At least 19 people were killed in a suspected bandit ambush and livestock rustling operation in Bauchi state, northeast Nigeria, the police and residents said on Monday.

Bauchi police command said in a statement that the attack took place early on Sunday morning when a local security patrol in Gwana district was ambushed.

The police said civilians from a nearby village were also killed while attempting to flee the attack.

"A team of operational tactical teams was dispatched to the scene, where they recovered bodies of casualties," Bauchi police commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu said in the statement.

Gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, have wreaked havoc across northwest Nigeria in recent years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel by road or farm in some areas.

Ibrahim Hussaini, an eyewitness, said a gun battle ensued between the security team and the bandits which caused multiple fatalities among the vigilante team and some residents.

The attackers rustled a large number of cattle and sheep from the district after overpowering the local security team, Mohammed Umar, a vigilante from the Alkaleri local government area that includes Gwana, told Reuters by phone.

Reuters

Israel may seize all Gaza in expanded operation, officials say

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday an expanded offensive against Palestinian militant group Hamas would be "intensive" after his security cabinet approved plans that may include seizing the Gaza Strip and controlling aid.

However an Israeli defence official said the operation would not be launched before U.S. President Donald Trump concludes his visit next week to the Middle East.

The decision, after weeks of faltering efforts to agree a ceasefire with Hamas, underlines the threat that a war heaping international pressure on Israel amid dwindling public support at home could continue with no end in sight.

A report by Israel's public broadcaster Kan, citing officials with knowledge of the details, said the new plan was gradual and would take months, with forces focusing first on one area of the battered enclave.

Netanyahu said in a video message the operation would be "intensive" and would see more Palestinians in Gaza moved "for their own safety".

He said Israeli troops would not follow previous tactics based on short raids by forces based outside Gaza. "The intention is the opposite," he said, echoing comments from other Israeli officials who have said Israel would hold on to the ground it has seized.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Israel is a sovereign state that makes its own decisions, according to Axios, which also reported that he hopes for progress on a hostage and ceasefire deal before or during Trump's visit. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israeli troops have already taken over an area amounting to around a third of Gaza, displacing the population and building watchtowers and surveillance posts on cleared ground the military has described as security zones, but the new plan would go further.

One Israeli official said the newly approved offensive would seize the entire territory of the Gaza Strip, move its civilian population southward and keep humanitarian aid from falling into Hamas' hands.

The defence official said aid distribution, which has been handled by international aid groups and U.N. organizations, would be transferred to private companies and handed out in the southern area of Rafah once the offensive begins.

The Israeli military, which throughout the war has shown little appetite for occupying Gaza, declined to comment on the remarks by government officials and politicians.

Israel resumed its offensive in March after the collapse of a U.S.-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months. It has since imposed an aid blockade, drawing warnings from the UN that the 2.3 million population faces imminent famine.

The defence official said Israel would hold on to security zones seized along the Gaza perimeter because they were vital for protecting Israeli communities around the enclave.

But he said there was a "window of opportunity" for a ceasefire and hostage release deal during Trump's visit.

"If there is no hostage deal, Operation "Gideon Chariots" will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved," he said.

Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi rejected what he called "pressure and blackmail".

"No deal except a comprehensive one, which includes a complete ceasefire, full withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and the release of all prisoners from both sides," he said.

'OCCUPATION'

Israel has yet to present a clear vision for post-war Gaza after a campaign that has displaced most of Gaza's population and left it depending on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly since the blockade.

Ministers have said that aid distribution cannot be left to international organizations which it accuses of allowing Hamas to seize supplies intended for civilians.

Instead, officials have looked at plans for private contractors to handle distribution, through what the United Nations has described as Israeli hubs.

On Monday, Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said on X that Israel was demanding that the U.N. and non-governmental organisations shut down their aid distribution system in Gaza.

The decision to expand the operation was immediately hailed by Israeli government hardliners who have long pressed for a full takeover of the Gaza Strip by Israel and a permanent displacement of the population, along the lines of the "Riviera" plans outlined by Trump in February.

"We are finally going to conquer Gaza. We are no longer afraid of the word 'occupation'," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told a pro-settler conference in an online discussion.

