Compilations of top 10 key latest updates you need to know this Tuesday morning 30th December, 2025
US air strikes9 I’ll: DHQ steps up watch on fleeing terrorists
The Nigerian military is monitoring Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province fighters who are fleeing their hideouts following the recent United States airstrikes, The PUNCH has learnt.
US President Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day that the American military conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
The Federal Government confirmed the operation, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation.
Following the strikes, there were reports of movements by armed groups into other areas.
The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, according to a report by Sunday PUNCH, raised concern over what he described as an influx of armed herders into some communities after the attack.
Community leaders in Tangaza, Gudu and parts of Illela in Sokoto State also said that there had been noticeable dislocation and movement by the armed groups.
British envoy, govs visit Anthony Joshua in Lagos hospital
The Deputy Head of Mission of the British High Commission, Simon Field, has visited world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, in hospital following a fatal road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Ogun State Governor, Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, Field met with Joshua during the visit and also held discussions with Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as British officials continue to monitor developments surrounding the incident.
“The British High Commission was formally notified of the accident. Officials of the Mission are monitoring developments and remain in contact with the hospital and the Ogun State Government.“
The Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Simon Field, visited the hospital and met with Anthony Joshua and the two governors.
The families of the deceased have also been contacted through the High Commission,” the statement read.
Ogun man kills stepbrother over N4,000 debt
A man, Lekan Lasisi, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command after a dispute between him and his stepbrother over a N4,000 debt led to the latter’s death in the Abule Tuntun area of the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday that the incident happened on December 19 after Lasisi engaged his brother in an argument over the deceased’s repeated act of owing debts.
Lasisi explained that he was angered by the persistent demands from his stepbrother’s creditors, who allegedly asked him to pay the deceased’s debts.
The argument was said to have degenerated when the deceased allegedly brought out a cutlass to attack the suspect.
In retaliation, the suspect claimed he brought out a gun but did not know when it accidentally discharged and hit his stepbrother, leading to the latter’s death.
Narrating what transpired between him and his deceased brother in an interrogation video shared by a Facebook user, Makinde Fasunle, on Monday, Lasisi explained that on the day of the incident, the victim had gone to the market with goods, and while he walked to the bus stop, one of the brother’s creditors approached him to report that the deceased had failed to pay his debt.
Again, three killed, three abducted as bandits attack Kaduna community
No fewer than three persons have been killed while three others were abducted following a late-night attack by suspected bandits on Bundu Kahugu community in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 11pm on Monday, December 29, 2025, threw the community into mourning and renewed calls for improved security presence in the area.
The National Secretary of Bundu Kahugu community, Ishaya Dauda, who confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, said the assailants stormed the village under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically and terrorising residents.
According to him, the community had suffered a similar attack barely two weeks ago, during which four people were killed, raising concerns over the repeated assaults on the area.
“The attackers came late at night and began shooting.
Three people were killed instantly, while three others were taken away.
This is the second attack on our community in less than two weeks,” he siaid.
INEC releases Ekiti governorship candidates list, PDP’s Oluyede excluded
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the list of candidates for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, excluding the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wole Oluyede.
The list was pasted on Monday at the INEC office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and contains the names of governorship candidates and their running mates from 12 political parties cleared to participate in the election.
According to the list, candidates include Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party; Akande Oluwasegun of the African Action Congress (AAC); Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, December 30, 2025
The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady yet cautious position against the United States Dollar during early trading sessions today, Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
This performance comes as the year winds down, with market participants closely monitoring the interplay between the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and the unofficial parallel market.
At the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened the day with a slight appreciation.
According to real-time data from early morning trading, the exchange rate settled around N1,448.03 per dollar.
This represents a marginal gain from the previous day’s opening rate of N1,455.39, reflecting a relative stabilization in the official window as corporate demand for foreign exchange typically eases during the final week of the year.
Financial analysts attribute the relative stability in the official window to consistent interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a temporary decrease in import-related demand.
NSCDC arrests eight suspects over outpost attack in Katsina
The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested eight suspects in connection with the attack on its outpost at Koraman Nayalli in Katsina metropolis.
Gghe Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, SC Buhari Hamisu, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Monday.
Hamisu said that on Sunday, a group of miscreants protested a raid that resulted in the death of a suspected drug peddler, Uzairu, alias ‘Dan’kuda’.
The miscreants in large numbers stormed the premises of the Iutpost at Koraman Nayalli, Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters, and set the building ablaze…
“During the incident, three motorcycles and other relevant properties belonging to the outpost were also burnt,” he said.
PDP crisis: Wike attacks Makinde, Fubara
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has attacked Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for saying that he (Wike) promised to “hold” the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for President Bola Tinubu.
Wike, who denied the allegation, also took on his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, noting that his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) came late without any established political structure to support his new party.
At a media interaction in Ibadan, last Tuesday, Makinde said his relationship with Wike collapsed after the former Rivers State governor made what he described as an unsolicited declaration during a meeting with President Tinubu.
“I was in a meeting with the President, Wike, the President’s Chief of Staff and two others.
Wike said to the President, “I will hold the PDP for you against 2027,” Makinde had said, adding that the statement left him stunned.
There’ll be stronger flood control measures in 2026 — Lagos govt
THE Lagos State government, yesterday, promised to strengthen flood control and drainage management in 2026, following various ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects in 2025.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, gave the assurance, while speaking with newsmen after the Annual Zonal Awards of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang and the Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Gang of the Ministry of the Environment, held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Rotimi-Akodu noted that 2025 had witnessed massive improvement preparedness and rapid response to flooding incidents.
He said: “It was important to recognise the workers because when there is flooding, they are the ones who quickly go out there to ensure that the flood is abated so that residents have relief.
It is important to recognise them, and you can see that they are very happy that they are recognised.
2027: I’m better prepared to lead Nigeria — Peter Obi
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, has described himself as better prepared to tackle Nigeria’s economic and security challenges if given the chance.
He said none of those currently seeking to contest 2027 presidential election can boast of starting, managing a small business and growing it into a big corporation like he did.
Obi stated this while answering questions from a cross section of Nigerians during an interactive X Space engagement, yesterday.
He explained that fixing the economy would go a long way in fixing Nigeria’s security challenges because the two are interlinked.
The former Anambra State governor said:
“I know how to turn Nigeria around.
I built my business from scratch and have more experience than any candidate, including the sitting President.
I’m a finance person. I know how to manage finance.”
