Pakistani security forces have freed 155 passengers from a hijacked train as the operation to rescue the remaining hostages continues in the south-western province of Balochistan, officials said on Wednesday.

The train, which was carrying around 450 passengers, including army personnel and their families, was targeted by more than 100 gunmen from the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday afternoon.

“A full-scale military operation is underway in which 27 terrorists have been killed,” security sources said.

“Militants were using the passengers as shields and they have placed suicide bombers wearing explosive vests dangerously close to the hostages,” said a security official, who is not authorised to speak on the record.

Pakistani elite commandos, backed by air power, have launched a massive operation after the train was hijacked in the remote Sibi district.

Local media reported that at least 10 people, including the train driver, were killed in the gun battle.

The total number of casualties among soldiers, passengers and militants remains unclear after several hours of clashes.

The BLA, which has previously targeted trains and buses carrying security personnel, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group demanded a prisoner exchange and threatened to kill hostages if the operation continued.

Violence in Balochistan has surged as China and Pakistan advance the second phase of a major infrastructure project linking Chinese cities to the Arabian Sea.

The BLA and local political groups accuse both governments of exploiting the region’s resources through coercive policies.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has issued a public alert regarding the activities of 58 companies allegedly operating illegal Ponzi schemes under the guise of investment opportunities.

The anti-graft agency said the companies were neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria nor the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EFCC said it had taken legal action against many of the entities, leading to the conviction of five, while another five have pleaded guilty and are awaiting further judicial processes.

The companies are Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Ltd, Titan Multibusiness Investment Ltd, Brickwall Global Investment Ltd, Farmforte Ltd & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Ltd, Richfield Multiconcepts Ltd, Forte Asset Management Ltd, Biss Networks Nigeria Ltd, S Mobile Netzone Ltd.; Pristine Mobile Network, and Letsfarm Integrated Services.

Others are Bara Finance & Investment Ltd, Vicampro Farms Ltd, Brooks Network Ltd, Gas Station Supply Services Ltd, Brass & Books Ltd, Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Ltd, and Crowdyvest Ltd.

Also listed are Jadek Agro Connect Ltd, Adeeva Capital Ltd, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Ltd, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Ltd, TRJ Company Ltd, Farm4Me Agriculture Ltd, Quintessential Investment Company, deprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Ltd, S.U. Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, and Globertrot Farmsponsors Nig. Ltd.

Farm Sponsors Ltd, Cititrust Credit Ltd, Farmfunded Agroservices Ltd, Adamakin Investment & Works Ltd, Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Ltd, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Ltd, Emerald Farms & Consultant Ltd, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Ltd, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Ltd, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Ltd, NISL Ventures Ltd & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Ltd, River Branch Unique Investment Ltd, Hallmark Capital Ltd, CJC Markets Ltd, Crowd One Investment, and Farmkart Foods Ltd were also listed.

Other alleged scam companies on the EFCC alert are KD Likemind Stakeholders Ltd, Holibiz Finance Ltd, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Ltd, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Ltd.

The anti-graft agency assured the public of its continued vigilance in monitoring financial activities across the nation.

It advised Nigerians to exercise caution when investing and verify the legitimacy of investment firms through appropriate regulatory agencies before engaging in any financial transactions.

Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Tuesday in Jenin Governorate, northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry identified one of the victims as 58-year-old Faiza Ibrahim Abu Ghali but did not disclose the identities of the other two victims.

The statement mentioned that they were shot dead by Israeli forces at dawn.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that at least three militants were killed during a counterterrorism operation.

This operation was carried out in coordination with Israeli security forces in the town of Qabatiya and the city of Jenin, both located in the Jenin Governorate.

According to the IDF, the armed militants had barricaded themselves inside a structure and were killed in an exchange of fire.

The Nigerian House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to ensure the blocking of all prngraphic sites in the country.

The House wants the Commission to compel all internet service providers to block all such contents with immediate effect.

Dalhatu Tafoki, an All Progressives Congress (APC), lawmaker from Katsina State, sponsored the motion.

While presenting the motion, Tafoki emphasised that cyber prngraphy is a growing global concern and noted that Nigeria has not done enough to tackle the issue.

According to him, Nigeria is a “highly religious country” where major faiths preach against and prohibit nudity and obscenity.

