Troops of Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army have killed more than 25 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who launched a “coordinated multi-directional assault” in Kukawa, Borno state.

Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer at the headquarters of the joint task force (north-east) Operation Hadin Kai, in a statement issued on Wednesday,   said some soldiers also paid the supreme price during the encounter.

“The terrorists, who attacked troops of 101 Special Forces Battalion in large numbers from four different flanks, met stiff resistance as the troops responded decisively with superior firepower, tactical manoeuvre and effective battlefield coordination,” the statement reads.

“Supported by the Air Component, the troops overwhelmed the terrorists, inflicted heavy casualties and forced the surviving elements to flee in disarray.

“Preliminary assessment indicates that over 25 terrorists were neutralised, with 14 bodies recovered so far.

“During exploitation of the area, troops recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including six AK-47 rifles.

“Further exploitation is ongoing to recover additional weapons, track the fleeing terrorists and prevent them from regrouping.

“Regrettably, some gallant soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice during the encounter.”

While sending condolences to the families of the slain soldiers, Goni said, “their courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty will remain an enduring testament to their service to the nation.”

1. Nigeria recorded at least 10 military aircraft crashes between 2021 and October 2026, resulting in at least 68 confirmed and presumed deaths, an analysis of military aviation incidents has shown.

The incidents involved fighter jets, helicopters, training aircraft, transport aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles, and occurred during combat operations, training exercises, routine missions, casualty evacuation, and post-maintenance checks

2. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday announced that Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo states were leading other states in the number of registered voters in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, also said that the Commission only received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Act on Tuesday and was studying it.

3. The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU), Delta state, has suspended Anthony Kila, its pro-chancellor, over controversy surrounding his professorial status. 
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, three days after the newspaper published an investigation questioning the basis of Kila’s professorial title

4. The United States Army has scheduled the execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan, who was convicted over the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people and wounded 32 others. According to an execution order signed by Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle and dated October 6, 2026, Hasan will be executed by firing squad at Fort Hood, Texas, on December 3, 2026. The execution is scheduled for 1pm Central Standard Time.

5. Amphibious excavators have begun efforts to recover victims of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in the riverine area of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The recovery operation commenced on Tuesday amid difficult terrain and challenging water conditions at the crash site.

6. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some leaders of the Rainbow Coalition met with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the latter’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Also at the meeting were the state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kingsley Chinda, and Senator Magnus Abe.

7. A director in the federal ministry of finance has told a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama that the ministry and the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) were unaware of the withdrawal of N124.86 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). At the proceedings on Tuesday, Ali Mohammed, who testified as the 10th prosecution witness (PW10) in the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former CBN governor, told the court that the transaction was classified in the ministry’s records as a direct debit by the apex bank

8. Lionel Messi ended his Argentina international career with a goal and two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night. The match, played on October 6, marked Messi’s final appearance for Argentina after a 21-year international career. Former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr was in charge of Benin for the farewell fixture.

9. The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, reversing the impression created by earlier comments that his administration would only seek to reform the scheme. Obi made the promise on Tuesday during an interview with the BBC, where he argued that the major problem with the subsidy regime was the corruption surrounding its implementation.

10. A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly slumped and died shortly after proceedings began at the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa on Tuesday. Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two other defendants over alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and multiple murder when the incident occurred at Court 11.

The president-general of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Leonard Kawas, has hit back at his critics by defending his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying his involvement in Nigerian politics predates the current administration.

The Archbishop’s defence follows criticism of the group’s endorsement of Tinubu, with some Nigerians questioning his credentials as a bishop.

But speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Archbishop Kawas said he had spent 25 years in the clergy and supported political leaders in the past, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, without being labelled a fake bishop.

“I travelled around this country with Doyin Okupe. I travelled around this country at 2 am with John Dara and others. We were campaigning from church to church, and nobody called me a fake bishop,” he said. 

“I campaigned for my leader, reverend Jolly Nyame, and he became governor of my state, Taraba state. He appointed me chairman of the Christian Welfare Board, and nobody called me fake then.

“I supported Peter Obi at the initial stage of his presidential ambition. I went with him everywhere in Nigeria. And he never gave me one dollar, one naira.

 “Neither did he even ever ask me one day how I came to the campaign. He will just see me at the campaign, and we will pray for him. I paid for the transportation of six clergymen. And nobody called me fake. We were on television everywhere.”

Kawas said he supported Jonathan since his time as deputy governor of Bayelsa state and later joined in his presidential campaign.

“I was one of the people who prophesied that we would see him in Abuja. And he came to Abuja, and he became vice-president and then president from the doctrine of necessity,” Kawas said.

“And then he won the election. I was on his presidential campaign council. I was the only bishop in Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign council, and I took the campaign everywhere. Nobody called me fake.

“Is it now, because I have prayed and God has led me to support Bola Tinubu, that I suddenly become fake? he asked.