Justice Delayed: DSS Arrests Suspects in 2023 Kidnapping and Murder of Neurology Professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim

In a significant breakthrough, operatives of Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested key suspects linked to the 2023 abduction and killing of Professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, a renowned neurology specialist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

The arrest brings a measure of closure to a case that shocked the medical community and highlighted the persistent threat of kidnapping in parts of the country.

The Abduction: A Brazen Attack in Broad Daylight

On July 13, 2023, Professor Philip-Ephraim was abducted from her office in Calabar, Cross River State. The kidnappers, posing as patients, waited until she was attending to them before brandishing weapons and forcing her into a vehicle around 7:15 p.m.Tragically, despite ransom payments from her family, the professor was killed by her abductors. The incident sparked outrage, prompting the Cross River State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to temporarily withdraw services in protest, demanding swift action for her rescue.

Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to State Police and Announces Imminent Arrival of Attack Helicopters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again expressed strong support for the establishment of state and community policing in Nigeria, while revealing that four attack helicopters ordered from the United States are expected to arrive soon to bolster the country's security efforts.

The President made these disclosures during a meeting with a delegation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his residence in Lagos on Friday, December 26, 2025.
Addressing the ongoing security challenges, President Tinubu highlighted the difficulties in procuring advanced military equipment. He noted that such hardware is expensive and not readily available, which has contributed to delays affecting public perception of the government's efforts.

“Military hardware is difficult to replace. It is expensive and not available off the shelf. Our orders for four attack helicopters from the United States of America will take some time to arrive. We have approached Turkey for assistance.”

These helicopters are part of broader initiatives to enhance aerial support for ground operations against insurgency, banditry, and other threats plaguing various regions.

AFCON 2025: Shaun Bartlett Highlights Defensive Concerns for Super Eagles Despite Thrilling 3-2 Victory Over Tunisia

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured their spot in the Round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Tunisia on December 27. However, former South African striker Shaun Bartlett has raised concerns about Nigeria's defensive fragility, describing it as "alarming" despite the dominant first-half performance.
Nigeria raced to a commanding 3-0 lead, thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen (just before halftime), Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman after the break. The three-time AFCON champions looked set for a comfortable victory in their Group C clash in Fes.
But Tunisia mounted a dramatic late comeback, scoring twice in the closing stages—through Montassar Talbi (from a header) and Ali Abdi (from a penalty after a VAR review). The Carthage Eagles nearly equalized in stoppage time, with efforts coming close to forcing a draw.

Speaking on SuperSport after the match, Bartlett, a former Bafana Bafana star, praised Nigeria's attacking prowess but pointed out vulnerabilities at the back:

“The one alarming thing for Nigeria is just that they just seem under threat every time they’re under attack. There’s not that solidity about them … it’s almost like they might just concede whenever the opponents attacked.”

He added that while the Super Eagles were "fantastic" in the first half, the second half was "awful," allowing Tunisia to exploit gaps and nearly stage a miraculous recovery.Bartlett also commended Tunisia's No. 10 (likely referring to a key playmaker like Hannibal Mejbri or similar) for his "unbelievable" technical ability in opening up the game and creating chances.


#AFCON #Nigeria #Soccer

JAMB postpones registration date for UTME 2025 - announces new date

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has postponed the commencement of registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) earlier scheduled to begin Friday 31st January.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rescheduled the start of registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which was initially set to commence on Friday, January 31.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the board said the registration will commence on Monday, 3 February.

JAMB said the postponement became necessary to allow the board implement essential adjustments to its registration templates.

It added that it is further scrutinising some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres after discovering that they had used deceptive facilities to be approved.

“These adjustments come in light of the recent suspension of certain law programmes at selected universities, as submitted to the Board by the Council for Legal Education.”

Bitcoin: some things you need to know

WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN?

A blockchain is a chain of blocks where each block contains a list of transactions. These blocks are linked using cryptographic techniques, ensuring security and immutability.

Key characteristics of blockchain:

• Decentralization: Unlike traditional centralized databases (e.g., banks or government systems), blockchain operates on a peer-to-peer network, removing the need for intermediaries.
• Transparency: All transactions recorded on the blockchain are visible to all participants in the network.
• Immutability: Once a transaction is added to the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted.
• Security: Transactions are encrypted and verified through a consensus mechanism, making hacking extremely difficult.

2. How Blockchain Works

Step-by-Step Process:

1.   Transaction Initiation: A user initiates a transaction (e.g., sending cryptocurrency or verifying an asset in a supply chain).

2.    Transaction Broadcast: The transaction is sent to a network of computers (nodes) for verification.

3. Validation & Consensus: Nodes validate the transaction using consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS).

4.     Block Creation: Once validated, transactions are grouped into a block.

5. Block Linking: The new block is linked to the previous block through cryptographic hashes, forming a chain.

6. Finalization: The transaction is permanently recorded, and the ledger updates across all nodes.

Key Components of Blockchain

A. Blocks

Each block contains:

• A list of transactions
• A timestamp
• A cryptographic hash of the previous block
• A unique identifier (hash) for the current block

B. Nodes

Nodes are computers connected to the blockchain network that validate transactions and maintain the blockchain.

C. Consensus Mechanisms

Blockchain networks use different methods to validate transactions and reach agreement:

• Proof of Work (PoW): Used by Bitcoin; miners solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions.
• Proof of Stake (PoS): Validators are selected based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold.
• Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS): Users vote for representatives who validate transactions.
• Proof of Authority (PoA): Trusted entities validate transactions in private blockchains.

D. Smart Contracts

Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with predefined rules stored on the blockchain. They automatically execute when conditions are met.