However, opinion polls show the Israeli public increasingly wants a deal to bring back the remaining 59 hostages still held in Gaza and there were angry scenes outside parliament with dozens of protesters scuffling with police.

"All the families are tired," said Ruby Chen, whose son Itay was killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. "All the families have been scared about this new manoeuvring because there is no guarantee that it will get us to where the families want."

With Israel facing threats from the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, who on Sunday fired a missile that hit close to Ben Gurion Airport, an unstable Syria next door and a volatile situation in the occupied West Bank, the capacity for prolonged military operations also faces growing constraints.

Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that the military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for reservists.

A government spokesman said reserve soldiers were being called up to expand operations in Gaza, not to occupy it.

Zamir, who took office in March, has pushed back against calls by government hardliners who want to choke off aid entirely and has told ministers aid must be let in soon, according to Kan.

The war was triggered by the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza.

Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to local health authorities, and left much of Gaza in ruins.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine targets Moscow with drones for second straight night, officials say

Russian air defence units destroyed a swarm of Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow in a second night attack in a row, prompting the closure of all airports in the capital for several hours, officials said early on Tuesday.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on social media that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were destroyed on their approach to Moscow "from different directions," causing no major destruction or injuries.

The consecutive attacks came ahead of Moscow marking this week the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared last week a three-day ceasefire over May 8-10 to mark the anniversary.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the measure pointless and offered an unconditional ceasefire over at least 30 days in line with a U.S. proposal launched in March.

Three major Telegram news channels that have links to Russian security services -- Bazaar, Mash and Shot -- said a drone struck an apartment building near a major road in the south of Moscow, smashing windows. There were no reports of casualties.

Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaria's said flights were halted at all four airports that serve Moscow for several hours overnight to ensure air safety. Airports in a number of regional cities were also closed.

On Tuesday, Russia's air defence units destroyed four Ukrainian drones on their approach to Moscow, with no damage or injuries reported.

Since the start of the war that Russia launched more than three years ago, Kyiv has launched several drone attacks on Moscow. Its biggest attack on the Russian capital in March killed three people.

In the Voronezh region that borders Ukraine in Russia's southwest, at least 18 drones were destroyed, causing small damage in a non-residential building and children playground, regional governor said early on Tuesday.

While Russia's air defence units destroyed 10 drones over the southern Pena region, with no damage or injuries reported, a regional governor said on Telegram.

The full-scale of the attack on Moscow and the rest of Russia on Tuesday was not clear. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv about the latest drone attack.

Ukraine says its drone attacks are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Moscow's overall war efforts and are in response to Russia's continued assault on Ukrainian territory, including residential areas and energy infrastructure.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian glide bombs pound Kiev’s troops

Multiple new videos emerged online over the weekend, highlighting the continuing active use of free-fall aerial bombs fitted with winged upgrade kits. Russian aircraft have been deploying glide bombs to destroy Ukrainian forces’ positions, as well as military installations in the rear beyond the frontline.

The Russian military has been actively using FAB bombs fitted with Universal Correction and Guidance Modules (UMPK) winged upgrade kits since early 2023. The winged module turns old free-fall bombs into guided high-precision munitions and drastically expands their range, allowing war planes to deploy them outside the range of anti-aircraft defenses.

The UMPKs were initially used with smaller high-explosive bombs such as FAB-250 or FAB-500, then graduating to larger munitions, such as FAB-1500 and FAB-3000 later in the conflict. The upgrade kits have also been used with thermobaric ODAB-1500 and cluster RBK-500 bombs.

In one of the new videos, what is apparently a massive FAB-3000 bomb is seen leveling a temporary deployment point for Ukrainian troops in the town of Kupyansk in Kharkov Region. The weapon is one of the most powerful in the series, weighing more than three tons.

More footage, also from Kupyansk, purports to show a winged FAB-3000 bomb striking a building used as a command post by the Ukrainian military.

Another drone video, filmed in the village of Borovaya, Kharkov Region, apparently shows a smaller-caliber winged bomb in action, likely a FAB-1500. The strike reportedly destroyed a temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, a neo-Nazi unit formed from the remnants of the notorious Azov regiment.

