The Nigerian troops have neutralised no fewer than 31 terrorists and rescued several kidnapped victims in a series of coordinated counter-terrorism operations across the country between April 17 and April 23.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Onoja said troops of Operation HADIN KAI recorded major successes in the North-East, including the neutralisation of 21 terrorists during a foiled attack at Kukareta along the Maiduguri–Damaturu Road in Yobe.

He added that troops also carried out ambushes and fighting patrols in Borno and Yobe, neutralising additional insurgents and recovering arms and ammunition.

According to him, nine captives who escaped from the Mandara Mountains were rescued by troops, while attempts by terrorists to recapture them were thwarted.

He said troops intercepted a suspected logistics supplier conveying fuel concealed in sachet water bags to terrorist locations.

In the North-West, Onoja said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted ambushes and clearance operations, neutralising terrorists, destroying camps and rescuing kidnapped victims in Kaduna and Zamfara states.

He added that troops also intercepted a suspected courier conveying Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials intended for terrorist elements.

“Similarly, troops of Operations SAVANNAH SHIELD, ENDURING PEACE and WHIRL STROKE in the North-Central carried out clearance operations.

“They arrested suspected terrorists and collaborators, and rescued several kidnapped victims,” he said.

Onoja said the troops also intercepted arms, ammunition and explosive materials, while dismantling terrorist camps and illegal hideouts.

In the South-East, he said the troops of Operation UDO KA arrested suspected members of proscribed groups and other criminal elements, including individuals linked to attacks on security personnel.

Onoja said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, commended troops for their resilience and professionalism.

Edo State Police Command has announced the rescue of nine kidnap victims from two separate incidents along the Benin–Lagos corridor and nearby forest areas.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.

According to the statement, the operation followed a coordinated strategy involving tactical deployments, intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and sustained bush-combing exercises directed by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika.

The Command stated that all victims abducted during the recent incident along the Benin–Lagos Expressway were rescued alive.

It attributed the success to the “immediate and massive deployment of tactical teams, intelligence assets, aerial surveillance, and other operational resources,” noting that persistent pressure forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims.

“The sustained rescue efforts, coordinated bush-combing operations, and strategic domination of the area exerted pressure on the kidnappers, ultimately leading to the safe rescue of all victims. They have since received medical evaluation and treatment, and reunited with their families,” the statement added.

In a related development, the Command confirmed the rescue of four additional victims who had earlier been abducted and held in captivity within the Imiegba forest in Agenebode.

Authorities said all rescued individuals have undergone medical checks and are in stable condition, bringing the total number of victims freed to nine.

The Command further assured residents that security presence along the Benin–Lagos Expressway and adjoining forest corridors has been strengthened to prevent further incidents.

Sumner Sambo, Director of News, Arise News, has noted that the best political alliances Nigeria has always had is between the North and Southeast.

He said that from the first republic with Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa and in the second republic with Alex Ekwueme, alongside Shehu Shagari, Nigeria had its best political alliances.

Sambo was particularly commenting on Peter Obi alliance with Rabiu Kwankwaso and the coming together of their support groups to work in synergy ahead of the general elections.

He also spoke about the significance of Peter Obi’s recent visit to Bauchi State, which according to him, was massive.

“I was in that company of Obi when we went around the country in 2022. The very first place we went was Bauchi, where we had to even visit the Abubakar Tafa Balewa Mausoleum and some of the visuals about Obi, whenever I take a look at them, I’ll see that very first act that we took going around there, and then see him going there today again, but this time around, not going alone, not going with a few people.

“I mean, when we went there in 2022 Obi was relatively unknown, though the Governor hosted him then, but now Obi was going to the same state, and this time around, going with huge political weight and then very strong politicians. I mean, some very top leaders from the South East. You will see that that delegation was actually very, very strong.

“And I’m thinking that the rhetoric that will come out of that meeting will be something that will help to forge an alliance between the North and the South, especially the South East, build bridges more and then help to reduce this tension that we’ve always had.

“Look, the best political alliances that we’ve always had in the country between the North and south have always been between the North and the South East. That is from the First Republic. There has always been that arrangement. Those are the kind of mature politics that we should be seeing at this moment, not the kind of rhetoric that comes out, and it looks like Nigeria is going to war. And then some people are saying that, look, the south east will never be given opportunity.

“When I saw Peter Obi at the Government House in Bauchi I was really happy, because he was received wholeheartedly.”

