1 dead, 4 injured as explosion rocks Abuja school (Leadership)
An explosion at a school in Abuja has left one student dead and four others injured on Monday.
A security source said the incident happened around noon at an Islamic school in the Kuchibiyu Community of Bwari Area Council of FCT, about 42 kilometres from the Abuja city centre.
It was also gathered that emergency responders and security personnel, including the police bomb disposal squad, arrived at the scene of the explosion. Read more
Lagos Assembly passes N3.3t budget for 2025 (Punch)
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday approved a total sum of N3,366,815,224,144 as the total budget of the state for 2025.
The approval followed the presentation of a report on the budget by the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Sa’ad Olumoh, and the subsequent submissions by lawmakers at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.
The approved budget is made of N1,295,630,197,452 as recurrent expenditure while N2,071,185,026,692 is earmarked as capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2025. Read more
Troops gun down hoodlums who ‘killed’ soldiers in Rivers (DailyTrust)
Troops of 5 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have neutralised two members of gang reportedly responsible for the killing of four soldiers and abduction of two Korean expatriates who were staff of Daewoo company in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by the acting Deputy Director of Public Relations of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, said the troops struck the hideout of the gang at Kalaogbokolo in Ahoada in a carefully planned operation.
Jonah said the operation was conducted following credible intelligence on the return of the wanted criminals to the community. Read more
ISWAP raid on Borno military base kills 6 soldiers (Vanguard)
Terrorists linked to the Islamic State group have reportedly killed six soldiers in a raid on a military base in northeastern Nigeria, according to news agency AFP.
AFP quoted two military officers, saying that the fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly launched a pre-dawn attack in trucks and on motorcycles on Sunday on the base in Sabon Gari in Borno State’s Damboa district.
The insurgents reportedly set fire to the base along with army vehicles. “We lost six soldiers in the ISWAP terrorists attack on the base after an intense gun battle,” AFP quoted one of the officers. Read more
EFCC sacks 27 officers over fraudulent activities, misconduct (Tribune)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has terminated the appointments of 27 staff members in 2024 for their involvement in fraudulent activities and professional misconduct.
This announcement was made on Monday in a statement signed by Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity.
The EFCC highlighted its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for corruption within its operations and among its workforce. Read more
AIG Musa Yusuf Garba assumes command as AIG Maritime Command, Force Headquarters Annex (ThisDay)
In a significant development within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Musa Yusuf Garba has officially assumed duty as the AIG in charge of the Maritime Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos.
A highly accomplished officer with over three decades of meritorious service, AIG Garba brings to his new role a wealth of operational, investigative, and administrative experience acquired from various postings across the country.
Born on 1st January 1966, in Zamfara State, AIG Garba holds an impressive array of academic qualifications. He earned a Master’s Degree in Criminology and Forensic Psychology from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. Read more
Arrested vandals will face the law, Wike vows (Channels)
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that those arrested by the security agencies for alleged involvement in the removal of sewage manhole covers on highways in Abuja will be made to face the full wrath of the law so as to serve as deterrent to others.
The Minister also assured that the government will ensure that all buyers and users of the vandalized manhole covers, and other vandalized public infrastructures will be apprehended and prosecuted for economic sabotage and putting the lives of Nigerians at risk. Read more
Attack on Kaduna senator threat to democracy – PDP supporters (DailyTrust)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters in North West have described the attempted murder of Senator Lawal Usman, representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly as a threat to democracy.
They also called on security operatives, particularly the police and Department of State Service (DSS), to investigate the incident and uncover those behind the attempted murder.
Senator Usman narrowly escaped assassination while visiting his constituency for the New Year celebration. Read more
Zendaya and Tom Holland are engaged! (People)
Zendaya and Tom Holland are taking their relationship to the next level!
The Spider-Man costars, both 28, are engaged, a family source confirmed to PEOPLE. TMZ was first to report the news. According to the outlet, Holland proposed at one of Zendaya’s family homes over the holidays.
A separate source told PEOPLE that “everyone close to them knew an engagement was happening” — just not when. The source said Holland had been keen to propose to Zendaya “for a while.” Read more
Texas officials file complaint over controversial Sally Mann photographs (ArtNews)
Photographs by Sally Mann on view in a group exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas have been decried by locals and elected officials as containing what they have deemed as inappropriate depictions of children.
Sally Mann has spurred controversy for years over her photographs of her rural Lexington, Virginia, home, which include nude depictions of her underage children.
In 1992, the New York Times Magazine cover article, “The Disturbing Photography of Sally Mann,” for instance, detailed a federal prosecutor having informed Mann that “no fewer than eight pictures she had chosen for the traveling exhibition [“Immediate Family”] could subject her to arrest.” Read more
Trump attorneys file for another delay in hush money sentencing (UPI)
Attorneys for President-elect Donald Trump asked New York Judge Juan Merchan on Monday to delay sentencing in his criminal hush money case because questions over his immunity remain under appeal.
