Arsenal are preparing to make a move for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié as they look to strengthen their defensive options before the close of the transfer window, according to reports from Sky Sports.
Although the Gunners are currently prioritising player departures, they want to be ready to act on the opportunity to sign the highly-rated Ecuadorian centre-back. Hincapié, who has four years remaining on his Leverkusen contract, has a release clause of £52 million (€60m). Despite the Bundesliga champions’ desire to keep him, the 22-year-old has made it clear that he would like to leave this summer.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Hincapié could, however, hinge on the future of Jakub Kiwior. The Polish defender is in talks with FC Porto over a possible move, but negotiations are said to be progressing slower than expected. The outcome of those discussions may determine whether Arsenal launch a formal bid for Hincapié in the coming weeks.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, popularly known as Bello Karama, alongside five members of his criminal syndicate, over a plot that led to the arrest of three innocent Nigerians currently detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.
The suspects, who allegedly operated out of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, were accused of checking in bags containing illicit substances in the names of unsuspecting pilgrims traveling to Jeddah for lesser hajj on August 6, 2025. The three victims—Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq—were arrested upon arrival in Jeddah aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that investigations revealed how the extra bags were fraudulently tagged with the names of the victims without their knowledge, in collusion with aviation handling staff. He noted that Abubakar, who masterminded the operation, departed Nigeria for Jeddah the same day on Egypt Air, while his accomplices checked in seven bags linked to the unsuspecting pilgrims.
One of the suspects, Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, confessed to checking in two of the bags for a payment of ₦100,000, while another, Jazuli Kabir, admitted to processing two other bags for the same fee. Currently, six suspects are in NDLEA custody, with four—Abubakar, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Yayock—already charged in court.
Babafemi emphasized that the agency is working closely with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to secure the release of the detained Nigerians. He added that NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), is scheduled to meet with GDNC officials during an upcoming international drug conference and is prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia if required.
“The facts clearly show that these Nigerians are victims of a criminal conspiracy, and we will not allow them to suffer unjustly,” Babafemi assured. He stressed that while NDLEA remains committed to the global fight against drug trafficking, it would never abandon innocent citizens caught up in such criminal schemes.
Katsina State has deployed eight new Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to enhance security across the state, bringing the total fleet to 43—the highest in the northwest zone. Acting Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe unveiled the vehicles following a State Security Council meeting, stressing the importance of collaboration between security agencies and communities in tackling banditry and kidnappings.
“The battle against banditry is not over until it is won,” Jobe said. “Our troops cannot operate alone; they need maximum cooperation from communities, particularly in sharing timely intelligence.” He described a recent attack in Unguwar Mantau, Malumfashi Local Government Area, as barbaric, noting that armed assailants targeted unarmed civilians during prayers at a mosque, kidnapping women, children, and nursing mothers. Local resistance helped rescue 76 of the victims.
Jobe highlighted that Katsina is the most equipped state in the northwest, with APCs, surveillance and combat equipment, and support from the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, vigilante groups, hunters, and the state Community Watch Corps. He added that the Chief of Army Staff is expected to visit for a security assessment and that additional federal support is being sought due to the challenging terrain where bandits operate.
Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Muazu Danmusa, also urged communities in frontline areas to cooperate with security agencies. “The cooperation of local communities is crucial in defeating banditry,” he said, emphasizing that timely intelligence and vigilance remain key to restoring peace.
Indigenes of Katsina State, under the Katsina Security Community Initiative (KSCI), have urged federal and state authorities to adopt a new approach to end persistent banditry in the state. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday in Abuja, KSCI Coordinator Dr. Bashir Kurfi said the ongoing killings, kidnappings, and community displacements indicated that existing strategies were failing. He proposed a hybrid approach combining military action with dialogue and community-led responses.
Kurfi highlighted that more than half of Katsina’s local government areas are currently under bandit influence, leaving many community leaders unable to reside in their own towns. He warned that worsening poverty was driving youths into the ranks of armed groups. Other stakeholders, including retired generals, serving officers, academics, and traditional leaders, pledged to form a pressure group to advocate for reforms and coordinated interventions.
Local government leaders cited partial successes of community-led dialogue in curbing violence. Safana LGA Chairman Abdullahi Sani Safana reported that four weeks of relative peace followed mediation by local and religious leaders, though progress was undermined by neighbouring areas that had not adopted similar measures. Kurfi LGA Chairman Babangoda Abdullahi cautioned against collaboration with bandits, noting that some community members provide fuel, food, and intelligence, further sustaining criminal activity.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army announced plans to establish a new battalion in Malumfashi LGA to bolster operations against banditry. Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said Katsina lawmakers had appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for additional military resources to restore peace, emphasizing the need for stronger security structures alongside community and economic interventions.
Former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, has officially resigned from his position, calling for peace and reconciliation in the state. His resignation, submitted on Sunday, followed reports that some members of the Assembly were plotting his impeachment, a development that had generated tension and speculation within political circles.
In a detailed statement posted on his official Facebook page on Monday, Dajoh expressed profound gratitude to Governor Hyacinth Alia, members of the Assembly, his constituents of Gboko West (Gbemacha), aides, and Assembly staff for their unwavering support throughout his tenure. He also thanked his colleagues who elected him as the first Speaker of the 10th Assembly and provided “needed support to the very last day in office.”
