The Zamfara State Police Command has recovered a ten-day-old baby allegedly stolen from General Hospital, Kaura-Namoda, in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson of the command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the infant was recovered following a complaint lodged at the Kaura-Namoda Divisional Police Station three days earlier over the reported theft.

DSP Abubakar said that, during the ongoing investigation, hospital staff who were on duty at the time of the incident were invited and interrogated.

He said, “Subsequently, on May 15, 2026, at about 08:35hrs, the stolen infant was successfully recovered at a nearby hamlet (name withheld).”

The baby was recovered unharmed and has since been reunited with the biological parents.

“One suspect (name withheld), aged 27, is currently in Police custody and undergoing further investigation in connection with the case.”

The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, CP Ahmad Bello, commended members of the public for their support and timely information, which he said contributed to the recovery of the child.

DSP Abubakar reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling all forms of criminality across the state, adding that further updates will be communicated as investigations continue.

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Sierra ​Leone is the latest African country to accept West African deportees from the United States as the President Donald Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented migrants.

Timothy Kabba, minister of foreign affairs, told Reuters the country agreed to take in hundreds of West African migrants.

The first flight of so-called third-country deportees is scheduled to arrive in Sierra Leone on May 20, carrying ​25 nationals from Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria.

“Sierra Leone signed a Third Country National Agreement with the U.S. to accept 300 ECOWAS citizens from the U.S. per year with a ⁠maximum of 25 a month,” Reuters quoted Kabba as saying.

Kabba did not say what Sierra Leone would get in return for taking in the deportees. It is also unclear whether the deportees sent to Sierra Leone will be allowed to stay there.

The US struck a similar agreement with Ghana last year, allowing only West African nationals to be sent to the country.

However, the deportees, which included four Nigerians, filed a complaint alleging unlawful detention and human rights violations.

The US has previously sent
third-country deportees to African states, including Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Eswatini, drawing criticism from legal experts and rights groups over the legal basis for the transfers and the treatment of deportees sent to countries where they are not nationals.

Nigeria was also approached but Yusuf Tuggar, then-Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, said the federal government would not take in third-country deportees, citing national security and economic concerns.

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The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Agege Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Obasa secured the party’s ticket unopposed during the APC primary election held across the 13 political wards in the constituency, following a unanimous endorsement by delegates and party members.

The exercise, which was described by party officials as peaceful and well-organised, recorded a large turnout of stakeholders, supporters and party faithful who participated in the process.

According to party leaders, Obasa’s emergence reflects strong confidence in his leadership credentials, legislative experience and longstanding contributions to grassroots development within Agege Federal Constituency.

Supporters at the venue described the outcome as a clear affirmation of continuity and progressive governance, expressing optimism that his experience as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly would enhance effective representation at the National Assembly.

Obasa, who has presided over the Lagos State House of Assembly for several years, is widely regarded as a key figure in Lagos politics. His candidacy is expected to strengthen the APC’s position ahead of the general elections.

Following the announcement, supporters reportedly celebrated across parts of the constituency, describing his emergence as recognition of his contributions to the development of Agege and Lagos State as a whole.

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The presidency says a 2024 report claiming Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, ISIS’ second-in-command, had been killed was a case of mistaken identity, insisting that the latest operation targeting the insurgent leader was “100 percent certain”.

US President Donald Trump announced al-Minuki’s death in the early hours of Saturday, and subsequently, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed the joint operation between American and Nigerian troops.

Following the announcement, claims resurfaced online that the ISIS leader had earlier been declared dead by the Nigerian military in 2024.

However, reacting in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said security officials had clarified that the earlier report linking Al-Manuki to a 2024 military operation in Kaduna state was a “case of mistaken identity or misattribution”.

According to the statement, Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok or Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, had previously appeared on a list of suspected ISWAP commanders reportedly killed during operations around the Birnin Gwari forest axis in Kaduna state.

“It is acknowledged within military and intelligence circles that Al-Manuki’s name had appeared among lists of suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram
commanders reportedly killed in 2024 during operations around the Birnin Gwari forest axis in Kaduna State,” the statement reads.

“However, security officials now clarify that the earlier listing was a case of mistaken identity or misattribution in the fog of sustained counterinsurgency operations.”

