The United States has launched strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours before the country votes in the mid-term elections.

US officials told several American news outlets that the strikes were defensive in nature and meant to protect US assets in the region.

The officials added that the strikes were also in response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) firing at a US aircraft.

The last confirmed US strikes on Iran were in September.

Trump previously said attacks would not resume until after the mid-terms.

On Saturday, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instructed the country’s military to respond to any threats, without geographical restrictions.

Khamenei also ordered an expansion of the list of potential American and Israeli targets.

At the time, Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, said Trump had yet to decide whether to launch new missiles on Iran but would prefer to resolve the conflict diplomatically.

Trump has been facing plunging poll numbers and pressure from within his party to end the war, which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.

Mohammad Ghalibaf, Iranian parliamentary speaker who is leading negotiations with the US, issued a fresh warning early Tuesday.

“The Iranian nation will not surrender to the enemy’s threats and military actions,” he said.

Ghalibaf added that Iran’s military and strategic response “will be unpredictable”.

At least 14 Islamic school students have been abducted in Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state.

Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident to journalists.

According to him, the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon.

Abiodun said the students were harvesting maize on a farm belonging to their teacher in Tungan-Bako village, when the gunmen attacked them.

The police spokesperson said, “On 31/10/2026 at about 12.30pm, suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village via Rafi LGA and abducted some persons working on the farm.

“The report further indicated that the abducted victims were about 14 students of an Islamiya helping their Mallam to harvest maize on the farm before the incident.

“However, joint security rescue efforts are ongoing; further developments will be communicated.”

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has kicked against a directive by the Central Bank of The Gambia ordering banks to sack non-Gambian employees.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the September 16 directive as deeply worrisome, saying it threatens the jobs of 57 Nigerian professionals.

Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement by NIDCOM spokesman Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) had given banks till December 31, 2026, to replace all non-Gambian staff with Gambians.

NIDCOM said the affected Nigerians work with four Nigerian-owned banks and hold valid residency and work permits.

The Commission noted that the four banks are major players in the Gambian economy, controlling 37.2 per cent of total deposits valued at GMD35.3 billion, 32.6 per cent of loans amounting to GMD7.67 billion and 37 per cent of industry assets worth GMD44.78 billion.

The banks, it added, also account for 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds and provided 90 per cent of funding for the National Water and Electricity Company, NAWEC.

While acknowledging The Gambia’s right to promote local employment, Dabiri-Erewa said such policy must respect existing contracts, valid work permits and ECOWAS protocols on free movement.

She said, “It is contradictory to encourage African investment and regional cooperation while displacing qualified African professionals.”

NIDCOM urged the apex bank to reverse the blanket directive and engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul and other stakeholders for an amicable resolution.

It also called on Gambian authorities to uphold the spirit of ECOWAS integration and the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and The Gambia.