By:Tajudeen Aminat

The Lagos State Police Command, under the leadership of CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, has intensified its crackdown on cultism and violent crime across the state, recording major breakthroughs through coordinated raids in Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Okoko, Ilasan, Ogba, and Iju.

The operations led to the arrest of 23 suspected cultists and the recovery of five firearms, along with other incriminating items.

In Ikorodu, four suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence linking them to cult-related activities, with preliminary findings suggesting ties to the Buccaneers Confraternity (Sea Lords).

On Lagos Island, nine suspects were picked up from a criminal hideout during a coordinated raid. In Ilasan, five suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of Emmanuel Obioson.

In Okoko, one suspect allegedly connected to the Eiye Confraternity was arrested with a firearm in his possession.

In Ogba and Iju, four suspects were arrested for involvement in illegal cult gatherings, assault, and other violent crimes. Weapons used in the attacks were recovered, while victims are currently receiving medical treatment.

The suspects include: Shina Wale (36), Kehinde Kareem (18), Mohammed Aileru (18), Bada Mujeeb (18), Salam Kosoko (30), Yusuf Anjorin (19), Quadri Abubakar (21), Lateef Salako (18), Fawaz Bello (30), Oyesola Olalekan (36), Ubaka Justice (36), Emmanuel Obekpa (36), Sodiq Ademola (36), Balogun Taofeek (33), Azeez Owolabi (28), Meshack Obini (24), Fabulous John (25), Promise Israel (28), Bright Aniedi (27), Familola Fikayo David (24), Akeem Olamilekan (43), Muiz Oyedele (20), and Hamzat Sadiq (19).

Recovered exhibits include five locally made pistols, one toy pistol, 15 live cartridges, three expended cartridges, a police camouflage face cap, an army camouflage face cap, and a jack knife with pouch.

The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating cultism and violent crime in Lagos State, urging residents to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information through emergency lines: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929.

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The post ARREST OF 23 CULTISTS, RECOVERY OF 5 FIREARMS IN STATEWIDE CRACKDOWN appeared first on Hotjist.

By ‘Sefiu Ajape

Airtel Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data credit services, which previously allowed eligible prepaid customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.

In a statement on Friday, the Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, said the decision is part of ongoing adjustments aimed at aligning its operations with evolving regulatory and operational requirements in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

Despite the suspension, Airtel Nigeria assured customers that they will continue to have uninterrupted access to standard airtime and data purchases through existing channels.

According to the company, the pause in the credit service is not expected to affect overall service quality or network performance across the country.

Commenting on the development, Airtel Nigeria’s Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, described the move as necessary and responsible.

“This is a necessary and responsible step as we align our operations with evolving requirements. Airtel Nigeria remains committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and consumer protection, while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” he said.

The telecom operator added that updates on the status of the suspended service will be communicated to customers in due course.

The development comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of digital lending and credit-based services in Nigeria’s telecom sector, as operators adjust to new compliance expectations.

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The post AIRTEL SUSPENDS AIRTIME, DATA BORROWING SERVICES AS TELECOM REGULATIONS TIGHTEN IN NIGERIA appeared first on Hotjist.

By:Tajudeen Aminat

Domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria may begin shutting down services from April 20 following a sharp rise in aviation fuel (Jet A1) to about N3,000 per litre.

Tunji Oyebanji, Chief Executive of Energy Advisory and former Chairman of Mobil Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He warned that at least one airline may have already suspended operations, as operators struggle with the rising fuel cost, which they describe as unsustainable.

According to him, the situation is driven by both local supply conditions and tightening global markets linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran and the United States and Israel.

He said airlines are threatening to halt operations from April 20 due to the high cost of Jet A1, adding that one carrier may already have shut down services.

Oyebanji further explained that most aviation fuel marketers in Nigeria currently rely on local refinery supply, which has become a key player in the domestic market.

However, he noted that unlike international carriers that operate under long-term supply contracts, local airlines mainly purchase fuel on a spot basis at airport tarmacs or depots, leaving them more exposed to price fluctuations.

He explained that while spot purchases can sometimes be cheaper when supply is abundant, prices rise sharply during shortages. In contrast, international airlines benefit from long-term contracts that help stabilize costs even when market prices increase.

Oyebanji added that the lack of hedging mechanisms further exposes domestic carriers to sudden market shocks, while foreign airlines are better insulated due to structured supply arrangements.

He also pointed out financial pressures in the sector, noting that aviation fuel transactions in Nigeria carry high credit risks for oil marketing companies, which has led many suppliers to demand cash payments.

According to him, this creates additional strain on airlines’ working capital.

Beyond pricing and supply issues, he urged airlines to review their business practices, alleging that some operators significantly increase ticket prices during peak travel seasons.

He also linked the situation to global supply challenges, saying Jet A1 availability has dropped due to disruptions in Middle Eastern refining output amid ongoing conflict, which has driven up international demand.

