Author: Press Room

By Dare Akogun The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 29,262 suspected drug traffickers, seized illicit drugs worth over N1.5tn and secured the conviction of 5,225 offenders in the last 18 months, the agency said on Friday. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this in Abuja on Friday at the grand finale of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Marwa, according to a statement shared with Saturday PUNCH by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said the agency had intensified…

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is beginning to take shape with the group stage nearing its conclusion and some Round of 32 fixtures now confirmed. Football heavyweights Brazil, Germany, France and Argentina have secured their places in the knockout rounds, while co-hosts the United States and Mexico will also continue their campaigns in front of home supporters. However, several ties are yet to be finalised, with several third-placed qualifiers and some group winners and runners-up still to be determined. Confirmed Round of 32 fixtures Sunday, June 28 8:00 p.m. – South Africa vs Canada (Los Angeles…

No fewer than 271 children were among the 484 people displaced after armed bandits attacked Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on June 15, 2026, the International Organisation for Migration has revealed. The IOM, in a fresh assessment obtained by Saturday PUNCH, said the attack displaced 484 people from 101 households, with children accounting for more than half of those forced to flee their homes. The figures are contained in two IOM reports on Nigeria obtained by Saturday PUNCH. They include Flash Report 291 on Population Displacement, obtained on June 25, and the Displacement Tracking Matrix’s Transhumance Tracking Tool…

Ayoola Babalola No fewer than 30,000 pupils in public primary schools across Lagos State are set to receive daily nutritional support under a new intervention aimed at reducing classroom hunger and improving learning outcomes. The initiative, tagged “Adopt A School for Snacks for Thought – PBAT FEEDS!,” was unveiled on Wednesday by the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. The programme, which was launched at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, will begin with a pilot phase scheduled for June 30 to July 2, during which selected pupils will receive nutritious…

The Nigeria Police Force lost 201 rifles to terrorists, bandits and other armed groups between 2021 and mid-2026, a new report by SBM Intel Violence Tracker has revealed. The report, titled Nigeria’s Stolen Rifles: Who Loses, Who Takes, stated that 282 rifles were stolen from security agents in 94 separate incidents across the country. According to the report, the Police Force accounted for 201 stolen rifles, representing 71.3 per cent of the total. The military lost 45 rifles, representing 16 per cent, while unspecified security agencies lost 15 rifles or 5.3 per cent. Other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security…

Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been linked with a potential move to the Dutch Eredivisie, Soccernet.ng reports. ​Ndidi’s future has become a major talking point at Besiktas this summer. The 29-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Leicester City just last year, was initially expected to be a cornerstone of the club’s midfield for the foreseeable future. ​However, following a disappointing campaign last season, the club parted ways with manager Sergen Yalçın. Referee Yasin Kol show yellow card to Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas. Copyright: ImagoxSeskimphotox His successor, Vincenzo Italiano, has already begun an extensive squad overhaul, and it appears Ndidi is…

Six Nigerians who had been detained in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire since October 2025 over alleged economic crimes have regained their freedom following sustained diplomatic and consular efforts by the Nigerian government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, that four of the detainees were released on Monday, June 22, 2026, while the remaining two regained their freedom on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. According to the ministry, the release followed sustained diplomatic and consular engagements by the Embassy of Nigeria in Abidjan with the relevant Ivorian authorities. The ministry…

Okiki Adeduyite President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health agenda. The President also appointed the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Dr Obi Adigwe, as the pioneer National Coordinator of the office. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, the office will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. It said the agency would serve as a national…

The 2027 governorship candidate of the BOOT Party for Ogun State, Adekunle Adenuga, has promised to address the state’s developmental challenges through what he described as a practical and well-researched blueprint developed over the last 16 years. Adenuga made the pledge on Thursday while accepting the party’s governorship ticket during the unveiling of its candidates at the party secretariat in Arinlese, Abeokuta. Expressing appreciation to the party leadership for the confidence reposed in him, the governorship candidate said he accepted the nomination with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to delivering purposeful leadership. He disclosed that his aspiration…

Valencia striker Sadiq Umar has spoken out regarding two critical issues currently facing the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Soccernet.ng reports. ​The 2025/2026 NPFL season ended in May 2026, with Enugu Rangers clinching their ninth league title. Rivers United finished as runners-up, while Shooting Stars secured the third spot. Consequently, these clubs will represent Nigeria in continental competitions, with Shooting Stars making their first appearance in 27 years. Mix of Finidi George and Fidelis Ilechukwu. (Photos by Imago) ​As the new season approaches, the National Sports Commission announced a major increase in prize money for the league. According to the…