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Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnap victim found in chains inside the notorious Fafu Forest and dismantled terror hideouts during ongoing clearance operations in Katsina State.

The Army disclosed this in a statement on Friday, June 19, 2026.

According to the statement, troops of the Operation CLEAN SWEEP intensified offensives in Katsina State, with units from 17 Brigade and 8 Division Special Forces clearing terrorist strongholds around Tuga in Matazu LGA. 

Backed by intelligence, surveillance and air strikes from Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the forces recovered 36 cattle, 280 sheep and 2 donkeys, cutting off a key revenue source for the criminal groups. 

Pushing into the notorious Fafu Forest, troops destroyed several terrorist camps and logistics sites after coordinated aerial and artillery bombardments. 

During exploitation, they found a hideout linked to a notorious terrorist leader, recovering two bodies and rescuing one k!dnapped victim, Nura Yar’Adua, who was found in chains. 

He received first aid and was evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina.

United States President, Donald Trump, has unveiled a new Air Force One aircraft gifted to him by Qatar as a replacement for the older one, which has ferried US presidents over the years.

President Trump did the unveiling on Friday.

“The Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will commence its initial commissioning flights, marking the successful delivery of a secure, modified executive platform,” the US Air Force said.

Qatar’s gift of the aircraft, which is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has raised some concerns and Trump has previously said it would be ‘stupid’ to reject the gift.

He has also fixated on replacing the aircraft, which have been in service since the 1990s, since his first term.

DAILY POST recalls that officials at the White House on Thursday bade farewell to a jet that has carried US presidents around the world for 35 years, describing it as a ‘good servant’.

Watch video

Trump unveils new Air Force One jet gifted him by Qatar (VIDEO)

Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz again, citing a continued presence of United States forces in the region and Israel’s refusal to pull forces out of southern Lebanon.

According to a New York Post report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the US was in violation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed on Wednesday, June 17.

“Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,” it said. 

“All ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. 

Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted.”

Recently, there were reports of an increase in the number of violent killings and unnatural deaths in the Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. Detectives from the state police command have, however, traced the killings to 49-year-old Ignatius Akaniyene, who claimed to be avenging the deaths of his parents and brother, who died […]

The post I am avenging the deaths of my parents, brother —Cross River alleged serial killer appeared first on Tribune Online.

Voters in Ekiti State will head to the polls today, Saturday, June 20, 2026, to select a governor for another four-year term in an off-cycle governorship election.

As announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, residents of the state have collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, essential for casting a ballot in the election.

The latest figures from INEC indicate that 97.1 percent of registered voters in the state have obtained their PVCs and are eligible to participate in the voting process today, Saturday.

Out of a total of 1,059,360 registered voters, 1,028,929 have collected their PVCs, leaving 30,431 PVCs unclaimed.

The frontline candidates seeking for the 1,028,929 votes include the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, flag-bearer, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who aims to secure another four-year term, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Oluwadare Bejide from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Other candidates in the race are Opeyemi Falegan from Accord, Oyebanji Olajuyin from the Labour Party, Blessing Abegunde from the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Bidemi Awogbemi from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Ayodeji Ojo from the Action Democratic Party, ADP, Samuel Akande from the African Action Congress, AAC, Olaniyi Ayodele from the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, Victor Adetunji from the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, and Olu Omotoso from the Action Alliance.

Also contesting are Joseph Anifowose from the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and Ayodele Osinkolu from the Young Progressive Party.

However, the contest is anticipated to be between the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and the ADC candidate, Oluwadare Bejide.

Stay tuned on this thread for updates and live results from the governorship election.

Ekiti Decides: Live Updates, Results from governorship election

The acting leadership of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, Abia State chapter has distanced itself from a 7-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission over the recent posting out of three staff members to other offices.

The posting out of Abia PASAN Chairman, Sunday Kalu and two of his colleagues, Ugochukwu Ucheka and Joseph Okwudiri, had attracted the 7-day ultimatum from the NLC.

But reacting to the Abia NLC’s ultimatum, the acting leadership of PASAN in the State, rejected the ultimatum, saying that the NLC did not consult or got its consent before issuing such ultimatum.

The acting Chairman of PASAN, Anthony Nwaobilor and the Public Relations Officer, Loveday Adiele in a statement on the matter, warned the NLC, Abia State chapter, against taking any action that may ignite industrial crises in the Abia State House of Assembly.

According to the acting PASAN leadership, a Congress of the association was held to replace the former staff of the Abia State House of Assembly who had proceeded on leave, during which the former Vice Chairman, Anthony Nwaobilor was elected as the acting Chairman.

