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One week after kidnappers overran their community, 37 abducted residents of Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State are still in captivity.

DAILY POST recalls that on Sunday, April 5, 2026, during Easter celebrations, bandits invaded two churches in Ariko community, killed five worshippers, and abducted 37 others.

A Facebook user, Mr Reuben Buhari, former Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, wrote on his verified Facebook page on Sunday: “Today marks seven days since 37 people were kidnapped from their church in Ariko, Kachia LGA, on Easter Sunday; 37 of our people, mostly women and children, went to church wearing their Sunday best, preparing to finish church and rush home to eat the special food cooked for Easter, but ended up being kidnapped from inside their church, and are now sleeping in the bush, hungry, scared, and depressed.

“They are Gloria Hosea, Fibi Ezekiel, Ladi Aminu, Ladi Danlami, Lami Audu, Ahmadu Dandoka, Sunday Alhaji, Helen Waziri, Jummai Jacob, Tanimu Atete, Dandy Shehu, Stephen Dandy, Victoria Simeon, Toma Simeon, Akwa Simeon, Blessing Simeon, Lami Tanko, Alice Tanko, Lewis Ezekiel, Edward Ezekiel, Elisheba Ezekiel, Mary Sunday, Alheri Bitrus, Hadeza Garba, Rahab Ibrahim, Juliet Ibrahim, Anna Bako, Geoffrey Jacob, Mamah Sunday, Lami Bahago, Dorcas Simeon, Joy Irimiya, Frances Tanko, Doka Auta, Joy Simeon, Faith Sunday, and Abigail Sunday.

“Please pray for them and for others kidnapped from other communities in Kachia LGA.”

37 remain in captivity after Kaduna church attack

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the United States Navy to begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following a breakdown in talks with Iran over its nuclear programme.

In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, Trump said negotiations had made progress on several issues but failed to resolve what he described as the “only point that really mattered” — Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Effective immediately, the United States Navy… will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump declared, describing the move as a response to what he called “world extortion.”

The U.S. president accused Iran of creating uncertainty in the vital oil transit route by suggesting that naval mines may have been deployed in the waters, a claim he said was being used to intimidate global shipping.

Trump further disclosed that U.S. forces had been instructed to interdict vessels in international waters suspected of paying tolls to Iran for safe passage, warning that such ships would not be guaranteed protection.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said, adding that American forces would also begin clearing mines allegedly placed in the strait.

The statement also carried a stark military warning, with Trump threatening decisive retaliation against any Iranian action targeting U.S. forces or commercial vessels.

“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be blown to hell,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but strategically critical passage linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, handles a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments.

Any disruption to traffic through the waterway is expected to have immediate implications for global energy prices and international trade.

Trump indicated that other countries would be involved in enforcing the blockade, although he did not name them.

He maintained that the U.S. would not allow Iran to benefit from what he described as an “illegal act of extortion.”

Iranian authorities have yet to issue an official response to the announcement as of the time of filing this report.

The escalation marks a significant heightening of tensions in the region, raising concerns among global powers about the risk of a broader military confrontation and its potential impact on already fragile geopolitical stability.

Heartland head coach Emmanuel Amuneke, has reacted on his team’s failure to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

Amuneke said that they will reflect on their performance in the season and build on the successes for the next campaign.

Heartland beat Crown FC 1-0 in the final game of the 2025-26 NNL season.

The Naze Millionaires recorded 27 points from 16 matches.

“We will go back and reflect on our performance throughout the season before we can move forward,” Amuneke told Puyaka.

“We will continue to rely on the process in other to achieve our objectives in the future.”

NNL: Amuneke reflects on Heartland’s failed promotion bid

The United States has commended the Nigerian government for expediting terrorism-related trials, following the conviction of hundreds of suspects in a special court process in Abuja.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, praised the development, describing it as a significant step toward justice and accountability.

“The United States commends the Nigerian government for its strong commitment to expediting trials addressing terrorism and related crimes,” the statement read.

“We welcome the convictions of 386 Islamist militants in cases that had previously faced significant delays in the courts, and we recognize this as an important step toward accountability and justice.”

The U.S. official emphasised the importance of efficient and transparent judicial processes in tackling insecurity and strengthening public confidence in the legal system.

“We believe that timely and transparent legal processes are critical in confronting extremism and reinforcing public trust in judicial institutions,” the statement added.

“Upholding the rule of law remains essential to ensuring the safety, stability, and long-term security of all Nigerians, and we support continued efforts to strengthen judicial efficiency and fairness across the country.”

The commendation follows remarks by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who disclosed on Friday that 386 terrorism suspects were convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja during a four-day mass trial.

According to Fagbemi, the convicts were among 508 defendants prosecuted by his office, representing a conviction rate of about two-thirds.

The trials were conducted as part of efforts by the federal government to address the backlog of terrorism cases and accelerate justice delivery in matters relating to national security.

