President Bola Tinubu has approved what is being described as Nigeria’s most significant military expansion in recent decades, authorising the Nigerian Army to grow from eight to 12 divisions alongside the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. The move is aimed at strengthening the country’s response to persistent security challenges.

According to the Presidency, the expansion forms part of a broader effort to modernise the Armed Forces through increased manpower, improved troop welfare, enhanced operational readiness, and the acquisition of critical military equipment. The government says the reforms are intended to improve the military’s capacity to combat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and other security threats across the country.

Under the new structure, four additional divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo, and Benin City. The first phase, covering the creation of the 5th, 9th, and 10th Divisions, is expected to be completed by September 2026, while the second phase, including the establishment of the 83rd Division, is scheduled for completion by December 2026.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the expansion would improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, and enable faster military responses to emerging threats nationwide.

President Tinubu also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, as well as officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication and professionalism. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the Armed Forces remain adequately equipped and prepared to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect its citizens.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men connected to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentences after Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) admitted guilt to several counts filed by the Federal Government. The charges stemmed from their alleged involvement in the May 2026 abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire.

The court imposed life imprisonment on all three convicts for membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation and sentenced them to an additional 25 years for concealing information about the kidnapping plot. Umar, who pleaded guilty to four extra charges involving terrorist training, incitement, and related offences, received additional life sentences and a 20-year jail term on separate counts.

Although the defendants admitted guilt to six of the ten charges against them, they pleaded not guilty to the remaining four counts, including conspiracy and aiding the abduction. The court adjourned proceedings on those charges until September for trial.

The kidnapping, which occurred on May 15, saw dozens of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire LGA. Security forces later rescued the victims after weeks in captivity during a coordinated military operation that also led to the arrest of several suspected terrorists.

Kaylee Hottle, the young deaf actress best known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18 following a tragic car accident in Maryland. Her father confirmed the heartbreaking news after authorities informed the family that she succumbed to her injuries while being transported to hospital.

According to reports, Hottle was a passenger in a vehicle that veered off the road and crashed into a roadside ditch during the early hours of Tuesday. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, with excessive speed reported as a possible contributing factor.

Born into a multigenerational deaf family, Hottle became a trailblazer for authentic representation in Hollywood. She made her feature film debut in 2021 as Jia, a deaf girl who shares a unique bond with Kong, earning widespread praise for her performance. She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel, further cementing her place in the MonsterVerse franchise.

Beyond her film career, Hottle appeared in television projects and advocacy campaigns promoting deaf awareness. She also received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer, reflecting the impact of her work at a remarkably young age.

Tributes have poured in from fans, colleagues, and members of the deaf community, who have remembered Hottle as a gifted actress whose performances inspired greater inclusion and representation in the entertainment industry.