General news

• Gunmen kill three in fresh Plateau attack

  09-07-2026 10:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Golok Nanmwa, JosThree persons have been killed after suspected gunmen attacked Torok community in Rim Village of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, sparking renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in the area.The attack, which occurred at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, threw the community into mourning as residents fled for safety.The victims were identified as Ezekiel Zakka, David Yakubu and Dauda Habila.A resident of the community, Albert Tok, told Vanguard that the
  
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• Anambra rated 100% in Open Government Partnership ranking

  09-07-2026 14:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Vincent UjumaduAnambra State has been rated 100% healthy in the July 2026 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria subnational status ranking.The rating is the highest possible standing any state can attain on the platform’s rigorous, nine-point framework for measuring how genuinely open, accountable, and citizen-driven a government truly is.Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime said in a statement that Anambra’s rating is a well-earned scorecar
  
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• World Cup 2026: ‘Nobody can question referees’ integrity’ — FIFA refereeing chief Collina

  09-07-2026 14:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adegboyega AdeleyeFIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has firmly rejected allegations of bias in Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that “nobody can question” the integrity or independence of the tournament’s match officials.According to Reuters, Collina made the remarks in an interview published on FIFA’s official website on Thursday, responding to complaints from the Egyptian Football Association,
  
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• ‘Nigerians earning N60,000 are better off than many living abroad’ — Bwala

  09-07-2026 14:16 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications, has said many Nigerians who relocated abroad in search of better opportunities are facing difficult economic conditions despite possessing university degrees and earning salaries in foreign currencies.Speaking during an appearance on The Morayo Show, Bwala argued that the reality for many Nigerians who emigrated, particularly to the United Kingdom, is far different from the expectations that drove them to leave t
  
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• PFIPC scandal: Stop running, prove allegations against Gbajabiamila, Wike tells Adeyemi

  09-07-2026 14:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Omeiza Ajayi, AbujaThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged the self-acclaimed Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, to stop evading scrutiny and substantiate his allegations against the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, rather than go into hiding.Speaking during a media chat monitored on Thursday in Abuja, Wike said those closest to the seat of power, particularl
  
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• US releases list of countries no longer eligible for visa waiver

  09-07-2026 13:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The United States, US has updated its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), confirming that travelers who have visited or hold dual nationality with certain countries are no longer eligible to enter the country under the visa-free scheme.The Visa Waiver Program allows most citizens of participating countries to travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without first obtaining a visa. Eligible travelers must, however, obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (
  
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• Russia to take on World Athletics at CAS over ban

  09-07-2026 13:50 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Russian athletics federation announced Thursday they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging World Athletics extending the blanket ban on their track and field athletes.“Russian Athletics notes that World Athletics’ decision affects the fundamental interests of athletics in Russia and restricts Russian athletes’ right to compete, on grounds that Russian Athletics considers discriminatory,” read the federation’s statement.World Athlet
  
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• Xabi Alonso resumes as Chelsea coach

  09-07-2026 13:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Emmanuel OkogbaXabi Alonso has resumed duty as the new coach of Chelsea Football Club following his appointment in May.The 44-year-old Spaniard joins the London club with the experience of managing clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.The appointment fills the vacuum created by the sacking of Liam Rosenior.Chelsea will hope to bank on the experience of Alonso to bounce back from a mediocre campaign last season that saw them miss out of Europe — finishing 10th in the Premier Leag
  
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• Breaking: Court remands ex-CCT chairman Umar in Kuje prison over corruption charges

  09-07-2026 13:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ikechukwu NnochiriA High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, on Thursday remanded the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, in Kuje prison.Justice Peter Kekemeke gave the remand order after the Federal Government arraigned the erstwhile CCT boss on a four-count corruption charge.According to the federal government, its investigations revealed that the defendant abused his official position by conferring an undue advantage on hi
  
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• Russia rejects US claim Ukrainian strikes will help end war

  09-07-2026 13:33 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Russia on Thursday hit out at the United States saying Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy sites could help end the war between Moscow and Kyiv.Ukraine has mounted a retaliatory strike campaign using long-range drones against Russian energy and military facilities, in what Kyiv calls fair retribution for Moscow’s drone and missile barrages on Ukrainian cities.Asked about the strikes during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump a
  