Reuters/RT

A few days ago, outgoing AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina claimed that Nigerians today are worse off than in 1960, basing his conclusion on figures that do not align with available data.

According to Nairametrics, he claimed that Nigeria’s GDP per capita in 1960 was $1,847 and that it is $824 today. The quoted figures are not correct.

According to available data, our country’s GDP was $4.2 billion in 1960, and per capita income for a population of 44.9 million was $93, not even one hundred dollars.

Our country’s GDP did not rise remarkably until the 1970s, when crude earnings ballooned. In 1970, our GDP rose to $12.55 billion. In 1975, it was $27.7 billion, $64.2 billion in 1980, and $164 billion in 1981. Up until 1980, per capita income did not exceed $880. It rose to $2187 in 1981 and dropped to $1844 in 1982. In 2014, after rebasing, it reached an all-time high of $3,200.

These facts raise questions about the source of Adesina’s figures.

But my mission in this response is not to poke holes in the erudite African banking president’s figures. The more substantive issue lies in Adesina’s conclusion based on these numbers.

Adesina should know that GDP per capita is not the only criterion used to determine whether people live better lives now than in the past. Indeed, it is a poor tool for assessing living standards.

Its primary usefulness is in giving us the metrics to compare economic output in a country or between countries.

GDP masks many activities in a country’s economy. It neither discloses wealth distribution or income inequality nor accounts for the informal economy, which experts have said is enormous. It does not account for subsistence farming or income transfer from one family member to another.

GDP per capita is silent on whether Nigerians in 2025 enjoy better access to healthcare, education, and transportation, such as rail and air transport, than in 1960.

This premise alone suggests why Adesina should not have arrived at his conclusion. Compared with 1960, Nigeria today has more primary, secondary, and tertiary schools. We have more road networks and more medical facilities, private and public. We have phenomenal access to telephones. At Independence, we had 18,724 operational phone lines for a population of about 45 million. Over 200 million Nigerians now enjoy near-universal access to mobile phones and digital services, indicating we are better off today than 65 years ago.

In our country, policymakers know that whatever GDP figure NBS publishes may not capture our economy’s full depth and breadth if it fails to include the informal economy, which some pundits have said may even be more significant than the formal economy. This underscores why Dr. Adesina should have considered all aspects of our economy before concluding.

When Vodacom, a telecommunications company, considered entering the Nigerian market in 1999 or 2000, its consultants, using the available GDP metrics, advised against it. They believed that Nigerians were too poor to afford GSM services. However, MTN and other companies that entered the market later proved them wrong, demonstrating that GDP figures alone do not provide a complete picture of a country’s economic potential or the living standards of its people.

MTN and other adventurers came later, and they laughed all the way to the bank. More than 20 years later, they are still laughing despite some setbacks in 2023 and 2024. In its first-quarter results this year, MTN declared revenue of N1 trillion and an increase of 8.2 percent in subscriptions, which took the number of its voice and data users to 84 million. Does this MTN experience correlate with a country worse off than in 1960, when we had analogue telephones and the number of lines was fewer than 20,000?

No objective observer can claim that Nigeria has not made progress since 1960. Today, as we await the NBS’s recalibration of our GDP, we can comfortably say without contradiction that it is at least 50 times, if not 100 times, more than it was at Independence.

Adesina spoke like a politician, in the mould of Peter Obi and did not do due diligence before making his unverifiable statement.

