Crime News August 27, 2026 Zamfara : Police gun down 17 bandits after deadly highway attack on travellers

The Zamfara State Police Command has reported the killing of 17 suspected bandits following a gun battle with security operatives after the criminals attacked motorists along the Gusau-Funtua Federal Highway in Tsafe Local Government Area.

The incident occurred on Tuesday near Unguwar Chida Village, where the bandits reportedly blocked the highway and attacked two commercial vehicles, leaving several passengers dead and others injured.

The attackers also abducted eight passengers during the incident, according to the police.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the vehicles intercepted by the bandits included a Sharon vehicle travelling from Sokoto to Gwagwalada and a Sokoto State Transport Authority bus heading towards Kaduna and Abuja.

The police explained that the Sharon vehicle’s driver was shot dead, causing the vehicle to somersault. Six passengers inside the vehicle were also killed.

Similarly, a male passenger aboard the SSTA bus was killed, while nine other occupants sustained gunshot wounds.

The command said the abducted passengers were taken to an undisclosed location, as security agencies intensified efforts to locate and rescue them.

Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Tsafe reportedly mobilised the Police Violence Crime Response Unit to the scene.

The injured victims were subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Tsafe, for medical attention, while the remains of those killed were deposited at the hospital mortuary.

The police further disclosed that the bandits later attacked Magazu Village in the same local government area.

During the attack, a 35-year-old resident, Lawali Muazu, was struck by a stray bullet and subsequently taken to the General Hospital for treatment.

According to the command, security operatives later tracked the bandits to the Funtua-Gusau Federal Highway while the group was allegedly attempting to intercept and loot a trailer loaded with food items.

The police said the bandits opened fire after sighting the security forces, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

The security personnel eventually overpowered the attackers, killing 17 of them, while others reportedly fled the scene with gunshot wounds.

The command said a joint security arrangement comprising the police, military, Community Protection Guards, hunters and local vigilantes had been deployed along the highway and other vulnerable locations to prevent further attacks.

It added that clearance operations were ongoing around suspected bandit camps and routes believed to be used by the criminals.

Efforts are also continuing to locate and rescue the eight passengers abducted during the highway attack.

Education News August 27, 2026 Nigerian university begins indefinite strike over salary arrears, unimplemented agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) Branch, has commenced an indefinite strike over the failure to implement the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU as well as the non-payment of salary arrears.

The decision followed a congress meeting of the union on Thursday, coming shortly after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the university management to address the outstanding issues.

A communique issued after the congress in Akure said the union resolved to embark on the industrial action after its demands were not met.

The document was signed by the branch Chairman, Comrade Abraham Oladebeye, and Secretary, Comrade Adeniran Akinola.

According to the communique, the 14-day ultimatum elapsed without the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement or payment of salary arrears owed members from January 2026.

The union accused the university management of failing to act on the agreement despite the ultimatum issued by the lecturers.

Consequently, members were instructed to suspend all statutory academic responsibilities with immediate effect.

The affected activities include lectures, continuous assessments, examinations, seminars, supervision of students’ research projects, industrial training and fieldwork.

The directive also extends to departmental, faculty, committee and Senate meetings conducted either physically or virtually.

ASUU-UNIMED said the industrial action would continue until the agreement was fully implemented, the outstanding salary arrears were paid and further instructions were issued by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

The branch also directed its Branch Executive Committee (BEC) to activate the Branch Strike Coordinating Committee to ensure compliance with the resolutions and monitor the strike.

As of the time of filing the report, the university management had yet to issue an official response to the union’s declaration of the indefinite strike.

News August 27, 2026 Tinubu orders 500 more CNG stations as FG, states target cheaper transport

President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of 500 additional compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations across Nigeria as part of efforts by the Federal Government and state governments to bring down transportation costs.

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement he personally signed on Thursday following discussions with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on measures aimed at reducing transport fares.

According to the President, the governors had independently agreed to pursue initiatives that would lower transportation expenses, particularly by taking advantage of the cheaper operating costs associated with CNG and electric vehicles.

Tinubu said the Federal Government was already supporting more than 100 gas-related projects, comprising 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.

He said the Federal and state governments would establish a joint committee to ensure immediate implementation of the measures.

“I have also directed the additional rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country,” the statement reads.

The President noted that intra-state transportation remained a major area where Nigerians directly experienced the burden of high transport costs, adding that state governments had an important role to play in addressing the challenge.

“Intra-state transport is where Nigerians feel the cost most directly, and it is where the states hold the levers.

“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve.

“We have agreed to set up a joint Federal and State committee to begin implementing these measures immediately. A vehicle running on CNG spends 60 to 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol.

“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”

“Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian.”

