
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has instructed his church members to provide his phone number to any kidnappers. He stated that he possesses the spiritual authority to ensure their release. Oyedepo shared this during a church service at the Canaanland headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, in a video clip that circulated on social media. He supported his instruction with two anecdotes of what he described as divine intervention in past kidnapping incidents involving church members. In one instance, he claimed to have warned an abductor that they would die within 24 hours if a kidnapped pastor was not released. In another account, he said a female member declared by faith she would be free by 7 a.m., and her captors began harming themselves before releasing her. Oyedepo told members they possess the same spiritual force and need to discover and deploy it.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe United States government, in partnership with the United Nations, has conducted a training program for drug enforcement officers from Nigeria and nine other West African countries. This initiative, facilitated by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, aimed to combat transnational drug trafficking in the region. The training focused on various aspects, including dismantling clandestine drug laboratories and enhancing investigative techniques. The US Mission in Nigeria stated that the program was designed to foster cooperation and intelligence-sharing among the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and its regional counterparts, thereby strengthening their collective capacity to disrupt criminal networks. The ultimate goal is to enhance the region's ability to confront drug cartels, stop drugs at their source, and protect communities in West Africa and the United States from the threat of transnational drug trafficking.

Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, has announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. The company reported a revenue of N22.41 billion, marking a 9 per cent growth compared to the N20.64 billion recorded in the same period in 2025. This performance highlights the company's continued dominance in the African market. The management stated that the Q1 2026 performance reflects a strategy focused on discipline, operational efficiency, and consistent value creation. Beyond revenue growth, the company saw a 15 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax, and gross profit margins expanded to 77 per cent. Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, the Chief Finance Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, noted that the team's commitment to efficiency did not compromise the guest experience. Ojediran further detailed that the cost of sales margin was reduced from 25 per cent in Q1 2025 to 23 per cent in Q1 2026, demonstrating disciplined execution. Transcorp Hotels Plc, a leader in luxury hospitality, is a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc, a diversified conglomerate with interests in power and energy. The company appears well-positioned to maintain its growth trajectory throughout the fiscal year.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN has commissioned new transmission line connections at the Ihovbor corridor, enhancing the national grid's stability and power evacuation capacity. The project, which includes turn-in-turn-out connections for the Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV transmission lines, was successfully commissioned on Wednesday, April 23, 2026. According to Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs at TCN, this development provides additional evacuation capacity for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company NDPHC and Azura Power plants. The Ihovbor/Benin line is currently transmitting approximately 200 megawatts, while the Ihovbor/Ajaokuta line carries about 90 megawatts. TCN stated that this new infrastructure will improve electricity supply reliability by reducing transmission constraints and strengthening overall grid performance, aligning with efforts to modernize Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure.
Must ReadChina has implemented restrictions on seven European entities in the defense sector, citing their involvement in alleged arms sales or "collusion" with Taiwan. The measures, effective immediately, are intended to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations like non-proliferation, according to the commerce ministry. The curbs prohibit exports of "dual-use items" to the named entities, which include Belgian guns manufacturer FN Herstal, German defense electronics firm Hensoldt, and the Czech Republic's national aerospace research and development center, VZLU Aerospace. The ministry stated that any ongoing related activities must cease, though applications for export could be submitted in truly necessary special circumstances. An unnamed commerce ministry spokesperson clarified that the measures target only a small number of EU entities involved in military-related activities, specifically those that participated in arms sales to Taiwan or engaged in collusion with Taiwan, assuring that "law-abiding and trustworthy EU entities have absolutely no cause for concern." Beijing has increased export controls in recent years, including against 20 Japanese entities in February due to political tensions over Taiwan, and last year's curbs on rare earth exports, which caused global supply concerns. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China warned earlier this month that Beijing’s stringent export controls pose a "long-term business risk".