** Onanuga is Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu

Growing up, I was super inquisitive. I always needed explanations. 
“Why is the sky blue? Why does my hair grow so coily? Why can’t I have sleepovers like my friends?” I would ask. Sometimes, I’d get an actual answer. Other times, I’d get the dreaded, “Because I said so.” Even though it was probably annoying, I continued to question, and I continue to do so today.
That’s a good quality to have, according to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. He has noticed that the employees and teams who most ask “Why?” and prod for more answers are most successful: They’re the ones who best break down complex problems and create new products, he explained in his most recent annual letter to shareholders, which published on April 10.
“In the nearly 28 years I’ve been at Amazon, the biggest difference in the relative growth of companies and individuals has been their aptitude to learn,” Jassy wrote. “People with high YQ [the instinct to frequently ask ‘Why?’] are always curious how they can get better, become wiser, and incorporate their new knowledge into better customer experiences.”
Posing questions can encourage “constructive debate” and messy meetings, Jassy said. That often helps prevent mistakes or brainstorm new ideas.
“You can’t book 60 minutes to invent Amazon Prime, or AWS [Amazon Web Services] or Alexa+,” he wrote. “These inventions are born out of somebody asking why we can’t change what’s possible for customers, and then they take on a life of their own, often meandering down multiple dead ends before getting to a final destination.”
Inquisitiveness can be a powerful trait in the workplace, according to communication experts. Getting a second opinion, trying to figure out how something is done or even gently challenging an idea can even help you gain influence among your colleagues, Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams told CNBC Make It in September 2024.
“It demonstrates you care, it demonstrates empathy, it demonstrates you’re willing to learn and, in some cases, admit you don’t know everything,” said Abrahams. That approach can make clear that you’re open to feedback, and it can make the other person feel more comfortable asking you for your opinion when they need advice.
I used to be a little self-conscious about asking too many questions, fearing it made me look less knowledgeable. But after reading this article, I feel even more empowered to keep prodding for answers.

CNBC

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, says he is still fighting for the survival of his $20bn refinery, stressing that the fight is not yet finished.

Dangote expressed optimism that he would win the fight for the refinery, stating his determination to fight on.

According to Semafor, an international news medium, Africa’s richest man spoke at an investor forum in Lagos on Friday.

The report stated that Dangote pointed out that some individuals who “for a very, very long time” have “made a lot of money from” government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria, were the ones trying to sabotage the 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.

Dangote was quoted as saying that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”

However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself as a long-time fighter.

“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 per cent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he was quoted.

Dangote’s latest comments came as Nigeria plans to increase its capacity to stockpile petroleum products, to prepare against shocks to the global oil market following US President Donald Trump’s shake-up of international trade with the threat of tariffs.

Recall that Dangote has since last year raised the alarm that some mafias were sabotaging his refinery.

He specifically mentioned that some international oil companies were sabotaging his investment by denying the facility adequate crude supply despite the domestic crude supply obligation.

Dangote had alleged that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority was issuing licences to marketers to import substandard petroleum products into the country.

He vowed to push his $20bn refinery to full operational capacity despite what he said were challenges from oil importers seeking to undermine his venture to retain their dominance in the country’s energy sector.

At a point last year, Dangote said he regretted building the refinery, saying the mafias in the oil and gas sector were stronger than those of drugs.

However, he refused to give up on the project as the facility targets its full capacity soon.

The PUNCH recalls that the Dangote Group boss once accused some powerful individuals of frustrating his refinery.

“In a system where, for 35 years, people are used to counting good money, and all of a sudden, they see that the days of counting that money have come to an end, you don’t expect them to pray for you. Of course, you expect them to fight back.

“And I think that is the process that we’re now really going through. But the truth is that, yes, the country, the sub-region, and also the continent of sub-Saharan Africa, need this refinery. So, you expect them to fight through non-supply of crude, non-purchase of the product, but I think it’s all temporary. We’ll get there,” Dangote added.

He had recalled that he was once persuaded by a former Minister of Energy in Saudi Arabia, Khalid Al-Falih, to shelve the idea of building a refinery. However, he said he told the former minister that he did not need his advice.

In June 2024, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, accused IOCs in Nigeria of plans to frustrate the survival of the new Dangote refinery.

Edwin said the IOCs were “deliberately and willfully frustrating” the refinery’s efforts to buy local crude by hiking the cost above the market price, thereby forcing the refinery to import crude from countries as far as the United States, with its attendant high costs.

Edwin also accused the NMDPRA of granting licences indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty refined products into the country.

“It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country that exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products. They (IOCs) are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their Gross Domestic Product, and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria – thus making us dependent on imported products,” Edwin had stated.

The refinery, which started petrol production last September, is seen as a way for Africa’s biggest crude oil producer to end its reliance on the costly importation of refined fuel.