He noted that in the United Kingdom, several airlines have reduced flight operations due to fuel shortages.

Oyebanji further stated that increased exports from the Dangote Refinery to meet global demand have raised concerns about possible impacts on domestic supply.

He warned that without urgent intervention, Nigeria’s aviation sector could face a deeper crisis driven by fuel scarcity and rising costs.

The MEDIA  reports that the Iran–US–Israel conflict, which escalated on February 28, 2026, has disrupted global markets, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and contributing to rising petroleum product costs worldwide.

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The post JET A1 REACHES N3,000/LITRE: AIRLINES THREATEN SHUTDOWN IN NIGERIA appeared first on Hotjist.

By ‘Sefiu Ajape

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a building displaying the “Renewed Hope” signpost and banner belongs to its Rivers State office.

In a statement issued by the Administrative Secretary in Rivers State, Dr. (Mrs.) Angela I. Ebhodaghe, the Commission described the report as false and misleading, insisting that the building in question is not part of its premises.

“Our attention has been drawn to a report circulating in the social media alleging that the picture of a building hosting the signpost and banner of the Renewed Hope Movement is INEC Rivers State’s office.

“This is both false and misleading and the Commission categorically rejects these claims,” the statement read.

INEC clarified that the building does not belong to the Commission and that none of its offices bear such political signages.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the said building does not belong to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Rivers State, neither does our office have such signages on any part of its premises,” it added.

The Commission explained that the confusion may have arisen from the proximity of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), which shares a boundary with the building referenced in the viral claim.

“It is clear that the generators of the false information confused the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), which shares a fence with the said building with our office,” the statement noted.

INEC warned against the spread of unverified information, stressing its potential to undermine public trust and national unity.

“The spread of false information is harmful to national unity and public trust. We therefore urge members of the public to verify claims through credible and official channels before sharing or publishing them.”

Reaffirming its neutrality, the Commission stated that it remains committed to its mandate as an independent electoral body.

“As an umpire, INEC remains neutral and will continue to uphold its mandate as an independent body,” the statement added.

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The post INEC DEBUNKS ‘RENEWED HOPE’ SIGNAGE CLAIMS, SAYS BUILDING NOT ITS RIVERS OFFICE appeared first on Hotjist.

By:Tajudeen Aminat

Celebrity Nigerian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Linus Williams Ifejirika, popularly known as Blord, has been granted bail after spending weeks in Kuje Prison over alleged impersonation of social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan.

Activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore disclosed this in a brief statement on his official Facebook page on Friday.

He stated that Blord was released on bail on his own recognizance following his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He said the court, however, ordered Blord to submit his international passport as part of the bail conditions.

In his statement, he wrote: “Bail has been granted to Linus Williams, popularly known as @mrblordofficial BLORD, on self-recognizance. The court, however, ordered that he deposit his international passport as part of the bail conditions.”

Recall that Blord was remanded in prison on April 1, 2026.

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The post COURT FREES BLORD ON BAIL OVER VERYDARKMAN CASE appeared first on Hotjist.

By ‘Sefiu Ajape

United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed another bird strike involving one of its aircraft, bringing the number of such incidents affecting its operations to three within 48 hours.

In a statement signed by the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, and issued on Friday, the airline disclosed that the latest incident involved its Embraer 190 aircraft during take-off from Benin City Airport en route to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The statement read, “United Nigeria Airlines regrets to inform our valued passengers and the general public of yet another bird strike on our Embraer 190 aircraft.

“The incident occurred during take-off of Flight UN0561 from Benin City Airport to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, scheduled for 16:20 hours on Thursday, 16 April 2026, and damaged the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) door linkage of the aircraft.”

The airline described the frequency of the incidents as alarming, noting that the development has further disrupted its operations.

It added, “This latest occurrence increases the number of aircraft grounded due to bird strikes to three (3) in less than 48 hours, marking the seventh such incident in 2026—an extremely concerning and unacceptable pattern given its impact on safety and operational reliability.”

According to the airline, the affected aircraft has been withdrawn from service in line with its safety procedures.

It stated, “Consistent with our strict and uncompromising safety standards, the aircraft has been immediately withdrawn from operations, as with previous incidents, to allow for detailed technical inspections and all necessary maintenance before returning to service.”

The airline clarified that it only reports bird strike incidents that result in aircraft being grounded.

It said, “While our operating aircraft have experienced multiple bird strike incidents, we report only those that have resulted in aircraft being grounded due to damage to part(s).”

United Nigeria Airlines also called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take urgent steps to address the recurring issue.

It urged, “We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimise the risk of such occurrences.”

Apologising to passengers affected by the disruptions, the airline appealed for understanding.

It said, “We sincerely apologise to our valued passengers for any inconvenience to their travel plans resulting from service disruptions caused by multiple bird strikes. We kindly ask for your understanding, as safety remains our highest priority. Our team is working diligently to minimise disruptions and provide support to all affected travellers.”

