Heavy clashes between suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province and troops of the Nigerian Army were reported on the outskirts of Maiduguri late Sunday night.

According to security analyst Brant Philip, loud explosions were heard in the western part of the city about an hour before his report, raising concerns among residents.

Philip said the blasts were linked to ongoing clashes between suspected ISWAP militants and Nigerian troops operating around the outskirts of the city.

He noted that details of the confrontation remained unclear as the situation was still developing at the time of his post on the social media platform X.

He wrote: “Loud explosions were heard in the western part of Maiduguri around an hour ago, details are still unclear as the situation is ongoing.

“Heavy clashes between suspected ISWAP militants and the Nigerian army in the outskirts of Maiduguri tonight, capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria.”

DAILY POST reports that Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has been a major centre of military operations against insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s northeast.

The Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has called upon senior public servants throughout Africa to adopt actionable reforms and enhance governance within their institutions.

The minister made this appeal during the graduation ceremony of the AIG Public Leaders Programme, where 69 senior officials from seven African nations received their diplomas.

Minister Tunji-Ojo stressed that Africa’s most valuable resource is its people, asserting that public service leadership should prioritize long-term effects over immediate benefits.

“If we grasp the true essence of service, Africa will have a different narrative to share. Leadership in public service must ensure that decisions are advantageous for future generations,” he stated.

He further noted that addressing inefficiencies in public institutions is crucial for overcoming challenges such as underdevelopment, insecurity, and economic hardships.

Additionally, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede emphasized the critical need for nurturing leaders who are committed to reform.

“The future of Africa hinges on the caliber of leadership within its public institutions. Transforming these institutions requires leaders who possess a profound understanding of systems, accept necessary compromises, and initiate reform from within,” he remarked.

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has announced that four bandits were arrested at the Akure Airport in Ondo State, Nigeria.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the bandits were arrested within the vicinity of the airport by its security, the Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and local invigilators upon coordinated response.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that four suspected bandits were today apprehended within the vicinity of Akure Airport, Ondo State, following a coordinated security operation involving aviation and local security agencies.

“The arrest followed a distress alert that suspicious individuals were sighted behind the airport perimeter towards the Eleyewo community. In response, security personnel comprising FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other local security outfits immediately launched a joint search operation,” FAAN stated.

FAAN assured the travelling public and airport host communities of its unwavering commitment to maintaining safety and security.

Former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has urged the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to “push forward” experienced southern politicians like Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi as presidential candidates.

Akande said Amaechi and Obi are Southern candidates capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

He spoke on Friday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television.

Akande said credible and experienced leaders from the South should be positioned if opposition parties are serious about mounting a strong challenge.

“If they were serious, people like Rotimi Amaechi, people like Peter Obi ought to be the ones to be pushed forward,” he said.

He highlighted Amaechi’s long career in public service, noting his experience across several levels of government.

“Look at Amaechi. Amaechi has been a speaker, he’s been a governor, he’s been a minister. He was second in the APC,” Akande said.

“Tremendous career in politics, opportunities in service. And he was the guy that was in charge of infrastructure development.”

According to him, the opposition needs a southern candidate with strong governance credentials who can stand “head-to-head against President Tinubu.”

Akande also warned that without a strong alternative candidate, former vice president Atiku Abubakar could continue to dominate opposition politics ahead of the next election.

“As things stand now, if you keep on getting the vibes that Atiku wants to do it by his means, he will probably be able to forge his way through by some means, because he seems to be the strongest politician in the party. The shadows of Atiku are still hanging heavily,” he said.

The Elders Forum of Taraba state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alongside the party’s Like-minds Forum, has reaffirmed its support for the existing leadership structure of the party in the state while urging members to actively participate in the ongoing electronic membership registration.

The positions, as noticed by DAILY POST was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a joint meeting of the two groups held over the weekend in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The meeting attended by senior party members and key stakeholders, deliberated on developments within the party and strategies for strengthening its internal structure.

In the communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of the PDP Elders Forum in the state, John Mamman, and the Chairman of the Like-minds Forum, Hilkiah Bubajoda Mafindi, the forum declared that it does not recognize any faction or group operating outside the legally constituted leadership of the party in Taraba State.

According to the resolution, the forum affirmed its recognition of the established leadership structure of the party from the ward level up to the State Working Committee, urging members to respect the existing party hierarchy and work together to promote unity within the PDP.

The elders and party stakeholders also called on members across the state to mobilize and register en masse in the party’s ongoing E-registration exercise, describing the process as critical to strengthening the party’s membership base and organizational capacity.

