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The Nigerian Army says troops recorded major operational gains, including the interception of suspected logistics supplies, foiling terrorist attacks and rescuing kidnapped victims across theatres in the last 24 hours.

An operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday revealed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) intercepted a truck conveying large quantities of medical supplies suspected to be meant for terrorist elements in the North-East.

The report said the interception occurred at a checkpoint in Nguru, Yobe, where the driver initially presented a waybill for beverages and household items.

According to the report, a detailed search revealed hundreds of cartons of drugs, including antibiotics, injections, bandages and other medical items.

The report said the driver and three occupants were apprehended, adding that the suspect later confessed the consignment was bound for the Republic of Chad through Geidam.

“In a related development, troops arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorist in Ngamdu, Borno, who confessed he was sent from Jilli to procure food items for insurgents.

“The suspect disclosed that terrorists were currently converging around Gubio and Magumeri areas.

“Troops also arrested two suspected terrorist collaborators in Monguno, who were allegedly facilitating movement of a terrorist’s family members.

“Items recovered from them included mobile phones, cash and other personal effects, while a woman and her three children linked to a terrorist kingpin were later apprehended,” the report said.

It also revealed that troops foiled an attempted infiltration by terrorists in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno.

The report added that troops engaged the insurgents during an ambush, forcing them to flee and abandon weapons and other items, adding that follow-up operations led to the rescue of three kidnapped victims from a terrorist enclave.

“In Bama Local Government Area, troops destroyed a terrorist camp during clearance operations, forcing insurgents to withdraw under pressure.

“Similarly, troops of Operation Safe Haven recovered weapons from suspects during stop-and-search operations in Plateau.

“They also arrested a suspected gunrunner and rescued additional kidnapped victims in Bauchi following exploitation of earlier airstrikes.

“In the Federal Capital Territory, troops conducting anti-illegal mining operations raided a site in Gwagwalada, recovering mining equipment, while suspects fled,” it added.

In the Southern part of the country, the report said troops of Operation Delta Safe responded to a communal clash in Delta, restoring normalcy after one person was killed.

It said troops also intensified anti-illegal bunkering operations in Rivers, destroying illegal refining sites and recovering large volumes of stolen crude oil and refined products.

Military authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining offensive operations, disrupting logistics networks and ensuring security across the country. (NAN)

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Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has warned Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal that they will get ‘pumped’ by Manchester City if they set up to play for a draw.

Man City will host Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium after thrashing Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday.

Arsenal, on the other hand, were defeated 2-1 against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said, “If you [Arsenal] go there [Man City] and sit back like Liverpool did at PSG the other day, it’s slapsville.

“You are getting pumped. You can’t do that. Do you win leagues doing that?”

Arsenal currently sit at the top of the Premier League table with six points ahead of City. Guardiola’s side did have a game in hand.

EPL: You’ll get pumped, can’t do that against Man City – Rio Ferdinand warns Arsenal

The Federal Government has taken a step towards the rollout of a national food support initiative, with the activation of a steering committee to oversee its implementation across the country.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 12 2026, on the official page of the Federal Ministry of Health.

According to the statement, the committee held its inaugural meeting in Abuja as part of efforts to coordinate the National Community Food Bank Programme.

Speaking at the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate, urged members to focus on execution, stressing that the programme must deliver real impact for vulnerable Nigerians.

“This Committee must ensure that implementation is not only coordinated, but effective. This is not about meetings, but about results that improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.

It was further noted that an initiative of Oluremi Tinubu, is aimed at addressing malnutrition and strengthening food and nutrition support systems at the community level across the 774 local government areas.

The ministry explained that the committee comprises representatives from key government institutions, including ministries responsible for humanitarian affairs, agriculture, women affairs, and health, as well as relevant agencies.

According to the statement, the committee is expected to provide oversight, ensure coordination among stakeholders and track progress as the programme is implemented nationwide.

It added that the initiative will focus on improving nutrition outcomes and reducing vulnerability, particularly among underserved communities.

The Federal Government noted that the programme is scheduled for official flag-off in Borno later in April.

FG moves to launch food bank programme, sets up committee for nationwide rollout

A long truck conveying goods, on Sunday, crashed into a fence of a building in Osisioma, along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, resulting in the death of a male victim.

The male victim, according to residents of Osisioma, recently returned from an Asian country where he resides.

DAILY POST gathered that the driver of the truck loaded with goods, suddenly lost control on the expressway and rammed into the fence where it hit a motorcyclist and two other males.

The impact of the crash resulted in the death of one victim, while two other persons who were seriously injured were evacuated and rushed to the hospital by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Abia State Sector Command.

It is not yet established if the accident was caused by over speeding or break failure as a full official report is still being awaited from relevant agencies.

When contacted by DAILY POST for confirmation, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Abia State Sector Command, Ngozi Ezeoma said the sad event happened.

