
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has completed the second phase of its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration CVR exercise, recording a total of 3,748,704 completed registrations. This figure, announced by INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Etta-Messi, includes both online pre-registrations and physical completions. Specifically, 2,259,288 Nigerians registered through the online portal, while 1,489,416 finalized their registration in person. INEC noted that these figures are provisional and subject to further verification. Following the registration phase, INEC will now focus on displaying the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections. This display exercise will take place nationwide from April 29 to May 5, 2026, allowing citizens to verify their details and raise objections, such as duplicate registrations, deceased persons, or non-citizens. INEC encourages all registrants from the second phase to participate in this verification process to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the voter register ahead of the 2027 general election. The first phase of the CVR ran from August 18, 2025, to December 19, 2025, and the second phase from January 5, 2026, to April 17, 2026. The commission will announce details for the third phase in due course, reaffirming its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

Maria Abdulkadir, CEO and founder of Bon Bread, explained the company's decision to take legal action against a TikTok user. The lawsuit follows a viral video where the user, identified as "Love," expressed concern over a loaf of bread that she claimed remained fresh for two months after purchase. The TikToker later alleged that Bon Bread served her a N50m lawsuit, despite her claim of not mentioning any company name or displaying a logo in the video. Abdulkadir stated that the company resorted to legal action after attempts to engage the content creator and verify the claims reportedly failed, leading to reputational damage. She mentioned trying to contact the TikToker to understand the source of the bread and how it could have lasted two months, but was unsuccessful. Abdulkadir maintained that their bread, which is freshly baked and typically does not last beyond a few days without preservatives, could not remain fresh for such a period. She added that the legal action was not to intimidate but to compel substantiation of the allegations. Social media reactions from Nigerians varied, with some cautioning about bread quality and others debating the legal implications, particularly regarding defamation even without explicit brand naming.
Must ReadOperatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, have uncovered a baby factory in Okuju, Ilado, Badagry, Lagos. The operation led to the rescue of 18 pregnant women and 10 children, and the arrest of the facility's operators, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu. The victims, aged 18 to 30, reportedly subscribed to the facility through an offer on Facebook. Upon delivery, their children were sold for N500,000 to N1.8 million, with the mothers receiving payment. Some rescued women had also brought their existing children to be sold. Commandant Adedotun Keshinro stated that the NSCDC acted on three weeks of intelligence, describing the operation as targeting a "grievous crime against humanity." The operators allegedly entice pregnant women with offers of payment for their babies. One of the 18 rescued women had a miscarriage, leaving 17 still pregnant. The operators will be handed over to the police for prosecution, and the victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. Okeke, the chief operator, claimed she adopted children for childless individuals and had moved from Ikorodu for a larger apartment. Agwu stated that the center offered an alternative to abortion and helped childless couples, with agents on online groups proposing the arrangement. He mentioned that women came to the facility already pregnant and signed agreements for their babies to be sold in exchange for compensation, often around N1 million. The women claim
Must ReadMilitary commanders are increasingly vulnerable to terror attacks due to troop shortages and poor welfare, according to findings by Saturday PUNCH. Soldiers, security analysts, and retired military officers suggest these attacks aim to disrupt the military's command structure and instill fear. The Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP intensified its campaign in 2025, leading to the deaths of at least 10 senior military officers, including two brigadier generals, between October 2025 and April 2026. Incidents include the deaths of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and Captain Ismail in Benisheikh, Borno State, on April 9, 2026, and a commanding officer and six soldiers in Monguno on April 12, 2026, due to an improvised explosive device. A soldier in the North-East attributed declining morale to poor welfare and manpower shortages, stating that many units lack adequate personnel and that insufficient compensation affects motivation. The Nigerian Army faces challenges in attracting new recruits, with low enlistment figures in some regions. Security experts link the targeting of senior officers to a deliberate strategy by insurgents to exploit inadequate troop strength and the increased exposure of commanders on the frontlines. A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Abdulwahab Ademola, explained that while commanders operate close to combat zones for coordination, the dynamics of asymmetric warfare and the use of ambushes and IEDs make this risky. He noted that insurgents target the mil

An operative of the Department of State Services DSS, Michael Jego, testified in a Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the arrest of John Agbo, accused of sending threat messages to elite schools in the Federal Capital Territory. Jego, the first prosecution witness, stated that the DSS received petitions from three schools in 2024 concerning text messages threatening students, teachers, and property. The affected schools were identified as Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School, and Oakland International British School. The DSS alleged that Agbo used multiple mobile phone numbers to send these threats, claiming attacks would take less than a minute. Jego testified that his team began an investigation after a petition from Oakland International British School dated November 28, 2024. Forensic analysis led to Agbo's arrest in Otukpo, Benue State, where a Techno Android phone and SIM card were recovered. Agbo was arraigned on March 17, 2026, on a two-count charge under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, etc Amendment Act, 2024. The prosecution tendered the recovered phone, school petitions, a compact disc with audio-visual recordings of Agbo's interview, and his extra-judicial statement, which were admitted as exhibits. While Agbo admitted familiarity with the phone, he denied ownership. Under cross-examination, Jego confirmed the petitions did not name Agbo, but maintained Agbo admitted involveme