1. Some state Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, including National Assembly members, and former National Working Committee members and other stakeholders from the South have disowned the ongoing zoning summit in Lagos. The Lagos meeting is expected to take a decision on the impute of the Southern stakeholders on the zoning of positions.
2. At least 15 farmers were reportedly killed in a fresh attack on seven villages of Manden, Jibin, Tim, Jiblang, Koppang, Mihdihin, and Jilem of Chakfem district of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. The attackers reportedly burnt down several houses and looted many animals in the villages belonging to community members.
3. Suspected bandits have attacked the Kakangi community in the western part of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing five farmers. It was gathered that out the five, four are from the same family.
4. The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has lamented that the scourge of banditry, kidnappings and other criminalities have worsened the pains of the North, leaving families bereaved and communities devastated. ACF Chairman, Chief Mamman Osuman, SAN, said at an event that the North continues to lose lives to “evil criminals, psychopaths, gangsters, bandits, marauders and terrorists,” in addition to natural causes and disasters.
5. The Police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested a self-acclaimed medical doctor, Sunday Okon Akpan, for allegedly killing a 35-year-old woman during a botched abortion at his clinic in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. The suspect, who owns and operates Full Life Medical Centre in Ikot Obio Odong, was discovered to be a community health practitioner with no medical licence or nursing qualification.
6. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday, declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not reduce itself to the “gutter level” of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, just as he disclosed that the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) will take a stand on zoning and other issues during its meeting on Monday.
7. President Bola Tinubu departed Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday night for Brazil, where he will begin a state visit on Sunday, August 24. Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that the President would make a stopover in Los Angeles before proceeding to Brasília, the Brazilian capital.
8. Police command in Kwara has condemned the jungle justice inflicted on a female destitute wrongly suspected of being a kidnapper at Ipata market, Ilorin. This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in Ilorin on Thursday. The incident occurred at the popular Ipata market on Thursday around 9:00 a.m.
9. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has linked the recent surge in killings across the country to the build-up to the 2027 general election. The country has in recent times witnessed renewed terror attacks in the North-East and attacks by the bandits in the North-West.
10. Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $41bn on August 19, 2025, the highest level recorded in 44 months, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria. This marks the highest level since December 3, 2021, and signals a significant recovery following months of depletion, mainly due to pressure from external debt repayments.