The lawmaker went further to state that several countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East had enacted laws banning prngraphy.

To drive home his point, the Katsina lawmaker made reference to warnings from psychologists and sociologists about the negative impact of prngraphy.

According to him, prngraphy could lead to adultery, prostitution and addiction.

“Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings on the psychological, sociological and mental consequences of viewing prngraphic content,” he said.

Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives subjected the motion to a voice vote where the lawmakers voted in support of it.

The House directed the NCC to impose penalties on service providers that fail to comply with the directive.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made key appointments in Nigeria’s education sector, naming Dr. Mohammed Mohammed Aminu as the new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

Dr. Aminu, who holds a Ph.D. in Automobile Technology and a Master’s in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, brings 28 years of experience in teaching, administration, research, and policy development.

Before his appointment, he was the Director of Procurement at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

A strong advocate for vocational education and skills development, he has published extensively on innovative teaching methods, youth empowerment, and poverty alleviation.

President Tinubu urged Dr. Aminu to leverage his expertise to provide transformational leadership at NABTEB, ensuring the agency continues to play a critical role in assessing and certifying skilled manpower vital for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

In addition, the President appointed Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe as Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Board.

A visionary leader with a deep commitment to youth empowerment, Olorunnimbe is the Group CEO of The Temple Company, a firm he founded in 2016.

His experience includes serving on the Board of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), where he played a key role in youth employment and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Further strengthening UBEC’s leadership, President Tinubu named Rasaq Olajuwon as Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) and Tunde Ajibulu as Deputy Executive Secretary (Services).

Olajuwon was previously Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), while Ajibulu, a Fellow of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), is a Director at Tangent Construction Nigeria Limited and Partner at Covenant Consultancy Services.

The President charged the new UBEC leadership to drive reforms that will expand access to quality basic education nationwide and enhance service delivery in the sector.

Scores of angry women in Ondo State have trooped the streets in Akure to protest against security challenges confronting the state, particularly the abduction of nine surveyors at Owode/Ilu Abo in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

The latest abduction followed the killing of 14 local farmers in some communities in the council area last weekend by suspected bandits.

The protesters, mostly market women, on Tuesday stormed the Alagbaka Government Office in Akure, lamenting the surveyors’ abduction.

The protest saw placard-wielding women blocking roads, obstructing traffic as they called on security agencies to secure the release of the kidnapped victims.

They stated that the victims were abducted on site and marched into the forest by the marauders.

A sister to one of the victims, Comfort Afolabi, said the kidnappers had reached out to the family, demanding N100 million ransom.

“We have been pleading with them, but they insist they won’t release him unless we pay the ransom. We are helpless and need the government to intervene,” Mrs Afolabi said.

Another protester, Oluwatoyin Arowosafe, said the victims were surveyors working under the supervision of a high chief in the Akure community.

Ms.Arowosafe, however, pleaded with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to tackle the security challenges in the state, saying that many residents were now living in fear.

He stated, “Many of our people were kidnapped, and they are demanding N100 million. They went to the farms, they are all surveyors and workers of High Chief Ijemikin of Akure, Oluwole Omotayo.’’

The state police spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, could not immediately be reached for comments.

But reacting to the protest, the special adviser on labour union to the governor, Bola Taiwo, said that the government was on top of the situation, adding that insecurity in the state would soon be surmounted.

“We are aware that you have reported to the security agencies, particularly the police. But let us assure you that the state government is not resting on the security challenges,” Mr Taiwo said.

The latest abduction added to the growing cases of kidnappings, killings and armed robbery in the state.

Last week, a farmer and his manager were attacked and abducted while returning from their farm in Osi, Oba-Ile area.

In January, five farmers were shot dead by bandits masquerading as herdsmen in the Ajegunle-Powerline community of the Akure North LGA.

At least 26 thatched houses and 16 granaries were burnt in a communal clash in Taura LGA of Jigawa, the police have confirmed.

Police spokesman SP Lawan Shiisu said in a statement on Monday that the incident occurred during a conflict between residents of two communities in the LGA.

“On Sunday, at about 21:45 hours, residents of Gidan Na Ruwa Fulani Settlement, Taura LGA, saw a large group from Zangon Maje Village flashing torches and chanting war slogans.

