1. The Presidency on Monday criticised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, describing the demand as unnecessary and politically motivated.

Makinde, while formally assuming responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the 45 teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in captivity on Monday, called for a UN-backed investigation into the abduction, saying Nigerians deserved a full account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

2. Director-General of the phantom federal agency under probe by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew billed for arraignment on criminal charges today in Abuja may not show up in court. This is going by the indication he gave last night on a television programme when he alleged from his hideout that his life is at risk.

3. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the April 29 judgment by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, barring the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing or participating in any state congresses conducted by the congress committees appointed by the David Mark-led Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

4. Recalling the last days of former President Muhammadu Buhari at a London hospital last year, Vice President Kashim Shettima said he wept seeing that life was ebbing out of the late leader. Speaking at the one year remembrance event on Monday Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called him and said, “‘Kashim, I’ve just learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari is ill in London, proceed to London and ensure he lacks nothing”.

5. A torrential downpour on Monday brought commercial activities to a halt in several parts of Lagos as widespread flooding submerged vehicles, left motorists and commuters stranded and triggered severe traffic across major roads. The worst-hit areas included Ikoyi, Lekki, Victoria Island and Oworonshoki, where floodwaters overwhelmed roads and left many vehicles partially submerged.

6. The African Democratic Congress has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate what it described as the alleged forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly issued by the electoral body, following claims by a faction that it had uploaded the names of the party’s presidential candidate and other nominees to the commission’s nomination portal.
The Nafiu Bala Gombe faction of the party had reported on Sunday night that it had successfully uploaded the names of its candidates on the INEC portal.

7. Imo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a man accused of murdering his wife inside a church in Owaelu, Owerri North Local Government Area, before fleeing with two of their three children and abandoning a suckling baby beside her lifeless body. The woman’s body was reportedly discovered on Monday morning after neighbours, alarmed by the persistent cries of the infant, traced the sound to the church premises.

8. Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for economic sanctions and visa bans against opposition leaders in the state, accusing them of aiding and abetting political violence in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Adeleke made the call on Monday while receiving a delegation of the British Government on a pre-election peace-building mission to Osun State.

9. Dangote Petroleum Refinery has switched payment for the sale of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, and Aviation Turbine Kerosene, ATK to U.S. dollar. The new policy, which took effect immediately, applies to both gantry and coastal product sales.

10. Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called for independent scrutiny of the May 14 abduction of children and teachers from Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of the state. Makinde made the call in his statewide broadcast on Monday in Ibadan, shortly after he received 44 children and teachers recently rescued from bandits.

The family of 28-year-old Lt. Felix Ademe Isaac, the  Nigerian Army officer who died in the operation to rescue abducted teachers and pupils in Oyo State, has said that it is struggling to come to terms with the loss of their son.

According to reports, the young army officer was killed on July 10, 2026, while leading troops in the operation that secured the freedom of teachers and pupils abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

More than 40 pupils and teachers were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School before being taken into the forest.

But there are conflicting reports of how the officer died. While some reports said his convoy struck explosives planted in the National Park area of Oyo State, others claimed he stepped on a landmine allegedly planted by Ansaru fighters identified as the group behind the abduction.

Born on August 25, 1997, Lt. Isaac was buried with full military honours at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Cemetery in Yola, Adamawa State, on July 10.

During a visit to the family’s residence in Bachure Quarters, Yola, by Daily Trust, his father, retired Master Warrant Officer Isaac Alabura, described the loss as devastating.

Describing his late son as “the hope of the family and the community,” Alabura said they had expected him to rise through the ranks of the military.

“It is natural to feel pain whenever you lose someone, even if it is an enemy.

“How much more brilliant, young officer whom our family and community looked up to?

“His life was cut short at a time we expected him to achieve greater things,” he said.

Alabura also expressed disappointment over how the family learned of his son’s death, saying neither the military authorities nor the Oyo State Government had officially briefed them on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He, however, commended four serving and retired senior military officers whom he said ensured his son’s body was released and transported to Yola for burial despite attempts by some people to have him buried in Oyo State.

Recalling the events leading up to the operation, he said: “His death is deeply painful. He had just returned from training at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Jaji, Kaduna, and was preparing to report to Sokoto for another assignment.

“Around 3pm, he was instead directed to lead the rescue operation in Oyo.”

He appealed to the military authorities and the Oyo State Government to support the family, noting that the officer paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.

Lt. Isaac’s cousin, Tidwawa Nelson Eweh, described him as calm, intelligent and hardworking, saying he had been committed to serving Nigeria.

“When he decided to join the Nigerian Army, we all believed he would rise through the ranks and contribute to improving the country’s security. Sadly, that dream has been cut short.

“We have lost a beloved family member, and Nigeria has also lost a promising officer who still had so much to offer,” he said.

Eweh urged the military authorities and the Oyo State Government to remember the officer’s family and called for him to be immortalised in recognition of his sacrifice.

Lt. Isaac hailed from Kola Ward in Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement after the rescue operation, confirmed that security forces suffered casualties.

“It suffices to note that the operations were carefully planned and executed to avoid collateral damage and to equally ensure that the innocent children and teachers were safely rescued. However, there were some casualties on the part of the security forces,” the statement read.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also paid tribute to personnel involved in the operation.

“Really grateful for the safe return of the children and teachers abducted from Oriire LGA 56 days ago. Our priority now is to ensure they are reunited with their families and support their rehabilitation afteqr this traumatic experience.

“We also commend the security agencies that took part in the rescue operations for their sacrifices. May the souls of those who paid the ultimate price rest in peace, and may God comfort their families,” he had said.

1. Reactions have trailed the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000. Veterans and serving personnel described the amount as grossly inadequate.

This is as they accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to implement a salary increment he promised nearly four months ago.

2. A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting in Maitama has remanded the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja. Justice Peter Kekemeke gave the remand order after Umar was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a four-count charge of conferring undue advantage on himself while serving as the chairman of the CCT.

3. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned the leader of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over an alleged $2.33 million money laundering offence. Bodejo, who was earlier detained by the Department of State Services, DSS before being transferred to the EFCC, was arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.

4. The Federal Government says it has doubled the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers from N49,000 to N100,000 in its latest effort to improve troop welfare and strengthen morale. Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed the salary review during an interview on TV. He described the development as one of the welfare improvements introduced by the current administration for military personnel.

5. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Tinubu approaches governance as a serious business that must succeed. A mindset he credited with the unprecedented infrastructural revolution sweeping the nation’s capital.

6. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declined assent to two bills passed by the National Assembly, citing constitutional concerns and defects that require correction before the proposed legislation can become law.
The Senate was notified of the President’s decision through two separate letters read on the floor of the chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

7. Houses of assembly in the 36 states will pass the State police Bill simultaneously when it is transmitted to them by the National Assembly, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said yesterday. According to him, the governors had agreed on this course of action to quicken the phase of the establishment of State police.

8. President Bola Tinubu yesterday showered encomiums on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his transformation of the nation’s capital. The President described the minister as a “man of action” and a “true driver” of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA). President Tinubu noted that Wike’s relentless dedication to infrastructural development has successfully transformed the face of the nation’s capital within a short period.

9. The Zamfara State Police Command says it has repelled coordinated bandit attacks in Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau Local Government Areas, rescuing an abducted staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission and other captives while recovering hundreds of rustled cattle. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday.

10. A Federal High Court in Calabar has awarded N100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and other respondents over the torture and killing of a 22-year-old man, Onyekachi Mba. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the applicant and deceased’s mother, Mrs Victoria Mba through her counsel, Chief Roland Ndubuka.