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The Lagos State Police Command says it is strengthening its operational readiness and personnel capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections following a five-day Election Security Management Training organised by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF). The training, held from October 26 to 30, 2026, was facilitated by 3Streams Synergy and brought together police personnel from the Lagos State Command, FCID Annex Lagos, Zone 2 Headquarters, Special Fraud Unit and Special Protection Unit. The programme focused on enhancing officers’ capacity for effective election security management, with sessions covering professionalism, political neutrality, impartiality, respect for human rights, crowd management, inter-agency collaboration and adherence to the rule of law. In a statement issued and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on Saturday, the Command said the training was part of efforts to prepare its personnel for the security challenges associated with...

The Mosque Guidance and Development Lagos Initiative (MGDLI) has urged Muslims across Lagos State to participate in its forthcoming three-day anniversary programme aimed at strengthening mosque administration and improving community welfare. The programme, scheduled for October 30 to November 1, 2026, will hold at the Lagos State First Secretariat Mosque Hall (Olanike Hall), Shamsi Adisa Thomas Central Mosque, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. MGDLI said the event would bring together Imams, mosque administrators, Islamic scholars, youth groups, Muslim professionals, community leaders and other members of the Ummah to discuss practical ways of building stronger, cleaner, safer and better-managed mosques. “The responsibility of developing our mosques does not rest solely on Imams and mosque committees. Every Muslim has a role to play in building institutions that reflect the values of Islam, accountability, cleanliness and service to humanity,” the organisation stated. Activities lined up for the anniv...

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in intelligence-led operations in the state. The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad at about 8 p.m. on October 26, 2026, in the Ore area of Atan, Ogun State. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said operatives attached to SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota, acted on credible intelligence to apprehend the suspect. A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges. The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity. In a follow-up operation at about 6:30 a.m. on October 27, information obtained from the suspect l...

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, Ugbor Chika Paul, over alleged serial rape, robbery and sextortion involving female victims in Enugu. The Command said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly lured female Point-of-Sale (POS) operators to secluded locations under the pretext of conducting transactions, where he allegedly robbed and sexually assaulted them. In a press release issued on October 27, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said a phone recovered from the suspect reportedly contained nude images and video clips of identified and unidentified victims. According to the police, the first reported victim, a 20-year-old POS operator at Akwata Market, was allegedly lured to a bush behind St. Peter’s Church, Coal Camp, at about 11 a.m. on May 21, 2026. The suspect allegedly robbed and raped her, taking ₦600,000. The second victim, a 30-year-old POS operator at the same market, was allegedly lured to the loca...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reaffirmed its readiness for the 2027 general elections, outlining six key areas of preparation during a meeting with the ECOWAS Pre-Election Mission in Abuja. The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Hale Longpet, gave the assurance in his welcome remarks to the delegation, led by former Sierra Leone Vice President, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh, at the INEC FCT headquarters. Longpet was represented by the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Abimbola Oladunjoye. He said the visit highlighted the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and ECOWAS in strengthening democratic governance and electoral integrity across West Africa. Victor Bockarie Foh Longpet identified the six priority areas as electoral planning and implementation; voter registration and register integrity; personnel readiness and capacity development; election materials, logistics and technology; electoral securi...

The Gambian government and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling examination malpractice and improving the credibility of public examinations, with discussions focusing on the possible introduction of computer-based examinations. The commitment emerged from a high-level meeting between the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, and the 14th WAEC Registrar, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, attended by members of the WAEC Council and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Louis Moses Mendy. According to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education’s Communications Unit, the discussions centred on examination integrity and reforms aimed at improving teaching, learning and assessment across The Gambia. A key issue was the possible adoption of Computer-Based Examinations (CBE), which is expected to reduce malpractice, strengthen transparency and improve the efficiency of examination delivery and marking. Dr. Drammeh als...

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, from Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, over a viral video allegedly containing statements capable of inciting religious violence. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the video reportedly showed a young man dressed in the uniform of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) making remarks allegedly capable of threatening public peace and peaceful coexistence. Following the incident, the Zamfara State Police Command activated its intelligence resources and engaged the leadership of JIBWIS at the national and state levels. According to the statement, the organisation’s leadership disassociated itself from the alleged conduct and handed the suspect over to the police. The police confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and that a comprehensive investigation was underway. “The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect will b...

The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving staff welfare, promoting industrial harmony and strengthening institutional effectiveness. The commitment was reiterated at the committee’s second bi-annual meeting, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from October 26 to 27, 2026. The meeting, themed “From Engagement to Impact: Advancing Staff Welfare, Industrial Harmony and Credible Electoral Processes,” brought together JCC national executives, state representatives and management representatives to discuss workplace conditions, staff welfare and improved service delivery. Declaring the meeting open on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Anugbum Onuoha, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Vincent Oghene, emphasised the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue in resolving staff concerns. He urged participants to make meaningful contributions t...

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged electoral officials in the North-East to maintain neutrality, resist political pressure and prioritise security as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election. Amupitan gave the charge in Gombe on Monday, October 26, during a readiness assessment visit involving National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six North-East states and other senior officials of the commission. He said the exercise was designed to assess operational preparedness, identify gaps and address challenges that could affect the conduct of the elections. The chairman said the nationwide assessment began in Lagos on September 7, covering the South-West, moved to Kaduna on September 28 for the North-West, and continued to Enugu on October 20 for the South-East before reaching Gombe for the North-East review. “The true integrity of an election is not determined in the air-conditi...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is investigating reports of suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs in the preliminary Register of Voters, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the photographs have yet to be fully established. In a statement signed by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Tuesday, the commission clarified that the register published on its website on October 26, 2026, was the same preliminary register physically displayed at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15 as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise. INEC said some questionable registration records were identified and flagged during the physical display, prompting a review and the commencement of corrective procedures. However, the commission did not confirm that the photographs were AI-generated. It said it was examining the circumstances surrounding them, including possible technica...

