The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday postponed its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general elections.

The decision was announced in a statement issued and signed by Mohammed Haruna, the commission’s national commissioner and chairman of its information and voter education committee.

Haruna said that the postponement followed deliberations at a meeting between the commission and resident electoral commissioners (RECs).

“Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election,” the statement read.

(VANGUARD)

People of Mbwelle village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State lamented that the Thursday Late-night attack which left eight persons killed lasted for several hours with no visible security presence to repel the attackers.

The assailants reportedly stormed the community at about 11 p.m. on Thursday, and opened fire on residents in a sporadic shooting that lasted nearly an hour.

Seven of the victims were members of the same family, while at least three others sustained injuries and several persons are missing.

Those confirmed dead include Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr. Luck Titus Dakus, Mr. Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr. Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs. Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus, and Mr. Innocent Barnabas Makwin.

The Chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area, Samuel Amalau, confirmed the incident to Arise news during a phone interview, expressing concern over the recurring violence in the area.

The Chairman condemned what he described as a resurgence of unprovoked attacks in Bokkos, particularly the incident in Mbwelle community of Kwatas Ward.

The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, added that the attack has heightened tension in the area.

He extended condolences to the bereaved families, noting that the killings were “a direct assault on our collective humanity and peaceful coexistence,” while also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

He also appealed to youths to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions, even as he reaffirmed the right to lawful self-defense.

Also confirming the attack, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, said investigations are ongoing and assured that further details would be made available.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has firmly dismissed as fake a circulating image purporting to show a new ₦5,000 banknote bearing the portrait of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the apex bank declared: “This content is fake. Let the public be guided.” The clarification came after the image went viral on social media, sparking debates and reactions among users who questioned its authenticity.

The viral mock-up, which some claimed was a “first sample” of a redesigned higher denomination note, has been identified by fact-checkers and media outlets as AI-generated.

Tests using AI detection tools reportedly showed over 90% AI-generated content, and earlier versions of similar images carried watermarks linked to Grok, an AI tool on the X platform.

This is not the first time such claims have surfaced. In 2025, the CBN similarly debunked reports of impending introductions of ₦5,000 and ₦10,000 notes, describing those as false and clarifying that no such policy or designs were in the works.

The CBN urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading image and rely only on official communications from the bank. It has not announced any plans to introduce new currency denominations or redesign existing notes with the president’s image.

The development comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to combat misinformation that could potentially cause public confusion or economic anxiety regarding the naira.

Members of the public are advised to verify currency-related information directly through the CBN’s official website (cbn.gov.ng) or verified channels.