The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted dust haze to affect the country from Thursday to Saturday, with varying intensities across different regions.

According to NiMet’s weather outlook released on Wednesday in Abuja, the northern region is expected to experience slight dust haze with good visibility throughout the forecast period.

The same condition is anticipated for the North Central states, which will also see slight dust haze and clear visibility.

In contrast, the southern parts of the country are forecasted to experience moderate dust haze, with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km.

The agency also noted that early morning fog or mist is expected over the coastal areas.

For Friday, NiMet predicts a shift to moderate dust haze in the northern and North Central regions, with visibility ranging from 2km to 5km.

The southern regions will continue to face moderate dust haze, and early morning fog or mist will persist over the coast. Slight dust haze with some cloud cover is expected in the afternoon and evening.

NiMet issued a caution about the suspension of dust particles in the air, urging the public to take precautions, especially individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

The agency recommended following safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.

Additionally, NiMet advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports to ensure safe planning for their operations during the dust haze period.

The agency urged residents to stay updated on weather developments via NiMet’s official channels.

An airstrike in the Sokoto communities of Gidan Bisa and Runtuwa on Wednesday morning has led to the deaths of 10 civilians, sparking differing accounts between local officials and the military.

The attack, which occurred at around 6 a.m., involved bombs dropped by military jets reportedly targeting bandits in the Silame Local Government Area.

According to Hon. Abubakar Gitta Rana, Chairman of the Local Government, the airstrike also resulted in the death of livestock and was described as an “erroneous” assault on innocent civilians.

However, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North West, operating under the banner of Operation Fasan Yamma, defended the strike, asserting that it had targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group.

Lt. Col. Abdullahi Abubakar, a spokesman for the JTF, emphasized that the operation was legitimate and warned against misinformation being spread by terrorist groups and their supporters.

In the wake of the tragedy, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, alongside prominent figures such as Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Labour Minister Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, visited the affected communities to offer condolences to the families of the victims.

The governor participated in funeral prayers for the deceased and expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “tragic mistake.”

“The jets were on a mission to target criminal elements but unfortunately bombed innocent civilians. This is a tragic incident, and we will ensure a thorough investigation to prevent such mistakes in the future,” Governor Aliyu stated.

To support the bereaved families, the state government announced a donation of ₦20 million and 100 bags of foodstuffs.

Additionally, they pledged to cover medical expenses for those injured in the airstrike.

A tragic incident occurred in Gombe on Christmas Day when a commercial bus lost control and crashed into a group of celebrants, injuring 22 people.

The victims, part of a procession from Tumfure community, were on their way to the Government House and Gombe Emir’s Palace to pay homage when the accident took place.

Buhari Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the Gombe State Police, confirmed that the injured were promptly taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital for treatment.

Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, with the Commissioner of Police directing the Motor Traffic Department to conduct a thorough inquiry.

The area was secured by security forces, and authorities urged the public to remain calm.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed his condolences to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the victims of the crash, promising to cover their medical expenses.

Fire Destroys Shops in Onitsha, Anambra State

In another Christmas Day disaster, an early morning fire gutted several shops on Ibokwu Street, near the General Post Office in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The blaze, which began in one of the shops, quickly spread, causing extensive damage to goods worth millions of naira.

Eyewitness Mrs. Chidimma Ike reported that residents and passersby worked frantically to contain the fire, as many shop owners were away celebrating Christmas.

One of the affected shop owners, Mr. Chinedu Nnamdi, initially mistook the smoke for waste being burned before realizing the extent of the fire, which destroyed his shop and several others nearby.

Four drug kingpins involved in the record-breaking seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine at an Ikorodu residential estate in 2022 have been sentenced by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The convicts, including Nigerian nationals Soji Jubril Oke (71), Wasiu Akinade (55), Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu (67), and Jamaican national Kelvin Christopher Smith (44), were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a series of raids on September 18 and 19, 2022, across various locations in Lagos.

The operation led to the discovery of over 2.1 tons of cocaine at 6 Olukuola Crescent, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu marking the largest cocaine seizure in Nigerian history.

The accused were charged with six counts in October and December 2022, under charge number FHC/L/607C/2022.

A fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday, was also arraigned but is still undergoing trial.

In a statement issued Thursday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that the convicts were sentenced by Justice Yellim Bogoro to a combined total of 28 years in prison with hard labor.

The sentencing details are as follows:

Kelvin Christopher Smith (Jamaican): 4 years with hard labor

Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu: 16 years with hard labor

Soji Jubril Oke: 5 years with hard labor

Wasiu Akinade: 3 years with hard labor

The convicts were also ordered to forfeit significant assets, including a grey Toyota Tacoma SUV registered in Emmanuel Chukwu’s name, $50,000 belonging to Chukwu, and various sums in Nigerian Naira ₦55,099,509.50 and ₦9,003,168.06 tied to Chukwu and Akinade, respectively.

Additionally, two properties connected to the drug cartel were finally forfeited.

The first property is located at 6 Olokunola Street, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, which was used to conceal the seized cocaine.

The second property, situated at J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City Estate, Lagos, was believed to have been acquired with proceeds from drug trafficking.

The court granted the Federal Government of Nigeria full ownership of these properties and ordered that they be sold, with the proceeds paid to the government.

A fire broke out at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research office located in Oshodi, near Cappa Bus Stop, Lagos State, causing significant damage to the facility.

Responding to the emergency, officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, along with the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), have been on-site working to contain the blaze.

LASEMA officials have stated that investigations are still underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.

While no casualties have been reported, the fire has caused substantial damage, with property losses amounting to millions of naira.

At the time of reporting, rescue operations are ongoing, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

In a disturbing escalation, suspected terrorists have launched a drone strike on a Nigerian military base in Yobe State.

The attack took place on Wednesday, targeting the 27 Task Force Brigade base in Buni Gari, Yobe.

Security sources noted that the terrorists used three fighter drones in their assault.

However, the Nigerian soldiers stationed at the base were able to respond swiftly, shooting down all three drones before they could inflict any significant damage.

According to a source, “It appears the use of drones is becoming the new tactic for these terrorists. The attack occurred around 5 pm, but our soldiers were alert and managed to shoot down all three drones as soon as they heard the unusual sound.”

This latest drone attack follows a similar assault on a military base in Borno State, which occurred just two days earlier.

On Monday, six soldiers were injured after terrorists launched a drone strike on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Wajiroko, Damboa Local Government Area, Borno.

The attack was confirmed by a military signal, which also noted that a gun truck belonging to the army was damaged.

The military communication further detailed the incident, saying, “At about 231300A Dec 24, terrorists launched an attack using mortars and small arms fire on troops at FOB Wajiroko. The troops repelled the attack, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray. Shortly after, at about 231323A Dec 24, the base came under another attack using multiple armed drones carrying locally fabricated grenades. Troops observed up to four different armed drones. Casualties included five soldiers injured and one gun truck damaged.”

The security situation in the area remains tense, with the military confirming that the morale of the troops remains high despite the unpredictable and ongoing threat from the insurgents.

The rise of drone warfare marks a concerning new phase in the nearly 14-year-long battle between the Nigerian military and insurgents in the Northeast.

The use of drones by these groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), is increasing, further complicating the military’s response to the insurgency.