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• Only 5% of fever cases in Lagos are malaria – Commissioner

  09-07-2026 13:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Chioma ObinnaThe Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has revealed that only five per cent of people presenting with fever in Lagos actually have malaria.Read Also: US publishes names, photos of 124 Nigerians marked for deportationHe warned that the long-standing practice of treating every fever as malaria is fuelling misdiagnosis, unnecessary drug use and antimicrobial resistance.Abayomi made the remarks in a post on his official X handle, @ProfAkinAbayomi, following a s
  
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• Burna Boy to perform at first-ever World Cup final halftime show

  09-07-2026 13:19 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy will join a star-studded lineup featuring Justin Bieber, Shakira, Madonna and BTS at the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show.FIFA announced on Wednesday that the historic 11-minute performance will take place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.Justin Bieber will co-headline the show alongside Madonna, Shakira and South Korean pop group BTS.“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a w
  
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• Miyetti Allah president docked over alleged $2.63m money laundering, terrorism financing

  09-07-2026 13:17 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, Bello Bodejo, was on Thursday docked in a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged money laundering offence involving 2.63 million dollars.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also charged Bodejo with terrorism financing.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC Counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, named Bodejo as sole defendant in the charge dated June 24 and filed June 25.Earlier when the case was called before Justice Inya
  
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• Ebonyi LP leaders defect to APC, endorse Nwifuru

  09-07-2026 13:07 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A group of prominent Labour Party (LP) leaders in Ebonyi has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring support for Gov. Francis Nwifuru.The group attributed its decision to what it described as the governor’s good performance in office.The defectors, led by the LP State Secretary and Coordinator of the Labour Movement in Ebonyi, Mr Igiri Innocent, announced their defection during a meeting at the APC State Secretariat in Abakaliki on Wednesday.They were received by the AP
  
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• Why Liberia ‘ll never forget Nigeria — Minister

  09-07-2026 12:33 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ethel Davis, says Liberia remains eternally grateful to Nigeria for standing by the country during its darkest moments, stressing that such a gesture was unforgettable.She stated this during a meeting with her Nigerian counterpart, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday in Abuja.“Nigeria is a country that Liberia will never forget.“Why? Because this country was there for us through our
  
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• Soldiers now earn N100,000; Justice Crack staged food video, says Defence minister

  09-07-2026 12:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ayobami OkerindeThe Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has disclosed that the Federal Government has increased the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 while dismissing claims that troops are poorly fed.Musa made the remarks during an interview with News Central on Wednesday ahead of the broadcast of its NC Exclusive programme on Friday.The minister, however, maintained that the military remains underfunded despite recent improvements in personnel welfare.
  
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• US publishes names, photos of 124 Nigerians marked for deportation

  09-07-2026 12:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Favour Ulebor, AbujaThe United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians it says are among foreign nationals facing deportation over criminal convictions.The disclosure was made on the DHS website on Wednesday as part of what the agency described as its updated “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.Although the names and photographs have been released, US authorities did not indicate when the affected Nigerians would be
  
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• 600 dead in DR Congo Ebola outbreak

  09-07-2026 11:56 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now claimed 600 lives, figures published by the World Health Organization showed Thursday — only three days after the figure topped 500.Updated numbers issued by the UN health agency showed there have been 1,759 confirmed cases in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, including 600 confirmed deaths.Two other people have died in neighbouring Uganda, where 17 patients have recovered out of 20 total confirmed case
  
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• Iran summons UK ambassador over stabbing allegation

  09-07-2026 11:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Iran summoned the British ambassador to Tehran to protest what it called “baseless accusations”, state media said on Thursday, after a London court jailed two people for a knife attack it said was carried out at Iran’s behest.“Following the repetition of false and baseless accusations by British officials against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the country’s ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the ministry, and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s protest against th
  
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• Police kill two suspected kidnappers, rescue Ogun prince

  09-07-2026 11:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By James OgunnaikeOperatives of the Ogun State Police Command have neutralised two suspected kidnappers and recovered an AK-47 rifle, mobile phones and other incriminating exhibits, following the successful rescue of the abducted Prince of Okun Owa, Prince Idris.The police disclosed that the operation was carried out by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit after sustained intelligence-led operations and tactical pressure on the criminal gang responsible for the prince’s abduction.Prin
  