“This prompted all villagers to flee for their lives,” he said.

Mr Shiisu said that, upon receiving the report, the divisional police officer of Taura and his patrol team swiftly rushed to the scene.

“When they arrived, the team discovered that youths from Zangon Maje had attacked and set fire to 24 thatched houses and 16 local granaries,” Mr Shiisu said.

He explained that a preliminary investigation showed the trouble began when Musa Hussaini, 20, and Shanu Sule, 26, both from Zangon Maje, were assaulted and their motorcycle was stolen.

As a result, the victims raised the alarm and mobilised members of their community to retaliate, leading to a violent confrontation.

Mr Shiisu, however, said normalcy had since been restored, and patrols were being intensified to prevent further disturbances.

According to him, the area commander in charge of Ringim led a police team to the affected areas on Monday, meeting stakeholders and engaging in dialogue.

Mr Shiisu added that five suspects had been arrested and were in custody, assisting with the investigation.

“The command urges citizens to avoid taking the law into their own hands and to report grievances to the proper authorities for a swift response,” Mr Shiisu said.

The police command in Lagos has detained two suspects for kidnapping an online vendor who came to deliver products in the Iyana-Ishashi area.

Its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

He said the victim was kidnapped while attempting to make a delivery.

“The victim received a request for a product and proceeded to the customer’s house. Upon arrival, the door was opened, and she was forcibly dragged inside by a man and a woman.

“They stripped her, beat her up and took her nude pictures,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Hundeyin said the suspects demanded a ransom of N2 million, threatening to leak the images if she failed to comply.

He said the victim managed to pay N300,000 on the spot before she was allowed to go.

“They threatened to release the pictures if she did not pay the balance as promised,” Mr Hundeyin said.

He said the victim reported the case, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.

“The suspects were tracked and apprehended. They are currently in police custody as investigations continue,” the officer said.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday in Manila by police acting on an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his deadly war on drugs.

The 79-year-old faces a charge of “the crime against humanity of murder”, according to the ICC, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

“Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC,” the presidential palace said in a statement.

“As of now, he is under the custody of authorities.”

The statement added that “the former president and his group are in good health and are being checked by government doctors”.

Duterte’s former chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, called the arrest “unlawful”.

“The (Philippine National Police) didn’t allow one of his lawyers to meet him at the airport and to question the legal basis for PRRD’s arrest,” he said, adding a hard copy of the ICC warrant had not been provided.

But a group that worked to support mothers of those killed in Duterte’s drugs crackdown called the arrest a “very welcome development”.

“The mothers whose husbands and children were killed because of the drug war are very happy because they have been waiting for this for a very long time,” Rubilyn Litao, coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights, told AFP.

Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, called on the government of President Ferdinand Marcos to “swiftly surrender (Duterte) to the ICC”, saying the arrest was a “critical step for accountability in the Philippines”.

Duterte’s Tuesday morning detainment at Manila’s international airport followed a brief trip to Hong Kong.

Speaking to thousands of overseas Filipino workers there Sunday, the former president decried the investigation, labelling ICC investigators “sons of whores” while saying he would “accept it” if an arrest were to be his fate.

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte’s instructions, but the tribunal maintained it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor, years before he became president.

It launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The case resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines’ objection that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Since then, the Marcos government has on numerous instances said it would not cooperate with the investigation.

But Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro on Sunday said that if Interpol would “ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow”.

Duterte is still hugely popular among many in the Philippines who supported his quick-fix solutions to crime, and he remains a potent political force.

He is running to reclaim his job as mayor of his stronghold Davao in May’s mid-term election.

Charges have been filed locally in a handful of cases related to drug operations that led to deaths — only nine police have been convicted for slaying alleged drug suspects.

A self-professed killer, Duterte instructed police to fatally shoot narcotics suspects if their lives were at risk and insisted the crackdown saved families and prevented the Philippines from turning into a “narco-politics state”.

At the opening of a Philippine Senate probe into the drug war in October, Duterte said he offered “no apologies, no excuses” for his actions.

“I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country,” he said.

Ukraine will present the United States on Tuesday with a plan for a partial ceasefire with Russia, hoping to restore support from its key benefactor, which under President Donald Trump has demanded concessions to end the three-year war.