Accord Party has described as a move in futility the recent protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 presidential election, Prof. Christopher Imumolen where he asked the Comission to recognize him as the Chairman of the party.

Accord, in a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, described Imumolen as a political jobber and a clown seeking stomach infrastructure.

National Chairman of the party, Barr. Maxwell Mgbuden said the show being put up by Imumolen was to get cheap publicity and mislead unsuspecting citizens maliciously fabricating factions in political parties where there is none.

DAILY POST reported that on 21st April 2026, Imumolen, who the party said it has expelled from its fold, staged a protest at INEC headquarters Abuja, seeking to be recognised as chairman of the party.

However, Accord said that there is no court order, whatsoever backing his demand and that there is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord, adding, “If there is a court order, Imumolen would have carried and displayed it like a trophy instead of carrying an awkward placard.

“He failed to provide the purported court order to journalists he invited for their news reports as it exists in his fertile imagination after a political hallucination of becoming the Accord chairman, which remains what it is, a mere dream.”

He explained that what the former presidential candidate still parades as a court order was an ex parte order he misled an FCT High Court to obtain on 3rd August 2024, foisted himself as chairman and broke into the party national secretariat on Saturday, 31st August 2024 which the national leadership of the party quickly approached the court and filed Motion No. M/11943/2024, seeking for an order of court to set aside the order of court obtained by fraud.

He said that On 2nd September 2024, Hon. Justice M. M. Adamu of the FCT High Court Vacation Court 3, ruled: “It shall be noted that Interim Orders lapse after seven days. I order for status quo to be maintained pending the outcome of the Motion on Notice.”

Accord urged citizens, particularly aspirants who desire to contest elections on the platform of the party, to be mindful of Imumolen.,

He added, “If Imumolen’s aim is to give the public impression that there is a leadership dispute or faction in Accord, he failed woefully. Nigerians know that there is no faction in Accord as members are united.

“Accord dissociates itself from Imumolen’s misplaced showmanship at INEC headquarters. It did not emanate from the party.

“Imumolen’s distraction has been adequately addressed by the party as equally reported in the national media. We will not dissipate energy responding to the antics of a failed politician.”

Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE have raided a clandestine arms manufacturing site in Gwandanu Village, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State and arrested two suspects caught while fabricating sophisticated firearms.

Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer Joint Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, in a statement said during the precise tactical raid, troops seized a substantial cache of weaponry and industrial equipment used for the production of illegal arms.

Items recovered includes the following two AK-47 rifles and one G3 rifle, alongside a suite of manufacturing tools such as two generating sets, a welding machine, a drilling machine, a hand filler, and a comprehensive technical toolbox.

In ​a related engagement, troops deployed at Gidan Waya, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, responded to armed attack on members of the Forest Guards and Vigilante Group of Nigeria. ​

The troops in collaboration with Forest Guards pursued the assailant towards the Jaginde Forest axis, and upon sighting the approaching troops around Ungwar Maruwa, the suspected criminals abandoned their motorcycle and fled into the bush. But, troops intercepted and arrested one of the fleeing suspects.

Items recovered includes; AK 47 rifle, one AK 49 rifle, a motorcycle and a sleeping mat.

​The arrested suspects are currently in custody undergoing investigation to determine the extent of their distribution network and any potential links to wider criminal syndicates.

A fresh industrial crisis is brewing at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State between the management and the members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP.

The Union accused the Rector of the institution of threatening the life of its chairman, among other unaddressed sundry issues and grievances.

A statement by Tunde Ayedun on behalf of the union, alleged that a request for an emergency meeting with the management was declined on the basis that the management was attending a party in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state.

However, when the two meetings eventually held on April 20, 2026 at 10:00a.m, and 3:00p.m, the union alleged that the Rector of the institution, threatened the union chairman that “his life is tenured” which led to the abrupt end of the second meeting.

Consequently, the union issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rector to withdraw the threat or face a-14-day notice of strike.

According to the union, “the threat has not only sent jitters to the leadership of the chapter but has been perceived to equally require a legal and industrial perspective because matters that relate to life must not be handled with levity.

“The CEC is seriously concerned that threats have become the response of ‘this’ management to matters of concern that was advanced to them through the congress communique.

“The Union is hereby requesting for an unequivocal withdrawal of the life threatening statement by the Rector with assurances within 48hours or instant consideration would be given to legal and industrial remedies.

