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The United Arab Emirates has offered free accommodation for travellers stranded in the country amid heavy missile and drone bombardment from Iran in the wake of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Thousands of travellers have been stuck in the UAE since Saturday after Iran targeted several parts of the country, including the Dubai International Airport, with missiles and drones in retaliation for the ongoing attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. Global Aviation Hit as Airline Cancels Flights Amid Iran Fuel Crisis Emirati authorities immediately announced the temporary closure of the country’s airspace, preventing travellers from…

The African Union AU has expressed deep concern over the recent military escalation between the United States and Iran, warning that continued hostilities could destabilize global peace and worsen economic challenges across Africa. In a press statement issued from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said the reported strikes carried out by U.S. forces in coordination with Israeli forces against Iranian targets marked a dangerous escalation in Middle East tensions. Aluminium Prices Surge After Iran Attacks Gulf Plants Youssouf called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and urgently pursue de-escalation through dialogue,…

The Nigeria Police Force has reassured Nigerians of its readiness to safeguard lives and property, announcing enhanced security measures across the country in response to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the Force remains fully committed to maintaining national peace and stability, stressing that Nigeria’s internal security situation remains firmly under control. In a statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police said proactive, intelligence-led policing strategies have been reinforced nationwide to prevent any potential security threats linked to global developments. Disu directed Commissioners…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commissioned a fully renovated educational facility in Jigawa State, reinforcing its commitment to national development through community-focused initiatives. The project, executed under the Service’s “Customs Cares” initiative, transformed the historic Alhassan Primary School in Maigatari Local Government Area into a modern learning environment, benefiting more than 2,000 pupils. The renovation included upgraded classrooms, solar-powered water systems, and improved sanitation facilities, breathing new life into the 51-year-old institution and drawing widespread praise from residents, government officials, and traditional leaders. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as a…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has recorded a major revenue boost, generating ₦3,480,970,924.67 in February 2026, signaling growing trade confidence along the Seme–Krake corridor. The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed this while representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during an interactive stakeholders’ engagement held in Badagry on February 25. NDLEA, NCS Strengthen Partnership to Combat Organised Crime The engagement, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme, and GIZ International, was themed “Empowering Cross-Border Traders through Trade Information Desk for Agricultural…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, who had been in hiding for 13 years over alleged involvement in cocaine and heroin trafficking. This was disclosed in a statement signed and released by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday. According to the statement, Chidiebere, who was first arrested in 2013 for importing cocaine into Nigeria, had been arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail shortly after and disappeared. His name later resurfaced in February 2024 as one…

Passengers rushed to evacuate one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday after a reported Iranian strike, as Tehran targeted travel hubs in US-friendly Gulf states typically regarded as safe, luxury destinations. Dramatic footage shows people fleeing a smoke-filled passageway strewn with furniture and debris at Dubai International Airport, where officials confirmed four staff had been injured. Hours later, an explosion near the airport sent a thick plume of black smoke into the air – part of a fresh wave of Iranian strikes across the Middle East on Sunday following the death of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. The…

Iran’s Chief of Staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has reportedly been killed in a fresh series of airstrikes conducted by United States and Israeli forces. The reported death of Mousavi, a key figure in Iran’s military leadership, represents a significant blow to the country’s defense hierarchy. This development comes less than 24 hours after the confirmed killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. Analysts suggest that the consecutive targeting of Iran’s top officials could have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s military command and the wider Middle East. Security experts have warned that the loss of senior…

Sani Dutsinma Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has ordered the immediate constitution of a high-powered committee to investigate the fire outbreak at Nurul Haqq Quranic and Arabic School in Birnin Kebbi. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, affected several hostels and classrooms within the school premises, prompting swift emergency response efforts led by the governor and relevant authorities. According to a statement issued on Sunday, the governor was on his way to break his Ramadan fast when he noticed thick smoke rising along the roadside. He immediately ordered his convoy to stop and investigate the source of the…

Hamman Abdulkareem A dramatic and dangerous escalation has engulfed the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, igniting retaliatory missile attacks across the Gulf region and reportedly killing Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. President Donald Trump warned earlier that American casualties were possible as “major combat operations” unfolded. Speaking about the unfolding conflict, Trump described the mission as “noble,” emphasising that it was aimed at securing the future despite potential losses of “courageous American heroes.” Death of Iran’s Supreme Leader In a stunning development reported by Reuters and later echoed by CNN,…

