Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Al-Qaeda Affiliate Claims Attack On Benin Military Post Near Nigerian Border. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) has claimed responsibility for a bold attack on a Beninese military post in Basso, a town in Benin’s Borgou region, just 15 kilometres from Nigeria’s border near Babana and communities surrounding Kainji National Park in Kwara and Niger states. The assault, which occurred on 12 June, has raised fresh concerns about the spillover of jihadist violence from the Sahel into West Africa’s coastal states. JNIM, in a statement issued in Arabic, claimed it seized “control” of the military post,…

Oil Prices Surge To  $74 Per Barrel Amid Israel-Iran Tensions. Global oil prices soared to a four-month high of $74 per barrel on Friday, 13 June, following Israel’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, raising fears of potential disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies. The 7% spike in Brent crude, the international benchmark, from $69 to $74.23 per barrel, marked the largest single-day gain since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 7.6% to $72.98 per barrel. The escalation began early Friday when Israel launched a series of airstrikes…

Israel Shuts Diplomatic Missions Globally Amid Escalating Tensions With Iran. Israel has temporarily closed all its diplomatic missions worldwide, including embassies and consulates, following its large-scale military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The unprecedented move, which has suspended consular services for Israeli citizens abroad, comes as tensions soar after Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the closure of all diplomatic posts, urging Israelis overseas to register their location and status via an online form and to contact…

Nigeria’s Oil Production Dips Slightly But Remains Strong At 97% Of OPEC Quota. Nigeria’s oil production experienced a modest 2% decline in May, falling to 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1.48 million bpd in April, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Despite the slight drop, the country continues to perform robustly, achieving 97% of its 1.5 million bpd quota set by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), reinforcing its position as a key player in global oil markets. The NUPRC reported that May’s average daily production, including condensate, reached 1,657,435 bpd, comprising 1,452,941…

Aviation Minister Orders Probe Into Air Peace And Oshiomhole Airport Dispute. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has intervened in a high-profile dispute between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, ordering a thorough investigation into an altercation at Murtala Muhammed Airport’s domestic terminal in Lagos. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 11 June, has drawn widespread attention, prompting Keyamo to call for calm and a fair review of the matter. The confrontation reportedly began when Senator Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, missed a scheduled Air Peace flight (P47120) to Abuja. According to Air Peace, the senator arrived…

Nigerian Forces Make Key Arrests In Borno And Delta Operations. Nigerian security forces have achieved significant breakthroughs in their ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and maintain public order, with notable arrests made in Borno and Delta states. In Borno, troops from Operation Hadin Kai apprehended a Chinese national alongside five others during a counter-terrorism operation conducted between 5 and 7 June. The operations targeted suspected terrorist collaborators in Kukawa and Ngala Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno, as well as Geidam LGA in Yobe. Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed the arrests during a press…

Tragedy In Onitsha As  Security Operatives’ Stray Bullet Kills Teenager. A wave of grief and outrage has swept through Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State following the tragic death of a 17-year-old boy, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by operatives of the state-backed Agunechemba security outfit. The incident, which occurred on Thursday at Ifejike Street near the bustling Biafra Market, has prompted the arrest of two operatives and sparked calls for justice from residents and traders. According to eyewitness accounts, the teenager was sitting on a culvert near the Nwangene Drainage, possibly…

Canada Returnee Jailed For Three Months After Assaulting Lagos KAI Officer. A 52-year-old Canadian returnee, Morufudeen Idowu, has been sentenced to three months in prison for assaulting an official of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, commonly known as KAI, during a routine enforcement operation at Ojota. The conviction, handed down by a Magistrate Court in Bolade, Oshodi, on Friday, 13 June 2025, follows Idowu’s guilty plea for crossing the Ojota Expressway illegally, resisting arrest, and attacking a KAI officer, causing bodily injuries. The incident occurred when KAI officials, tasked with enforcing Lagos State’s pedestrian safety regulations, confronted Idowu…

Kenneth Okonkwo Accuses Peter Obi Of Betrayal, Signals Political Shift Ahead Of 2027 Elections. Veteran Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has publicly accused Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, of betraying him, reigniting tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape. In a fiery statement shared on social media platform X on 13 June 2025, Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the LP’s presidential campaign, expressed disillusionment with Obi’s leadership, claiming it has derailed his vision for a new Nigeria. The remarks, made during an interview on Voice of the People 90.3 FM, have sparked widespread debate as the nation…

Tinubu’s Reforms Rescued Nigeria’s Economy From Collapse, Says Soludo, But Challenges Remain. Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo has praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, crediting them with saving Nigeria from the brink of economic collapse. Speaking at The Platform, a policy and leadership forum hosted by The Covenant Nation in Lagos on Thursday, 12 June 2025, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor described the reforms as “audacious” and essential for stabilising a critically ailing economy. However, he cautioned that significant challenges lie ahead in achieving sustainable growth. Soludo, addressing a high-profile audience that included former INEC Chairman…

PANDEF Applauds Tinubu For Honouring Ken Saro-Wiwa, Urges Restoration Of Democratic Order In Rivers. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has lauded President Bola Tinubu for his decision to grant national honours and a full state pardon to the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists, collectively known as the Ogoni Nine. The announcement, made on Democracy Day, marks a significant step towards acknowledging the sacrifices of these figures, who were executed nearly three decades ago under the military regime of Sani Abacha. In a statement issued on Friday by PANDEF’s National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali,…

Sowore Vows To Sue Tinubu Over National Honour Listing, Rejects Any Recognition. Prominent activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, vowing to take legal action for defamation if his name is included in any national honours list. The statement, made on Friday, 13 June 2025, via Sowore’s social media handles, comes amid speculation about potential recipients of Nigeria’s prestigious national awards in 2025. The outspoken critic of the Tinubu administration made it clear he would not only reject any such honour but also pursue legal redress, describing any attempt to include him as…