AfriPulse
Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 8th December, 2025
1. FG Secures Release Of 100 Abducted Niger Schoolchildren
The Federal Government has reportedly secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Bandits had, on November 21, 2025, invaded the remote Papiri community around 2:00 a.m., arriving on motorbikes and attacking the school dormitories for over three hours. By the time they retreated, 315 people, 303 students and 12 teachers, had been taken away.
In the first 24 hours after the abduction, 50 pupils managed to escape and were reunited with their families. However, 265 individuals, 253 children and all 12 teacher, remained in captivity.
Security agents, alongside local hunters, were immediately deployed to comb the surrounding forests in search of the missing victims.
The Federal Government intensified the operation by imposing a 24-hour security cordon and launching aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to address the crisis.
2. Benin Presidency Claims Coup Attempt Foiled: Talon Safe, Army Regaining Control
The reported military coup in the Republic of Benin appears to be rapidly collapsing, according to an official statement from the Presidency.
President Patrice Talon is confirmed to be safe, and his office insists that the regular army is regaining control of the situation.
Speaking to AFP on Sunday, the presidency downplayed the attempt led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who had declared himself head of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) on state television:
“This is a small group of people who only control the television,” the presidency stated.
The office emphasized that the government remains fully in charge:
“The regular army is regaining control. The city and the country are completely secure.”
Recall that military officers in the Benin Republic had claimed to have taken control of the federal government.
Naija News learnt that a group of soldiers on Sunday Morning, December 7, 2025, announced the dissolution of the current government during a national broadcast.
The group, which labels itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, said the president, all political officeholders, and all state institutions have been effectively removed.
3. VP Shettima Departs For Côte d’Ivoire To Represent Tinubu
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday evening departed Abuja for Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire.
Naija News reports that Shettima is to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Mr Alassane Ouattara for a fourth term in office as President of that country.
The Vice President made this known in a post on his social media page.
Senator Shettima is expected to join other leaders across Africa and beyond to witness activities lined up for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to hold on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan.
Ouattara was re-elected for a fourth term in office on October 25, 2025, as President of Côte d’Ivoire, a West African country that shares cordial diplomatic ties with Nigeria.
4. We Won’t Allow PDP To Die – Wike Declares At NEC Meeting
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed that he would do everything possible to ensure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not go into extinction.
This is as he added that he and other founding members of the PDP would not allow those who joined the party from other political parties to kill the PDP.
Naija News reports that Wike made the submission on Sunday in Abuja while speaking at the 104th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held by his PDP faction at his official residence.
He accused the other faction of violating court judgments by conducting what he described as an “illegal convention,” insisting that the party must respect judicial processes if it intends to regain public confidence.
He accused the opposing faction of relying on propaganda and warned that leaders must not allow selfish interests to destroy the political platform that has existed since 1998.
5. Christian Genocide: US Lawmakers Visit Nigeria, Meet NSA Ribadu
United States lawmaker representing the Virginia’s Second District in the House of Congress, Riley Moore, is currently in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that the lawmaker, who made this known on Sunday via a post on his official X handle, said he came into the country on behalf of American people.
He said, “I came to Nigeria in the name of the Lord and on behalf of the American people.
“Just ending a very productive visit to Nigeria and rounds of meetings. More details to come. Happy Sunday. God is Great!”
Although Moore did not give details of his visit to Nigeria, it may not be unconnected to the ongoing investigation into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Confirming the visit and giving more details, Nuhu Ribadu, President Bola Tinubu’s National Security Adviser, wrote on X: “This morning, I received a U.S. Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., on shared security priorities.
6. Caretaker Committee: Wike’s PDP Faction Gives Fresh Appointments To Anyanwu, Ajibade, Bature, Others
As the tenure of the present Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) ends on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has constituted a National Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party, pending the conduct of a national convention.
Naija News reports that the decision was taken at the 104th NEC meeting of the party held in Abuja on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
The 13-member Caretaker Committee has Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Secretary.
Other members of the Caretaker Committee are; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), National Organising Secretary, Hon. Umar M. Bature, Dr Kyari Grema, Hon Janguda Haruna Mohammed, Barr. Okechukwu Osuana, Senator Nwogu Olaka, Senator Sandy Onor, Prof Adenike Ogunse, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, Engr Deji Doherty, and Dr Ibrahim Bala Aboki.
The Caretaker Committee has been mandated to run the affairs of the party for a period of 60 days, during which all pending congresses should be conducted and a national convention should be held.
7. France President, Macron Extends Support To Nigeria On Fight Against Terrorism
French President, Emmanuel Macron, has pledged to deepen France’s support for Nigeria in addressing the growing security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the northern region.
In a post on 𝕏, shared on Sunday, Macron revealed that he had engaged in a conversation with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, during which he expressed France’s solidarity with Nigeria in its battle against terrorism and other security concerns.
Macron wrote, “I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria, I conveyed France’s solidarity in the face of the various security challenges, particularly the terrorist threat in the North.”
He emphasised France’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nigerian authorities and to offering greater support to affected populations. Macron also called on other international partners to intensify their efforts in supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
8. ‘A Guy Stalked Me For Nine Years, Called Me 50 Times Daily’ – Bimbo Akintola
Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, has opened up about a terrifying period in her life when she was stalked by the same man for over nine years.
Naija News reports that in an interview with Chude, she explained that during that time, she received up to 50 phone calls daily and disturbing messages that described what the man wanted to do to her.
Akintola said she kept the ordeal from her family, fearing her mother would panic.
The harassment was relentless, with messages arriving every day or every other day, causing her immense stress and fear.
She revealed that, without explanation, the stalking suddenly stopped one day, leaving her without closure or understanding of why it ended after nearly a decade.
9. ‘I Didn’t See Potential In Flavour’ – Kcee Opens Up On Rift With Colleague
Nigerian singer, Kingsley Okonkwo, popularly known as Kcee, has clarified the long-rumoured rift with his colleague, Flavour.
Naija News recalls that the duo engaged in a social media clash in 2024 after Flavour shaded someone online for allegedly copying his musical style.
While Flavour did not mention anyone, Kcee responded to the social media post, warning the highlife musician to stop trying to gatekeep Igbo cultural music because he had been in the music industry before him.
However, in a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Kcee suggested that the alleged rift might stem from his first encounter with Flavour, when popular talent manager, Soso Soberekon, brought Flavour to him to sign to his record label.
The Limpopo crooner explained that he refused to give Flavour a record deal because he did not see potential in him at that time.
He emphasised that some of his colleagues believe he is not talented because he does not brag about it.
10. Why I Stopped Attending Church – Chike
Nigerian singer, Chike Ezekpeazu, has opened up about why he stopped attending church regularly.
Naija News reports that in an interview with VJ Adams, he revealed that running into someone from his past at a church made him feel uncomfortable, bringing back memories that made attending services difficult.
The singer said he stayed only briefly before deciding to leave.
Chike made it clear that stepping away from church does not mean he lost his belief in God.
He recalled a time early in his career when he prayed for guidance while living in Primewater Gardens with his girlfriend, seeking help during a period when he felt alone and uncertain about his future.
He also mentioned a strange experience shortly after releasing his first album when he accidentally consumed a strong edible and felt disoriented for several days.
Despite such moments, Chike said he learned the importance of living rightly and treating others well, regardless of whether he follows church rituals.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News . See you again tomorrow.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Source: Naijanews.com | Read the Full Story…
