Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you might have missed this Saturday evening
Military unmasks ringleader of North-East suicide bombing network
The Nigerian military has identified one Shariff Umar as the suspected principal coordinator of a suicide bombing network linked to recent deadly attacks, including the December 24 bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, and attempted strikes across the North-East.
This follows intelligence-led operations by troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK)
The breakthrough came after a series of cordon-and-search operations conducted in the Kalmari area of Maiduguri on December 31, 2025, during which 14 suspects believed to be connected to suicide bombing activities were arrested.
The development was disclosed in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, who said investigations had uncovered the structure and operational linkages of the terror cell, according to Vanguard.
Anthony Joshua’s friends’ funeral to hold in London mosque on Sunday
The Janaza (funeral) prayer service for Sina Ghami and Abdul Latif Kevin Ayodele, close friends of boxing star Anthony Joshua, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The bodies of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele were repatriated to the United Kingdom following the fatal crash in Nigeria.
The service will begin at 10am at the London Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, London NW8 7RG.
A Saturday statement announcing the funeral, shared by Boxing King Media, disclosed this, saying:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.”
Rivers PDP suspends caretaker chairman for aligning with Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has suspended its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Robinson Ewor, for aligning with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Ewor had recently accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of deceiving party leaders and supporters over the political crisis that engulfed the state, saying the governor falsely created the impression that he could wrest political control from Wike, only to later abandon the party at the height of the turmoil.
He also alleged that party stakeholders were misled into believing the governor was prepared for a showdown with Wike, saying its leaders were left stranded “in the middle of a political sea” when Fubara defected to the All Progressives Congress in December 2025.
Ewor was recently seen with Wike during one of the latter’s ongoing “thank you” visits to local government areas in the state.
Army raids kidnappers’ hideout in Kaduna, kills one
Troops of the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace have raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Jagindi Kagom village, Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing one suspected kidnapper during the operation.
According to a post by the Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Joshua John, via the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Saturday
The operation, conducted on January 2, 2026, was carried out under Operation Peace Shield following credible intelligence on the activities of kidnappers in the area.
Troops from Sector 7 launched an offensive clearance operation on the identified hideout, where they engaged the criminals in a gun battle.
Driver’s decision that saved Anthony Joshua’s life – Lawyer, son
It has emerged that a last-minute decision taken by Anthony Joshua’s driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 47, may have saved the life of the two-time Word Boxing champion in car crash that killed two of his friends.
The driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, made the revelation in Sagamu, Ogun State, during the hearing for Kayode in Sagamu High Court, where he denied all charges against him.
Abiodun told Daily Mail,
“My client has pleaded not guilty. And what happened was an accident.
I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos, and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat.
But the driver asked him to swap seats
Kayode made the call because Anthony’s big frame was preventing him from seeing the side mirror properly.
‘Same dog barked, made you governor’, Wike blasts Fubara as Rivers Ijaw Congress dumps gov
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday launched a blistering counterattack on Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that the same political forces now being mocked as “barking dogs” were central to Fubara’s emergence as governor.
The development came as the Ijaw People’s Congress in Rivers state dramatically announced its decision to abandon the governor and pitch its tent with Wike.
Wike spoke during a thank-you visit to Okrika Local Government Area, where he told a large crowd that political divisions in Rivers State were steadily giving way to unity, insisting that there were no longer “no-go areas” in the state’s politics.
In a direct response to recent remarks attributed to Fubara, the former Rivers governor said;
“That same dog barked and helped make you governor.
This dog that is barking now was barking when people did not even know who the person was.
That same dog barked and helped make the person governor immediately.
It is one of fate that the same dog is barking again. I wish you good luck.”
Kogi Kidnap: 3 dead, 4 hospitalized, 30 still in captivity after N15m ransom
The people of Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State have been thrown into mourning following the death of three out of the 37 victims that were kidnapped from the ECWA church on December 14, 2025.
The community has for long been plunged into persistent bandit attacks and worsening insecurity in Bunu land.
The death were confirmed on Saturday through a statement by the community Spokesperson, David Ampitan.”
Recently, scores of residents were abducted by bandits. After painful ransom payment raised through communal contributions, only seven victims were released.
Sadly, three of them were already dead on arrival, while four others are currently battling for their lives in critical condition at medical facilities.
About thirty innocent citizens remain in captivity, their fate uncertain.
Armed thugs disrupt Arise TV live interview in Rivers; cart away camera, others
Armed youths believed to be political thugs of Friday night invaded an Hotel in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and disrupted live crossing conducted by Arise Television.
The thugs, who forced the live interview to end halfway had carted camera and other equipment belonging to the medium.
It was learned that a team of Arise TV crew were conducting a live interview with former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa at the said hotel when the assailants stormed the premises.
It was alleged that Nwibubasa appearing on the live programme, News Night, was speaking on the political situation in the state and was speaking on issues not aligning with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, when a man who was at the hotel’s lounge called on the assailants.
Elipse lauds Yusuf on his retirement as mining Director
The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Elipse Industries, Mr. Denzel Henry Akogwu and his entire staff has congratulated Engr. Mustapha M. Yusuf who retired from the Federal Civil Service as a Director Monitoring and Coordination department, in the Mining Cadastre.
Akogwu in a statement he personally signed described Yusuf as embodiment of humility, perseverance and determination who served in the Civil Service and rose to a position of a Director only through hard work.
“No wonder he recorded major milestones before his retirement”, Akogwu said.
According to him:
“He came, saw and conquered and he served the Mining sector with all honesty and diligence.
His achievements show resilience and determination and as a team player, he rallied support for his colleagues whenever national assignments came calling
I will never give up on Nigeria — Gbenga Hashim declares
Former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Nigeria, insisting that surrender is not an option despite the nation’s deepening political, economic and security challenges.
Hashim made the declaration in Abuja during a North Central zonal meeting of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, which brought together state coordinators from across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Hashim said Nigeria’s current realities demand steadfast leadership, organised civic engagement and citizens willing to remain involved rather than retreat into apathy or despair.
He warned that abandoning the country would amount to handing its future to mediocrity, impunity and misrule.