“Without prejudice to the above, our 14-day notice of strike remains operational,” the union stated.

In a swift reaction, the management declared that “at no time during the said meetings did the Rector make any statement that could be construed as a threat to the life of any individual”.

A statement by the spokesman of the institution, Olayinka Iroye, said, “The allegation is therefore inaccurate, misleading, and does not reflect the true account of proceedings at the meetings.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the statement credited to the Rector ‘everything in life is tenured, including our careers and indeed our lives’ was purely philosophical.

“It conveyed a general and universally acknowledged truth about the transient nature of human existence and was neither directed at any individual nor intended as a threat, whether implicit or explicit.

“It is also pertinent to note that, contrary to the narrative being circulated, the meeting was marked by instances of unguarded, rude utterances and verbal exchanges directed at the Rector by some members of the ASUP leadership, following earlier tensions relating to engagements involving the Polytechnic Librarian.”

The management explained that it considered it necessary to make the clarification in order to prevent the spread of misinformation, avoid undue heating of the polity, and forestall unnecessary escalation of issues capable of disrupting the peace and stability of the institution.

While noting the concerns raised by the Union, the Polytechnic Management reiterated its commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and constructive engagement in resolving all outstanding matters.

“We therefore appeal to ASUP to embrace amicable resolution in the interest of peace, industrial harmony, and the continued progress of the Polytechnic.

“Management remains open to further discussions aimed at sustaining a cordial and productive working relationship with all stakeholders,” it stated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30 per cent reduction in charges owed by airlines to Nigeria’s aviation agencies.

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, disclosed the development on Thursday, noting that the decision was aimed at easing the burden of rising operational costs on airline operators.

According to him, the approval was conveyed during an official engagement.

“So this evening, Mr. President just communicated to us through the Chief of Staff, while we were at the meeting, that he’s granting a 30 percent discount to all airlines,” Mr. Keyamo said.

DAILY POST reports that the discount covers outstanding debts owed to key aviation agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The move follows a meeting between the federal government, led by the aviation minister, and major industry stakeholders recently.

Airline operators in Nigeria had earlier warned of a possible shutdown of operations or an increase in airfares due to the surge in aviation fuel prices.

They also called for debt waivers from aviation agencies as part of measures to avert disruption in services.

The Centre for the Advocacy for Human Rights and Social Justice has thrown its weight behind the decision of the Ogun East Senatorial District caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to restrict attendance at its recent meeting to duly accredited members, describing the move as a necessary step to preserve order, discipline and institutional integrity.

In a press release made available to journalists and signed by its Leader, Olufemi Akindele, the group said the controversy surrounding the alleged exclusion of Senator Gbenga Daniel was being unnecessarily amplified, stressing that party structures must be respected by all members, regardless of status.

The organisation maintained that caucus meetings are governed by clear guidelines and are not open gatherings, noting that attendance is typically based on prior invitation and recognition within the party hierarchy. It argued that the decision to limit participation was neither arbitrary nor targeted, but consistent with established norms aimed at ensuring productive deliberations.

According to the statement, attempts to portray the development as an affront to Senator Daniel were misplaced, adding that internal party mechanisms should not be misrepresented in a way that could mislead the public or create avoidable tension.

“The decision of the caucus to admit only invited stakeholders is in line with democratic best practices within political parties. Discipline, order and respect for procedure are the pillars upon which any credible political institution must stand,” the group stated.

The Centre further called on Daniel to demonstrate statesmanship by respecting party decisions and utilising internal channels to address any grievances, rather than resorting to public criticism. It noted that as a ranking member of the party, the former governor is expected to model democratic conduct and contribute to strengthening, rather than undermining, party cohesion.

While urging restraint among supporters, the group cautioned against dragging the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, into what it described as a purely party-driven matter. It reiterated that the meeting in question was not convened by the state government, but by party stakeholders acting within their constitutional framework.

“It is important, that political leaders separate governance from party administration. Bringing the person of the governor into this issue only serves to politicise a straightforward organisational procedure,” the statement added.

The group emphasized that healthy democracies thrive on respect for rules and collective decisions, not on personal interpretations of entitlement. It warned that persistent public attacks on party processes could weaken internal democracy and set a poor example for younger members.

Concluding, the Centre urged all stakeholders within the APC to remain committed to unity and due process, while encouraging Senator Daniel to align with the principles of party discipline and democratic engagement in resolving disputes.