The former Speaker highlighted the personal support he received from his wife, Kundumiyol Dajoh, describing her as “the best example of a supportive wife,” and extended thanks to his entire family, well-wishers, and online followers. He also acknowledged the Almighty God for granting him health, wisdom, and grace while in office, noting that these blessings had been instrumental in navigating the challenges of leadership.
Dajoh concluded by urging an end to political tensions in Benue State, stressing the need for unity and forward-looking engagement among citizens and political actors. “Let there be peace and let’s move on. The journey is still ahead,” he wrote, emphasizing that despite his exit, the collective effort toward development and governance in the state must continue.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive order aimed at reducing drug prices in Nigeria has not yielded the intended results, as the cost of essential medicines continues to rise. The order, announced on June 30, 2024, was designed to encourage local production by removing tariffs, excise duties, and Value Added Tax on pharmaceutical machinery, raw materials, and finished products.
Despite these measures, a market survey shows sharp price increases across several commonly used medicines. Insulin rose 29 percent from ₦14,000 in June 2024 to ₦18,000 in August 2025, while glucometers jumped 41 percent from ₦20,500 to ₦29,000. Hypertension drugs also spiked, with metformin climbing 30 percent to ₦650, amlodipine up 33 percent to ₦2,400, and Exforge soaring 83 percent to ₦60,000.
The situation is more severe for malaria treatment. Coartem, a widely prescribed antimalarial, nearly doubled in price by 124 percent, from ₦3,800 to ₦8,500. Artesunate injection increased 56 percent to ₦2,500, while Lokmal tablets more than doubled to ₦2,450. Patients battling chronic and infectious diseases are among the hardest hit by the hikes.
However, a few drugs recorded slight price declines. Augmentin dropped 24 percent to ₦14,000, while Ventolin inhalers fell by 12 percent to ₦7,500. The mixed trend suggests that the executive order has yet to bring the broad relief expected for Nigerian patients and healthcare providers.
A non-governmental organisation, Women Support Women for Human Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative (WOSUWO), has raised concerns over the growing cases of abuse and violence against women in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists in Enugu, the group’s Executive Director, Ambassador Onyinye Joy Mamah, described the trend as alarming and warned that silence from stakeholders could make such abuses appear normal.
Mamah cited recent incidents, including the stripping of a female passenger, Comfort Emmerson, on an Ibom Air flight and the beating of a female corps member by members of the Agunechemba security outfit in Anambra State. She condemned the acts as degrading and unacceptable, stressing that such violations leave lasting psychological scars on victims.
While commending the Anambra State Government for its quick intervention in the case involving the corps member, Mamah urged authorities to do more to uphold women’s rights. She noted that violence against women, including domestic abuse, continues to rise, with many women reporting assaults from their husbands.
The WOSUWO director called on the judiciary to fast-track cases of abuse and enforce existing laws protecting women. She insisted that women deserve to be treated with dignity, caution, and care, warning that the failure to act decisively could entrench harmful practices in society.
Several fans of Nigerian singer Seyi Vibez have reportedly lost their lives in a road accident while returning from his concert on Saturday night at Lagos Island.
An eyewitness, identified as @alli_ya7 on X, shared a video of the incident, alleging that the victims were engaged in a car race on the expressway before the crash occurred. “They left the show and started racing on the express, trying to overtake other cars. Why race on the highway? May their souls rest in peace. SPEED KILLS,” she wrote.
The crash, which reportedly involved more than four vehicles, has sparked grief and outrage online, with many social media users expressing condolences and calling for greater caution on Nigerian roads. SEE VIDEO
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation HADIN KAI have successfully repelled an overnight attack launched by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Gajigana town, in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State. The assault occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday when the terrorists attempted to overrun a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) duty post in the community.
According to security sources, a fierce exchange of gunfire ensued after troops swiftly mobilized to reinforce the local defence. The coordinated response forced the attackers to retreat. Evidence of blood along their escape routes suggested that the insurgents suffered casualties, although the exact number could not be confirmed.
The military maintained that normalcy has since been restored in Gajigana following the encounter. Residents who had earlier fled to safety during the attack were reported to have returned to their homes after troops secured the area. The Army further assured that operations against remnants of the terrorist group in the region would continue.
During the confrontation, one CJTF operative, identified as 45-year-old Bulama Ngala, sustained injuries from stray bullets. He was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Gajigana, where medical personnel confirmed that he is responding positively to treatment.
Two young men drowned in a dam while trying to escape arrest during a National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raid in Kazaure, Jigawa State. The incident happened around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday during an operation at a suspected drug joint in Ganguli.
The victims, identified as Garzali Garba, 22, and Usama Ahmed, 21, both from Kazaure, reportedly jumped into a nearby dam in an attempt to flee but did not survive. Their deaths sparked concerns of possible unrest in the town.
To maintain order, security agencies including the Police and Civil Defence were deployed, while the NDLEA office in Kazaure was reinforced. Community leaders were also engaged to calm residents and prevent any breakdown of peace.
