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Terrorists attack Christians, Muslims in Nigeria—Trump mulls additional US military strike

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Former United States President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States might conduct additional military strikes in Nigeria if attacks against Christian communities persist.

Trump made the comments in a January interview with The New York Times, following a joint US–Nigeria military operation on Christmas Day that targeted Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria.

The December 25 airstrikes, described by both Washington and Abuja as coordinated counterterrorism actions against extremist groups in Sokoto State, were framed by Trump as efforts to protect Christians. The Nigerian government has rejected claims that the violence is solely religiously motivated, emphasizing that Islamist insurgents and bandit groups have killed both Muslims and Christians across the country’s long-running security crisis.

Trump reiterated his assertion that Christians have been disproportionately targeted, even while acknowledging that Muslims have also been victims. He warned that further violence against Christian communities could prompt repeated US military action.

“I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump said.

The US president acknowledged that Muslims were also victims but insisted that Christians were being targeted disproportionately.

“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he said.

The Christmas Day strikes were part of wider security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, but questions remain about their strategic impact and the accuracy of targeting extremist factions. Meanwhile, attacks by militant groups continue to affect civilians in multiple regions, highlighting the complexity of Nigeria’s broader security challenges.

 

 

Legal missteps – HURIWA rejects Fubara’s impeachment plot, gives reasons

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Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has rejected the renewed moves by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the threat as reckless, unconstitutional, and a grave danger to peace and democratic stability in the state.

HURIWA said the impeachment plot, reportedly driven by lawmakers, now APC members, was politically perverse and morally indefensible. It alleged that the legislators were acting on the prompting of a non-APC member, Wike.

The group warned that such a contradiction exposed the exercise as a proxy war rather than a constitutionally grounded oversight process.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA called on Tinubu to urgently intervene to stop what it described as a manufactured crisis. It insisted that the president, as leader of the ruling party and custodian of national stability, must not allow political manoeuvring to plunge Rivers State into avoidable turmoil.

HURIWA stressed that allowing an impeachment to proceed under such circumstances would embolden political lawlessness and weaken democratic institutions nationwide.

It urged the APC leadership to immediately issue a 24-hour ultimatum to the Assembly members to withdraw the impeachment threat or face disciplinary measures, including dismissal from the party, arguing that party discipline and constitutional order must prevail over factional interests and external interference.

The group maintained that the impeachment threat failed basic constitutional tests, stating that impeachment is a serious remedy reserved for proven gross misconduct and not a tool for political vendetta.

It said there had been no transparent, credible or lawful process establishing any impeachable offence against Fubara, warning that due process cannot be replaced by political theatrics without dire consequences for democracy and the rule of law.

HURIWA also appealed to Chief Judge of Rivers State to resist any pressure to endorse or facilitate an impeachment process that was tainted by controversy and lacked constitutional merit. It cautioned that the judiciary must remain a bulwark against political abuse rather than an instrument for legitimising it.

Impeachment Not corrective, It’s Political misadventure APC Progressive Mandate Group called for the immediate cessation of impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, describ-ing it as constitutionally flawed, politically motivated, and a direct affront to the peace accord personally brokered by Tinubu.

In a statement issued by Ayodele Alonge, the group warned that the impeachment, already initiated in the Rivers State House of Assembly, was being conducted on a faulty legal line and must be suspended to prevent further destabilisation of the state.

The statement said, “The ongoing impeachment proceedings are fundamentally flawed and lack the constitutional and procedural grounding required for such a serious action.

“More than a legal misstep, this is an affront on the office of the president, who personally mediated the peace between Governor Fubara, Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“It undermines the painstakingly restored harmony that Nigerians witnessed last year.”

Impeachment proceedings were first initiated against Fubara by the Assembly in October 2023 over alleged gross misconduct. But it was dropped following a meeting called by Tinubu, where he tried to broker peace between the governor and Wike.

The Assembly commenced another impeachment process against the governor and his deputy in March 2025, which, however, ended after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending both the executive and legislative arms of the government for six months, and appointing a sole administrator for the state.

Rivers: ‘Ego clash’ not Wike real reason for Fubara’s impeachment move by lawmakers -Nwauju

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The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, has shed light on the factors behind the ongoing move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the situation as an ego-driven political conflict.

Nwauju made the remarks during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television. According to him, the political crisis in the state is not about a single individual but rather a clash of interests and egos among key political actors.

He explained that disagreements in politics often stem from personal and psychological factors, which makes them difficult to resolve without careful negotiation. Nwauju noted that such situations require “massaging of egos,” stressing that the current standoff is largely an ego battle.

Addressing speculations that external forces are orchestrating the governor’s removal, Nwauju said the Rivers State House of Assembly is constitutionally empowered to carry out its duties, including oversight, investigations, and approval of budgets, under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He added that lawmakers are also mandated to represent their constituents and that political stakeholders in the state have a legitimate interest in how Rivers is governed.

