a road accident in Nigeria on December 29, 2025. Their bodies were repatriated...
NiMet forecasts 3-day dust haze, sunshine nationwide
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and sunshine across the country from Saturday to Monday, January 5, 2026. NiMet announced this via its weather outlook released on Friday, January 2. The agency envisaged slight dust haze in parts of Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, and Sokoto States on Saturday. It predicted the remaining parts of the north to be...
Attacks surge across Northern Nigeria following U.S. air strikes
Armed groups have stepped up attacks across northern Nigeria after the United States carried out air strikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State. A review of security incidents by The Punch shows that between December 25, 2025, and January 2, 2026, at least 47 people were killed and 35 others abducted in attacks by bandits and fighters linked to...