Onanuga noted that intelligence later showed that Birnin Gwari was never within Al-Manuki’s operational territory, casting doubt on the earlier assessment.

He added that the latest operation against the insurgent commander followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, phone
interceptions, and human intelligence tracking involving Nigerian and American
security operatives.

The presidential spokesperson said intelligence monitoring of Al-Manuki began in December 2025 and tracked his movements across several locations in northern Nigeria, including Abuja and Maiduguri.

“Security officials said efforts were initially aimed at capturing him alive before the final operation was carried out,” he said.

“Unlike the previous report, security authorities insist that the latest strike was executed with a significantly higher degree of precision, target validation, and multi-source intelligence confirmation.”

Onanguga added that officials maintain that multiple layers of verification were applied before authorisation of the final kinetic action, making the last operation distinct from earlier incidents in which battlefield assessments later required revision.

“In their assessment, ‘this time, there is no ambiguity,’” he said.

He also defended public announcements of counterterrorism operations, noting that mistaken reports of killings had occurred in previous global anti-terror campaigns involving figures such as Abubakar Shekau and former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

“Such cases highlight not failure but rather the evolving, often imperfect nature of intelligence gathering in asymmetric warfare,” he
added.

According to him, undermining joint counterterrorism operations involving Nigerian forces and international partners could weaken public confidence and operational morale.

“While public scrutiny remains an essential part of democratic accountability, security experts caution that premature dismissal of military claims can inadvertently undermine operational morale and strategic
messaging,” the presidential spokesperson said.

“For now, military authorities remain firm in their position: The latest operation that targeted Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki represents a validated, intelligence-driven success against a senior figure of the Islamic State network. And in their words, this time, they are “100 per cent certain.”

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has declared a three-day nationwide fasting and prayer programme over worsening insecurity, bloodshed, economic hardship and growing anxiety about Nigeria’s political future ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Christian body said the May 22 to May 24, 2026 programme is aimed at seeking divine intervention for peace, healing, national stability, economic recovery and credible elections as fears continue to grow over violence, social tension and uncertainty across the country.

The decision was announced in a statement by the PFN National Publicity Secretary, Sylvanus Ukafia, after a meeting of the Fellowship’s National Executive Council, NEC.

According to the statement, the council reached the decision after extensive prayerful deliberations on the state of the nation and what it described as the role of the Church at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history.

“This is a defining moment for the Church to rise in unity and intercession for the nation,” the Fellowship stated.

The PFN expressed concern over persistent violence, attacks on communities and places of worship, and the deepening economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.

“We believe that as the Church unites in prayer, God will intervene in the affairs of our nation and grant Nigeria peace, healing, stability, and a new season of hope,” it said.

The Fellowship said the programme would coincide with the observance of Global Pentecost Day and would be anchored on the biblical instruction in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which calls on God’s people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from wicked ways so that the land may be healed.

The PFN called on churches, pastors, Christian leaders, workers, youths, women and believers across the country to participate actively in the spiritual exercise.

It said the first two days, Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, would be observed through fasting and prayers in homes, churches and local assemblies nationwide.

On Sunday, May 24, which marks Global Pentecost Day, Christians across the states are expected to gather at venues designated by PFN state executives for a united national prayer assembly to conclude the programme.

According to the PFN, prayers during the programme would focus on ‘divine intervention for Nigeria’, restoration of peace and security, an end to bloodshed, terrorism and criminality, economic relief for suffering citizens, wisdom and unity among leaders, peaceful and credible elections, and the emergence of God-fearing and patriotic leaders.

The PFN added that Nigeria remained a nation of immense possibilities and urged Nigerians, especially Christians, to stand together.

The Fellowship also appealed to pastors and Christian leaders nationwide to mobilise their congregations and networks for full participation in the programme.

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Nigeria has reciprocated Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free entry, expanding travel access between both nations.

In a statement on Friday, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has completed all arrangements for the implementation following President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

Tinubu is in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Africa CEO forum, which began on Thursday.

Before the event kicked off, the president met Paul Kagame, his Rwandan counterpart, for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations
between Nigeria and Rwanda.

Tinubu had considered reciprocating Rwanda’s 30-day visa-free status in the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Rwanda is one of a few African states that grant citizens of African Union (AU) member countries a 30-day visa-free stay.

