The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports claiming that civilians were killed during a recent military operation in Zamfara State, saying the casualty figures being shared are not verified.

In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, said troops of the Joint Task Force under Operation Fansan Yamma carried out the operation on Sunday, May 10.

He explained that the strike targeted what he described as a meeting of terrorist leaders in Tumfa Village, located in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to him, intelligence reports confirmed that the location was being used to coordinate attacks on nearby communities.

Onoja said it was difficult to immediately determine the number of casualties because of the nature of the airstrike operation.

“The casualty figures circulating across media platforms remain speculative, unverified and inconsistent with official military assessments,” he said.

“Our official position remains that several terrorists were neutralised after post-strike battle damage assessment.”

He also dismissed claims that civilians were affected during the operation, insisting that military findings has not shown any evidence of civilian casualties.

“The target remained a confirmed terrorist structure occupied by armed non-state actors threatening civilian lives,” he said.

“Those making such claims should rely on verified evidence, not social media reports or adversarial sources.”

Onoja added that the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to follow strict operational rules and international humanitarian laws during military operations.

“Civilians are never deliberately targeted during operations,” he stressed.

He said troops were still carrying out clearance operations in the area and urged the public to depend on official channels for accurate information.

The military spokesman also assured that if any civilian casualty is confirmed, the information would be made public through established military procedures.

He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and the protection of civilians during ongoing operations.

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to wait and see the outcome of next year’s general elections.

Kwankwaso made the remark on Monday while fielding questions during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme.

He was responding to Atiku’s comment in which he said Kwankwaso’s popularity is restricted to Kano State.

“Let’s wait and see the election. I have no issue with that, and I think we have gone past that level now.

“We are in the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for now, and I know they are in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). I wish them well.

“You see, anybody who is talking about or asking questions about whether our votes will split in Kano is not patient. Let’s wait for the election and see whether our votes are split in Kano or not,” he said.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has warned aspirants contesting on the party’s platform against acts capable of disrupting the forthcoming primaries, saying violators risk suspension.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the party would not tolerate violence, unrest, anti-party activities, or attempts to undermine the credibility of the primary elections.

He warned that any aspirant or supporter found instigating violence or sponsoring disorder during the exercise would face disciplinary measures, including immediate suspension from the party.

According to him, the APC had built a reputation as a nationally accepted political platform and would not allow personal ambitions to override the party’s collective interest.

“In every democratic contest, only one person will emerge victorious. What is important is the spirit with which the process is approached,” Yilwatda said.

He urged aspirants to demonstrate maturity and sportsmanship by accepting the outcome of the primaries peacefully.

The APC chairman also called on party members and stakeholders to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and avoid actions capable of creating tension within the polity.

Yilwatda said ongoing infrastructure projects and reforms under the current administration remained part of the party’s agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He reaffirmed the party leadership’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and internal cohesion during the primary process.

Former lawmaker and prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abba Anas Adamu, has died while in the custody of kidnappers despite the payment of a N50m ransom.
Adamu, who once represented Guri/Kirikasamma/Birniwa federal constituency in Jigawa State, was abducted alongside his friend and political associate, Ali Tukur Gantsa, at Rijana along the Kaduna-Abuja highway while returning to Kano State.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded N200m at first but later agreed to accept N50m after negotiations.

Reports said Adamu’s death was confirmed after the ransom was paid and the kidnappers directed his son to the location where his body was kept.

The incident has thrown the family, friends and political associates of the late politician into mourning in Jigawa State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday tendered newspaper publications on the Naira redesign allegations against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, in his trial over alleged disobedience to the direction of law and causing injury to the nation.

The newspaper publications are meant to serve as exhibits at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where the anti-graft agency put him on trial over the Naira redesign allegations.

The EFCC tendered the documents through a subpoenaed witness, Jegede Oluwasegun, an official of the National Library of Nigeria.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge bordering on disobedience to the direction of law and illegal acts causing injury to the public.

In the charge, marked CR/264/2024, Emefiele was, among others, alleged to have, between October 19, 2022 and March 5, 2023, disobeyed the provisions of Section 19 of the CBN Act by approving the printing of 375,520,000 pieces of colour-swapped N1,000 notes at a total cost of N11,052,068,062 without the recommendation of the CBN Board and the strict approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thereby causing injury to the public.

The offences allegedly committed by him, according to the EFCC, were contrary to Section 123 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under the same law.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed hearing in the case, the witness was led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, counsel for the prosecution.

The witness, who is the prosecution witness 8 (PW8), explained his official duties to the court.

Oyedepo later tendered copies of Punch, ThisDay, Vanguard, Daily Sun, and The Nation newspapers, alongside certification receipts from the National Library, as evidence.

Counsel to the defendant, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, did not object, and the court admitted them and marked them as exhibits.

While being cross-examined by Emefiele’s counsel, Ojo, the witness admitted that he did not author the contents of the newspapers.

