
Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adelabu, mother of former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, shared her experience of her daughter and twin grandsons being kidnapped a day after she mourned the abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo state. Her daughter, Olaide Adegoke, and twin grandsons were abducted by gunmen on Tuesday, June 3, 2026, in Ibadan and were safely rescued by police operatives on Saturday night. Mrs. Adelabu expressed immense gratitude for their safe return, noting that two suspected kidnappers were neutralized during the rescue operation. She also extended her prayers for other victims still in captivity, including the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA, hoping for their safe release. This incident occurred amidst a recent increase in kidnapping cases in the country, with the Oriire abduction, involving over 40 schoolchildren and teachers, highlighting growing concerns about insecurity in the state.
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Iran's World Cup squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday, just days before the 2026 World Cup kickoff. The team's arrival follows a diplomatic dispute with the United States, which denied visas for some Iranian support staff. The US, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the tournament. The Iranian team spent nearly three weeks training in Antalya, Turkey, where they applied for visas to all three host countries. While players received their US visas, Iran's embassy in Turkey stated that 15 administrative and management staff were denied. The embassy called on FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it described as "deliberate and discriminatory treatment." Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, also noted that the team's visa conditions require them to enter and leave US soil on the same day as their matches, a point that contradicted an earlier statement from the team's spokesman, Amir Mahdi Alavi, who said they had multiple-entry visas. A US administration official confirmed that necessary visas for the team, including support staff, had been issued, but added that the US would not allow the Iranian team to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously suggested concerns about individuals with ties to the Revolutionary Guards. The visa issue also affected the Iraqi team, with one photographer denied entry to the US. Iran is in Group G and will play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June
Must ReadThe United States announced it shot down two Iranian drones threatening the Strait of Hormuz, marking an escalation as the conflict reached its 100th day. This development occurred amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visiting Tehran to deliver a "special letter" from Pakistan's army chief to Iran's Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and a message from the prime minister. Pakistan's military leader, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has been instrumental in mediating talks between Iran and the US. US Central Command CENTCOM also reported destroying four other drones and coastal surveillance radar sites. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the US strikes as "flagrant" violations. Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, stated that negotiations with the US are at a "deadlock" and called for the release of frozen Iranian assets. However, a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's thinking indicated that the US Treasury might use these funds to compensate Gulf allies for damages caused by Iranian strikes. Meanwhile, Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal traveled to Pakistan for talks, as Lebanon seeks a permanent end to the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah. An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon reportedly killed three Lebanese soldiers, with Israel's military stating it was targeting Hezbollah. Lebanon's health ministry also reported two women killed and 22 wounded in another Israeli strike. The Israeli militar

Activist and African Action Congress 2027 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has challenged MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola's assertion that unlimited mobile data plans are not globally available unless at exorbitant prices. Toriola stated during a press conference in Lagos that unlimited data plans are not feasible on mobile networks, arguing that no operator can sustain quality service if all customers have unrestricted, low-cost data access. He claimed such plans do not exist worldwide, except for those paying around $400 monthly, and that mobile networks cannot build enough capacity for everyone to have an unlimited bundle while maintaining quality service. Sowore, in a post on X, called Toriola's claim false, stating that millions of consumers globally enjoy truly or effectively unlimited broadband and mobile data plans at prices often more affordable relative to local incomes than what Nigerians pay for inferior service. The AAC presidential candidate, a frequent critic of Nigerian telecom operators regarding data pricing, network quality, and service delivery, hinted at a potential nationwide protest against MTN. This development occurs as MTN Nigeria and other operators defend tariff adjustments approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, which sanctioned up to 50 percent increases in voice, SMS, and data tariffs in early 2025, citing inflation, naira devaluation, and investment needs. MTN maintains Nigeria is among the world’s four cheap