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The Gombe State Police Command has arrested two persons suspected to be part of a motorcycle theft syndicate operating across state lines.

The arrests were made following a well-coordinated raid by security operatives, leading to the recovery of three stolen motorcycles in different parts of Akko Local Government Area.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that the operation was triggered by a vital tip from a concerned citizen.

“On July 7, 2025, at about 12:00hrs, operatives of Operation Hattara led by CSP Ali Madawaki acted on credible intelligence received from a Good Samaritan,” Abdullahi stated.

According to the police, the team stormed a suspected criminal hideout at Tudun Hayin Kwarai, Misau, within Akko LGA, where two suspects were arrested.

They were identified as Misba’u Adamu, 25, from Alkaleri LGA in Bauchi State, and Adamu Ibrahim, 28, from Garko LGA in Kano State.

The duo reportedly confessed to burgling the home of one Mohammed Usman in Hayin Kwarin-Misau during the early hours of July 6, stealing two motorcycles in the process.

“They admitted to stealing two motorcycles, a Qlink Cassie with registration number ABC 484 WN, and a Hero Hunter with registration number GME 36 QL,” Abdullahi said. “The total value of the stolen items is estimated at ₦1.8 million.”

Investigators traced the stolen motorcycles to the premises of one Babangida (surname yet to be identified), where the bikes were hidden.

While the suspects remain in custody, police say efforts are ongoing to arrest the gang’s leader and other accomplices still on the run. They will face charges in court once investigations are concluded.

In a separate incident, another motorcycle was recovered by police officers during a routine night patrol in the Wuro Birji area of Akko LGA.

“At about 1:00am on the same day, a patrol team sighted an individual riding a black Jincheng Kasea motorcycle with registration number DKU 099 UK.

“The suspect, upon spotting the team, abandoned the motorcycle and fled,” Abdullahi said.

Although the fleeing suspect managed to evade arrest, the motorcycle is now in police custody. Authorities are working to identify the suspect and reunite the recovered bike with its rightful owner.

Abdullahi encouraged residents to continue supporting security efforts by reporting any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.

“The Gombe State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property. We call on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities in their communities,” he added.

The naira recorded an appreciation against the United States dollar across both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.

According to official data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the naira strengthened slightly to N1,528.33 on Monday, compared to N1,528.56 recorded on Friday last week.

This reflects a marginal gain of N0.23 at the official market, signalling a modest but positive movement in the currency’s value.

Similarly, in the parallel market, commonly referred to as the black market, the naira appreciated significantly, rising by N20 to exchange at N1,550 per dollar on Monday, from N1,570 on Friday.

Report has it that this upward movement in the naira’s exchange rate on Monday follows its decline across both markets at the close of trading last week.

Dangote Refinery’s retail partner, MRS Filling Station, has reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to N905 per litre from the previous N945, as part of efforts to remain competitive with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and other major petroleum marketers in the country.

According to findings, the revised price took effect from Sunday, July 6, 2025, at MRS outlets located in Kubwa and along the Lugbe Expressway in Abuja. This adjustment follows an official announcement made by MRS via its X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, indicating a downward review of petrol prices. The move came just days after Dangote Refinery reduced its fuel ex-depot price from N880 to N840 per litre, prompting reactions from downstream marketers seeking to maintain price competitiveness and customer loyalty.

As a result, MRS revised its petrol prices across its retail locations nationwide. In Lagos, petrol is now being dispensed at N885 per litre, while in the South-West region, the price stands at N895 per litre. In the South-East, the product is sold at N915 per litre. Meanwhile, NNPCL also implemented a similar price cut, adjusting its petrol price in Abuja to N910 per litre from the previous N945 over the weekend.

These pricing changes mean that Nigerians residing in Lagos and Abuja now have access to relatively more affordable petrol, with prices ranging between N885 and N910 per litre at MRS and NNPCL outlets respectively. However, as of Monday night, several other petrol marketers in Abuja continued to dispense the product at between N940 and N945 per litre, indicating that market-wide adjustments are yet to fully take effect.

Iran’s government has released a revised death toll from its recent conflict with Israel, acknowledging that at least 1,060 people were killed and cautioning that the number could still increase.

The updated figure was disclosed by Saeed Ohadi, head of Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, during an interview aired on Iranian state television late Monday.

“We may see the death toll reach 1,100 given the severity of injuries sustained by some of the wounded,” Ohadi said.

