At least nine farmers have been killed and several others abducted after armed bandits attacked farmland near Kakangi village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.   According to an AFP report published by Punch on Sunday, the attackers stormed the farmlands on Saturday and opened fire on farmers while they were working during the ongoing rainy season. A security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP said nine bodies had been recovered, with six victims already identified by local authorities. However, community leader Kabiru Ishaq, who visited Kakangi village to condole with residents, said the death toll stood at 10. The report said the attack was believed to be a retaliatory assault after farmers reportedly killed a bandit during a failed robbery attempt earlier on Saturday. According to the security report, the slain bandit’s accomplice later returned with reinforcements and launched the deadly attack on the farming community. Several residents were also kidnapped during the raid, although authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of those abducted. Birnin Gwari remains one of the areas hardest hit by armed gangs commonly referred to as bandits, who frequently attack villages, abduct residents for ransom, steal livestock and destroy property. The latest attack comes despite a peace agreement brokered by local authorities in November 2024 between farming communities and bandit groups in the area. Last month, at least six farmers were killed and 20 others kidnapped during another attack on Danauta village in Birnin Gwari, according to local sources. AFP, as reported by Punch, said attacks on farming communities in northern and central Nigeria have intensified during the rainy season as armed groups target villages that refuse to pay illegal levies.

Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 466,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel to Europe in June, valued at an estimated ₦757 billion, surpassing shipments from the United States during the month, according to a report by S&P Global Commodity Insights.   The report, cited by Punch Newspapers, said Nigerian jet fuel exports to Europe climbed from 232,000 metric tonnes in May to 466,000 metric tonnes in June, marking the highest monthly volume since Nigeria became a net exporter of aviation fuel in 2024 after the Dangote refinery began producing jet fuel. The June exports are equivalent to about 582.5 million litres of aviation fuel. Based on an estimated domestic price of ₦1,300 per litre, the shipment was valued at roughly ₦757.25 billion. In contrast, jet fuel exports from the United States to Europe fell sharply, dropping from a record 818,000 metric tonnes in April to 560,000 metric tonnes in May and 399,000 metric tonnes in June, leaving Nigeria as Europe’s larger supplier during the month. According to the report, increased exports from both Nigeria and the United States contributed to an oversupplied European jet fuel market. A trader quoted by S&P Global Commodity Insights said high refinery production, delayed maintenance and renewed shipments through the Suez route had added to supply. The report also noted that European jet fuel prices weakened significantly after reaching record highs during the Middle East conflict. Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, said the Northwest Europe July jet fuel cargo assessment fell from $1,694.25 per metric tonne in March to $981.75 per metric tonne by June 30. Exports to Europe could increase further in the coming months as favourable trading conditions continue to encourage shipments from the Middle East and India. While exports from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait were absent in June, shipments from Saudi Arabia and India rose during the period. Despite the current oversupply, traders told Platts that future market conditions would depend on developments in the Strait of Hormuz, recovery of Middle Eastern refineries and stronger summer travel demand, which could help rebalance the market. Separately, data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that the Dangote refinery exported about 1.66 billion litres of refined petroleum products in April 2026, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel. The figures underline Nigeria’s growing role as an exporter of refined petroleum products, with the Dangote refinery remaining the country’s only major operational refinery producing sufficient volumes for both domestic use and export.

Fresh documents have raised new questions over the Federal Government’s position on the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following revelations that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation processed official correspondence linked to the agency months before it was publicly declared fictitious.   According to an exclusive report by Punch Newspapers, official records show that the SGF’s office received and acted on a request for office accommodation submitted in the name of the PFIPC in November 2024. The request was reportedly submitted by the council’s self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is currently facing criminal charges over allegations of forgery, impersonation and operating a non-existent government agency. Documents obtained by Saturday PUNCH showed that the request, dated November 7, 2024, was received by the SGF’s office on November 12 and later forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on November 21 for action. The correspondence, signed by Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, identified the PFIPC as one of three institutions seeking office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties. In his request, Adeyemi described the PFIPC as a Federal Government investment promotion body tasked with attracting foreign direct investment, coordinating investment-related activities across ministries and positioning Nigeria as a preferred destination for investors. The latest development adds to ongoing controversy surrounding Adeyemi, who is accused of forging appointment documents allegedly bearing the signature of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila. The Federal Government has listed Gbajabiamila and 10 others as witnesses in the criminal case before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Prosecutors allege Adeyemi and two other suspects, currently at large, created and operated the PFIPC using forged presidential documents and official insignia to gain legitimacy. Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including accounts opened in the names of supposed government agencies, and held meetings with diplomats under the PFIPC banner. The Presidency has maintained that the PFIPC never legally existed. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga recently described the agency as fictitious and defended the government’s position. However, the newly surfaced documents have intensified public scrutiny, with opposition parties, civil society groups and legal experts demanding an independent investigation into how the agency allegedly secured official recognition, staff approvals and budgetary allocations. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for an independent probe into allegations surrounding both Adeyemi and officials linked to the matter, including claims involving accounts allegedly opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Presidency has also vowed to investigate internal collaborators who may have enabled Adeyemi’s activities across government institutions. Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi said security agencies, including the EFCC, DSS and police, had been tasked with uncovering the full extent of the alleged network. The controversy continues to generate questions about oversight failures within government institutions and how the alleged scheme operated for months before being exposed.

The United States of America marked its 250th Independence Day anniversary on Saturday amid nationwide celebrations, political tensions and growing concerns over deep national divisions.   Speaking during Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Donald Trump warned that American identity is facing a renewed threat, declaring that the country is under attack from domestic radicals and extremists. According to Channels Television, citing AFP, Trump said there had been attempts in recent years to weaken American values and disconnect citizens from the nation’s history. The US president accused political opponents on the far-left of posing a threat to the country ahead of November’s midterm elections, describing a resurgence of what he called a “communist menace” in America. “You do not have to be born here, but you do have to love what we have built,” Trump said during his address. The Independence Day celebrations come at a difficult moment for the country, with millions of Americans facing extreme heat conditions. Reports indicate that nearly 160 million people are under severe heat warnings, disrupting parades and public gatherings across several cities. Despite the extreme weather, Trump is expected to headline a major rally on the National Mall in Washington, featuring military flyovers and large-scale fireworks. The milestone anniversary has also sparked reflection among many Americans on the state of the nation after 250 years of history shaped by progress, conflict, civil rights struggles and global influence. A recent poll by Quinnipiac University found that 61 percent of Americans believe the country is not fully living up to the ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence, highlighting the sharp political divide between Republicans and Democrats. While some citizens expressed frustration over social and political divisions, others remained optimistic about the American dream and the freedoms the country offers. The 250th anniversary celebrations therefore serve as both a historic milestone and a moment of national reflection as the United States navigates an increasingly polarised political landscape.