Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you need to know this Sunday afternoon, 4th January, 2026
Resident doctors to resume suspended strike January 12
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to resume its previously suspended total, indefinite and comprehensive strike with effect from Jan. 12.
This follows the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement agreed resolutions.
The decision was taken at an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (E-NEC) held on Friday and conveyed in a statement issued by NARD and obtained from its official X handle “@nard_nigeria”.
The National Officers’ Committee (NOC) said the resumption, tagged “TICS 2.0: No Implementation, No Going Back”, would commence at 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 12.
According to the statement, the NEC directs all centre presidents across the association’s 91 accredited centres to convene congress meetings and thereafter address the media, with the aim of saturating public spaces with information on the planned industrial action within the next seven days
Lagos CP orders SCID to probe Pastor Okafor over sex scandal allegations
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, to probe multiple sexual allegations levelled against the Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor.
The order comes amid growing outrage generated by the viral allegations circulating on social media in recent days.
Saturday PUNCH reported that the popular cleric stepped down from pastoral duties on New Year’s Day as the allegations escalated, with several women, including Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, coming forward with different narrations against him.
The cleric had last Sunday publicly apologised to Ogala during a church service, where he knelt on the pulpit, admitted to past “mistakes,” and sought forgiveness.
Anthony Joshua pays tribute to deceased friends in emotional post
Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has made his first social media post since a fatal car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members.
Joshua sustained minor injuries in the incident that killed his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele on Monday, December 29, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The 36-year-old boxer, who was discharged from the hospital on New Year’s Eve, returned to the United Kingdom on Saturday.
He made his first public comment since the accident in a post across his social media handles on Sunday.
Joshua shared the post, pictured alongside the families of Sina and Latz, with the caption “My Brother’s Keeper
2027: APC leaders back Fubara, Wike draws battle line
Top leaders of the All Progressives Congress have declared support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid renewed hostilities between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said Fubara had the full support of the party for his re-election campaign.
“Nobody can frustrate any APC governor.
Fubara, like other APC governors, is running the affairs of his state well,” he added.
Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC on December 9, a move widely regarded as a political realignment for his second-term ambition.
His defection came shortly after 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also joined the APC.
The National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, had also declared Fubara as the leader of the party in the state.
Kebbi orders resumption of urban schools on Monday
The Kebbi State Government has directed all public and private schools in urban centres to resume academic activities on Monday.
The announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Halima Muhammad-Bande, while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.
She clarified that schools in remote areas and outskirts of towns are exempt from the resumption order until further notice.
Muhammad-Bande assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of pupils, students, and teachers, and appealed to parents and guardians to release their children for the reopening.
The government is doing everything humanly possible to secure all schools that are reopening,” she said.
The Kebbi government ordered the immediate closure of all public and private secondary schools across the state following rising security threats, marking one of the most sweeping shutdowns of the education sector in recent years.
It was stated that the directive also affects all state-owned tertiary institutions, with the exception of the College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin Kebbi.
Police probe driver assault by suspected fake officers in Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command has launched an investigation into a viral video showing a truck driver in Ijebu-Ode claiming he was pursued and assaulted by men impersonating members of the Nigerian Police Force.
The driver alleged that the attackers, who identified themselves as members of a task force, chased him in Ijebu-Ode around 4 am that day, breaking his vehicle and threatening his life.
In the video, the distressed driver said he was being targeted for no reason, describing the alleged attackers as both armed and aggressive.
“They have been pursuing me with guns and stones.
They claimed to be task force, but they are thieves. Come to my aid, IG of Police, Nigerians, please come to my aid.
They have been pursuing me since I got to Ijebu-Ode.
The police officers are drunk,” he said, gesturing toward a man he claimed was directly responsible for stopping him.
The video also shows the men assaulting the driver while he films the encounter, with the window glass of his truck smashed and several of the men visibly armed.
An individual in the viral video was wearing a t-shirt commonly used by police personnel, which added to the confusion and fear of the driver.
Oluremi Tinubu calls for digital inclusion on World Braille Day
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for increased efforts to bridge the digital gap for blind and visually impaired persons as the world marks World Braille Day 2026.
In a statement she signed and released on Sunday to commemorate the day, Tinubu described Braille as “an important tool of inclusion, dignity, and independence for blind and visually impaired persons.”
She emphasised the need to ensure accessibility in an increasingly digital age, noting that Braille, when integrated with technology, guarantees equal access to information, education, and opportunities.
“As the world becomes increasingly digital, it is imperative that we bridge the digital gap by ensuring accessibility in a digital age,” the First Lady said.
She urged the government and Nigerians to continue supporting everyone to live full, independent lives by creating inclusive environments.
Tinubu also called for strengthened policies and partnerships that empower every citizen to participate confidently in nation-building.
Kwara directs school to reopen Monday
The Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development has directed the reopening of schools across the state on Monday, January 5, 2026, except in areas currently under special security measures.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Press Secretary of the ministry, Peter Amogbonjaye, said the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Oloriegbe, ordered all public and private primary and secondary schools to resume academic activities on the stated date, excluding locations earlier identified as being under special security surveillance.
“We welcome our children and teachers back to school across the state.
Learning activities are to resume immediately in all but areas earlier identified to be under special security surveillance,” the commissioner said.
Troops neutralise over 23 bandits in Kano-Katsina onslaught
Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, have neutralised 23 bandits following coordinated attacks in Kano State between Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, reinforcing the effectiveness of ongoing intelligence-led operations in the region.
A credible military source told Newsmen that troops engaged bandits in Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas (LGAs) after being alerted to their location during the burial of comrades killed in earlier encounters at Dan Marke, Matazu LGAs.
The source said the troops tracked bandits on 20 motorcycles converging along a dried river line at Karaduma Village, Matazu LGA of Katsina State, where a Dragon airstrike by the Air Component struck the group, inflicting maximum casualties
An intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission deployed by the Sector 2 Operations Control trailed the bandits, who were travelling on 50 motorcycles, until about 20 motorcycles converged along a dried river line
Catholic priest slumps, dies while delivering homily
The Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Boji-Boji Agbor, in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Rev. Fr. Stephen Chukwuma, has reportedly slumped and died while delivering a homily.
Fr. Chukwuma, aged 63, was said to have collapsed during his homily at the New Year’s Eve Mass and was later confirmed dead.
Until his sudden death, he served as the Regional Vicar of the Agbor Region in the Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku.
The Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku has officially announced his passing and released details of his burial arrangements.
The late priest hailed from Akumazi-Umuocha in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.
