News
13 hostages rescued during counter-terrorism operations: Military
The Nigerian Army says troops have rescued 13 hostages, intercepted 300 rounds of ammunition and killed a suspected kidnapper in separate operations nationwide.
The military operational update on Thursday covered significant occurrences between Wednesday and Thursday.
The report said the operations also disrupted illegal bunkering, recovered suspected illegally refined petroleum products, and intercepted a trailer carrying illegally mined ilmenite.
Under Operation MESA, it said the troops of 195 Battalion rescued 10 kidnapped victims and recovered the corpse of another victim in Elon/Ikakumo Forest, Akoko-Edo council area of Edo.
The report added that the rescued victims and recovered corpse were handed over to the police at Ibilolo Division for further action. Under Operation ENDURING PEACE, it said the troops of Sector 6 neutralised a suspected kidnapper at Angwan Boka, Riyom council area of Plateau.
According to the report, other suspected kidnappers fled following the engagement, while troops recovered a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle and six rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
“In another operation, troops responded to sporadic shootings by suspected kidnappers along the Jos-Makurdi road in Riyom. The intervention forced the criminals to abandon three abducted persons who sustained gunshot wounds, while the kidnappers fled with two other victims.
“The rescued victims were evacuated to the Primary Health Centre, Riyom, for medical attention, while efforts continued to rescue the two remaining abductees,” it said.
The report further revealed that troops of Sector 8 conducted a fighting patrol to Kogul village, Mangu council area, where they engaged suspected militias. It said the troops forced the suspected militias to withdraw, while one soldier sustained a gunshot wound and was evacuated to General Hospital, Mangu, for treatment.
According to the report, troops intercepted four cattle found grazing on farmland without a herder in Manja community, Mangu, while the cattle were taken into military custody for further action.
Under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the report said troops apprehended a suspected terrorist logistics supplier in Buruku town, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna. According to the report, the female suspect was apprehended with 300 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition concealed in her bag.
The suspect travelled from Zamfara to Lafia, where she allegedly received the ammunition for onward delivery to Birnin Gwari.
“Under Joint Task Force South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, troops of 6 Division Garrison arrested a suspected illegal bunkerer at Omoku, Rivers. The suspect was intercepted with a vehicle conveying eight 200-litre gallons containing substance suspected to be illegally refined automotive gas oil.
“In another operation, troops discovered three illegal refining sites in Okarki Forest, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers. The sites contained crude oil, suspected illegally refined AGO, reservoirs, ovens, pipes and other equipment used for illegal refining activities.
“The troops recovered about 320 litres of stolen crude oil in six sacks and 1,080 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO,” the report said.
It added that troops of 246 Battalion intercepted a trailer carrying illegally mined ilmenite along the Tuomo-Bomadi road in Bomadi council area of Delta. It said the trailer was subsequently moved to Headquarters Sector 1, JTF South South, for further action.
According to the report, the operation also recorded the recovery and burial of the corpse of a soldier who accidentally fell into the waters from a houseboat at Agoubiri, Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa, on Sunday.
“In another development, troops of 63 Brigade Garrison arrested three suspected impostors wearing woodland camouflage and carrying plastic rifles along Infant Jesus Road, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta.
“The suspects claimed to be artists filming comedy skits, while 63 Provost Company commenced an investigation into the source of the military kits. “The suspects are expected to be handed over to the police for further action,” it added.
(NAN)
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to spread geographically, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting cases across 61 health zones in six provinces.
The WHO disclosed this in its latest outbreak situation update issued on Thursday, saying the outbreak had expanded to Kayna Health Zone in North Kivu.
The affected provinces are Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo.
Transmission remains a concern
According to the latest WHO update, transmission patterns remain variable, with evidence of continued geographical expansion and sustained increases in cases across some affected health zones despite ongoing response efforts.
The agency said delayed detection remained a major concern, increasing the risk of further transmission within households, communities and healthcare facilities.
It said limited access to early treatment and difficulties in interrupting transmission were also contributing to the challenges faced by the response.
In addition, the WHO said these challenges required strengthened surveillance, rapid response measures and early treatment to help interrupt transmission.
As of 7 September, the DRC had recorded 6,757 confirmed Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus, including 3,267 deaths.
The figures represent a crude case fatality ratio of 48.3 per cent, according to the WHO.
Outbreak challenges
The latest development comes less than a month after the WHO described the outbreak as the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
At the time, 4,449 confirmed cases had been recorded across 53 health zones in five provinces.
The WHO had also warned that the outbreak was spreading faster than previous Ebola outbreaks at the same stage and was on course to potentially surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest recorded Ebola outbreak.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus.
READ ALSO: UK increases Ebola response funding to £78.7m
Unlike the Zaire species, which has caused several previous Ebola outbreaks and for which the Ervebo vaccine is used, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for Bundibugyo virus disease.
In August, the WHO said a high proportion of cases were being detected in communities rather than treatment centres and outside known contact lists, suggesting that some chains of transmission remained unidentified.
The agency had said response measures included contact tracing, treatment centres, safe burial teams, laboratories and community engagement activities.
The WHO said the continued geographical expansion of the outbreak highlights the need to strengthen surveillance and ensure early detection and treatment, particularly in affected communities and healthcare facilities.
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Nigerian striker Okiki Akinwande has earned a major opportunity to test himself in European top-flight football after completing a loan move to KFC Komárno in Slovakia from Czech side MFK Karviná.
The 19-year-old centre-forward has joined Komárno until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the Slovakian club confirming the arrival of the promising Nigerian attacker as part of their squad reinforcement.
Akinwande arrives in Slovakia after making a strong impression in the Czech youth system. The 1.92m striker scored nine goals in nine matches for Karviná’s youth side, underlining his finishing ability and providing the platform for his move into senior football.
He also made his senior debut for MFK Karviná B in the Czech third-tier MSFL, featuring in the 2025/26 campaign before making another appearance at the beginning of the current season. Official league records list him with four MSFL appearances and 154 minutes overall.
Now, Akinwande faces a significantly bigger challenge in the Niké Liga, Slovakia’s top division, where he will have the opportunity to compete against established professional teams.
His move to KFC Komárno is viewed as an important development step, allowing the Nigerian forward to gain valuable senior experience and adapt to the physical and tactical demands of first-team football.
Komárno, based in southern Slovakia, have strengthened their squad with young African talent ahead of the ongoing campaign, with Akinwande joining Ghanaian winger Emmanuel Oppong as the club’s latest additions.
For Akinwande, the loan represents a chance to turn his impressive youth-level scoring record into senior-level performances.
The Nigerian will now look to establish himself in Slovakia, compete for regular playing time and show that his goalscoring form in the Czech youth league can translate to the professional stage.
At 19, the striker has already taken an important step from academy football into senior European competition.
Nine goals in nine youth games earned him the opportunity — now Okiki Akinwande has Slovakia waiting.
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