The talks in Saudi Arabia come as Russia has ramped up attacks against Ukraine and Kyiv has hit back, including with an overnight attack on Moscow involving dozens of drones, the city’s mayor said Tuesday.

The meeting will be the most senior since a disastrous White House visit last month when Trump berated Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for purported ingratitude.

Since Trump’s dressing down of Zelensky, Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.

Zelensky, who wrote a repentant letter to Trump, flew to the port city of Jeddah to meet Saudi rulers, but was leaving the talks to three top aides.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will be joined by Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz, said the aid suspension was “something I hope we can resolve” in the talks on Tuesday.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a good meeting and good news to report,” Rubio said.

Rubio said that the United States had not cut off intelligence for defensive operations.

Zelensky left the White House without signing an agreement demanded by Trump that would give the United States access to much of Ukraine’s mineral wealth as compensation for past weapons supplies.

Zelensky has said he is still willing to sign, although Rubio said it would not be the focus of Tuesday’s talks.

Russia has since escalated its strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and retaken villages in its Kursk region that Ukraine had captured in a bid for bargaining leverage.

On the eve of the Saudi talks, Ukraine carried out what Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin described as a “massive” attack on the Russian capital, with 69 drones intercepted as of early Tuesday morning.

The attack killed at least one person and injured another three, according to Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region.

In the White House meeting, Zelensky refused to bite his tongue in the face of criticism from Vice President JD Vance, with the Ukrainian leader questioning why his country should trust promises from Russia which launched a full-scale invasion in 2022 despite previous diplomacy.

But faced with Washington’s pressure, Ukraine will lay out its support for a limited ceasefire.

“We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,” a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Because these are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it’s possible to start with them.”

Rubio signalled that the Trump administration would likely be pleased by such a proposal.

“I’m not saying that alone is enough, but it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,” he told reporters.

“You’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.”

“The Russians can’t conquer all of Ukraine and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to force the Russians all the way back to where they were back in 2014,” Rubio said, referring to the time of a partial offensive and Russian seizure of the Crimea peninsula.

In a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the US-Ukraine talks, Zelensky discussed Ukraine’s conditions for any permanent peace deal, including the release of prisoners and the return of children Kyiv accuses Moscow of abducting, the Ukrainian leader’s office said in a statement Monday.

The two leaders “discussed the possible mediation of Saudi Arabia in the release of military and civilian prisoners and the return of deported children”, the statement said.

“The leaders exchanged views on the formats of security guarantees and what they should be for Ukraine so that war does not return again.”

Mark Carney was elected as the new prime minister of Canada after succeeding Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberty Party following an election on Sunday.

According to the New York Times, more than 150,000 people voted in the party’s leadership election on Sunday, with Mr Carney accumulating 85.9 per cent of the votes to beat his friend and former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland.

The 59-year-old technocrat had never been elected into office until now but has deep experience in financial markets and was responsible for steering Canada through the 2008 global financial crisis and the Bank of England through Brexit.

He is expected to be quickly sworn into office as early as this week, and one of the biggest issues in Mr Carney’s immediate inbox will be the country’s souring relations with the United States.

Mr Carney will now face off with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in a federal election no later than October 20.

In his first remarks following the poll, Mr Carney said his government would “create new trading relationships with reliable trading partners.”

He also vowed to keep retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. “until the Americans show us respect.”

“New threats demand new ideas and a new plan,” Mr Carney said. “In trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”

The prime minister-designate added, “There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy. Yeah, Donald Trump. Donald Trump. He’s attacking Canadian families, workers, and businesses, and we cannot let him succeed.

“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form. Who’s ready to stand up for Canada with me?”

President Donald Trump had mooted the idea of annexing Canada to the U.S. as the 51st state.

“America is not Canada. And Canada never ever will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” Mr Carney said in his acceptance speech on Sunday evening.

North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing Seoul’s military.

The launch came as Seoul and Washington kicked off their annual combined military drills, known as the Freedom Shield, scheduled for 11 days.

The joint chiefs of staff in Seoul said it detected the missile launch from North Korea’s western Hwanghae Province at about 1:50 p.m. (0450 GMT) but provided no further details.

This is according to Yonhap’s report.