“Everybody in the political arena in Rivers is interested in how the state is being run, managed, and who occupies the office of governor,” Nwauju said, emphasizing that the developments are part of the realities of political contestation.

We can’t parent recalcitrant children- Lagos Govt replies Tacha over arrest of child beggars

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The Lagos State Government has defended its enforcement actions against street begging following criticism by reality TV star Tacha over the arrest of child beggars in parts of the state.

The response followed a video shared on Wednesday, January 7, by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, showing officials of the state’s environmental task force arresting a child beggar along a major road.

Wahab said the operation was part of sustained efforts to maintain order, improve public safety and prevent obstructions on major highways. The video, which showed the child visibly distressed, sparked widespread reactions on social media.

 

Reacting, Tacha faulted the government’s approach, arguing that arresting children does not address the root causes of poverty. She said the presence of children begging on highways reflects deeper governance challenges and warned that enforcement actions could further expose vulnerable children to harm.

 

“You don’t solve poverty with force. You don’t punish people for surviving,” she wrote, calling on the government to establish vocational centres with boarding facilities where children could learn skills such as shoemaking, fashion, photography and videography.

 

In a rebuttal, Wahab said government policies must be guided by law, evidence and long-term responsibility, not emotions.

 

He argued that allowing children to roam highways in the name of compassion amounts to neglect, noting that such situations expose them to serious danger from speeding vehicles.

 

The commissioner added that Lagos State provides free public education, including tuition-free schooling and WAEC registration, as well as access to technical colleges and vocational centres offering training in various trades.

 

According to him, children arrested during such operations are documented, with some reunited with their parents—many of whom live outside Lagos—while others interested in skills acquisition are enrolled at no cost through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

 

Wahab, however, stressed that government intervention has limits, stating that “the role of government is not to parent recalcitrant children.”

He also urged Tacha and other concerned individuals to move beyond online criticism and work with the state government toward more sustainable solutions to the problem.

Iran hit by nationwide internet shutdown as protest spreads

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Iran was plunged into a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday night as protests over worsening economic conditions intensified, further heightening pressure on the country’s leadership.

The cause of the outage was not officially disclosed, but internet freedom monitor NetBlocks first reported the shutdown, suggesting it was likely imposed by authorities to curb the spread of protests. Iran has repeatedly restricted internet access during periods of unrest in the past.

Earlier on Thursday, NetBlocks noted significant disruptions to internet services in the western city of Kermanshah, as security forces stepped up efforts to contain demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said at least 45 protesters, including eight children, have been killed since demonstrations began in late December, according to The Guardian. IHR added that Wednesday marked the deadliest day of the unrest so far, with 13 demonstrators confirmed killed.

In response to calls from seven Kurdish political groups, shopkeepers shut down businesses on Thursday across Kurdish regions and in several other cities nationwide. The Hengaw human rights group released videos showing closed shops in western provinces such as Ilam, Kermanshah and Lorestan.

Hengaw also reported that security forces opened fire on protesters in Kermanshah and the nearby town of Kamyaran, injuring several people.

By Thursday, protests had spread to all 31 of Iran’s provinces, showing no signs of slowing. In the southern province of Fars, demonstrators pulled down a statue of former Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Suleimani, a figure revered by many supporters of the government. Verified footage showed crowds cheering as the statue was removed.

Demonstrations continued into the night in several areas, including Tehran, where large crowds gathered along Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard in the northwest of the capital. Social media images verified by Agence France-Presse showed residents honking car horns in support of the protesters.

Similar scenes were reported in the western city of Abadan, where IHR said a woman was shot in the eye during a protest on Wednesday evening.

“The evidence shows that the crackdown is becoming more violent and more widespread with each passing day,” said IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, noting that hundreds have been injured and more than 2,000 people arrested.

State media reported that a police officer was killed west of Tehran on Wednesday while attempting to control what authorities described as unrest.

 

Trump declines pardon for Sean “Diddy” Combs

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President Donald Trump has confirmed that hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs asked him for a presidential pardon but said he does not intend to grant clemency.

Combs, 56, is serving a roughly four-year federal prison sentence for prostitution-related convictions, after a jury found him guilty last year of transporting individuals for prostitution.

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said the music executive sent him a letter requesting a pardon but, when pressed, did not produce the letter or indicate any willingness to act on it.

Asked about pleas for clemency for other high-profile figures, Trump also dismissed the idea of pardoning deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by U.S. forces and is facing drug-trafficking charges.

The president’s remarks make clear that despite the formal request, Combs—once a towering figure in hip-hop and business—is unlikely to see his sentence reduced or overturned by executive action.

Summary of top headlines from Nigerian Newspapers today, Friday January 9

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Good morning! Here are six top headlines from Nigerian Newspapers today;

1. A few hours after receiving documents containing alleged gross misconducts against Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from 26 lawmakers,  Speaker Martin’s Amaewhule has transmitted letters containing the allegations to the Governor and his Deputy. The letters entitled: “Notice of allegations of gross misconduct” was dated January 8, 2026 and signed by Amaewhule.