Hamman Abdulkareem Iran has officially confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, following a joint United States–Israeli military strike that targeted his compound early Saturday morning. He was 86. Iranian state media announced the development in the early hours of Sunday, describing his death as “martyrdom” in what it called an attack carried out by “America and the Zionist regime.” Reports indicate that members of his immediate family were also killed in the strike. United States President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, stating that Khamenei and senior Iranian officials were successfully tracked through advanced intelligence systems. In a…

Tukur Garba Arab The OpenSchool Initiative has graduated 55 fellows from its Pan-African AI Governance Fellowship, marking a significant step in strengthening Africa’s capacity to regulate and oversee artificial intelligence as adoption expands across sectors. The four-month programme attracted more than 800 applications from professionals across the continent, with just over 70 participants selected from 22 countries. Organizers confirmed that 55 fellows successfully completed the intensive training programme. The fellowship was delivered in collaboration with Cosmopolitan University, System Strategy and Policy Lab, and Tanzeel, and focused on building technical and policy expertise needed to guide the development and regulation of…

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the indefinite suspension of two state commissioners for alleged dereliction of duty. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, the affected officials are the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, and the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development for Concession, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara. Jigawa’s Commissioner for Youths emerges Chairman, Progressive Commissioners of Youth Forum The statement directed that the commissioners immediately relinquish their positions and return all government property in their possession, including official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government.…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there were signs that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in an attack on his compound as part of US-Israeli strikes. “This morning, in a powerful surprise strike, the compound of the tyrant Ali Khamenei was destroyed in the heart of Tehran… and there are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Saturday. It was earlier reported that a wave of strikes on Saturday by the United States and Israel against targets in Iranian cities, triggering explosions and columns of smoke…

The Emir of Zazzau,Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, has called on citizens to promptly report security challenges and suspicious activities in their communities to relevant security agencies to help tackle insecurity. The monarch made the appeal during the annual ten-day Ramadan breakfast held at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in addressing security concerns. Emir Bamali urged residents not to remain silent when they observe suspicious movements, noting that timely information sharing with security agencies would significantly enhance efforts to maintain peace and safety. He also expressed concern over the rising menace of drug abuse among…

Saudi Arabia has issued a strong condemnation of Iran, accusing Tehran of “blatant aggression” and violations of the sovereignty of several Arab nations, while pledging full support to affected regional allies. In an official statement released on Saturday by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riyadh reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. The Kingdom described the alleged actions as flagrant breaches of international law that threaten regional peace and stability. The Saudi communiqué emphasized readiness to place “all its capabilities” at the disposal of the affected countries in support of any defensive…

A female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has reportedly died following an accident during a display in the Federal Capital Territory. The incident, which was captured in a viral 58-second video circulating on social media on Saturday, reportedly occurred during a “show of force” exercise by the Corps’ Female Strike Force. also known as the Female Squad. The footage revealed the moment a black operational van with red wheels, bearing the inscription “Female Squad,” was moving with a second van, marked “Female Strike Force FCT Command,” following behind. During a turn, the lead vehicle ran…

The U.S. aims to process 4,500 refugee applications from white South Africans per month, far above President Donald Trump’s stated refugee program cap, and is installing trailers on embassy property in Pretoria to support the effort, a U.S. contracting document said. The new target, contained in a previously unreported document from the U.S. State Department dated January 27, signals a push to ramp up admissions from South Africa, while refugee applications from other areas have been severely curtailed. Trump has said the U.S. would only admit 7,500 total refugees from around the world in fiscal year 2026, while a much…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented new sniper rifles as ceremonial gifts to party and military officials, calling them a “wonderful weapon” and a sign of his trust, state media KCNA news agency said on Saturday. KCNA reported Kim met leading cadres and commanding officers at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Friday and handed each a new-generation rifle developed by the country’s Academy of Defence Science. “As was already made public, this new-generation sniper’s rifle our Academy of Defence Science developed and produced is really a wonderful weapon,” Kim was quoted as saying. The…

Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied in Athens and other cities on Saturday to mark the anniversary of a 2023 train crash, the country’s deadliest rail disaster in history, demanding justice ahead of a criminal trial set to begin next month. Trains and ferries came to a halt and urban transport was disrupted as workers walked off the job to join the demonstrations. Protesters laid flowers and held banners reading “Justice” outside parliament, where the names of the 57 victims – mostly students – have been spray‑painted in red on the ground. The victims died when a passenger train and…