The United Kingdom has appointed Peter Vowles as its next High Commissioner to Nigeria, signaling a new phase in diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 16 June, 2026, confirmed that Vowles will assume office in Abuja in September 2026, succeeding Richard Montgomery, who will remain in the post until the transition is completed. Vowles arrives in Nigeria with a wealth of diplomatic and development experience gained across Africa and Asia. Most recently, he served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2023 to 2026, having earlier held the position of Ambassador to Myanmar between…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
The worsening human rights situation in Nigeria came into sharp focus in May as killings, kidnappings, attacks on schoolchildren and a surge in rights violations pushed the number of complaints received by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to a record 268,787, exposing deepening insecurity and social distress across the country. According to the NHRC’s May 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard, complaints rose by about 2,000 compared to April, with the North Central zone accounting for nearly half of all reported cases nationwide, underscoring the region’s growing vulnerability amid persistent violence and instability. The Commission painted a grim picture of…
A Federal High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier to death by hanging after the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully prosecuted her for conspiracy to commit, aid and abet terrorism. This is the second death sentence secured by the DSS in the month of June. The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was arrested by the DSS on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park, Katsina State, while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to one Ado, a notorious bandit kingpin operating in Dunburum Forest, Zamfara State. On 3rd June, a Federal High Court in Abuja…
The Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics has thrown its weight behind the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), pledging stronger legislative backing and tougher laws to support the country’s escalating battle against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. The commitment came on Monday during a courtesy visit by the newly appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Joseph Ikpea, to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja. In a move that signals renewed collaboration between the National Assembly and the anti-narcotics agency, Ikpea…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, and his wife, celebrity fashion entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Luminee Couture, have welcomed a baby boy, whom they have named King Kagar Omiyinka. The actor announced the arrival of the newborn on Monday, 15 June, via his Instagram page, where he shared a series of maternity photographs featuring himself and his wife. The announcement was accompanied by a heartfelt message of gratitude to God for the safe delivery of their son. Expressing joy over the development, Baba Ijesha said the birth of his son was…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the successful recovery of all equipment involved in the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) accident, while reaffirming its commitment to supporting victims, bereaved families and strengthening rail safety across the country. The Corporation disclosed on Monday, 15 June, 2026 that the incident occurred at about 4:17 p.m. near the Goodluck Jonathan Railway Station in Agbor, Delta State, when the train travelling from Itakpe to Ujevwu, Warri, was involved in an accident. The train had departed Itakpe Station at noon with 442 passengers and 40 operational personnel, including train crew, security…
Niger State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board on Monday, 15 June, 2026 confirmed that a 43-year-old pilgrim from the state named Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim, died in Makkah after performing the Hajj rites. The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Niger Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Jibrin Usman-Kodo, who confiremed the sad development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, 16 June, 2026, said that Ibrahim, who hailed from Kontagora LGA, died from injuries sustained in a road crash in Makkah. Usman-Doko, who said the deceased was involved in the crash while returning from the Holy Mosque, disclosed the the late pilgrim died on Saturday,13 …
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The other political parties the court directed the electoral body to deregister are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The court order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu. The National Forum of Former Legislators had, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance…
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have rescued a 36-year-old woman, Ms. Grace Aniekuoku, who was allegedly held in chains and confined in a room by her brother for more than one year and four months, reports thegazellenews.com. The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Mohammed Sanusi, made this disclosure while speaking with newsmen on Monday, 15 June, 2026. “The command received a distress report on June 12, 2026, alleging that the victim, an indigene of Anambra State, was being unlawfully detained under inhumane conditions by her brother, Mr. Chinedu Aniekuoku. “A team of detectives from the Katampe…
Tension has continued to mount in Amoka Village, Nru Nsukka, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the alleged killing of a 19-year-old resident, Chiadikaobi Asadu. The incident, which reportedly occurred on May 23, 2026, has thrown the community into mourning, with allegations that the teenager was beaten to death by members of his extended family after being accused of stealing money belonging to his father. According to sources, Chiadikaobi was accused of taking ₦17,000 from his father to purchase a mobile phone. The teenager reportedly denied the allegation when confronted, prompting his father to discipline him physically.…