Troops of Operation IGBO DANU II, under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, have neutralised a suspected criminal and recovered an AK-47 rifle during an operation in the Old Oyo National Park.

This was disclosed by the Nigerian Army in a statement shared on its official X account, titled, “TROOPS OF OPERATION IGBO DANU II NEUTRALISE CRIMINAL, RECOVER AK-47 IN OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK.”

According to the Army, the operation was conducted in collaboration with hybrid forces and followed an encounter with suspected criminal elements on November 7, 2026.

The statement said the troops, while conducting operations within the park, engaged the suspects, who fled upon sighting the advancing soldiers.

It added that the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and a Dane gun, further degrading the operational capabilities of the fleeing elements.

During a follow-up operation on November 8, the soldiers discovered the corpse of one of the fleeing suspects, confirming the neutralisation of one criminal element.

The Army also disclosed that temporary shelters believed to have served as hideouts were destroyed to disrupt criminal activities and deny the suspects safe havens within the forested area.

“The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security stakeholders, remains resolute in sustaining operations to dismantle criminal networks, deny them safe havens and restore security across the 2 Division Area of Responsibility,” the statement said.

It added that exploitation of the general area was ongoing to track fleeing elements and prevent them from regrouping.

Former minister of defence, Theophilus Danjuma, says he is supporting the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, adding that his administration has been fair to Christians in appointments.

Danjuma, a retired army general, spoke on Saturday at the 20th anniversary and fundraising ceremony of the Adamawa state government house chapel held in Yola.

He said electing Tinubu for another four years would give the administration ample time to complete what he described as meaningful projects.

Represented by Ishaya Bamaiyi, former chief of army staff, Danjuma said since the inception of his administration, Tinubu has exhibited fairness and tolerance by appointing several Christians to government positions.

He called on Nigerians, especially those in the middle belt, to support the president’s second term quest.

He maintained that the prospect of another northerner becoming president could unsettle the current geopolitical arrangement.

The retired general implored the movement to expand the Adamawa government house chapel, urging faithful to have the fear of God in their individual and collective undertakings to attract His guidance and blessings.

He pledged N250 million towards the fundraising ceremony to support the expansion of the chapel and ensure it stands the test of time.

The development follows a visit by Danjuma and some leaders from the north-west and north-central to President Tinubu at the State House on Thursday, where they declared their support for his administration and readiness to strengthen his political base across their communities.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the visit, Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, said the delegation was particularly encouraged by what he described as remarkable improvements in the country’s security situation.

He said the gains recorded under Tinubu have provided further justification for rallying support for his re-election.

The delegation included Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau; Agbu Kefas, governor of Taraba; Chris Musa, minister of defence; and Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

1. Ahead of the 2027 general elections, experts say Artificial Intelligence could help the Independent National Electoral Commission detect duplicate voter registrations and strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register.

Speaking to The PUNCH ahead of the forthcoming PUNCH Media Foundation webinar on AI, the experts also warned that a fake notice announcing the postponement of voting could keep people away from the polls.

2. Victorious Flamingos landed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday morning after their win at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday. The team won their first FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup title after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku securing the historic victory.
 

3. United States President Donald Trump said that his mass deportation of undocumented immigrants was “too tough,” according to an excerpt of an interview with CBS aired on Sunday. He stated that the policy ultimately “hurt” him and also blamed Republicans’ midterm losses in part on “bad messaging.”

4. The Sultanate Council of Sokoto has called on Muslims across Nigeria to search for the new crescent moon of Jumada Assaniya 1448AH on Monday, November 9, 2026. The directive was contained in a statement dated November 8, 2026, signed by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu and made available to journalists on Sunday.

5. The Federal Government is seeking a fresh $500m loan from the World Bank to establish an infrastructure financing platform, with the proposed approval scheduled for 25 May 2027, just four days before the inauguration of Nigeria’s next president. The proposed borrowing comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising questions about the timing of fresh financial commitments and their implications for the incoming administration.

6. The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed workers in Osun State to embark on a three-day sympathy strike beginning at midnight on Sunday to press for the release of statutory allocations due to local government areas in the state. In a statement signed by the Osun NLC Chairman and Secretary, Christopher Arapasopo and Victor Amusan, respectively, the congress said the industrial action was in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in the state.

7. Relief may be on the horizon for electricity consumers as the Federal Government begins clearing hundreds of containers of power equipment stranded at Nigerian ports with the aim of deploying them to critical electricity infrastructure projects.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, who was acting on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, said the Federal Government has secured the release of the first 44 containers from Apapa Port, Lagos out of more than 300 containers of electrical equipment awaiting clearance.

8. A 34-year-old Ugandan woman, Farida Nansubuga, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine from Nigeria to Uganda. Nansubuga was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda.

9. Four candidates contesting the 2027 Lagos State governorship election have presented different approaches to tackling the state’s challenges of flooding, traffic congestion, housing, and education, with promises ranging from technology-driven environmental solutions and expanded public transportation to affordable homes and free education.

10. The Ogun State Police Command has rescued 10 passengers abducted by gunmen from a commercial bus at Orita Fufu, Awa-Ijebu, while one suspected kidnapper was killed during a subsequent operation. A statement issued by the command on Sunday said the victims regained their freedom unharmed at about 8.30 pm on Saturday, following sustained security pressure and intelligence-led efforts by the police.