The development followed a meeting of the NGF in Abuja on Wednesday, after which the governors said they were considering a nationwide reduction in transport fares through the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP).

The forum said the programme would rely on the lower running costs of CNG-powered vehicles to make public transportation more affordable.

The latest move is part of the Federal Government’s broader CNG programme, which dates back to August 2023 when Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).

The Presidency had said the initiative was designed to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal by lowering energy and transportation costs.

Education News August 27, 2026 WAEC results controversy deepens as official raises fresh CBT concerns glitches

The controversy over the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results has intensified following allegations of technical problems and other irregularities by an official of the West African Examinations Council.

According to a report by PUNCH, the Head of Examinations at WAEC’s Anambra office, Olanrewaju Fadehan, made the claims in a video that has gained widespread attention online.

According to Fadehan, candidates who participated in the computer-based version of the examination were among those allegedly affected by the problems surrounding the release and processing of the results.

He said the results were initially expected to be released between August 3 and 5, 2026, but suggested that unforeseen issues prompted last-minute adjustments.

He said, “Obviously, there was a problem because the press was eagerly waiting on Monday, the scheduled date. There was a need to quickly do some last-minute adjustments. Something was wrong.”

Fadehan alleged that the adjustments had consequences for candidates who took the CBT examination, particularly in subjects such as Mathematics, English and Igbo.

He also questioned the reported performance of some candidates from the South-East in Igbo, noting that the language is commonly spoken across the region.

The WAEC official further claimed that schools that invested substantially in infrastructure for the council’s CBT programme had suffered setbacks.

“The call for a review this year is particularly disturbing, as it is alarming. Schools that subscribed to the CBT innovation of WAEC were badly hit. Some of them spent upwards of N60m and above to set up their CBT facilities,” he alleged.

He also raised concerns over the provision of calculators to candidates during the examination.

According to him, some candidates were allegedly not given suitable calculators, a situation he claimed may have affected their performance in Mathematics and other subjects requiring calculations.

Fadehan said he had previously drawn the attention of relevant authorities to what he described as irregularities during the examination.

He said he subsequently petitioned the WAEC Board, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examining Bodies, as well as the Minister of Education.

However, he alleged that his complaints were not addressed and that he was instead subjected to disciplinary action and placed on interdiction.

“I call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to investigate the cause of failure of candidates, particularly those who chose the computer-based WAEC,” he said.

Fadehan also levelled allegations of financial impropriety against the management of WAEC, raising questions over the procurement and distribution of calculators, students’ identification cards, as well as fees charged to candidates and other users of the examination body’s services.

He called on the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to investigate the allegations, stressing the need to safeguard the credibility of the examination process and protect the interests of students.

When contacted on Thursday for the council’s response to the allegations, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, declined to comment.

“No comment for now,” she said.

The latest allegations come amid wider concerns over the credibility of the 2026 WASSCE results released for school candidates.

Earlier reports indicated that school administrators and education stakeholders had raised concerns over alleged grading discrepancies and technical difficulties following the expansion of WAEC’s Computer-Based Testing system.

Some school officials and education advocates had also claimed that students who had previously demonstrated strong academic performance received grades they considered inconsistent with their records and outcomes in other standardised examinations.

The latest claims by Fadehan are expected to further fuel calls for clarification from WAEC and relevant government authorities over the conduct, processing and release of the 2026 examination results.

(PUNCH)

News Sports August 27, 2026 Champions League: Arsenal draw Real Madrid, Man City, Villa get PSG

Arsenal have been handed a high-profile meeting with 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, while Manchester City and Aston Villa will both come up against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

According to the fixtures released by UEFA, Arsenal will welcome Madrid to the Emirates Stadium in what promises to be one of the standout encounters of the opening phase.

The Gunners, who were beaten by PSG on penalties in last season’s final, will also take on Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Sabah and Slavia Prague.

Manchester City will entertain PSG at the Etihad Stadium and make the trip to Barcelona for a meeting with their former midfielder Rodri, who moved to the Catalan giants this summer.

Pep Guardiola’s side will also play Napoli, Sporting Club, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens.

Aston Villa, who are returning to the Champions League following a one-season absence, have been drawn to host PSG and Borussia Dortmund. They will also travel to Barcelona and Galatasaray.

Unai Emery’s men will complete their league-phase schedule against Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague.

Manchester United, back in the competition after missing the tournament for two years, will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting Club, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como.

Liverpool have been paired with Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at home, while their away fixtures will be against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.

The league phase is set to commence on September 8, 2026, with the final round of matches scheduled for January 27, 2027.