It was reported that the refinery’s entry has helped push down the pump prices of refined products even as retailers count their losses.

With the naira-for-crude deal, the Dangote refinery promised to ensure enough fuel supply to Nigeria, Africa, and the world.

IPMAN supports Dangote

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria said they are with Dangote as he pushes ahead to fight the cabal.

IPMAN Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Udadike, said Dangote had promised before that he would fight the so-called cabal for the good of the masses, stressing that the association is behind him.

He said the fight is just the usual competition in any business, especially when a product is doing better than others in the market.

“Well, this is business. Competition abounds. There is no businessman whom people will not fight if he is doing well, especially when it is only your goods that are being produced, and the others are not being patronised because of the price. So, it is evident that every businessman wants to survive. It’s not an issue. What we can do is encourage him.

“We independent marketers are happy with him for his price slashes, although sometimes it’s against our own business strategy and projections. But that is part of the business, it is profit and loss.

“You know the factor of demand and supply matter determines the market. So, if he’s talking about how people want to sabotage him, he has told us that he’s ready to fight the oil cabals, and he is in this business to ensure that Nigerians don’t suffer. So, we encourage him not to lose hope, and we independent marketers support him in all ramifications,” Ukadike said.

No need to fight, says PETROAN

The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said there should be no form of discord in the downstream.

According to him, Dangote should be allowed to refine its products with the naira-for-crude deal while importers and other traders should be given a level playing field to operate.

Gillis-Harry noted that there should be facts to back up all claims, saying there will be competition in any business, pleading, however, that it should be healthy.

He appealed to the Federal Government to supply enough crude to Dangote and other refineries.

Asked whether he felt the temporary stoppage of the naira-for-crude deal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited could have prompted Dangote’s comment, he replied that there was a need to review the pilot phase of the deal, emphasising that PETROAN was always in support of the naira petrol sales deal, which he said would make petroleum products available for all Nigerians.

He stressed that other refineries are coming onstream and there will be more competitors in the market.

“I just want all players to do their business without any fight,” the PETROAN boss said.

The naira-for-crude deal ordered by President Bola Tinubu allowed the sale of crude in naira to the Dangote refinery, prompting a crash in fuel prices.

With the supply of crude in naira, the Dangote refinery continued to crash petrol prices across the country. From about N1,100 per litre, the company slashed the price of premium motor spirit to N860.

But importers of petroleum products lamented the repeated reduction of petrol prices by the refinery. Some of the importers lamented that they were compelled to sell below their costs, as consumers only buy from where the product is cheaper.

While Nigerians were rejoicing over the price slashes, fuel importers and retailers said they were counting losses.

Punch

Deji Adeyanju, legal counsel to social media influencer Martin ‘Verydarkman (VDM)’ Otse, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his client’s continued detention amid growing public outcry.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Adeyanju posted about his client’s arrest on his social media pages on Friday.

Adeyanju disclosed that VDM was arrestedby the anti-graft agency at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch alongside C-Pack.

He raised the alarm hours after VDM posted on his Instagram page that he and his mother were at GTBank to seek clarification over persistent debits from her account.

In a statement issued by Adeyanju’s law firm and signed by Zainab Otega, he disclosed that VDM and his friend Steven ‘C-Pack’ Avuara were apprehended immediately after stepping out of a GTBank branch.

According to him, they are currently detained by EFCC operatives attached to Unit 4 of the Commission’s Special Duty Committee (SDC).

He said, “Upon receipt of the information, our founding partner, Marvin Omorogbe. Esq and our Associate, Steven Eze, Esq, promptly proceeded to the EFCC headquarters, Abuja, where they confirmed that our clients were being detained by officers attached to the Commission’s Special Duty Committee (SDC) Unit 4.

“Further inquiries at SDC Unit 4 led our colleagues to a certain Mr Chukwu, who was identified as the lead officer in charge of the case. Our colleagues subsequently requested access to our clients but were informed that Martins Otse declined to see anybody. However, our colleagues could see Mr Avuara, who narrated the circumstances leading to their arrest.”