Under the new bilateral agreement, Rwandan nationals may enter Nigeria without a visa for a period not exceeding 30 days for lawful purposes, including tourism, business, and official engagements.

However, the NIS said individuals seeking to remain in Nigeria beyond the approved 30-day period would be required to obtain the appropriate visa through a Nigerian embassy or high commission abroad, or the Nigeria e-visa.

The 30-day visa free entry applies to all international entry points, including airports, land borders, and seaports.

The NIS said the initiative reflects the strong diplomatic and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda, while promoting intra-African mobility, tourism, and economic cooperation in line with continental aspirations.

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The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) has ordered the closure of schools in Oriire LGA following a kidnap incident recorded in parts of the council on Friday.

TheCable earlier reported that gunmen abducted the principal and several students of a secondary school in Ahoro-Esinle, a community in the LGA.

Reports indicate that the attack occurred between 8am and 9am on Friday at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle.

According to NAN, OYOSUBEB directed all primary schools in neighbouring communities, including Surulere, Oyo East, Oriire and Olorunsogo LGAs, to vacate their premises until further notice.

Nureni Adeniran, executive chairman of OYOSUBEB, in a statement, said the attack occurred at LA School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Community
Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle.

He said a teacher was killed and the exact number of abducted pupils had yet to be ascertained as security agencies were still combing the affected areas.

“This is a dark and painful moment for our education family in Oyo State, and our hearts are with the affected parents, teachers and the entire community,” he said.

“We understand the fear and anxiety this situation has caused, and we want to assure our parents and stakeholders that the safety of our children remains our utmost priority.”

The OYOSUBEB chairman said security operatives, under the coordination of the commissioner of police, had deployed a tactical response team to the area.

According to him, intelligence and operational measures are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and restore peace to the community.

He said the temporary closure was aimed at preventing further attacks and allowing security agencies to stabilise the situation in the area.

The chairman appealed to parents, guardians and community leaders to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.

“We mourn with the family of the teacher whose life was tragically cut short. His service, dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.

Adeniran also urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic among the public.

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Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.69 per cent in April 2026, up from 15.38 per cent recorded in March, reflecting a 0.31 percentage point increase, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the data released on Friday, Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 138.3 in April, marking a 2.9-point increase from 135.4 in March. The NBS said the increase followed the agency’s recent rebasing to a 2024 base year with 2023 as the weight reference period.

Despite the uptick in the annual rate, the bureau stated that the pace of price increases slowed, with month-on-month inflation easing to 2.13 per cent in April from 4.18 per cent in March.

The NBS data also shows a sharp moderation when comparedn with April 2025, when headline inflation was significantly higher at 26.82 per
cent.

“The National Bureau of Statistics is pleased to announce the release of the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for April 2026. Following the completion of the recent rebasing exercise, this report is centred on a new CPI base year of 2024 and a weight reference period of 2023.
Hence, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 138.3 in April 2026, and
reflects a 2.9-point increase from the preceding month.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate for April 2026 stood at 15.69%, when compared to 15.38% and 26.82% recorded in March 2026 and April 2025; respectively. The month-on-month headline inflation rate in April 2026 was 2.13%, which was 2.05% lower than the rate recorded in March 2026 (4.18%),” the NBS stated.

At the divisional level, price pressures were driven mainly by Food and non-alcoholic beverages, restaurants and accommodation services, and transport, while recreation, alcohol and tobacco, and insurance recorded minimal impact.

“The three major contributors to the headline inflation were Food and non-alcoholic Beverages: 6.40%, Restaurants & Accommodation Services: 3.56%, and Transport: 1.70%; while the least contributors were Recreation, Sport, and Culture: 0.01%, Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics: 0.01%, and Insurance and Financial Services: 0.03%,” the bureau
added.

It also said food inflation stood at 16.06 per cent year-on-year in April, lower than 24.68 per cent recorded in the same period last year, while the monthly rate slowed to 3.63 per cent from 4.17 per cent in March, reflecting softer increases across key staples.

The statistics bureau further said core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce and energy, came in at 15.86 per cent year-on-year, with the monthly rate dropping sharply to 1.03 per cent from 4.03 per cent in March.

Across locations, it noted that urban inflation stood at15.40 per cent year-on-year, while rural inflation was higher at 16.36 per cent, with both segments recording slower monthly increases compared to March.

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