The parliamentary staff association of Nigeria stated that the election of the acting leadership was in line with its constitution and should not be attracting undue interference from the NLC State council.

“The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) Abia State ,chapter shall resist any attempt by either the NLC, Abia State chapter or any other person/group to distort the peace and cause industrial disharmony in the Abia State House of Assembly”, the association said.

The acting PASAN executive further announced the immediate suspension of the treasurer of PASAN in the State, Nneoma Johnson and directed her to hand over her roles to the Financial Secretary.

But reaffirming NLC’s 7-day ultimatum to the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Abia State, Okoro Ogbonnaya condemned the posting out of the three parliamentary staff.

The NLC Chairman berated the acting PASAN executive for rejecting the ultimatum, alleged that three parliamentary staff that were posted out of Abia State House of Assembly, were uncompromisingly fighting for the general welfare of the entire PASAN members before they were posted to other offices.

Industrial crisis looms in Abia as PASAN leadership, NLC clash over 7-day ultimatum 

The High Court of Sierra Leone has handed down one of the country’s heaviest narcotics sentences, convicting a 37-year-old South African national to a cumulative 130 years in prison for cocaine smuggling.

Honourable Justice Andrew S.C. Johnson found the defendant, Asandra Denise, guilty on a five-count drug indictment.

However, in a key sentencing decision, the judge ordered that all five sentences run concurrently, meaning she will serve a maximum of 30 years, calculated from the date she was first remanded in custody.

According to court records, Denise, a resident of Nenvonds in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, was arrested at Freetown International Airport in Lungi after security operatives discovered her in possession of 365 pellets of compressed cocaine weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms.

She pleaded not guilty to charges including unlawful possession, dealing, collecting, importing and transporting of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.

The Military Pension Board, MPB, has warned military retirees and their families to be alert to fraudulent schemes aimed at stealing their personal and banking information under the pretext of processing pension benefits.

The board raised concerns over what it described as an identity theft operation targeting pensioners and next of kin across the country.

According to the board, fraudsters posing as pension officials and agents have been attempting to obtain sensitive information such as Bank Verification Numbers, BVNs, National Identification Numbers, NINs, bank account details and ATM card information from unsuspecting retirees.

In a statement issued by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Mohammed, the Military Pension Board disclosed that it had received several reports involving individuals requesting confidential information from pensioners.

“The Board has received reports that some individuals are demanding personal details such as Bank Verification Numbers, National Identification Numbers, bank account details, ATM card information and other confidential data,” the statement said.

The board strongly advised pensioners not to disclose such information to unauthorised individuals, groups or online platforms.

It stressed that the Military Pension Board does not engage third parties to collect personal or banking information for the processing of pensions, gratuities, loans or other related benefits.

“The Military Pensions Board does not engage third parties to collect pensioners’ personal or banking information for the purpose of processing loans, pension payments, gratuities or any other benefits,” the statement added.

The board urged retirees and their relatives to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious requests or activities to the appropriate authorities.

It also warned that any request for sensitive information from unofficial sources should be treated with caution to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.

MPB raises alarm as fraudsters target pensioners’ BVN, bank details

The Ewuare II of Benin has summoned native doctors, traditional priests and priestesses to an emergency meeting over the growing insecurity in Edo State and other parts of the country.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by Chief Victor Nosakhare on behalf of the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor.

According to the statement, the meeting is scheduled to hold at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City.

The palace stated that the gathering was convened on the instruction of Oba Ewuare II and should be treated as a matter of urgent importance.

It explained that the meeting is intended to explore traditional approaches that could support ongoing government efforts to address insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Benin Traditional Council also announced plans to meet with youth leaders, popularly known as Okaighele, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the same venue and time.

The development highlights increasing involvement of traditional institutions in efforts to support security agencies amid rising cases of kidnapping and cult-related violence in the state.

Oba of Benin summons native doctors over rising insecurity

Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has lamented the team’s poor start in the qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria have now failed to participate in two consecutive tournaments since their last appearance in 2018 in Russia.

The three-time African champions are absent despite 10 countries representing the continent.

After the qualifiers, Nigeria finished second in a group that had South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Benin.

Eric Chelle’s men then lost to DR Congo in the play-offs.

“I also think about how Nigeria hasn’t participated since 2018,” Rohr told Footy Africa.

“I believe this is because when we faced them in the group stage, even though they had great individual players with immense quality, they simply didn’t play like a team early on and dropped too many points.”

“It is truly a pity that major players like Osimhen, Chukwueze, and Lookman are not here to be seen. For me, it’s a pity.”

2026 World Cup: It’s a pity Osimhen, Lookman not there – Rohr