2. The federal government has announced that all group-stage bonuses due to players of the Super Eagles at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations have been released and are expected to reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours. The disclosure was made by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, in response to reports suggesting that the national team was considering boycotting training sessions and could refuse to travel to Marrakesh for their quarter-final.

3. The Kano State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the planned defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party, citing unresolved leadership crises and ongoing court cases that it says could jeopardise his mandate. Addressing journalists on Thursday, the Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini, said remaining on the NNPP platform had become increasingly risky.

4. At least 10 children have been killed in a cholera outbreak in Chanchangi town in Takum LGA of Taraba State. It was learnt that the outbreak started on Tuesday. It was learnt that three days ago, some children between the ages of four and 10 started vomiting and having stomach pains in the town.

5. President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alh. Aliko Dangote has withdrawn a formal petition he submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission against the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed. The business mogul withdrew the petition from the anti-graft agency through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

6. The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has rejected moves within the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, describing the development as “untenable” and warning against destabilizing the state government. The party said it will do everything possible to stop the impeachment.

Nigeria latest news

 

EPL: Arsenal, Liverpool result

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Arsenal were held to a 0–0 draw by Liverpool in their English Premier League encounter on Thursday, as both sides failed to find a breakthrough in a tightly contested match.

Despite several chances at both ends, neither team could convert their opportunities, and the fixture ended without a goal.

The Gunners came into the game with a five-point lead, after Manchester City and Aston Villa both dropped points on Wednesday.
City were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Brighton, while Villa played out a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.
But Mikel Arteta’s men failed to capitalize on these results, as they also dropped points against the champions.
Despite starting well and dominating, Arsenal did not score any goals and spent the second half containing Liverpool.
They now have 49 points and remain six points ahead of City and Villa.

 

Nigerians in Joy as NCC, CBN set to refund for failed airtime, data transactions

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Respite for Nigerians as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the two regulators, have drawn up a framework to address consumer complaints arising from unsuccessful airtime and data transactions during network downtimes, system glitches, or human input errors.

 

 

 

In a statement on Thursday by Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs at NCC, the framework is the outcome of several months of engagements involving the NCC, the CBN, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Value Added Service (VAS) providers, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), and other relevant stakeholders. These engagements were prompted by a rising incidence of failed airtime and data purchases, where subscribers were debited without receiving value and experienced delays in resolution.

 

 

 

The Framework represents a unified position by both the telecommunications and financial sectors on addressing such complaints. It identifies and tackles the root causes of failed airtime and data transactions, including instances where bank accounts are debited without successful delivery of services. It also prescribes an enforceable Service Level Agreement (SLA) for MNOs and DMBs, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the transaction and resolution process.

 

 

 

Under the new framework, where a purchaser is debited but fails to receive value for airtime or data—whether the failure occurs at the bank level or with an NCC licensee—the purchaser is entitled to a refund within 30 seconds, except in circumstances where the transaction remains pending, in which case the refund can take up to 24 hours.

 

 

 

The framework further mandates operators to notify consumers via SMS of the success or failure of every transaction. It also addresses erroneous recharges to ported lines, incorrect airtime or data purchases, and instances where transactions are made to the wrong phone number.

 

 

 

Speaking on the development, the Director of Consumer Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Freda Bruce-Bennett, disclosed that the framework also establishes a Central Monitoring Dashboard to be jointly hosted by the NCC and the CBN. According to her, the dashboard will enable both regulators to monitor failures, the responsible party, refunds, and track SLA breaches in real time.

 

 

 

“Failed top-ups rank among the top three consumer complaints, and in line with our commitment to addressing these priority issues, we were determined to resolve it within the shortest possible time,” she said.

 

 

 

“We are grateful to all stakeholders—particularly the Central Bank of Nigeria and its leadership—for their tireless commitment to resolving this issue and arriving at this framework, and for ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services receive full value for their purchases.

 

 

 

“So far, pending the approval of management of both regulators on the framework, MNOs and banks have collectively made refunds of over N10 billion to customers for failed transactions.”

 

 

 

Mrs. Bruce-Bennett further noted that implementation of the framework is expected to commence on March 1, 2026, once the two regulators have made final approvals and technical integration by all MNOs, VAS providers, and DMBs is concluded.

 

 

 

 

AFCON 2025: Nigeria’s Lookman makes history as highest goal contributor

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Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has etched his name into the history books at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Lookman achieved the feat following Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16. The Atalanta star delivered a standout performance, scoring one goal and registering three assists against the Mambas.

With that display, Lookman has now recorded three goals and four assists in just three matches, making him the player with the highest goal contributions at the tournament so far.

 

Data from Opta further highlights his impact, confirming that Lookman is the first player since the 2010 AFCON to register multiple assists in more than one match at the competition.

 

The Nigerian forward had earlier supplied two assists in the Super Eagles’ 3–2 group-stage win over Tunisia, underlining his influential role in Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.

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