Police in Los Angeles have arrested a woman after gunfire was reported outside the Beverly Hills home of pop star Rihanna, authorities said on Sunday. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at around 13:15 local time (21:15 GMT). Investigators later confirmed that the property targeted belonged to the singer. According to a police official who spoke to CBS News, officers recovered assault rifle casings at the scene.  No injuries were reported, though a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna was inside the mansion at the time of the incident. Police said the suspect, described as a woman in her 30s, briefly stopped her vehicle outside the property and fired seven rounds before driving away. READ ALSO : Lawyer Threatens Legal Action Against Tonto Dikeh Over Viral ‘Deliverance’ Video Authorities later tracked the vehicle to a location roughly eight miles (12km) from the singer’s home, where the woman was arrested....

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has increased the pump price of petrol to N1,082 per litre at its retail stations in Abuja. According to reports, the latest increase represents a N115 jump from the previous price of N967 per litre and follows an earlier upward review from N960 to N967 per litre.  In total, the state oil firm has raised its retail price by N207 per litre in less than a week. Checks on Sunday showed the new rate already implemented at NNPCL outlets along Kubwa Expressway as well as in Gwarimpa, Wuse Zone 6, Wuse Zone 4 and Lifecamp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The adjustments come after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its petrol gantry price, pushing up supply costs for marketers.  It was said that the refinery recently raised its ex-depot price by N121, from N874 to N995 per litre, following a surge in global crude oil prices. Industry operators say such increases at the depot level often trigger higher pump prices na...

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, following a vote by the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts. The announcement was made shortly after midnight in Tehran on Monday, with the clerical body stating that Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei had been chosen as the third leader of the Islamic Republic. The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member council of senior clerics responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader, said the decision was reached by a decisive vote. Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric believed to wield great influence within Iran’s security establishment and economic networks, had long been considered a leading contender to succeed his father. The position of supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran, with power over the military, judiciary and key state institutions. His appointment comes amid a rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States (US) and Israel.  READ ALSO :  Trump ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has elected new executives across its eight local government areas after party congresses held over the weekend. Party officials announced the exercise, conducted at local government headquarters across the state, proceeded peacefully and relied largely on consensus arrangements to select new leaders. Speaking at the congress in Ogbia Local Government Area on Saturday, the Bayelsa PDP caretaker chairman, George Turnah said the turnout of delegates demonstrated continued loyalty to the party, which he noted has historically produced key leaders at both state and national levels. Turnah warned that the party was mobilising ahead of the 2027 Nigerian General Election and the state’s 2028 off-cycle governorship poll, insisting that those who defected to rival parties should expect a political challenge. He cited what he described as the party’s long-standing influence in Bayelsa politics, pointing out that PDP members from the state had p...

Rival camps within Nigeria’s ruling party are locked in a fierce struggle for influence ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention later this month, with governors divided over how key party offices should be shared. The convention, scheduled to take place in Abuja, is expected to confirm or restructure the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the body responsible for the APC’s day-to-day administration.  However, internal negotiations have become increasingly tense as competing blocs push for control of strategic positions seen as crucial ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Daily Sun, at least two closed-door meetings of the Progressives Governors’ Forum in Abuja ended without agreement, reflecting deep divisions over zoning arrangements and nominations for top offices. Party sources revealed the dispute centres on which geopolitical zones should hold specific NWC posts and which political leaders within those regions should nominate candid...

Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has said the 2027 general election will be a contest between Nigerians and poor governance, as he formally registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State. The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) made the remarks on Saturday while flagging off the ADC’s membership registration exercise in the state. Obi, who has indicated his intention to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, urged Nigerians to participate actively in the party’s ongoing online registration. “ With the agreement of all national leaders, some of whom are here where we are flagging off today, I am urging everybody to go and register, obtain your card and sign up online. We want to register as many Nigerians as possible ,” he said. He believed that the 2027 polls would be driven by public demand for accountable leadership. “ The election in 2027 will be Nigerians against bad leadership. I assure you, th...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former Lagos councillor and intercepted several illicit drug consignments across multiple states as part of intensified operations against trafficking. The NDLEA disclosed the suspect, 45-year-old Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, was arrested at his residence in Ilado, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.  Olalekan previously served two terms as councillor representing the Orimedu community at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council and is currently a legislative aide. According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, officers acting on intelligence raided the residence and discovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, stored in one of the rooms. During questioning, Olalekan reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and the property where they were found. In a separate operation in Abuja, officers intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba ...

Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria generated N207.49 billion in revenue from customers in December 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). According to NERC, the figure was realised from a total billing of N258.66 billion issued to electricity consumers during the month. NERC said the amount collected in December represented a marginal decline of 0.02 per cent from the N208.78 billion recorded in November 2025. The report also showed that overall electricity billing fell by about four per cent, compared with the N269.43 billion billed in the previous month. Despite the drop in billing, the commission disclosed a slight improvement in collection efficiency.  Distribution companies recovered 80.22 per cent of billed revenue in December, up from 77.49 per cent in November, indicating a modest gain in payment recovery. READ ALSO : Google Adds Yoruba, Hausa to AI Search Tools In its Commercial Performance Factsheet, NERC revealed, the total v...

