Almond News

The extremist group Boko Haram has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian government, demanding action over hundreds of captives reportedly being held in its custody. In a video message circulating online, a masked spokesperson for the group warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated timeframe could result in severe consequences for the hostages. The group claimed it is currently holding 416 individuals, including women and children, […]

Police operatives in Ondo State have arrested two suspected human traffickers over the illegal movement and exploitation of a 21-year-old woman, Akinwunmi Faith, who was taken to the Côte d’Ivoire under false pretences. The suspects, identified as Akinlaja Blessings and Johnson Ahomari, are currently in custody and are assisting investigators with efforts to unravel the trafficking network. Authorities confirmed that a third accomplice, simply identified as Grace, is still at […]

The renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has dampened expectations of an imminent drop in fuel prices in Nigeria, reversing earlier optimism within the downstream petroleum sector. The strategic waterway, which is a vital route for global oil shipments, had briefly reopened following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. The reopening had sparked hope among industry stakeholders that crude oil prices would fall significantly, […]

Indications have emerged that political stakeholders in Oyo State may have to wait a little longer before the state governor, Seyi Makinde, officially announces the candidate he intends to support for the 2027 governorship election, as well as clarity on his broader political direction ahead of the polls. The governor had earlier suggested that he would make public his preferred successor before the end of the first week of May, […]

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered and dismantled multiple drug trafficking operations involving cocaine, cannabis, and other illicit substances concealed in unusual packaging methods, including food flasks and snack items. In one of the major interceptions, officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos discovered 12 large parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 2.80 kilograms, hidden in the false bottom of food flasks. The […]

The Federal Government has approved a significant increase in funding for the prosecution of Boko Haram-related terrorism cases and other related offences under the Federal Ministry of Justice in the 2026 national budget. The allocation, which stands at N1.371bn, represents a sharp rise compared to the N530m earmarked for the same purpose in the 2025 fiscal year. The increase translates to about a 159 per cent rise year-on-year, reflecting a […]

Nigeria is preparing to deploy a new batch of 25 ambassador-designates to various countries around the world, following the completion of diplomatic clearances from their respective host nations. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the federal government has successfully secured formal approvals—known in diplomatic practice as agrément—from the countries where the envoys are expected to serve. This approval represents the official consent of […]

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has moved to reassure the public and key stakeholders in the aviation sector that there is no immediate threat of aviation fuel scarcity or an extreme price surge in the country. According to the regulatory agency, Nigeria currently has a combined aviation fuel stock sufficiency of 74 days, a level it described as adequate to guarantee stability in supply across the […]