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The National Assembly has suspended all official legislative engagements with South Africa, including visits, conferences, workshops and parliamentary exchanges, over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals. The decision, announced on Friday, September 11, 2026, followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives amid reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their homes, businesses and investments in South Africa. In a statement signed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the federal  legislature said it was deeply concerned about the recurring attacks and the continued failure of South African authorities to halt the violence despite repeated diplomatic interventions. The statement said the suspension covers all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff until further notice. It also  in...

A 22-year-old Singaporean, Malone Lam, a Miami resident has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in a cryptocurrency theft that resulted in the loss of about $245 million worth of bitcoin. Lam pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge after prosecutors accused him of organising an international group that used deception and stolen personal information to gain access to victims’ cryptocurrency wallets. It was gathered that the United States Department of Justice said Lam and his associates spent the stolen funds lavishly, with the group allegedly spending as much as $500,000 in a single night at nightclubs. The group also purchased more than 30 luxury vehicles, with individual cars reportedly worth between $100,000 and $3.8 million. Prosecutors said the stolen proceeds were also used to purchase high-end watches, designer clothing, private jet rentals, luxury homes and Hermes Birkin handbags. Some of the handbags, which were worth tens of thousands of dollars, were r...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free data daily from October 1, 2026, to enable them access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms. The initiative, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially benefit students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria. “Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said, while acknowledging the support of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria. Under the scheme, participating mobile network operators will provide benefici...

Polaris Bank has expressed grief over the killing of one of its branch managers, identified as Mr Ossy, who was reportedly shot dead by suspected kidnappers at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 6, 2026, within the university premises, while the banker, who was based in Owerri, was reportedly taking his children institution. Two female students were also reportedly abducted during the incident. In a statement  issued on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, and signed by the Head, Brand Management and Corporate Communication of Polaris Bank, Rasheed Bolarinwa, the bank said the deceased was attacked by hoodlums while taking his children to the university. The bank said his children managed to escape, but he was killed in the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our Branch Manager and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult t...

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely suggesting that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations. The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition received from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of those responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document. He said the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja. According to him, the document was falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited. “On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force ...

The Ondo State Government on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, confirmed the deaths of some people in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance. No fewer than 24 residents of two communities in the council area, Araromi Obu and Odigbo town, reportedly lost their lives after consuming the substance. The incident, which was said to have occurred on Saturday, has thrown the affected communities into mourning. A source in the  area said the deceased consumed the substance on Saturday at different locations but later became unconscious, leading to their deaths, while some others who also consumed the substance were rushed to the hospital. The source said, “They (the  deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying, eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town but we are yet to confirm if it is what they drank that killed them but we are sure that the people died after drinking the her...