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and policy communication, has mounted a forceful defence of the administration following backlash over his recent interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera. In a statement issued on Saturday, Daniel Bwala dismissed the criticism that followed his appearance on the programme Head to Head as “ temporary excitement ” driven by political opponents who, he said, had neither the “ vision nor mission ” to govern Nigeria. The presidential aide said defending the Tinubu administration was part of his duty and declared he was prepared to do so “ anywhere in the world, any day, any time .” The interview, which circulated widely on social media after its broadcast, featured a combative exchange between Bwala and Hasan over Nigeria’s security situation, economic policy and corruption allegations.  Clips from the programme prompted sharp reactions online, with critics pointing out Bwala’s previous public criticisms of Tinu...

The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report claiming that more than 40 soldiers were killed during recent terrorist attacks in parts of Borno State, describing the account as misleading and based on unverified sources. The reaction followed a report by the news platform Sahara Reporters alleging heavy military casualties during coordinated assaults on several communities in the state. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Media Information Officer for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Sani Uba, said the report presented what the army described as a distorted account of the incident and failed to acknowledge the actions of troops who defended communities against the attackers. According to the army, the assaults were carried out by remnants of Boko Haram fighters who had previously been forced out of the Sambisa Forest during sustained military operations. “ The attacks on multiple communities occurred when remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, who had earlier been dislodged from the Sambisa Fores...

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has criticised opposition parties, claiming they are weakened by internal divisions and unlikely to mount a serious challenge in the next general election. Akpabio made the remarks on Saturday in Uyo during a reception organised by the Akwa Ibom State Government for the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu. The event was the unveiling of the Akwa Ibom Senior Citizens Centre named in honour of the First Lady and formed part of celebrations for the 2026 International Women’s Day at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Addressing a large audience, Akpabio said opposition parties were struggling with internal crises while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had already begun consultations and mobilisation across the country. “ Each time we make a law and the opposition frowns, I get excited that I’ve made the right law ,” the Senate President said. He argued that several opposition parties were yet to resolve organisational challenges ahead...

Google has expanded its artificial intelligence-powered search features to include Yoruba and Hausa, two of the most widely spoken languages in Nigeria. The update integrates the languages into Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, enabling both voice and text-based interactions for millions of speakers across the country.  Users can now ask questions, explore topics and receive summaries in either language. According to the company, the expansion forms part of a broader rollout covering 13 African languages, including Swahili, Amharic and isiZulu.  Google announced the languages were selected based on strong search activity and levels of digital engagement across the continent. READ ALSO : Scientists Develop Injectable ‘Mini Livers’ to Support Organ Failure The development follows the recent launch of Nano Banana 2 in Nigeria, a high-fidelity image generation model that allows creators to produce professional-quality visuals using simple text prompts. Google stressed that the en...

A Nigerian human rights lawyer, Ikechukwu Obasi, has threatened legal action against Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh over a viral video allegedly showing her conducting a deliverance session on a school child. In a statement released on Friday, Obasi described the incident as abusive and degrading, warning that the act could amount to a violation of the rights and dignity of the minor involved. According to the lawyer, the video circulating on social media appeared to show the actress carrying out a deliverance ritual in which the child was laid on bare ground while being pressed against the stony surface during the exercise. Obasi condemned the scene as a “ primitive , nasty and reckless display ,” arguing that the conduct resembled child exorcism and had no place in modern-day Nigeria. “ The sight of the display is even vicious to behold in the 21st century ,” he said. He added that it was troubling that a public figure who identifies as a born-again Christian could subject a child to ...

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has rejected allegations that Iran sponsors Islamic movements in Nigeria as part of a global network promoting terrorism, warning that such claims could inflame religious tensions in the country. In a statement issued on Saturday, MPAC criticised remarks attributed to Michael Freeman, which suggested Tehran was backing Islamic groups in Nigeria, describing the accusations as reckless and potentially damaging to Nigeria’s fragile social harmony. The statement, signed by the organisation’s Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, said comments of that nature could heighten suspicion among religious communities and undermine efforts to maintain peaceful coexistence in a multi-faith society. MPAC said it was particularly troubled that the allegations surfaced amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, cautioning against attempts to draw Nigeria’s religious groups into external conflicts. According to the organisation, linking Nigeria’s Shia Muslim ...

Twelve residents kidnapped in Ette community, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division Garrison under Operation Eastern Sanity. The military disclosed the victims were freed during a swift security operation carried out on Friday following a distress call reporting that several community members had been abducted by suspected kidnappers. In a statement posted on the Nigerian Army’s official X account on Saturday, the army said troops moved quickly to the area alongside police operatives, Forest Guards and members of the local Neighbourhood Watch. According to the statement, security personnel launched search and fighting patrols across locations believed to be used by the kidnappers. READ ALSO :  Tinubu Reacts as Air Strikes Kill 50 Boko Haram Fighters After Ngoshe Attack The army added that the suspects fled the area after encountering the troops. “ The kidnappers, overwhelmed by the superior combat readine...