As of press time, neither Gtbank nor the EFCC had released a statement regarding VDM’s reported arrest.

Offence

Adeyanju further stated that, despite repeated requests, officers of the anti-graft agency refused to disclose the specific allegation levelled against VDM and his friend.

He added that the officers directed them to an interrogation room despite efforts to ascertain the nature of VDM’s alleged offence.

He said that four EFCC personnel, led by Mr Chukwu, attempted to question C-Pack about his relationship with him in the interrogation room.

“According to Avuara, Martins Otse refused to speak with anybody presumably because of the psychological and physical trauma he experienced at the hands of the arresting officers, who labelled them as ‘bandits’ and threatened to shoot them in the presence of Mrs Otse (VDM’s mom). Avuara further informed us that they were transported to the EFCC’s headquarters at Jabi, Abuja.

“At the time of this statement, we cannot confirm Mrs Otse’s whereabouts. The EFCC’s officers refused to disclose the specific allegation against Mr Avuara. Still, they only showed our colleagues an arrest warrant allegedly issued against Martins Otse by His Lorship, Njideka Iloanya-Duru (Mrs), Chief Magistrate II, Wuse Zone 2, on the allegation of cyberstalking.”

Moreover, Adeyanju stated that they protested the procedure adopted by the EFCC officers, who attempted to get information from C-Pack without first informing him of the allegations against him.

He added that despite their objections, the officers still sought to interrogate VDM’s friend.

“To not legitimise the apparent breach of Avuara’s constitutional right to be informed of the allegations against him, our colleagues exited the interrogation room and the EFCC Headquarters.

“While we continue to interface with the EFCC on this issue, we call on the commission to respect our clients’ constitutionally guaranteed rights.”

He further stated on his social media platforms that legal action would be taken against GTBank over the inhumane treatment of VDM.

“VDM refused to come out of the cell, saying he wouldn’t see anyone. VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over 5 minutes to enable EFCC to arrest him and his friend.

We will be taking legal actions against GTB for the inhumane treatment meted out to our client,” he wrote.

Calls for release

However, calls for VDM’s release gained momentum on social media on Saturday after the EFCC failed to release him or disclose the offences for which he was being held.

Several celebrities, including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, singer Davido, Seun Kuti, Eedris Abdulkareem, actress Rita Edochie, and others, have urged the EFCC and all relevant agencies to release the social media influencer.

Obi in a statement posted on his X page on Sunday described the arrest of VeryDarkMan (VDM) as resembling an abduction, citing the excessive use of force, lack of transparency, and absence of civility.

The 63-year-old warned that the method used in apprehending VDM instils fear in the public and risks being replicated by criminals.

He said, “The recent developments in our nation continue to raise serious concerns about our direction as a democracy. The tension in the land aggravated by hardship is needlessly fueled by our attitude to the rule of law and human rights. The arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), though perhaps within the legal rights of security agencies, left many Nigerians unsettled.

“If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability. This trend is not new. We must recall that even our esteemed judges, the last line of defence for justice, have suffered similar indignities in recent years. When those who interpret the law are treated with such disregard, it is difficult to expect ordinary citizens to feel protected under the law.”

The former governor of Anambra State stated that the approach used in arresting the social media influencer is starting to impact the economy and business environment.

He highlighted that the backlash against GTBank, which is allegedly connected to the circumstances of VDM’s arrest, has had significant reputational consequences.

“At a time when investor confidence is already fragile, we must do all we can to avoid actions that tarnish institutions or undermine the trust of both citizens and the international community. One cannot help but ask: was it impossible to invite Otse in a civil, transparent, and legal manner? Would that not have spared Nigerians, GTBank, and our national image the unnecessary shame and losses we now witness?

“Similarly troubling are allegations surrounding the so-called adoption of the NANS President. If true, they raise critical questions about the independence of student leadership and the subtle erosion of young voices in our democracy. Nigeria’s youth should not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will. The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalise.

“We must return to Nigeria where justice is done and seen to be done without theatrics or abuse. A country where youth can speak freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions act responsibly. That is the Nigeria we must rebuild”, Obi said.