The post Terrorism: US commends FG over convictions of 386 Islamist militants appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, has announced a new date for the matchday 34 fixture involving El-Kanemi Warriors and Nasarawa United.

The encounter which was initially scheduled for Sunday 12th April will now take place on Tuesday 14th April, 2026.

According to the NPFL, the match was postponed due to flight schedule complications.

The match will be staged at the El-Kanemi Sports centre in Maiduguri.

El-Kanemi Warriors will be aiming to end their six-game winless run in the league.

The Borno Army are three points above the relegation zone.

Nasarawa United will look to take advantage of the hosts’ poor form as they push to return to winning ways after last weekend’s home loss to Kun Khalifat FC.

NPFL reschedules El-Kanemi Warriors vs Nasarawa United to April 14

Birmingham severely dented Wrexham’s hopes of finishing in the Championship play-offs with a 2-0 win against the Welsh side on Sunday.

The Red Dragons’ hopes of an unprecedented fourth straight promotion are under serious threat after a second straight defeat left them four points behind sixth-placed Hull with four games to play.

The top two teams in the second-tier Championship go up to the Premier League automatically, with the sides from third to sixth battling it out for the final promotion spot.

A string of first-half saves from Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo kept the home side at bay but he could not prevent Carlos Vicente from nodding in his third goal for the club since joining in January.

Christoph Klarer stabbed in a second in the second half to seal the points for Birmingham, who had lost three matches in a row.

Wrexham were toothless in attack and failed to register a shot on target against a dominant Birmingham team, who climbed to 15th in the table.

Vanguard News

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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, will on April 24, elect Salimon Akanni Oladiti as its new President.

This comes as Williams Akporeha, the incumbent President, announced his exit at the weekend while speaking at the Quarterly National Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch, PTD-NUPENG, held in Warri, Delta State.

Oladiti, who is the former Chairman of the PTD-NUPENG and current National Trustee of the union, will be named the new NUPENG President during an election fixed for Lagos.

His emergence would mark the first time in the history of the union that a member of the PTD branch of NUPENG would be crowned as President.

At the meeting, the Zonal Chairman of the PTD-NUPENG Port Harcourt, Comrade Joseph Okafor, moved the motion for the unanimous ratification of Comrade Oladiti for the office of President of NUPENG, and it was seconded by Comrade Adekunle Akinlaja of the Lagos Zone.

In his remarks, Akporeha thanked members of the PTD branch who stood by him during his eight-year tenure.

He declared that his support for a member of the tanker drivers branch to succeed him as NUPENG President was borne out of conviction, submitting that he needed to reward their loyalty and confidence in his leadership.

He said, “Eight years ago, you stood by me in this same room. You didn’t only stand by me; you supported me. When things were tough, you were there through all the challenges.

“I want to appreciate all of you. If I stand to support one of your own as president, I have no apology. If I had done anything otherwise, my conscience would have troubled me. God used you to install me.”

NUPENG set to elect Oladiti as President after Akporeha announces exit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering support to help ease tensions in the Middle East after talks between the United States and Iran broke down.

According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed his willingness to help find a peaceful solution.

“Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to further facilitate the search for a political and diplomatic settlement to the conflict, and to mediate efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” the statement said.

The development follows the withdrawal of the entire US negotiating team from discussions held in Islamabad.

A US official confirmed that no representatives remained in Pakistan to continue any behind-the-scenes talks.

Officials said the delegation, which included top negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, left after prolonged meetings failed to produce any meaningful progress.

During a stopover in Germany, another US official travelling with Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that no team members stayed behind, despite earlier expectations that negotiations might continue.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, blamed the US for the failure of the talks, saying it did not do enough to build trust.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation put forward constructive initiatives, but the other side was unable to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation,” he said in a post on X.

Putin offers mediation as US–Iran talks collapse

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State has intensified moves to woo the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the weekend arrested a 93-year-old man and a 69-year-old medical doctor among other suspects during a nationwide crackdown on drug cartels.

Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the operations were intelligence-led and carried out across several states.

In one operation, a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was arrested at his home in Abia State, where 7.7kg of skunk was recovered. He reportedly admitted long-term use before turning to the trade.

The agency also arrested an Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 1.49kg of cocaine. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of a 69-year-old doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in Ogun State, with drugs recovered from him.

In Ogun, three suspects were arrested with 34kg of skunk, while a female suspect was caught with 56.2kg in Imo State.

NDLEA operatives in Niger State arrested a couple with 118kg of skunk in their home, while in Borno, large quantities of Rohypnol, codeine syrup and injections were intercepted, leading to another arrest.

In Lagos, operatives intercepted 15kg of “Loud” cannabis in a commercial bus and seized 26,800 bottles of codeine syrup in another operation, arresting multiple suspects.

A raid in Abuja led to the arrest of eight suspects and seizure of over 11kg of skunk.

In Edo State, two trucks carrying a combined 7,245kg of skunk were intercepted, with five suspects arrested.

NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued nationwide, targeting schools and communitie

Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across commands for the arrests and seizures.