The Champions League final is billed for June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

News August 27, 2026 Tinubu orders sweeping reform of Nigerian football after NFF leadership shake-up

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Sports Commission (NSC) to commence a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football following the recent leadership crisis at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The directive, announced on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at addressing the country’s repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu attributed the declining fortunes of Nigerian football to what he described as “structural weaknesses within the system”, noting that other sports had made significant progress since the sports sector was repositioned under the re-established NSC.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” Tinubu said.

The President added: “Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system.”

Tinubu has consequently tasked Shehu Dikko, chairman of the NSC, with working alongside the NFF secretariat to coordinate a broad-based and consultative reform process.

The President also stressed the need for the reform process to include appropriate consultations with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), particularly to prevent Nigeria from facing sanctions over perceived government interference in football administration.

The directive came shortly after Ibrahim Gusau announced his resignation as NFF president, while the federation’s general secretary, Muhammad Sanusi, also vacated his position.

The changes followed a difficult period for Nigerian football under the outgoing administration. The senior men’s and women’s national teams failed to secure places at their respective World Cups, while the country’s age-grade teams also suffered setbacks.

The Super Falcons missed the Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1991, while the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite Africa having an expanded allocation of 10 places.

Nigeria’s U-17 and U-20 men’s teams equally failed to qualify for their respective World Cup competitions.

Gusau, who became NFF president in 2022, was originally expected to remain in office until next month, with an elective congress scheduled for September 27.

However, the future of the proposed congress has become uncertain amid reports that a normalisation committee could be appointed to manage the affairs of the federation.

The development followed reported pressure on the NFF leadership from senior government officials, including officials within the NSC and the presidency, amid growing concerns over the state of Nigerian football.

News August 27, 2026 Nigerian government unveils new alcohol policy

The Federal Government has introduced a new national policy and implementation framework aimed at regulating the production, distribution, marketing and consumption of alcohol in Nigeria over the next five years.

The Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030 were unveiled on Thursday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Daju Kachollom, said the policy was designed to strike a balance between the economic benefits of the alcohol industry and the need to safeguard public health.

Pate noted that legitimate alcohol-producing businesses contributed to employment, livelihoods and economic activities across different sectors.

However, he warned that harmful alcohol consumption, alongside the spread of illicit and poorly regulated products, continued to create serious health and socioeconomic challenges for individuals, families and communities.

He listed some of the consequences as non-communicable diseases, road crashes, interpersonal and gender-based violence, mental health problems, loss of household income and declining productivity.

According to the minister, the new policy provides a coordinated national framework for maximising the legitimate economic value of the alcohol industry while reducing alcohol-related harm.

“This approach is firmly aligned with the overarching goal of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare: to save lives, protect Nigerians from both physical and financial hardship, and produce health.

“The significance of the Nigeria Alcohol Policy lies precisely in its capacity to advance these objectives. Every preventable alcohol-related injury or death is a life that must be protected.

“Every household pushed into financial difficulty because of illness or injury is a burden we must seek to prevent,” Pate said.

He explained that the policy would be implemented through four major pillars: harm reduction and health promotion; industrial and economic development; multisectoral coordination and governance; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, research and learning.

The minister said the pillars would support preventive measures and public awareness campaigns, responsible business practices, stronger regulation and enforcement, as well as better access to alcohol screening, treatment and rehabilitation.

He added that the framework would promote the collection and application of reliable data to strengthen implementation while taking into account the social and economic conditions that influence people’s wellbeing.

Pate stressed that protecting public health should remain central to the implementation of the policy, calling for increased community-based education, responsible alcohol marketing and strict enforcement of age and access restrictions.

He also advocated the integration of alcohol screening, treatment and rehabilitation services into Nigeria’s healthcare system.

According to him, the policy is consistent with Nigeria’s commitments under Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 3, 8, 9 and 11.

He further said the framework aligned with relevant global and regional alcohol-control guidelines developed by the World Health Organization.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the policy formed part of Nigeria’s wider health and socioeconomic reform programme.

Adeyeye said the framework reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those focused on health and wellbeing, sustainable industrial development, and the creation of safe and resilient communities.

“The Nigerian Alcohol Policy presents a role of national strength needed to balance between the protection of public health, including societal well-being.

“It establishes the required guidance for the production, distribution, marketing, and consumption of alcohol within a regulated environment.

“It prioritises harm reduction, especially among young people in Nigeria, consumer safety and the interests of the relevant industry,” Adeyeye said.

She said NAFDAC would continue to support efforts to build a healthier and safer society through evidence-based regulation, monitoring and surveillance, improved food-control systems and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

“NAFDAC is already doing that. We signed an undertaking with manufacturers two weeks ago that there will no longer be alcohol in 200 Milligram or less than that.

“On this note, I wish to congratulate all stakeholders who played various significant roles in building the Nigerian Alcohol Policy and its multisectoral implementation plan, which is being launched today,” Adeyeye said.