Similarly, Davido, in a statement shared on his X page, stated that the widespread support and calls for VDM’s release represent a broader appeal for people to do more in service of the masses.

The ‘Unavailable’ crooner wrote, “Outside all the noise, it’s good to see that the good one impacts lives, and people appreciate it! The support I’m seeing for VDM everywhere is encouraging. Makes one want to do more for the masses to free my guy.”

Furthermore, Kuti, during an Instagram Live session, alleged that a gospel singer orchestrated VDM’s arrest.

Although he did not mention the individual by name, Kuti stated: “I spoke with VDM’s lawyer, and he said it’s an issue involving a gospel singer, which had to do with allegations of money theft. I don’t want to mention names, but I want everyone to see what’s happening.

“Just as the federal government is running Nigeria, the big pastors are also running it. If people are boycotting GTBank, they should also reconsider paying tithes on Sunday because if you pay tithes on Sunday, they might use them to lock up VDM on Monday. All the offerings you’re giving could be used against VDM.”

He also urged supporters and admirers of VDM to turn out for a solidarity walk calling for his release. “VDM supporters should show up, even if just once. This is not a protest — it’s an act of solidarity,” he stated.

More calls

More so, actress Edochie condemned the EFCC’s detention of VDM beyond twenty-four hours, noting that he had consistently stood for the truth.

The 61-year-old, writing on her Instagram page, demanded VDM’s immediate release: “GTBank and EFCC, please release the Verydarkman now that the youths have not started protesting. You people have traumatised this son of mine from the very first day he chose his stand on truth. You have never allowed him to rest his cup after every water he sips, but he is way bigger than you all.

“To all haters of truth excited about his arrest, see you swimming in shame by next week by the grace of God almighty. He’s not always in detention; his arrest is 24 hours. So, I am wondering why you all should be foolishly excited. God will judge and pay everyone in accordance. Continue your ascension to the top, vdm, my sweet son; you have always been a victor. I love you; due justice will take its course.”

Also, Abdulkareem, in a series of Instagram posts, urged Nigerians to boycott GTBank as a form of protest to demand justice and the release of VDM.

He wrote, “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world did this, the earth would change. If you love VDM, use your page to speak out now. If you love VDM, close your GT bank account and move your money to another bank.

“GTBank, you people should release VeryDarkMan immediately. You don’t just arrest and imprison someone for making verbal accusations. You take legal action and let the court decide,” he declared in a viral video circulating on multiple platforms.”

At the time of filing this report, the EFCC hasn’t issued an official statement regarding the arrest of VDM).

This newspaper contacted the anti-graft agency spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, but his phone number was unreachable, and he has not responded to messages.

PT

Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel in early Asian trade on Monday as OPEC+ is set to further speed up oil output hikes, spurring concerns about more supply.

Brent crude futures dropped $2.04 a barrel, or 3.33%, to $59.25 a barrel by 2240 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $56.19 a barrel, down $2.10, or 3.60%.

Both contracts touched their lowest since April 9 at Monday's open after OPEC+ agreed to accelerate oil production hikes for a second consecutive month, raising output in June by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The June increase from the eight will take the total combined hikes for April, May and June to 960,000 bpd, representing a 44% unwinding of the 2.2 million bpd of various cuts agreed on since 2022, according to Reuters calculations.

"The May 3 OPEC+ decision to raise production quotas another 411,000 bpd for June adds to the market expectation that the global supply/demand balance is moving to a surplus," Tim Evans, founder of Evans on Energy said in a note.

The group could fully unwind its voluntary cuts by the end of October if members do not improve compliance with their production quotas, OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OPEC+ sources have said Saudi Arabia is pushing OPEC+ to accelerate the unwinding of earlier output cuts to punish fellow members Iraq and Kazakhstan for poor compliance with their production quotas.

Barclays lowered its Brent forecast by $4 to $66 a barrel for 2025 and by $2 to $60 a barrel for 2026 because of the accelerated phase out by OPEC+, analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note.

Meanwhile, tensions flared in the Middle East after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran for the Tehran-backed Houthi group firing a missile that landed near Israel's main airport.

Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said on Sunday that Tehran would strike back if the United States or Israel attacked.

Reuters

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing at least four soldiers and destroying several operational equipment.

This is coming less than 24 hours after the North East Governors Forum met in the Yobe state capital, Damaturu, and adopted a multidimensional approach to tackle insurgency in the region.

A security source, who escaped the attack, told our correspondent that the assailants stormed their location around 2am on Saturday.

“We were taken off guard by the heavy explosion and gunfire, but we stood our ground. A lot of our fighting equipment were destroyed during the encounter.

“Yes, we lost four of our men, just as they also recorded casualties during the fierce battle that last for hours,“ he said

The Nigeria army headquarters confirmed the attack via its verified Facebook page on Saturday morning.

“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI currently in a fierce battle against ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later,” it stated.

However, the military is yet to give further details on the casualties as at the time of filing this report.

Buni Yadi, a distance of 65km from Damaturu, the state capital, is the  home town of Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Local source who fled to the local Council’s headquarters, said many residents abandoned their homes to areas they considered safe.

“The military had shut down vehicular movement on the busy road, which serves as a link between Yobe and Biu and other towns in southern Borno,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Boko Haram insurgents attacked a military location in the Chalie area, Buni Yadi, killing 3 soldiers.

Over the past months, Communities in Borno have suffered relentless assaults with insurgents targeting villages and military formations, particularly in Sabon Gari, Wajiroko and Wulgo where they dislodged troops and stole arms and ammunition, among others.

Worried by the situation, Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, Shehu of Shehu of Borno, Ali Ndume and other federal and state lawmakers urged the federal government to take action.

Daily Trust

Missile fired by Yemen's Houthis lands near Israel's main airport

A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels towards Israel on Sunday landed near the country's main international airport, causing panic among passengers and drawing threats of retaliation against the group and Iran.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike that struck near Ben Gurion Airport, the latest in a string of attacks, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.

"Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters," Netanyahu said on X.

In a separate video issued by his office, Netanyahu said: "We will do what we need to do to take care of our security, to respond effectively, and to give Iran due warning that this cannot continue."

Houthis said in a statement later on Sunday that they would impose "a comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports, in response to Israel expanding its "aggressive" operation in Gaza.

Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems, though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv last year. Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted.

Later on Sunday, the Israeli military concluded an assessment and cited a technical issue with the interceptor launched toward the missile.

"Initial findings reveal no malfunction in the detection procedure, interception systems, or Homefront Command alert mechanisms," the army added in a statement.

U.S. STRIKES ON HOUTHIS

A Reuters reporter at the airport heard sirens and saw passengers running towards safe rooms.

Several people posted videos showing a plume of black smoke visible behind parked aircraft and airport buildings. Pictures showed a nearby road scattered with dust and debris.

The Israeli ambulance service said eight people were taken to hospital for mild to moderate injuries.

An Israeli police commander, Yair Hetzroni, showed reporters a crater caused by the impact of the missile, which airport authorities said landed beside a road near a Terminal 3 parking lot. The airport lies near the major city of Tel Aviv.

"You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of metres and also tens of metres deep," Hetzroni said, adding that there was no significant damage.

Claiming responsibility, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Israel's main airport was "no longer safe for air travel."

The Israel Airports Authority said normal operations had resumed, after reports of air traffic being halted and access routes to the airport being blocked.

However, a string of airlines including Lufthansa, Delta, ITA Airways and Air France said they had cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, some of which had been scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.

Sunday's strike came as Israeli ministers were reported to be close to signing off on plans to expand the military operation in Gaza, which resumed in March following a two-month truce, prompting the Houthis to hit Israel with more missiles.

Efforts to revive the ceasefire have faltered, and U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes have killed hundreds of people in Yemen.

"The U.S. military continues its operation against the Houthis, which has included over 1,000 strikes against these terrorists and we will continue to coordinate with the Israeli government through diplomatic channels," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said in an email to Reuters. "The Trump administration remains committed to ending the Houthis' capabilities to hijack freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”

He did not directly address the airport incident.

The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping in late 2023, during the early days of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The war was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel's offensive on Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave.

Reuters