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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 17th August, 2025.
1. Security Forces Arrest Most Wanted Ansaru Leader, Abu Baraa
Nigeria’s security forces have arrested the most wanted leader of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abu Baraa, who allegedly masterminded several high-profile attacks in the country.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced during a special press briefing at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja on Saturday.
Ribadu, who was flanked by service chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies, revealed that security operatives had been trailing Baraa since May before he was eventually captured in July.
According to him, the arrest was a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism.
The NSA explained that Baraa’s trail became imperative due to the growing entrenchment of the Ansaru group within Nigeria.
2. INEC: I Remain Labour Party Chairman – Abure Insists, Blames Usman For Spreading ‘False News’
Factional Labour Party (LP) National Chairman, Julius Abure, has dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) no longer recognises him as the head of the party.
Abure, in a statement on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of his faction, Obiora Ifoh, blamed the Senator Nenadi Usman-led faction for misinterpreting the court order and deliberately spreading false narratives.
He claimed that the Federal High Court’s decisions of August 15, 2025, were allegedly misinterpreted to suit this narrative.
Abure also stated that the Usman-led faction is celebrating because they want the Labour Party to die.
The statement insisted that the Labour Party is intact under the leadership of Abure and urged INEC not to be a party to efforts by some people to preclude the LP from participating in future democratic processes.
He also insisted that the Supreme Court never said that Abure was not the National Chairman of the Labour Party nor made any pronouncement on the Convention, but only submitted that issues of leadership are internal affairs of the party.
3. Security Operatives Arrest Suspected Vote-Buyer With ₦25.9 Million In Kaduna
Security agencies in Kaduna have arrested a suspected vote-buyer with over ₦25.9 million cash allegedly meant to compromise Saturday’s bye-elections in the state.
The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday at a popular hotel along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis.
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), working in collaboration with other security agencies.
The spokesman of the Kaduna Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.
According to him, a total of ₦25,963,000 was recovered from the suspect, which was believed to be earmarked for inducing voters in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency election.
Hassan said the suspect confessed during interrogation that the money was intended for bribing eligible voters, adding that he pleaded for leniency.
The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, commended the synergy among security agencies, stressing that anyone caught attempting to undermine the electoral process would face the full weight of the law.
4. By-Election: PDP Alleges Abduction Of Candidate, 25 Supporters By Security Operatives
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has claimed that security operatives abducted its House of Representatives candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 supporters.
The state PDP Chairman, Sir Edward Percy Masha, disclosed this while addressing the press on Saturday.
Masha alleged that a joint security network carried out the operation.
According to him, the security personnel stormed the hotel in Malali in a bid to arrest the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero, but when they could not find him, they allegedly whisked away Dawaki and others.
“The PDP condemns this brazen act of harassment, intimidation, and insanity by the APC and demands the immediate and unconditional release of its candidate and all others being held hostage,” Masha told journalists.
He further called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS Director-General, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff to intervene and halt what he described as an “egregious abuse of power.”
The PDP chairman urged civil society organisations, democracy advocates, and citizens to resist any attempt to intimidate voters or compromise the electoral process in the affected constituencies.
Masha said the ruling APC resorted to intimidation because it fears electoral defeat.
5. APC Chieftain, Sani Shinkafi Survives Assassination Attempt
A former governorship candidate of Zamfara State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, escaped an assassination attempt on Friday in Abuja.
He disclosed that the incident occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers on August 15.
According to the APC stalwart, masked, heavily armed gunmen dressed in black blocked his vehicle and attacked him before they fled the scene in a black, unmarked Prado Jeep.
Speaking via a statement, Shinkafi called the attack an “unprovoked attempt” on his life. He further alludes it’s related to his vocal critique of the insecurity in Zamfara State and other national issues.
“I will not be deterred by intimidation or harassment in the quest for national security, peace, unity, and social development,” Shinkafi emphasised.
He also stated that prior to this attack, there were also multiple threat calls received in his Abuja residence that he also believes were in connection with this attempt. He called on the Inspector General of Police and the DSS to investigate and punish the perpetrators and their sponsors.
6. LP Crisis: You Are The Losers! – Abure Faction Blasts Peter Obi, Alex Otti After INEC Withdraws Recognition
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has stated that the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, are the losers in the leadership crisis in the party.
The factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, stated this on Saturday while reacting to a court ruling on Saturday’s by-elections.
The faction expressed surprise at Interim National Chairman Nenadi Usman and her camp jubilating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn recognition from Julius Abure following a Federal High Court decision on August 15, 2025.
Ifoh argued that Usman and her cohorts were manipulating the opposition.