“Yes. The truck rammed into the fence and hit an Okada man.

“Three male adults were involved and one died”, she said.

Abroad-based man crushed as truck rams into building in Aba

The immediate past chairman of Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Hon. Shehu Sule Udi, has defected to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

DAILY POST reports that Udi, a close ally of former Jigawa State Governor and ex-Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a deviation from the party’s founding ideals as the reason for his decision.

His subsequent defection was contained in a statement made available to DAILY POST, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the current direction of his former political platform at the local, state and national levels.

Declaring his new political affiliation, Udi stated: “I, Hon. Shehu Sule Udi, hereby formally and publicly declare that I have officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

“I make this declaration with full conviction and commitment to the party’s vision and principles.”

He also pledged his loyalty and active participation in advancing the party’s agenda, particularly in promoting democratic development and good governance.

Udi’s defection, however, has generate reactions in Ringim Local Government, where he is widely regarded as a strong grassroots mobiliser.

Political observers note that his move is a significant boost to the ADC, given his established political structure and influence among voters at the community level.

They also suggest that Udi’s entry into the ADC may attract more defections, particularly his supporters, expanding the ADC’s reach beyond Ringim.

However, some members of his former party have downplayed the impact of his exit, insisting that the party remains strong and will continue to retain its dominance in the local government.

Jigawa council chairman dumps APC, joins ADC

Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears for energy supplies from the Middle East.

Negotiations in Islamabad at the weekend fell apart with the US delegation — led by Vice President JD Vance — blaming Iran’s refusal to give up its nuclear programme and Tehran hitting out at “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade”.

The news dealt a blow to hopes for an end to the six-week conflict, which has sent crude prices soaring, pushing inflation up and sending shivers through the global economy.

Oil prices — which tumbled last week after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire — jumped more than eight percent at one point Monday, with both contracts topping $100 a barrel.

Equities fell, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney, Mumbai, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta well down, though Shanghai edged up.

London, Paris and Frankfurt opened on the back foot.

Shares in Hungary jumped more than three percent after conservative Peter Magyar won a thumping majority in parliamentary elections Sunday, ousting Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had ruled for 16 years.

In a lengthy social media post, President Trump said his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping.

But he said Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway — through which a fifth of global oil and gas usually passes.

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”

He said the blockade would only apply to vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports.

The US military said it would blockade all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT, effectively seizing control of maritime traffic.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said its security forces had full control over the strait and warned enemies would be trapped in a “deadly vortex” in case of any “wrong move”.

Iran’s navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump’s threat “ridiculous and funny”, according to state TV.

After the talks — the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution — Vance said Washington had made Tehran its “final and best offer,” adding: “We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the rivals had been “inches away” from a deal, writing on X that “Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war”.

But he added “we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade”.

Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at the Center for International Research at Sciences Po in Paris, warned that a US blockade was “not a minor coercive signal” but would rather be considered an effective resumption of the war.

Malcolm Melville, of Schroders, warned that even if a breakthrough in ending the war is eventually made, prices would likely remain elevated for some time.

“While shipping levels could return to normal quickly, it will take weeks or even months for production levels to return to normal given the 10 million barrels a day of shut-in production and damage to some facilities,” he wrote.

“This should mean that front-month oil prices (i.e. oil for near-term delivery) are unlikely to fall to pre-conflict levels quickly. The uncertainty about when production will return should support prices.”

Still, Saxo Markets’ Charu Chanana added: “It was always a tall order to secure a deal in one sitting given the number of sticking points still on the table, including missiles, nuclear restrictions, proxy dynamics, the Strait of Hormuz, and sanctions.

“The fact the talks happened at all matters. There is still a chance negotiations restart, especially with some reports suggesting the two sides were not far apart on at least some points.”

Investors are also keeping an eye on attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was pushing to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

“We will continue to work to stop this war, to ensure the Israeli withdrawal from all our lands, the return of all the prisoners, to rebuild our destroyed villages and towns, and the safe return of the displaced,” Salam said.

The prospect of the Middle East crisis continuing for the foreseeable future ramped up inflation fears and weighed on gold amid expectations interest rates would be kept elevated.

Data Friday highlighted the impact of the conflict on prices, with the US consumer price index spiking at 3.3 percent in March, its highest since May last year.

– Key figures at around 0715 GMT –

West Texas Intermediate: UP 7.4 percent at $103.69 a barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 6.9 percent at $101.78 a barrel

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 56,502.77 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.2 percent at 25,587.30

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,988.56 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 10,544,99

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1679 from $1.1728 on Friday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3406 from $1.3463

Dollar/yen: UP at 159.72 yen from 159.19 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 87.13 pence from 87.11 pence

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Stakeholders in Okpoga have formally demanded the opportunity to produce the next member of the House of Representatives for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in 2027, also known as Enone, citing decades of political exclusion.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a Town Hall Meeting convened by the Okpoga Now Movement at Ugwu Okpoga.