Merchan is set on Friday to sentence the incoming president on the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last May. The sentencing has been delayed several times because of various legal wranglings brought up by Trump’s legal team.
Trump’s attorney argued on Monday in court filings that Merchan doesn’t have the authority to move forward with sentencing while a question surrounding the case is in the appellate court. Read more
Venezuela announces the release of 146 election protesters from prison (AlJazeera)
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab has announced the release of 146 protesters detained during anti-government protests following the July 28 presidential election.
Saab’s announcement on Monday brings the number of prisoners released by the government to 1,515.
It also comes mere days before President Nicolas Maduro is set to be sworn in for a controversial third term on Friday. Read more
Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial over alleged Gaddafi election funding (BBC)
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has gone on trial in Paris, accused of taking millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign.
In exchange, the prosecution alleges Sarkozy promised to help Gaddafi combat his reputation as a pariah with Western countries.
Sarkozy, 69, was the president of France from 2007 to 2012. Read more
Proud Boys leader serving 22 years for Jan 6 conviction asks Trump for a pardon (NBC)
Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys chairman who is serving 22 years in federal prison after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is asking President-elect Donald Trump for a presidential pardon.
Nayib Hassan, Tarrio’s lawyer, wrote a letter to Trump on the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack asking for “a full and complete Presidential Pardon” from the president-elect who has vowed to pardon some rioters after he takes office on Jan. 20.
In the letter, Hassan called the 42-year-old Tarrio a “young man with an aspiring future ahead of him” who was “portrayed throughout the Government’s case as a right-wing extremist that promoted a neo-fascist militant organization” when, Hassan claimed, Tarrio is “nothing more than a proud American that believes in true conservative values.” Read more
Kim Jong-un announces bizarre new ban for every single person in North Korea (Mirror)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has prohibited people from eating hot dogs because of its Western ties. The popular food item is no longer allowed to be sold to the public
Foodies in North Korea are no longer allowed to eat hot dogs because they are considered too Western, it has been revealed.
Leader Kim Jong-un has banned everyone in the country from eating the popular staple. According to the ban, eating the sausage item now counts as treason. Locals who usually sell them on the street have been told to stop or face being deported to labour camps. Read more
Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal midfielder faces spell on the sidelines with muscular injury picked up in draw at Brighton (SkySports)
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri will be sidelined for a few weeks with a muscular injury.
Nwaneri opened the scoring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Brighton as he made a second successive Premier League start, but was substituted at half-time after suffering the injury.
The 17-year-old’s absence leaves Arsenal short on the right wing, where they are already missing Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling. Read more
Egyptian Club Al Ahly interested in Super Eagles striker (CompleteSports)
Egyptian giants Al Ahly are exploring the possibility of signing Kelechi Iheanacho this month.
Iheanacho only joined Spanish club Sevilla on a free transfer last summer following the expiration of his Leicester City’d contract
The 28-year-old has however failed to score or register an assist in nine league outings for the Rojiblancos. Read more
CAFCC: Ideye scores as Enyimba defeat Black Bulls to secure first win (Vanguard)
Joseph Atule scored twice as Nigerian club Enyimba finally clicked in the CAF Confederation Cup by hammering Mozambican visitors Black Bulls 4-1 on Sunday.
The two-time African champions remain bottom of Group D despite the victory, but they are only one point behind second-placed Al Masry of Egypt with two match days remaining.
Clubs finishing first and second in the four groups qualify for the knockout stage and Enyimba are hoping to become the first winners from Nigeria. Read more
The Arsenal games Ethan Nwaneri will miss as Mikel Arteta gives ‘gutting’ injury update (Metro)
Ethan Nwaneri looks set to miss several huge Arsenal games including the north London derby, as Mikel Arteta gave an injury update on the player.
Arteta has turned to the wonderkid more often in recent weeks with the Gunners struggling with injuries, particularly in attacking positions.
Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz have been sidelined but Nwaneri has done well, scoring four goals in just five starts, including the opener in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton. Read more
West Ham weighing up whether to sack Lopetegui (BBC)
West Ham are considering whether to sack Julen Lopetegui following Saturday’s heavy defeat at Manchester City.
Hammers sources have denied Lopetegui has already been dismissed but accept the former Real Madrid and Spain coach is under huge pressure.
Lopetegui, 58, was on the brink of being sacked prior to last month’s home game with Wolves. But victory in that match triggered a four-game unbeaten run, West Ham’s best of the season. Read more
American fan among 8 detained for tragedy chanting at Liverpool vs Manchester United (Independent)
An American man was among eight people detained following reports of tragedy chanting at Liverpool’s match against Manchester United on Sunday.
Merseyside Police said a 28-year-old man from Tennessee was arrested under section five of the Public Order Act, which relates to tragedy chanting.
A 46-year-old man from Nottinghamshire was also arrested, while five other men aged between 21 and 59 and a 52-year-old woman from Manchester were asked to voluntarily attend interviews on suspicion of the same offence. Read more