Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has described the targeted killing of Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general and leader of Hezbollah, as a settling of scores with an “arch-murderer”.

On Friday, Israeli military announced that it had killed Nasrallah in an air strike.

The group said its leader “has joined his fellow martyrs”, adding that it would “continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine”.

Among the victims of Friday’s air strike was Abbas Nilforoushan, the Iranian deputy commander for operations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Addressing the media on the development, Netanyahu said Nasrallah “was not just another terrorist, he was the terrorist”.

Netanyahu said the Hezbollah leader was a “turbocharger for the axis of evil created by Iran”.

He alleged that Nasrallah was guilty of the murder of countless Israelis, hundreds of US citizens and dozens of French nationals.

“As long as Nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rebuilt the capabilities we took from Hezbollah,” he said.

“Therefore, I gave the directive — and Nasrallah is no longer with us.”

Netanyahu said Nasrallah’s elimination was a step forward in the drive to return Israelis — who had been forced to flee their homes because of Hezbollah’s bombardment — to the north of the country.

The prime minister also warned Iran against any attack on Israel.

Heineken Lokpobiri says Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), facilitated his appointment as minister of state for petroleum resources (oil).

Lokpobiri spoke on Saturday at an event organised in honour of Wike by the Ijaw Peoples Congress (IPC) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

“It is important to tell you my brothers and sisters that me that is standing before you today as the minister of state for petroleum resources was also made possible by Nyesom Wike,” Lokpobiri said.

“You also heard the account of the MD of the NDDC who said that the minister of the FCT played a direct role in his appointment.

“My own case could have been a more direct role. Some of you may not know. It all started in Wike’s house in Port Harcourt and it all got concluded in his house in Abuja.

“My second journey of becoming a minister started at the house of the minister in Port Harcourt and it was concluded in his house in Abuja. It is important for me to complete this history.

“Because when I was looking at the welcome address, our names were not included among those who have benefitted from his benevolence. I thought that my name, Heineken Lokpobiri, would have been included amongst those that he has helped.

“But since my name is not included, I have to complete it. I want you Ijaw people to know that we have a brother, we have a friend.

“It is always better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. Of what use is a bad brother? It is of no use. But if you have a good friend in the case of the FCT minister, you are already blessed.

“Your excellency, the FCT minister, let me on behalf of the Ijaw people all over the world, express our gratitude to you for your show of love to Ijaw people.

“We Ijaw people are very grateful people. If you do us good, we will not pay you back with evil. So, we will always be grateful to you for what you have done for our Ijaw people. We are looking forward to you to do more for our Ijaw people.”

Lokpobiri, who hails from Bayelsa, served as minister of state for agriculture and rural development between 2015 to 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was appointed minister of state for petroleum resources by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023 — the same time Wike was named FCT minister.

The elders forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state has apologised to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over the rift between him and Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

Wike and Fubara have been involved in a political tussle over control of the party’s structure in Rivers state.

The rift between both politicians has created two factions in the Rivers house of assembly — with each camp electing a speaker loyal to the minister and the governor.

Boma Iyaye, executive director of finance at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), apologised to Wike during an event organised by Ijaw people in the state on Saturday.

Iyaye appreciated Wike for making someone of the Ijaw extraction the governor of Rivers state.

“On behalf of our people, we are apologising to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry because it is not in our nature to pay evil for good. You have done well for us, and we will continue to say thank you” he said.

“Your Excellency, do not, because of this bad behaviour of our son, run away from us. Continue to be our brother. Continue to have us in mind. We have never set our feet on the number one seat of Rivers state. You made it possible for us to become the governor of Rivers state.”

On his part, Ferdinard Anabraba, chair of the elders forum, criticised Fubara for “lack of political discharge”, adding that the Ijaw community do not support of his actions.

“The aberration we are seeing in the administration of Rivers State is only a demonstration of lack of political discharge of an individual, and by no means the opinion of Ijaw people,” he said.

“We, the Ijaw, see you as the light of Rivers State. You are indeed a notable strategist in Nigeria’s contemporary politics. And without doubt, you are the most celebrated Ijaw politician of national recognition.”