This development follows an earlier report within the last 48 hours, which noted that the airline had announced another bird strike involving one of its CRJ-900 aircraft, bringing the number of planes grounded due to similar incidents between January and April 2026 to six.

The airline also disclosed that the earlier incident involved an Airbus A320-200 operating Flight UN0515 from Port Harcourt, which was scheduled to land at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 3:45 pm, with the bird strike affecting the aircraft’s nose section, although all safety protocols were observed.

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The post UNITED NIGERIA AIRLINES RECORDS THIRD BIRD STRIKE IN 48 HOURS, GROUNDS AIRCRAFT appeared first on Hotjist.

By:Tajudeen Aminat

Rotimi Amaechi, a 2027 presidential hopeful and former governor of Rivers State, has expressed doubts about President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary held in 2022.

Amaechi, who contested the party’s ticket alongside Tinubu, made this known on Friday during an interview with Channels Television.

He stated that Tinubu’s ideology does not adequately reflect certain regional and religious interests, adding that society needs a more balanced approach.

He said that on the day it was announced that President Tinubu had won the APC primary, he told him he did not agree.

He explained that every society requires balance, stressing the need to protect all religious interests.

According to him, the current administration does not appear to adequately safeguard the interests of all religions in the country. He added that all regions and ethnic groups must feel a sense of belonging within the nation.

The MEDIA  reports that President Bola Tinubu ran the last election on a same-faith ticket, as both he and his vice president are Muslims.

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The post WHY I DIDN’T ACCEPT TINUBU’S APC PRIMARY WIN – AMAECHI appeared first on Hotjist.

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The post EPL: MAN CITY, ARSENAL SET FOR TITLE-DECIDING CLASH AS CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL FACE CRUCIAL TESTS appeared first on Hotjist.

Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, says Nigeria has no immediate plans to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.

Edun made this known at the African Finance Ministers’ briefing during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings on Thursday in Washington.

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The post NIGERIA HAS NO IMMEDIATE NEED FOR IMF SUPPORT- EDUN appeared first on Hotjist.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said that no amount of pressure or intimidation will stop him from doing his job.

Tinubu repeated his government‘s promise to continue with the reform plans, which he claimed are already helping Nigerians.

Speaking at the State House in Abuja during a meeting with the leaders and organizers of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a political group set up weeks ago to spread the government‘s message at the local level, Tinubu told critics and political rivals that he is the rightful person to take over from former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “Do they want to scare me?
That’s not true. I’ve been through this before, and if I have to go through it again and again, I’ll do it the same way.”

“There is no better place than your own country, and no one can build it except you.

“During the primaries that got me here, it was tough. During the election, it was tough. Now that I’m here, all I can promise is that I won’t give up.”

He told the ambassadors, drawn from across the country’s geopolitical zones, that he had made them a promise he intended to keep.

“Whatever you say I do, but one thing that you need from me is a promise that I won’t run away from this fight. With you, the deal is done,” he stated.

The President’s remarks came against the backdrop of sustained political pressure from opposition figures and a segment of civil society who have questioned the pace and equity of his administration’s reforms, with some calling for his resignation over the hardship.

On April 14, the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, a former ally, attacked the Tinubu administration, describing its Renewed Hope Agenda as a “classic scam.”

Speaking at the ADC National Convention in Abuja on Tuesday, the former Interior Minister called on the President to resign, citing worsening insecurity and economic hardship nationwide.

He said, “I didn’t have to look back, because the truth is, I took over from myself. The late Buhari is me. He was a partner.

“If I took over from him, is that not from myself? So if something is wrong, fine, live with it, correct it, move on.”

nubu, however, framed his reforms as necessary corrections inherited not from an adversary but from a partner, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also urged the ambassadors and Nigerians to respect the courts and the constitutional order.

“We cannot submit to disobedience of a lawful order of a court. We must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or not.

“We submit to this principle of democracy, separation of powers and the understanding of its dynamics, and the nationhood that Nigeria is. We must build one country,” said Tinubu.

He described the Renewed Hope mission in terms of a generational obligation, saying, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, to break the shackles of poverty and ignorance, to put freedom in the hearts of our people, to ensure democracy survives. Not the noise-making, not the rascality of a street convention.”

The Renewed Hope Ambassadors were formally inaugurated at a summit in Abuja on February 24.

At the summit, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said the initiative was designed to mobilise support networks at the state and local government levels for the Tinubu administration’s policy agenda and the APC ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.

Thursday’s meeting was a follow-up session bringing the leadership and zonal coordinators for talks with the President.

Tinubu told the gathering he had listened carefully to their reports and remained energised.

According to him, “I’m inspired, I’m ready. I’m grateful to all of you.”

Present at the meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, Uzodimma, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, among others.

HOTJIST NEWS

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The post I CAN’T BE SCARED OFF BY PRESSURE, TINUBU DARES OPPOSITION appeared first on Hotjist.