Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Sunday Afternoon, 28th December, 2025
Terrorists relocate after US air strike
There are indications that suspected terrorists in the North are relocating following the missile attacks carried out by the United States of America on Thursday night.
Credible community leaders told Sunday PUNCH that they noticed movements as the hoodlums migrated in small numbers after the Christmas Day attacks.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the US military carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria.
Confirming the strike, the Federal Government said it gave the US support and that the strikes were carried out on targeted areas being used by the terrorists.
However, no casualty was recorded in the two locations struck by the missiles.
At Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a missile hit a farmland, while some buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State.
Officials of Tangaza LGA in Sokoto State, however, said additional missile strikes were carried out on suspected hideouts of the Lakurawa armed group in parts of the Sokoto axis.
ICYMI: Nollywood actress Allwell Ademola dies at 43
Nollywood actress and producer, Allwell Ademola, has reportedly died, entertainment sources said on Saturday.
Ademola, 43, is said to have suffered a heart attack at her residence before she was taken to hospital, according to reports circulating within the film community.
Fellow actress, Faithia Williams, took to Instagram to share her reaction to news of Ademola’s passing, writing, “Haaaa.
This hit me so bad. Eniobanke.
Allahu Akbar..Allwell”
Also reacting, popular actress Mide Martins posted a photo of Ademola on Facebook, writing
BLACK SATURDAY……This is not fair May God forgive your shortcomings Allwell
Four days to tax reform: Manufacturers excited, Labour, SMEs threaten revolt
The Nigeria Labour Congress has threatened to revolt against plans to commence the implementation of the newly enacted tax reform laws from January 1, 2026.
The NLC said it was not aware of the tax laws, as it was not carried along in their drafting, nor after they were passed and assented to by the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu.
While raising concerns about the timing, lack of clarity and the likely impact of the implementation on workers and businesses, the NLC warned that the reforms would not only worsen the burden on citizens but also hurt small businesses and slow economic activity.
However, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria declared support for the laws, saying they would be friendly and beneficial to its members.
This is even as small and medium-scale business operators and the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria called for the suspension of the implementation of the laws, citing poor awareness and inadequate stakeholder engagement.
But the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, defended the laws, warning that delaying the reforms could push up the prices of basic goods and services, including food, healthcare and education, while keeping workers and small businesses overtaxed.
Taraba Assembly denies Speaker gave N1,000 Christmas gift to constituents
The Taraba State House of Assembly and the Zing Watch Group have denied reports that the Speaker of the House, Hon. John Bonzena, gave N1,000 each to constituents as a Christmas gift.
The denial follows reports that some women and youth from Zing Local Government Area in Taraba State, were unsatisfied, after about 37 constituents were reportedly invited by the Speaker to his residence in Jalingo, the state capital, for a Christmas gift distribution.
These individuals, selected from various council wards in Zing constituency, reportedly travelled to Jalingo expecting substantial support.
Instead, they alleged that the Speaker personally distributed only N1,000, causing outrage.
In separate press statements on Saturday, both the Assembly and the group clarified that the gesture was intended for children and young ladies around the Speaker’s residence in Jalingo, not for visiting constituents.
The statements explained that while the Speaker extended a Christmas invitation to constituents, the event was to be held in his village in Yakoko, Zing.
Some constituents, however, misinterpreted the invitation and travelled to Jalingo instead.
“For record, the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly did not share N1,000 with his constituents.
The N1,000 Christmas gesture was for children and young ladies around his residence.
NDLEA arrests ex-convict, three others over UK-bound cocaine in starch sachets
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested an ex-convict, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, and three cargo agents over the seizure of cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets and destined for the United Kingdom.
The NDLEA said 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilogrammes were recovered from factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
A statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said three cargo agents — Jubrin Hassana, Kuku Oluwasegun and Igwe Jane — were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in connection with the consignment.
He said further investigation linked the shipment to 37-year-old Nwobodo, who was arrested the following day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
The statement partly read,
“A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg methamphetamine in 2023, has again been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom at the export shed of the MMIA Ikeja, Lagos.
SERAP sues governors, Wike ‘over failure to account for N14trn fuel subsidy savings’ Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike,
“over their failure to account for the spending of the N14trn fuel subsidy savings they collected from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, including details of projects executed with the money, and the completion reports on the projects.”
The suit followed reports that the 36 governors and the FCT minister have collected trillions of naira from FAAC allocations as fuel subsidy savings since mid-2023.
But the increased allocations have not translated into improved access to quality healthcare and education for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
In the suit number FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to,
“direct and compel the governors and Mr Wike to disclose the details of the spending of the increased FAAC allocations being savings from the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023.”
SERAP is also asking the court to “compel the governors and Mr Wike to disclose details and the location of the projects executed, if any, with the increased FAAC allocations from the savings from the removal of fuel subsidy.”
Insecurity: Nigeria needs help, but not from criminal allies — Gumi
Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has said that while Nigeria requires international assistance to tackle its security challenges, such help must not come from entities he described as criminals, racists, religious bigots, or enablers of genocide.
Gumi made the assertion in a post on his official Facebook page on Sunday, where he questioned the nature and source of foreign security support being considered or welcomed by the country.
According to him, the issue is not whether Nigeria needs help, as he acknowledged that every nation requires external support at some point to safeguard its security.
“The argument is simple: do we need help? Yes, every nation needs help for its security,” Gumi stated.
APC to Makinde: Account for alleged N50bn Bodija explosion relief fund or resign
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has asked Governor Seyi Makinde to explain how he allegedly utilised a N50 billion relief fund received from President Bola Tinubu following the January 2024 explosion that devastated parts of the Bodija Government Reserved Area in Ibadan, or resign from office.
The opposition party’s demand followed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who said during a live interview on a Lagos-based private television station on Friday that Makinde received the funds on behalf of the victims when he visited President Tinubu to brief him on the incident.
Fayose alleged that the governor neither publicly acknowledged the receipt of the money nor deployed it to provide relief for victims who lost their lives and property in the explosion.
Police foil bandits’ attempt to block highway in Zamfara, arrest suspect
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has asked Governor Seyi Makinde to explain how he allegedly utilised a N50 billion relief fund received from President Bola Tinubu following the January 2024 explosion that devastated parts of the Bodija Government Reserved Area in Ibadan, or resign from office.
The opposition party’s demand followed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who said during a live interview on a Lagos-based private television station on Friday that Makinde received the funds on behalf of the victims when he visited President Tinubu to brief him on the incident.
Fayose alleged that the governor neither publicly acknowledged the receipt of the money nor deployed it to provide relief for victims who lost their lives and property in the explosion.
The Zamfara State Police Command has foiled an attempt by armed bandits to block a major highway in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, said operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, led by ASP Aliyu Bilyaminu Koko, were on routine patrol along the Tsafe–Yankuzo axis when they received credible intelligence that armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, had blocked the Tsafe–Yanwarin Daji Road.
He explained that upon swift response and arrival at the scene, the bandits opened fire on the police team, leading to a fierce gun duel.
“During the exchange of fire, some of the bandits fled into the bush with possible gunshot injuries, while others jumped into a nearby riverside and escaped,” the police said.
In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the arrest of one suspected bandit identified as Umar Alhaji Buhari, popularly known as “Bingil.”