In the communiqué, participants resolved unanimously that it is the turn of Okpoga to occupy the federal legislative seat, stressing that the demand is anchored on equity, fairness and justice.

The stakeholders noted that since the return to democratic governance in 1999, Okpoga, despite being the administrative headquarters of the constituency, has not produced a representative in the Green Chambers, describing the situation as a long-standing imbalance that must be corrected.

The communiqué further highlighted that the meeting had in attendance key political actors and aspirants across party lines, including Richard Ejoha, Anthony Agom, John-Mary Idoko, Ralph Otobo Odoh and Okoriko Abah, all of whom supported the call for an Okpoga candidate to emerge in 2027.

Stakeholders also used the opportunity to appeal to other communities within Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas to support the aspiration in the interest of unity, inclusiveness and political balance.

“We call on all stakeholders to remain resolute and prepared to reconvene after the party primaries in order to collectively support and rally behind candidates of Okpoga extraction who emerge victorious across party lines.

“We must not forget that our strength lies in our unity, and our success depends on the ability to speak and act with one voice. Let us use this medium to humbly appeal to our fellow brothers and sisters across Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas to support this noble aspiration in the interest of love and unity,” the communique read in part.

As part of resolutions reached, the Okpoga Now Movement was adopted as the platform to drive the 2027 ambition, with a call on sons and daughters of the community, both at home and in the diaspora, to commence grassroots mobilization ahead of party primaries.

The communiqué urged stakeholders to remain united and to rally behind any Okpoga candidate who emerges victorious at the primaries, irrespective of political affiliation.

The statement was signed by Hon. Omaga Omaga, Convener of the Okpoga Now Movement and former Leader of the Okpokwu Local Government Legislative Council.

Benue 2027: Okpoga demands Reps seat, cites years of exclusion

A six-year-old girl, identified as Mutiyat Sunday, has been murdered in cold blood with her head severed in Adigun village, Olorunda Ogunsola area of Ibadan, Oyo State. Her death was confirmed in a statement by the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka, in Ibadan on Sunday. The statement disclosed that a 23-year-old man […]

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has approached the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the reassignment of his ongoing case from Justice R. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
In a petition dated April 9, 2026, El-Rufai called for the case to be reassigned to another judge within the Kaduna division, expressing concerns over what he described as bias and questionable judicial conduct. He argued that allowing Justice Aikawa to continue presiding over the matter would be inconsistent with legal and ethical standards.

The former governor stated that several petitions accusing the judge of bias are currently pending before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

According to him, the circumstances surrounding the case including its connection to earlier proceedings involving the same parties and similar issues make reassignment necessary. He also pointed to what he termed an “unavoidable perception of bias”, stressing that such a perception alone could weaken confidence in the judicial process.

El-Rufai warned that proceeding with the current arrangement could damage the credibility of the judiciary and potentially invalidate the trial at the appellate stage, after causing significant personal consequences.

He maintained that the matter should either have been assigned to a different judge from the outset or referred for reassignment once concerns were raised.

He urged the CJN to direct the immediate transfer of the case to another judge within or outside the Kaduna division. He also asked that issues raised in the petition, including the conduct of Justice Aikawa, be referred to the appropriate body within the NJC for review.

He further appealed for administrative steps to ensure the integrity of the trial and sustain public trust in the justice system.

There has been no official reaction from the CJN or relevant judicial authorities to the petition as of the time of filing this report.

El-Rufai seeks transfer of trial from presiding judge, Aikawa

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has raised concerns over the integrity of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, if an alleged X account linked to him turns out to be his after his denial.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adebayo said the controversy goes beyond technical arguments and touches on public trust in the electoral umpire.

“If it is traced to him and he denies it, then it raises questions about integrity,” he said.

He explained that while digital content can be manipulated, modern forensic tools make it possible to determine the true ownership of online accounts.

“It is well known that in the digital space, you could manipulate anything, but there is forensic tracing of identity,” Adebayo stated.

According to him, the issue can be resolved either through the courts or a legislative inquiry by the National Assembly.

“It is either someone will go to court to challenge his qualification on grounds of partisanship and present evidence or the National Assembly will conduct an investigation, possibly through its INEC committees,” he added.

The former presidential candidate, however, clarified that even if the account is proven to belong to Amupitan, it does not automatically disqualify him from office under the law.

“The requirement is that at the time of appointment, you should not be a member of any political party. It does not mean you could not have been a member in the past or that you did not vote. Someone who voted in 2023 can still become INEC chairman in 2025,” he said.

Adebayo stressed that the key issue remains honesty and public confidence in the electoral body.

“In a simple matter like this, if you are already lying to the public and we are to trust you with determining election outcomes, then it becomes a question of integrity,” he added.

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