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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that nine people died and seven others were injured in a road accident along the Maiduguri–Damaturu road on Friday.

Usman Muhammad, the Borno State Sector Commander of the FRSC, made this known in a statement released in Maiduguri.

He said the crash involved a Toyota Hummer bus belonging to Borno Express and a commercial trailer.

“Eight people died at the scene, while one more died later at the Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri,” Muhammad said.

He explained that the dead included five men, one woman, two boys, and one girl. The seven injured victims are receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital.

The FRSC boss sent condolences to the families of the victims and said investigations are ongoing to find out what caused the accident.

He also advised drivers to always be careful and obey road rules to avoid such tragedies.

Four young men have drowned in a blocked waterway at Zangon Kaya in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. The incident happened on Friday, 18th July 2025. It all started when two of the victims entered the water to swim but got trapped.

A third person attempted to rescue them and also got trapped, followed by the fourth who went in to help but also got trapped inside the waterway.

According to the Kano State Fire Service, residents managed to recover two of the victims before the arrival of the rescue team, while the fire service recovered the remaining two.

All four were found unconscious and later confirmed dead. They have been identified as Nasirudden Tasi’u, 25, Bashir Sani, 28, Yakubu Muhd, 22, and Usman Ubale, 26.

The bodies of the victims have been handed over to the police for further investigation. The Kano State Fire Service stated that the incident was caused by swimming in a blocked waterway that had accumulated water due to ongoing railway construction in the area.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, confirmed the incident and advised residents to avoid unsafe swimming activities to prevent future occurrences.

The Ukpiam community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State came under heavy attack on Thursday evening, reportedly by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen.

Eyewitnesses say the assailants invaded the village, firing sporadically and triggering panic among residents.

A villager, speaking from hiding via telephone, recounted the terrifying scene as people fled in different directions to escape the gunfire.

“At some point, the shooting stopped, but I don’t know what is happening now. I’m still hiding,” he said, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.

As of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether there were any casualties or the extent of damage inflicted on the community.

Residents with relatives in Ukpiam or nearby areas are urged to contact them immediately to verify their safety.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

At least several people have been killed, many injured, and others abducted in a fresh bandit attack on Hurya village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident occurred on Thursday night when the attackers stormed the village and opened fire on residents.

According to a post on Friday by security analyst, Bakatsine via X, the victims were attacked in their homes, and multiple women were taken away.

“Last night, bandits attacked Hurya village in Kankara LGA, Katsina State, shooting sporadically.

“They killed some people, injured many others, and abducted several people, including seven housewives,” the post read.

Kebbi State Police Command has arrested ten suspects allegedly involved in the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in Tungar Giwa, Shanga Local Government Area of the state.

The incident, which occurred in February, involved multiple men said to have taken turns sexually assaulting the minor in various locations.

The arrests followed a directive issued by the state command on Wednesday, July 16, for the Divisional Police Officer in Shanga to apprehend and transfer the suspects to the State Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi for further investigation.

The case has drawn widespread condemnation from residents and rights groups, with many demanding swift prosecution of the suspects.

The Kebbi State Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence, TWG-GBV, led by the state’s First Lady, Zainab Nasare Idris, commended the police for their prompt action.

In a statement, the TWG Secretary, Nasiru Idris, urged authorities to ensure impartial prosecution and warned against interference in the matter.

The group also called on the public to report abuse cases and avoid shielding perpetrators under any guise.

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has stopped new signing Noni Madueke from joining the squad for their preseason tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

Madueke was officially unveiled by the Gunners on Friday, after completing a £52million move from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old was eager to cut short his post-Club World Cup vacation to begin preparations for next season.

But Arteta has advised him to get some rest and be refreshed mentally.

Madueke is now expected to take a two-week holiday, during which he will have access to one of Arsenal’s strength and conditioning coaches.

The England international has signed a five-year contract and will wear the no.20 shirt at the Emirates.

The naira bounced back to appreciate against the dollar across official and parallel foreign exchange markets to end the week on a good note after days of depreciation.

This comes as Nigeria’s presidency said naira harmonisation has been achieved under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate data showed that the naira strengthened slightly to N1,532.34 on Friday from N1,533.11 traded on Thursday.

This showed that the naira at the official market recorded a marginal gain of N0.77 to the dollar on a day-to-day basis.

Similarly, at the black market, the naira firmed up to N1,535 per dollar on Friday.

The uptrend comes after two days of consecutive depreciation of the naira at the official market, but the currency had remained stable at the parallel market.

It was reported that the gap between the official and black markets has closed at the currency market.

Reacting, a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the Naira harmonisation has been achieved under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“Harmonisation of exchange rate achieved. Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan. It is real,” he wrote on X

Operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have stopped a planned rally by supporters of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the state.

The police also warned that they would take necessary legal action against any individual or group found violating the order.

It was gathered that the rally was billed to be held in honour of Obi’s birthday celebration.

The police, while stating the reason for banning the rally, said that intelligence information at their disposal disclosed that certain criminal elements are planning to infiltrate and hijack the proposed rally, using it as a platform to cause disruption, incite violence, and disturb the prevailing public peace in the state.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement, said all forms of political rallies and public gatherings of a political nature in Kaduna State remain suspended across the state until the official commencement date of political activities as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“While the primary elections by political parties are scheduled by INEC to hold on the same date the Obi supporters planned for their rally, the Kaduna Police Command notes that the rally will overlap and disrupt several areas designated for the conduct of other parties’ primaries, thereby posing a significant risk of tension, clashes, and breakdown of law and order in the state.

“The Kaduna State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding the lives and property of all residents and will not hesitate to take necessary legal action against any individual or group found violating this directive,” the statement said.

The Command urged organisers of the planned Peter Obi rally to suspend any gathering or procession to ensure public safety and prevent potential hijacking by miscreants.