They further appealed to stakeholders at the ward and local government levels to support and facilitate the registration process in their respective areas to ensure wider participation among party faithful.

While acknowledging ongoing discussions at the national level, the forum appealed to members to remain calm and law abiding as they await the outcome of deliberations by the PDP Board of Trustees on issues affecting the party.

The meeting, according to participants, underscored the need for unity, discipline, and collective commitment among party members as the PDP continues efforts to consolidate its structure and strengthen internal cohesion in the state.

Veteran Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter, Toun Soetan, popularly known as Evangelist Shouet, has passed away at the age of 73.

The respected evangelist and gospel music icon, was widely recognised as the original composer of the popular Christian chorus ‘Darling Jesus’, a song that has remained a verse in churches across Nigeria.

Reacting to her passing, former Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of the Entertainment Writers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Kunle Bakare, described the late musician as a divinely gifted minister whose songs carried powerful spiritual messages.

“The late gospel music player will also be remembered for her music college, where she trained so many gospel music players, most of whom are reigning today,” Bakare said.

Also confirming the incident, gospel musician Peters Olaniyi Olusegun shared the news in a Facebook post.

“We just lost another legend this morning, Mummy Toun Soetan. May the Lord be with the family and Daddy Titus Soetan,” he wrote.

Beyond ‘Darling Jesus’, the late evangelist was also known for other notable songs such as ‘Ke Pe Jesu’ and ‘Cast Your Burdens’, which became widely used in Christian worship gatherings.

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately stop what it described as a growing crackdown on individuals who criticise the governments of the United States and Israel.

In a statement released on Friday, the rights organisation said it was seriously worried about the actions of the Department of State Services (DSS), particularly over how people expressing opinions on social media about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are being treated.

According to Amnesty, the situation has already led to the detention of at least two individuals in Kaduna.

“At least two people, both residents of Kaduna, have been detained, and one of them is reportedly facing what appears to be a sham trial based on questionable charges,” the organisation said.

Amnesty International also revealed that it had received reports indicating that several other Nigerians who publicly criticised the policies of the United States and Israel had been invited or summoned by the DSS for questioning.

The organisation warned that such actions could weaken respect for human rights and damage public trust in state institutions.

“These increasingly authoritarian practices undermine fundamental rights and erode confidence in the neutrality of state institutions, while also creating an atmosphere of fear,” the statement noted.

Amnesty stressed that criticising the actions or policies of any government is part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression and should never be treated as a criminal offence.

“Criticising the policies of any government or its leaders is a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression,” the organisation said, adding that this right is protected under Nigeria’s Constitution as well as international human rights agreements.

The group specifically referred to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and international instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee citizens the right to express opinions and share ideas without fear of punishment.

Amnesty International therefore urged Nigerian authorities to end what it described as the growing repression of individuals who are peacefully exercising their rights.

“Nigerian authorities must put an end to attacks and repression against people who are simply exercising their human rights in a peaceful manner,” the organisation said.

It further warned that targeting individuals for criticising the policies of the United States or Israel could send a dangerous signal that peaceful dissent is not tolerated in the country.

“Targeting people for criticising the governments of the United States or Israel sends a chilling message that peaceful dissent is not welcome in Nigeria,” the statement added.

The organisation concluded by calling on Nigerian authorities to ensure that everyone in the country enjoys their rights without fear.

“The authorities must respect and protect the human rights of all people in Nigeria, including the right to freedom of expression both online and offline,” Amnesty said.

They urged the government to refrain from actions that could silence critics.

Plateau State High Court has ruled in favour of local government chairmen, granting their demand for a four-year tenure.

It nullified the present two-year tenure as contained in the laws of the state.

The 17 local council chairmen had dragged the state government and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, to court seeking an extension of their tenure from two years to four years, citing a breach of the Nigerian Constitution.

In a landmark judgement delivered on Friday by the state Chief Judge, Justice David Gwong Mannin, the court declared that the two-year tenure provided by the laws of the state and PLASIEC is inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

The judgment also affirmed that the two-year tenure of the council chairmen contradicts constitutional provisions guaranteeing a democratically elected local government system.

While delivering the ruling, Justice Maninn held that the two-year tenure contradicts sections of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantee a democratically elected local government system, noting that the shorter tenure undermines the constitutional framework for local government administration and therefore cannot stand in the face of the constitutional provision.

The judge declared that the four-year tenure granted the elected local government chairmen in the state, aligns their position with the broader constitutional expectations for democratic governance at the grassroots level.