The JCS added that it has increased surveillance efforts and is working closely with the U.S.

North Korea condemned the allies’ joint exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion against it.

Monday’s test marked its first known ballistic missile launch since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

North Korea was prohibited by UN resolutions from launching or even testing ballistic missiles of any range.

These were usually surface-to-surface missiles that could also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.

Pyongyang has significantly expanded its missile tests over the past two years while sharpening its rhetoric against the U.S. and South Korea.

It has also strengthened its military cooperation with Russia.

No fewer than four persons lost their lives while nine others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident that occurred along the Alapako area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday night.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed in a statement on Monday.

Odutola said the bad portion of the road had caused the tyre of a Toyota Hiace bus to puncture causing the vehicle to somersault, adding that the impact of the crash led to the death of four persons including the driver and some passengers while nine others were injured.

She stated, “The Ogun State Police Command regrets to report a fatal lone motor accident that occurred on March 9, 2025, at about 8:35 PM at Alapako area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.

“According to an eyewitness account, which did not reveal if the driver was on moderate speed or otherwise, but only accounted that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace bus (Reg. No. FKJ 570 YE) travelling from Ibadan inward Lagos all of a sudden the left rear tyre got punctured by a bad portion of the road, while in motion, causing the driver to lose control, and the vehicle somersaulted, and landed off the road.

“As a result of the impact, four persons, including the driver, were observed lifeless on the spot, while nine other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries. The bus was severely damaged due to the crash.”

Odutola added that the injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital in Ogere while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the FOS morgue in Ipara.

She warned motorists to always ensure proper vehicle maintenance and adhere to safety precautions while on the highway.

“Police presence was visible assisting in traffic control, easing human congestion and spectators, as well as conducting video capturing and documentation.

“The injured victims were immediately evacuated to Victory Hospital, Ogere, for medical treatment. Sadly, the remains of the deceased were deposited at FOS Mortuary, Ipara, for autopsy, while the vehicle wreck has been removed to the station for Vehicle Inspection Office assessment and further investigation.

“The Ogun State Police Command urges motorists to always ensure proper vehicle maintenance and adhere to traffic safety regulations to prevent road mishaps,” the PPRO stated.

PUNCH Online reported on Friday that barely 48 hours after 16 people were burnt to death in an accident along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, three people also died while 14 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a multi-vehicle collision along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Commandant General of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Seni Ogunyemi, disclosed in a traffic update that the accident, which involved six vehicles and 23 occupants, occurred when one of the vehicles fell on its side while turning and spilling its contents on the road.

Management of Geometric Power, otherwise known as Aba Power, says there was a fire outbreak on Monday at its company’s premises in Aba, Abia State.

The utility company disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

It stated that the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, noting that the cause is not yet known.

“There was a fire outbreak early this morning in a temporary building on the premises of Geometric Power, Nigeria’s foremost integrated power company, located in the Osisioma Industrial Layout, Aba, Abia State.

“The building was used by a defunct South African electricity firm known as Group 5 during the construction of facilities in the integrated power company and has been of little use for over 12 years. Though the cause of the fire has yet to be determined,” the statement disclosed.

The management noted that the fire was contained by the Geometric Power staff before the arrival of the Abia State Fire Service which responded promptly to the emergency call.

Geometric Power management commended its staff members for their vigilance and gallant efforts in containing the fire and the Abia State Fire Service for its swift response and professionalism.

The management also appreciated members of the public for their concern and support.

“Geometric Power assures the public of their commitment to work assiduously for constant, quality and affordable electricity in the Aba Power Ring-fenced Area and elsewhere for the rapid socioeconomic progress of the Nigerian nation,” the statement added.

The Federal Government has extended the deadline for applications into the Federal Civil Service to March 17, 2025.

The Federal Civil Service Commission initially announced the recruitment exercise on January 27, 2025, offering over 70 positions across various ministries, departments, and agencies.

However, many citizens lamented difficulties accessing the recruitment portal, prompting widespread calls for an extension.

FCSC spokesperson, Hassan Taiwo acknowledged that some applicants encountered technical issues but maintained that others could register successfully.

In an advertisement published in two national dailies and shared by Taiwo on Monday, the commission announced that the new deadline supersedes the previous one, which was initially set for March 10, 2025.