“What I do is to certify the newspapers. I cannot 100 per cent say the content of the papers is right. I am not the author,” the witness told the court.

Ojo then referred to the ThisDay publication of January 31, 2023, and its certification, which the witness confirmed. Ojo subsequently tendered it in evidence.

The prosecution did not object to the document, prompting the court to admit it in evidence and mark it as an exhibit.

Justice Maryanne Anenih thereafter adjourned further trial till May 12.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Monday, released the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, cut-off marks approved by universities across Nigeria for the 2026 admission exercise.

The cut-off marks were announced following the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.

According to the approved list, Pan-Atlantic University fixed the highest minimum cut-off mark at 220.

Several institutions, including the University of Benin, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Covenant University, Air Force Institute of Technology, and Obafemi Awolowo University, adopted 200 as their minimum benchmark.

JAMB stated that the approved figures represent the minimum thresholds for admission consideration.

The Board noted that institutions may still set higher requirements for competitive courses such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and law.

Below is the full list of universities and their approved minimum UTME scores for the 2026 admission exercise:

Pan-Atlantic University – 220

Air Force Institute of Technology – 200

Covenant University – 220

Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta – 200

Obafemi Awolowo University – 200

University of Benin – 200

University of Ibadan – 200

University of Lagos – 200

University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 200

Lagos State University of Science and Technology – 195

Lagos State University – 195

Lagos State University of Education – 185

Afe Babalola University – 180

Ahmadu Bello University – 180

Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun – 180

Nigeria Police Academy – 180

Nigerian University of Technology and Management – 180

Shanahan University – 180

University of Abuja (Yakubu Gowon University) – 180

University of Ilorin – 180

University of Jos – 170

Augustine University – 170

Babcock University – 170

Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia – 170

Federal University, Lafia – 170

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 170

Nasarawa State University – 170

BITS University, Bwari – 170

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University – 160

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University – 160

Admiralty University of Nigeria – 160

African Aviation and Aerospace University – 160

Ajayi Crowther University – 160

Al-Hikmah University – 160

Bamidele Olumilua University – 160

Bayero University, Kano – 160

Bells University of Technology – 160

Caleb University – 160

Chrisland University – 160

Dominion University – 160

Emmanuel Alayande University of Education – 160

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 160

Federal University of Education, Pankshin – 160

Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo – 160

Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti – 160

Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi – 160

First Technical University – 160

Imo State University – 160

Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management – 160

Karl Kumm University – 160

Kwara State University – 160

Landmark University – 160

Lead City University – 160

Modibbo Adama University – 160

Nnamdi Azikiwe University – 160

Olabisi Onabanjo University – 160

Osun State University – 160

Plateau State University – 160

Redeemer’s University – 160

Summit University – 160

Tai Solarin University of Education – 160

Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery – 160

University of Ilesa – 160

AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University – 150

Adamawa State University – 150

Adeleke University – 150

African School of Economics, Abuja – 150

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the resumption of the third phase of the Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Ondo State.

According to a statement issued by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the exercise commenced on Monday, May 11, 2026, and is being conducted nationwide through both online pre-registration and physical, in-person registration.

According to the statement, “the third phase would adopt the IVED rotation framework for the first 40 days of the exercise. The final five days would take place across all the 18 Local Government Area offices of the commission in the state.”

The Commission disclosed that the exercise, which is the final phase of the registration process, is scheduled to conclude on July 10, 2026, in line with its approved timetable.

The statement urged “eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity within the stipulated period.”

It also encouraged electorates seeking to update their voter information or transfer their registration details to participate in the exercise.

The commission noted that individuals with missing or defaced Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, could also use the exercise to request replacements.

Agboke also assured residents of adequate arrangements to ensure a smooth and inclusive process.

“INEC in Ondo State is poised to ensure robust public engagement with all the activities of the commission to enhance better participation and awareness,” the statement said.

Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has stated why he is confident of winning the governorship primary under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gombe State.

Speaking during an interview on TVC on Sunday, Pantami said he relied on strong evidence, not opinion.

According to him, the evidence includes polls conducted both physically and online, among which he emerged as number one in all 13 polls.

“I’m not just a member of APC, but I’m also a party leader. Tinubu appointed me as a special adviser in his campaign council for the 2023 election, addressed to me as a party leader.

“So why he addressed me as a party leader is that he knew very well the role I played during the merger of Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, on one hand and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on the other, since from 2010.

“Furthermore, the reason why I’m optimistic is because of the fact that I rely on strong evidence. It’s not opinion. And you cannot counter an evidence with an opinion.

“This evidence is the pools that have been conducted physically and also online. In each and everyone in which we have a result of around 13 of them, I emerged as number one, with all sense of humility. And you may wish to go there and verify what I have said.

“Thirdly, the reason I feel people love me so much and they appreciate my modest contribution is because of the fact that when I got the opportunity to serve as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, I did my best for Nigeria in general and for Gombe in particular,” he said.