... Tinubu’s Political Masterstroke, an Opposition in Disarray, and the Gathering of Heavyweights By Seye Oladejo The All Progressives Congress (APC) is steadily consolidating its position as the epicentre of Nigeria’s political gravity, attracting an impressive constellation of veteran statesmen, battle-tested politicians, seasoned administrators, strategic thinkers, and influential political figures from across the country. As the 2027 general elections approach, the APC increasingly resembles the legendary Galácticos of football-a star-studded assembly of exceptional talents whose combined strengths create a formidable force. This is no ordinary gathering of political heavyweights. It represents the convergence of experience, political capital, grassroots networks, institutional influence, and electoral machinery under a platform with national reach. The APC’s growing attraction is driven by two unmistakable forces: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s barrier-breaking brand of politics an...

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Lukman Sanni, for allegedly conveying illegal firearms and recovered a locally made pistol and two live cartridges. The suspect was arrested by police operatives during a stop-and-search operation at Iyana Isashi, Lagos State, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi. A search conducted on Sanni reportedly led to the recovery of the firearm, two live cartridges and a suspected charm. The police said preliminary investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s possession of the weapons and their intended delivery. Sanni is currently in custody and is providing information to assist the investigation, the statement added. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling illegal firearms possession, arms trafficking, cultism and other criminal activities ac...

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, AIG Simeon Akpanudom, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to professional, accountable and intelligence-led policing, while strengthening detectives’ capacity in criminal profiling and fingerprint identification. Akpanudom gave the assurance during a general lecture on Monday, where he addressed professional conduct, investigative standards, public complaints and the welfare of persons in police custody. This was made known in a statement issued and signed by the FCID Annex Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aminat Mayegun. The AIG expressed concern over complaints of unprofessional conduct by police officers, warning that misconduct could undermine public confidence and damage the reputation of the Force. He stressed the need for integrity, discipline and accountability, including proper documentation of police firearms and other offi...

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant following the Federal Government’s reported confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Disu called on members of the public to observe preventive measures, maintain good personal hygiene and cooperate with public health authorities to help prevent further transmission of the disease. In a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the IGP advised Nigerians to wash their hands regularly with soap and water, avoid direct contact with the blood and body fluids of suspected cases, and stay away from potentially contaminated items. He warned against touching or washing the bodies of people suspected to have died from Ebola. He urged anyone who may have been exposed to the virus to contact health authorities promptly for guidance. Individuals who develop symptoms after possible exposure should avoid physical contact with others ...

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old man, Michael Ayisa, over the alleged armed robbery of a female Point-of-Sale (POS) operator, from whom he reportedly stole ₦200,000 at gunpoint. The police said a pistol and an expended 9mm ammunition shell were recovered from the suspect following his arrest at Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, operatives attached to the Udenu Division, with support from members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, arrested Ayisa at about 12:26 p.m. on October 18, 2026. The arrest followed a report that the suspect had allegedly robbed the victim at her shop along Old Orba Road, Uhulor, Obollo-Afor, at about 9 a.m. on October 17. Preliminary investigations indicated that the victim raised the alarm as the suspect fled, allegedly threatening to shoot anyone who attempted to pursue him. The police said the suspect confessed to...

... Obanikoro says 2023 election was a wake-up call; Lagos governorship candidate to unveil manifesto on Friday The Director-General of the PBAT-KOH Campaign Council, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has declared that the campaign will target three million votes for President Bola Tinubu and the Lagos State governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, in the 2027 general elections. Obanikoro said the party would not allow a repeat of what happened during the 2023 elections, describing the outcome as a wake-up call for the political camp. He made the remarks at the council’s maiden media briefing at its campaign office in Ikeja, organised to kick-start preparations for the re-election campaigns of Tinubu and Hamzat. The campaign director-general also announced that Hamzat would unveil his manifesto on Friday at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos. According to him, the event would provide the governorship candidate with an opportunity to present his agenda and ...

... Oba Ogunwusi explores historical and economic cooperation with Kalabari traditional ruler, presents bronze artwork The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has hosted the Amanyanabo of the Source, Elem-Kalabari, Torusarama-Piri in Rivers State, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in a move to strengthen cultural ties between the Yoruba and Kalabari kingdoms. The visit also provided an opportunity for Dokubo-Asari to formally invite the Ooni to his forthcoming Se Diye coronation ceremony scheduled for December 19, 2026, in Buguma, Rivers State. According to a statement from the Ooni’s Palace, the meeting focused on fostering cooperation among traditional institutions, preserving cultural heritage and promoting peaceful coexistence across Nigeria’s diverse communities. The statement was issued and signed by Sodiq Lawal on behalf of Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace. Speaking during the visit, Do...

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has declared that the country is on the path to economic recovery and sustainable development, citing improved investor confidence, as she commissioned the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement headquarters in Abuja. She urged members of the movement to use grassroots engagement to communicate the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and promote its message of hope and shared prosperity. Speaking at the commissioning, the First Lady described door-to-door outreach as a vital tool for community engagement, allowing campaigners to listen to families, understand the aspirations of young people and engage women and older citizens on issues affecting their lives. She stressed that the campaign must go beyond visits to households to deliver messages of hope, peace, unity and development. “As we embark on this noble mission, let us always remember that impactful outreach extends far beyond visiting doorsteps. Our message must consistently r...