It read, “The Federal Civil Service Commission has extended the closing date for receiving applications for various vacancies in the Federal Civil Service to Monday, March 17, 2025, to allow more eligible candidates to participate in the exercise.”

This announcement supersedes the previous advertisement of Monday, January 27, 2025, in some national dailies, as well as the FCSC website (www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng), where the deadline was initially Monday, March 10, 2025.

“The updated information is now available on the FCSC website and in The Sun and The Nation newspapers of Monday, March 10, 2025, including Daily Trust of Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

“Qualified Nigerians are urged to take advantage of this extension and apply for the available vacancies.

“The Commission assures applicants of a merit-driven and transparent recruitment process,” it concluded.

Popular Nigerian actor and content creator, Adebowale Adedayo, widely known as Mr Macaroni, has responded to criticism over his refusal to greet Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a recent public appearance.

In a series of posts on Monday via X, Mr Macaroni dismissed the backlash, stating that he would not greet the governor even if given another opportunity.

“This is the last time I will address this matter. It is not worth my peace of mind. Since you people won’t stop attacking me because I didn’t greet Governor Sanwo-Olu, next time I see him, I still won’t greet him. And this time, even if he calls me, I won’t answer. You people will cry today, tomorrow, and forever,” he wrote.

The social media personality, known for his strong stance on governance and human rights, criticised Nigerians who defend politicians instead of holding them accountable for the economic hardships in the country.

“The people are suffering! The price of everything is up. Instead of you people to hold your leaders accountable, you are busy kissing their bumbum,” he stated.

He further accused some individuals of hypocrisy, alleging that certain critics of government officials eventually seek financial favours behind closed doors.

“Some people called out their state governors every day, then went behind closed doors to collect envelopes to become praise singers. It hurts them when they see that not everyone is for sale,” he wrote.

Addressing the culture of political loyalty, Mr Macaroni said, “These people have no honour, no code, no respect or dignity whatsoever. They have become slaves to the servants of the people. This is why Nigeria is the way Nigeria is. The people worship and defend their oppressors.”

He also rejected any expectations that he would change his stance due to persistent attacks on his character.

“I am no saint. I am nobody’s hero. I am far from perfect. I do what I do only because I strongly believe in it. Do I get tired of the constant attacks on my person? Yes! But please do not think for a second that I will betray my conscience,” he wrote.

The actor concluded his remarks by condemning tribal bigotry in Nigeria’s political landscape, warning against using ethnicity as a tool to divide the country.

“Shame on all those who have joined in creating this toxic culture of tribal bigotry. Kudos to every Nigerian, irrespective of their tribe, who see beyond this mischief and continue to do their best to promote peace and unity,” he said.

The Federal Road Safety Corps has sanctioned its Ondo State Sector Commander, Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, after a viral video exposed one of the corps’ patrol vehicles operating with a worn-out tyre.

The video, which circulated widely on social media, sparked public concerns about the safety standards of the FRSC’s vehicles, given its mandate to enforce road safety regulations.

In a statement released on Sunday, FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, strongly condemned the violation, stressing that it contravened the FRSC’s core values and operational procedures.

To reinforce accountability, the Sector Commander has been sanctioned, while the vehicle involved will be fined for the safety infraction.

Additionally, Ibitoye will personally bear the penalty for the oversight.

“The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, condemns in totality the use of a worn-out tyre on an FRSC patrol vehicle and has ordered the immediate sanction of the Ondo Sector Commander, under whose jurisdiction the violation occurred.

“He further stressed that the corps has zero tolerance for any deviation from safety standards and will not condone any compromise against its core values.

“In addition to the sanction, the Corps Marshal has also directed that the vehicle be booked for the infraction and that the Sector Commander must pay the fine for negligence,” the statement read.

The FRSC reiterated its commitment to upholding the highest vehicle maintenance standards, emphasising that it remained a leading agency in promoting road safety in Nigeria.

The statement concluded by assuring that management will intensify supervision of field operations to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations across all commands.

The Delta police command says it has detained an operative of an anti-cult volunteer corps in connection with the shooting to death of an auxiliary nurse, Isioma Nwayalani, in Okpanam Community, near Asaba.