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• Two killed as truck, bus collide, burst into flames in Ogun

  09-07-2026 11:23 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By James OgunnaikeTwo persons lost their lives in the early hours of Thursday, following a fatal road crash involving a truck and a commercial bus at Ogbere Junction along the Ogbere–J4 corridor in Ogun State.The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Sector Command, confirmed that the accident occurred at about 5:10 a.m. on Thursday.According to the Sector Command, the crash involved a white Mack truck with registration number ABC660XC and an orange Peugeot J5 bus with no visible r
  
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• Aviation unions demand privatisation of NAMA

  09-07-2026 11:19 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Nnasom DavidThe Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on the Federal Government to commercialise or privatise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), saying the move would strengthen air navigation infrastructure, improve aviation safety and align Nigeria with global best practices.The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the branch secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeri
  
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• Iran says US strikes on civilian infrastructure ‘gross war crime’

  09-07-2026 11:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Iran’s foreign ministry denounced US strikes against the country on Thursday, which it said targeted civilian infrastructure including railway bridges, as a “gross war crime”.The ministry in a statement said it “condemns in the strongest terms the aggressive attacks by the US terrorist army on several points in the southern coastal provinces and two bridges in the eastern provinces on the railway route to the holy city of Mashhad” and called the US administration &
  
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• Expanded World Cup; same old story as Europe dominates quarter-finals

  09-07-2026 10:58 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has offered more of a chance to continents that were previously underrepresented at the tournament, but a glance at the quarter-final line-up tells a familiar tale.Six of the countries in the last eight are European, with the exceptions being Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the reigning champions, and Morocco.With France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway and Switzerland still in contention, there could be an all-European semi-final line-up, like in 2018
  
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• Oyo abduction: Bandits threaten to kill pupils if troops advance — Defence minister

  09-07-2026 10:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ayobami OkerindeThe Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the bandits holding abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State have threatened to kill the victims if security forces attempt a rescue operation.Musa disclosed this in a preview of an interview with News Central shared on Wednesday ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday.According to the minister, the kidnappers are using the abducted children as bargaining chips to secure the rele
  
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• If someone says Ronaldo is better than Messi, don’t do business with them – Bovi

  09-07-2026 10:37 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ayo OnikoyiNigerian comedian and actor Bovi has reignited the long-running debate over who is the greater footballer between Messi and Ronaldo after advising fans to avoid doing business with anyone who insists the Portuguese star is a better player than the Argentine legend.In a video on his Instagram page on Wednesday, the ace comedian said a person’s opinion on the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry could reveal how they perceive reality, joking that it should serve as a test before entering int
  
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• ‘We’ve done so much for Tinubu, we expect courtesy from him’  — El-Rufai’s wife

  09-07-2026 10:18 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband is treated fairly while facing criminal prosecution, saying the family’s support for Tinubu’s presidency entitles them to basic courtesy from his administration.Speaking on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Asiya, a lawyer, said the family was not asking Tinubu to halt the judicial process against her husband but wanted assurance that his constitutional rights
  
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• CAC gives companies Aug. 1 deadline to meet letterhead rules

  09-07-2026 10:05 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Progress GodfreyThe Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has given companies until August 1, 2026, to comply with statutory requirements on business letters, warning that defaulters would face sanctions.The commission, in a public notice on Wednesday, said the enforcement is in line with Sections 304(1) and (2) and 729(1)(c) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 and applies to all companies registered under the Act or any law it repealed.Under the law, every company must state on
  
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• Nothing must happen to Obi, El-Rufai, Atiku warns Tinubu

  09-07-2026 10:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Omeiza AjayiFormer Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the true measure of any democracy is not how comfortably those in power wield authority, but how safely those outside power can exercise their constitutional rights, declaring that “nothing must happen” to Peter Obi and renewing his call for the immediate release of Nasir El-Rufai.Warning that history has never been kind to governments that elevate
  
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• Russia says to continue support for Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali militaries

  09-07-2026 09:56 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Russia will continue to provide military backing to the junta-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have formed a breakaway regional alliance that has strained ties with the West, the countries said Wednesday.In a joint statement during a visit to Niger by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Russia said Moscow would “continue its support for strengthening the operational capacities of AES member states’ armed forces”.
  
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