The conflict, which lasted 12 days, saw widespread Israeli bombardments across Iran. During the fighting, Iranian authorities played down the extent of the damage, even as key air defense systems, military installations, and parts of the country’s nuclear infrastructure came under heavy attack.

However, in the weeks since the ceasefire took hold, Iran has gradually begun to acknowledge the extent of the devastation, though it remains tight-lipped on the scale of military hardware losses.

Meanwhile, the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group has provided its own casualty assessment, reporting 1,190 deaths in total.

That number includes 436 civilians and 435 members of Iran’s security forces. The group also said more than 4,475 people were wounded during the conflict.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has announced a blackout in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The Disco disclosed this in a notice on its X account on Tuesday.

Areas affected by the outage are Independent National Electoral Commission Quarters, Adamu Alero, Babagana Kinigbe, Nasir and environs, and Asokoro.

It attributed the outage to a technical fault.

“Dear valued customers in INEC Quarters, Adamu Alero, Babagana Kinigbe, Nasir El-Rufai and environs, Asokoro. We regret to inform you that the ongoing power outage affecting your area is due to a technical fault.

“Our technical team is working tirelessly to restore power supply as quickly as possible,” AEDC stated.

This comes as the Disco earlier announced the extension of the outage in parts of Abuja from June 30th to July 31st, between 10:00 am and 4:00 am daily.

The company said this was due to ongoing construction of the dedicated 33-kilovolt feeder to the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

This time, areas affected are Apo Mechanics, Waru, Apo Primary, Lokogoma, Kabusa, Galadimawa, Trademore Estate, CBN Quarters, El-Rufai Estate, Metro City, Brains & Hammers (behind Shoprite), Sunny Vale Estate, Pleasant Estate, NMA Estate, Yayale Estate, Super Cell Estate, Gudu, and Abuja Investment Estate.

Meanwhile, other areas in the nation’s capital have power supply.

The Israeli military has issued a fresh evacuation directive for Palestinians in the Khan Younis region of southern Gaza, signaling an expansion of its ongoing military operations in the area.

The announcement was made by Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israel Defense Forces’ Arabic-language spokesperson, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“Due to terror activities in the area, the IDF with its maneuvering troops and intensive firepower is expanding actions in your area,” Adraee said.

Residents were advised to move westward, as Israeli forces tighten their presence and increase military pressure in the zone.

The order marks a continued escalation of efforts by the IDF to clear areas of Hamas fighters, following previous rounds of operations in Gaza’s southern corridor.

Ondo State medical doctors, under the aegis of the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP, have declared a three-day warning strike starting from Monday, July 14, 2025.

The strike is in response to what they described as ‘gross neglect of the health sector and the welfare of medical professionals by the Ondo State Government.

This was contained in a statement by the chairman of the state chapter of NAGGMDP, Richard Obe, and the secretary, Adekunle Owolabi.

The statement highlighted the grievances to include shortage of medical personnel, with some general hospitals operating with just one doctor per entire local government area.

The doctors also condemned a sudden increase in taxation from April 2025 without prior consultation.

“Non-payment of salaries and allowances to eight newly recruited doctors employed since October 2024.

“Unpaid hazard allowances for October to December 2023 and January 2024.

“Outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024.

“Salary shortfalls and unpaid allowances for other members,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the doctors are demanding immediate action from the state government to address the issues.

They warned that failure to address the demands during the warning strike would result in an indefinite industrial action, with widespread consequences for the state’s already fragile health system.

The NAGGMDP assured members of the public of their commitment to healthcare delivery, emphasizing that they can no longer continue to work under such difficult conditions.

It also noted that it had earlier issued a 14-working-day ultimatum to the state government, which expired on July 1, 2025.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said it presented 35 compressed natural gas buses to the federal government-backed Presidential Initiative on CNG on Monday.

The state-owned oil firm disclosed this in a statement on Monday through its X account.

According to NNPCL, the presentation ceremony occurred at its headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The firm noted that the move is aimed at deepening gas utilisation and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, more affordable energy for transportation.

“Earlier today, Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, presented 35 CNG-powered buses to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

“The buses were received by Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, CEO of Pi-CNG, in a ceremony that demonstrates NNPC Ltd.’s strategic commitment to deepening gas utilisation and supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, more affordable energy for transportation.

“This milestone reflects a bold step towards reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint, enhancing energy security, and providing long-term socio-economic benefits for Nigerians.

“Through partnerships like this, NNPC Ltd. continues to lead the charge in accelerating the national gas expansion programme and powering the future with sustainable solutions,” NNPCL stated.