Cancel
The 19-year-old victim was allegedly killed by a stray bullet from the gun-wielding operative, whose identity has yet to be disclosed.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the tragic incident to journalists on Sunday in Asaba.

Mr Edafe said that the suspect had been caught and is presently in police custody.

“Yes, the unfortunate incident is confirmed, and we are investigating to unravel the circumstances behind the shooting.

“When the police are through with their investigations, we will update you with the necessary information,” he said.

Witness accounts said that the deceased was hit by a bullet allegedly fired by the suspect, who was shooting sporadically along with his colleagues after they returned from a burial in Agbor.

The account further said that the deceased, who worked in a patent medicine store on the ground floor of the building housing the anti-cult office, was hit in the hand and part of her stomach.

“Usually, whenever they went out for a burial or any celebration and come back, they will start shooting to herald their return.

“So, that Saturday, at about 6.30 p.m., when they returned and began to shoot, the deceased and her colleague, who was outside, started running back to their store for safety.

“Unfortunately, she was hit on her hand and part of her stomach,” the account added.

It was further learnt that the suspect quickly carried the girl into their vehicle, and she was rushed to the Delta State Specialist Hospital near Midwifery, Okpanam, where she later gave up the ghost around 7.30 p.m.

Meanwhile, a member of the bereaved family, Christopher Nwayalani, has expressed deep grief over the tragic death of his niece and called for justice.

“Our family is in deep shock over the tragic incident.

“Normally, as a Sabbatharian, she always did not go to work on Saturdays.

“However, on that Saturday, she merely went to a salon near her workplace to make her hair, but since the hairdresser did not open, she decided to keep her colleague company.

“That was how she met her death. All the family wants is justice for her.

“Her life was cut short by the recklessness of an excited operative, so we will not want her killing to be swept under the carpet.

“We have made attempts to see the authorities at the anti-cult outfit, but nobody is willing to see us,” Mr Nwayalani said.

In a similar vein, a Delta-based rights activist, Victor Ojei, who is the lead activist of the Young Nigeria Rights Organisation, has also demanded justice for the deceased.

“The late nurse should get justice. There is nothing like accidental discharge, a gun has a safety pin.

“You only cock your gun when you are faced with a threat; else, you ensure it is on safety lock.

“It is a criminal offence. The actions of the anti-cult member resulting in the death of the nurse in Okpanam can indeed constitute criminal liability.

“The term, accidental discharge, does not absolve an individual from responsibility, especially when negligence or recklessness is involved,” Mr Ojei said.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to a different judge.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed this development in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Kanu had previously requested that Justice Binta Nyako recuse herself from presiding over the seven-count terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

While Justice Nyako stepped down and transferred the case file back to the Chief Judge for reassignment, the file was later returned to her—a move that Kanu strongly opposed.

On February 20, Kanu’s legal team wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking her intervention.

Ejimakor revealed that on Friday, March 7, the legal team received two official letters regarding Kanu’s case—one from the Chief Justice of Nigeria and another from the Chief Judge.

“Yesterday, before the legal team conducted our routine visitation to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we received two separate official letters regarding his case. The letters are momentous and somewhat pyrrhic.

“One letter was from the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, responding to a recent letter we had written to her, seeking her prompt administrative intervention (as the administrative head of the Nigerian judiciary) on the matter of a proper and lawful reassignment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case, following the recusal of the judge that was conducting it.

“The other letter was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, informing us that the case has been reassigned to another judge of the Federal High Court,” the statement read.

Upon receiving the letters, Ejimakor noted that Kanu instructed his legal team to publicly express “sincere gratitude to the CJN for her sound administrative discretion and the promptness with which she responded to their request.”

“He also expressed his profound appreciation to members of the general public who publicly supported our righteous demands that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case be reassigned to another judge, as the law demands.

“To be clear, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has always been ready to stand trial because he is firmly convinced of his innocence. However, the perverse events of the past six months (from September 2024, when the recusal happened) posed significant dangers to his constitutional rights, particularly his right to a fair and speedy hearing. It was in light of this that we resorted to taking extraordinary measures to ensure that his case is properly reassigned and conducted by the law.

“Now that the authorities have taken the initial steps to uphold the law, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his legal team will take stock and focus on zealous preparation for his defence,” Ejimakor stated.