He wondered if they were celebrating because they wanted the LP to die.
7. CAC Accepts Fatoyinbo’s Apology Over Comments On Apostle Babalola
The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, following backlash over his remarks about the church’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.
Fatoyinbo had stirred controversy during a sermon praising Babalola’s anointing but questioning his material wealth and legacy.
“He was anointed. So anointed. Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So, all the grace just went like that,” the COZA pastor said, while also asking, “Where are his children?”
The comments drew criticism from CAC, which in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, described Fatoyinbo’s views as biblically flawed.
“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses, Luke 12:15,” the church stated.
Apostle Babalola’s first daughter, Deaconess Eunice Ogini, also dismissed Fatoyinbo’s claims, insisting her father left a strong spiritual and family legacy. She maintained that she and her siblings lived comfortable lives shaped by his values of service and generosity.
Amid mounting reactions, Fatoyinbo issued an apology on Thursday, August 14, stressing that he meant no disrespect to Babalola or his children.
“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted. I apologise if any statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates,” he said.
In an interview with Punch, Alawode said the apology was received in good faith.
“He realised that the statement he made evoked some feelings in some people, and he took steps to correct himself. That is what is needed; it means he has shown remorse,” he noted.
Alawode clarified that CAC’s response was not to accuse Fatoyinbo of malice but to correct any misconceptions.
8. ‘I’m A Married Man’ – Govt Aide Reveals Why He Offered Comfort ₦500,000 Job As Lawyer Files ₦500 Billion Suit
The Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Media, Success Ossai, explained why he offered a ₦500,000 monthly salary job to Comfort Emmason.
Naija News recalls that Emmason was on August 10th, removed from a flight from Lagos to Uyo after allegedly refusing to turn off her phone as instructed by crew members.
The situation escalated when she became physically aggressive, struck a flight attendant, and had to be restrained and escorted off the aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Following that, Ibom Air imposed a lifetime ban on her, while she was also arraigned and remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
However, she was later released after the intervention of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN).
Following her release, Ossai, in an Instagram post on Wednesday, announced that a monthly salary of ₦500,000 had been secured for the female passenger in the state.
The package, according to Ossai, also includes flight tickets, accommodation in a five-star hotel, a guided tour, and a ticket to the Delta Social Media Summit scheduled for August 28 in Asaba.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, Ossai clarified that the gesture was not from the state government but a personal decision to help Emmason reintegrate into society.
Dismissing speculations of having a romantic interest in Comfort, the governor’s aide said, “I’m a married man and a faithful man. I can never get myself involved with such a thing. I am just offering harmless assistance to her.
“The gesture shown to the passenger wasn’t from the state government. It’s my personal gesture. She has shown remorse for what she did. Whatever has happened has happened. She went to Kirikiri prison and came back. It is time to support her as well.”
He also dismissed criticisms that his offer could encourage unruly behaviour among air passengers.
On why he extended the offer despite Emmason not being from Delta State, Ossai said, “In Delta State, we don’t discriminate. We offer help to people, whether you are from Delta State or not. We are first Nigerians before anything else.”
9. How Mohbad’s Death Changed Everything In My Life – Bella Shmurda
Nigerian singer, Bella Shmurda, has said that losing his close friend and frequent collaborator, Mohbad, changed everything about his life.
Naija News reports that the musician made this known during a recent livestream with TikToker, Joblaq.
Shmurda revealed that he is currently at the stage of rediscovery due to the impact of Mohbad’s death, stressing that he now approaches life with more clarity.
He said, “RIP Mohbad. After he passed away my brain reset, everything changed. The way I see things in life also changed.
“There’s a time that our parents use to tell us when we misbehave that, ‘You’re misbehaving, right? Don’t worry, very soon you will understand.’
“I’m currently in that phase where I’m starting to understand. I have understood certain things.”
Recall that Mohbad died under controversial circumstances on 12 Septemer, 2023.
10. Ebonyi Governor Rewards D’Tigress Star, Munachi Ejiofor With ₦30 Million, Duplex
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has rewarded Munachi Ejiofor, a forward of the Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, with a cash gift of ₦30 million and a duplex in Abakaliki for her outstanding contribution to Nigeria’s triumph at the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket.
Munachi Ejiofor, who played a key role as the Nigerian women’s basketball team clinched a record-extending fifth consecutive AfroBasket title in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this month, was also inducted into the Ebonyi State Hall of Fame.
The governor’s gesture comes shortly after the Nigerian women’s basketball team, led by coach Rena Wakama, received national honours from President Bola Tinubu. Each squad member was gifted $100,000, a furnished apartment, and a national award.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
The post Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 17th August, 2025 appeared first on Naija News.
