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Bola Ahmed Tinubu Meets Plateau Stakeholders Behind Closed Doors

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resident Bola Tinubu on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with a delegation of Plateau State stakeholders led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation arrived at the Villa at about 1:00 p.m. for the meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

The discussions lasted several hours, though details of the deliberations were not made public.

The meeting is understood to be a follow-up to the President’s recent visit to Plateau State in the aftermath of the deadly Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos.

The closed-door session comes approximately four weeks after the March 29 attack, when gunmen opened fire at a busy junction in Jos, killing at least 28 people, including university students and staff, and injuring 22 others.

The incident triggered widespread fear and heightened security concerns across the state, with sporadic violence reported in areas surrounding the University of Jos.

In response to the deteriorating security situation at the time, authorities ordered the evacuation and temporary closure of the university, while additional security personnel were deployed to restore order and prevent further escalation.

President Tinubu subsequently visited Jos on April 2, where he met with government officials, traditional rulers, and families of victims.

Governor Mutfwang, during the President’s visit, indicated that stakeholders would need sufficient time to adequately brief him on the situation—a request Tinubu granted on the spot.

During the visit, Tinubu expressed condolences and assured residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the state.

He also called for decisive action against those responsible for the attack, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.

As part of measures to strengthen security nationwide, the President announced plans for the deployment of about 5,000 surveillance cameras to enhance monitoring and support law enforcement operations. The Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the initiative.

President Tinubu, Governor Mutfwang and the APC Chairman during the President’s visit to Jos

 

Governor Mutfwang had described the attack as a temporary setback, expressing optimism that Plateau State would recover and continue its trajectory towards peace, tourism, and stability.

He also commended security agencies for their response efforts.

Despite these assurances, residents have continued to call for sustained and comprehensive security measures to guarantee long-term safety across affected communities.

Tension remained high following a series of deadly attacks and rising casualties across several communities in March and early April.

In the aftermath, the death toll from the Angwan Rukuba attack in Jos North later rose to 33, as some victims died in the hospital. The Plateau State Government confirmed the updated figure and vowed to investigate the motive behind the killings while assuring residents that efforts were underway to restore peace.

Authorities also released three youths earlier arrested in connection with the incident, following protests that disrupted funeral proceedings. The demonstrations, led by residents and youths, reflected growing frustration over repeated attacks and alleged injustice in arrests.

 

The protesters accused the military of unlawfully arresting the three youths.

 

Violence continued in multiple areas, including Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Kanam, where fresh attacks in April left several more people dead, including entire families and a pastor’s household.

Security forces reported some operational successes, including the killing of 10 suspected terrorists and the recovery of weapons in coordinated operations.

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Court Arraigns Journalist In Benue

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A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.

 

The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.

The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.

He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.

Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.

One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.

The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.

According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.

On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.

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64 Dead, 80 Injured As Two High-Speed Trains Collide

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At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade.

 

The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency crews continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved, according to a regional government spokesperson.

The BBC reports that the collision of the two trains involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by the broadcaster showed parts of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.

The cause of the collision had not been officially confirmed. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.

The scale of the disaster prompted a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue teams and police officers. At least 80 people were reported injured, with about 50 believed to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.

Several victims were transported to hospitals in nearby areas, while others were taken to Madrid for treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended planned surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.

Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations to meet a possible surge in demand.

Survivors described scenes of panic and severe destruction. One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he felt a powerful impact that threw him into the seats ahead. He said injured passengers had broken noses and arms, while smoke spread through the carriages.

Another passenger, Iñaki, told El País that the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping, he saw injured people and bodies around the wreckage.

BBC Verify also examined images and videos appearing to show a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.

The disaster has revived concerns about railway safety in Spain, which suffered another deadly high-speed rail accident near Córdoba in which 46 people died. The country’s previous worst rail disaster occurred in July 2013, when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was shocked by the crash and remained in contact with the transport minister. The Spanish royal family also expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and praised emergency workers.

Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches in solidarity with the victims, while most political parties suspended campaign activities.

Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.

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Police Arrest Suspected Eiye Cultist, Recover Two Pistols, Cartridges In Ogun

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in the Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of the state.

 

The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested in the Ore area of Atan on October 26, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota.

The Police Spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.

According to Babaseyi, a search of the suspect’s residence after his arrest led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges.

He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

Babaseyi said information obtained from the suspect led to a follow-up operation at about 6.30 a.m. on October 27, 2026 during which operatives recovered a second locally made pistol and a battle axe from a separate location.

The recovered items have been secured as exhibits, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the activities and recover additional weapons.

The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the SWAT operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of intelligence.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, curbing cult-related activities and tackling the illegal possession of firearms across the state.

He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspected criminal activities, assuring them that the Command would act on actionable intelligence to protect lives and property and maintain public safety.

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