Stone Reporters News

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the distribution of luxury sports utility vehicles to youth leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the gifts as an insult to Nigerians struggling with rising living costs. He demanded that President Bola Tinubu's administration disclose who financed the vehicles and whether public resources were involved in their purchase.

Vice President Kashim Shettima's criticism of Peter Obi's economic arguments has returned to attention amid renewed political disagreement over Nigeria's fuel subsidy policy. A statement attributed to Shettima combines an acknowledgement of Obi's position on subsidy removal with an accusation that the former Anambra State governor relies on questionable statistics rather than convincing economic proposals.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The ruling means the former governor must now decide whether to present a defence against the prosecution's allegations, after failing to secure the termination of the case at the close of the prosecution's evidence.

Residents of Moriki town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have reported a fresh suspected bandit attack in which several people were allegedly abducted shortly after dawn prayers. The reported incident has left affected families concerned about the whereabouts and safety of their relatives.

Nigeria's Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing that the Federal Government deserves recognition rather than criticism for its pricing. He maintained that comparisons with similar road projects, including a coastal highway in neighbouring Benin Republic, demonstrate the value of Nigeria's investment when differences in construction specifications are considered.

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Adam Muhammed over the suspected theft of a motorcycle and generator in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area. The arrest followed information supplied by a motorist who noticed suspicious movements involving an unregistered tricycle transporting the two items.

Amnesty International has condemned the alleged killing of a teenager, Umar Muhammad, popularly known as Gajiye, during an Islamic religious gathering in Borno State, demanding an immediate and impartial investigation into accusations that police officers opened fire on worshippers following a disagreement over noise. The human rights organisation called for accountability through fair judicial proceedings for any officers found responsible.

Fulani pastoralist leaders have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to allocate at least 30 per cent of Nigeria's agricultural budget to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, protect designated grazing reserves and establish pilot ranches nationwide. The coalition also demanded investigations into alleged attacks against pastoralist communities, warning against associating an entire ethnic group with criminal activities.

Nigerian comedian and filmmaker Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has apologised to disappointed fans after a scheduled comedy performance in Cardiff, Wales, failed to take place, prompting criticism from ticket holders who said they waited for hours without seeing the advertised entertainers perform. The comedian attributed the disruption to unresolved financial obligations involving the event organisers and called for affected customers to receive clear information about refunds.

Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate a viral video allegedly containing inflammatory statements directed against Christians. He expressed concern that the remarks attributed to individuals appearing in the footage could threaten religious coexistence and public security if left unexamined.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, has condemned repeated missile and drone attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi militia, warning that the security and sanctity of Islam’s two holiest mosques must never be violated. He described the attacks as a serious threat to religious sites and the millions of Muslims who regard them as central to their faith.

Troops of the Nigerian Army serving under Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued two kidnapped men during a security operation around Bagega in Zamfara State, marking another intervention by military personnel combating kidnapping and armed violence in Nigeria's North-West region. The rescued men, both residents of neighbouring Kebbi State, were evacuated for medical attention following the operation.