Former United States President Barack Obama has taken to social media to honor Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby following the unveiling of a portrait featuring him and his wife, Michelle Obama.

Sharing photos from the unveiling on X, Obama described Crosby as a gifted artist and praised her work for capturing important moments from their journey together.

According to him, the portrait reflects several chapters of his and Michelle’s life and will be displayed at the Obama Presidential Center.

He wrote:

“It was great joining Njideka Akunyili Crosby — a gifted Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based artist — to unveil our first portrait together.

“This piece reflects so many chapters of Michelle and my story, and we’re thrilled that it will be on display in the Hope and Change lobby at the Obama Presidential Center starting this Juneteenth.”

The artwork is expected to become one of the featured displays at the Obama Presidential Center, offering visitors a visual representation of the former president and first lady’s shared journey over the years.

Njideka Akunyili Crosby, who was born in Nigeria and is based in Los Angeles, is internationally recognized for her distinctive artistic style and acclaimed works that often explore themes of identity, family, and culture.

Hajiya Amina Abubakar, the widow of the late retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, has been rescued by Nigerian troops after spending weeks in captivity following a bandit attack in Katsina State.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the development, stating that the rescue was carried out after intensified search-and-rescue operations by troops under Operation FASAN YAMMA.

Mrs. Abubakar was abducted alongside her husband on May 30, 2026, when armed bandits ambushed their vehicle along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. The couple was reportedly on their way to attend a wedding ceremony when the attack occurred.

On June 13, authorities confirmed the death of Major General Abubakar Rabe while his wife remained in captivity until the recent rescue operation.

According to the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, troops engaged the kidnappers during a sustained offensive at Tunga Village, forcing them to flee.

During the confrontation, the bandits reportedly shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her at the scene and escaping from advancing troops.

She was immediately evacuated by security personnel and taken to a military medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and responding positively.

The Defence Headquarters assured that the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to her full recovery and is intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, for allegedly importing liquid coc#ine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the agency, Ikechukwu was arrested on Thursday, June 11, 2026, shortly after arriving in Nigeria from Brazil via Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

A search of his luggage reportedly led to the discovery of 14 shirts and towels that had been soaked in liquid coc#ine, dried, and carefully ironed to conceal the substance.

NDLEA said forensic analysis later confirmed the items contained a total of 6.10 kilograms of liquid coc#ine.

In his statement to investigators, the suspect reportedly claimed he had lived in Brazil for over 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant. He added that he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items in bulk for his business.

In separate operations across the country, NDLEA also announced the arrest of several other suspects over alleged involvement in drug-related activities.

Among them is a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, who was reportedly apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk by members of the Umuosu Vigilante Group in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State before being handed over to NDLEA officials.

NDLEA intercepts businessman with 6.10kg cocaine starched in shirts, towels from Brazil

. Detains 60-yr-old woman with disability in Abia, another PWD in Rivers for dealing in illicit drugs; recovers large illicit drug consignments in Kano, Kwara, Delta, Gombe, Lagos, and FCT pic.twitter.com/ghpkZkmOwz

— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) June 14, 2026

Similarly, a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Usman, was arrested in Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a raid that allegedly led to the recovery of 400 grams of skunk, 5 grams of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tr@m@dol, 5 grams of swinol, and 18 grams of diazepam.

On June 8, NDLEA operatives reportedly arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, after discovering 2.8 kilograms of c@nn@bis concealed inside five gas cylinders.

In another operation, a 39-year-old woman, Ngozi Gaius, was arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on June 12 after allegedly being found in possession of 6,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg.

The agency also announced the arrest of Muhammed Sani, 38, and Nasiru Hamza, 47, along the Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State. The suspects were allegedly transporting 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing a total of 304 kilograms in a black Toyota vehicle.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence reportedly raided a warehouse linked to 45-year-old Ali Adamu on June 13, where 63 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,215 kilograms were allegedly recovered.

In another seizure, Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, was arrested with various controlled substances, including 30,400 pills of tramadol, 750 capsules of pregabalin, 200 pills of Molly, and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

A tragic incident has gone viral on social media after a 21-year-old woman reportedly died during a bungee-jumping event in Brazil.

The victim, identified as Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, lost her life after allegedly being pushed from a bridge without being properly attached to a safety rope.

According to reports, the incident occurred at Skeleton Bridge in São Paulo State.

Authorities said six people — five men and one woman — were arrested as investigations into the incident commenced.

A video circulating online allegedly captured the moments leading up to the tragedy. In the footage, Maria could be seen being escorted onto the jumping platform by two men before she was pushed from the edge of the bridge.

Witnesses at the scene were reportedly heard shouting that she had not been connected to a safety rope before the jump.

Maria subsequently fell approximately 40 metres (130 feet) into a ravine below.

Emergency responders and paramedics were called to the scene, but she was pronounced dead.

According to eyewitness accounts provided to military police, event workers allegedly forgot to secure Maria to the safety rope before she was pushed from the platform.

See video below………..

JUST IN: 21-year-old dies after workers forget to attach safety rope and push her off 40-meter bridge in São Paulo’s Limeira, Brazil pic.twitter.com/ceqniPJkUs

— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) June 13, 2026

The Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran Yoruba actor Kola Oyewo.

His passing was confirmed by colleagues and associates, who disclosed that the respected actor died on June 12, 2026.

Tributes have continued to pour in from fans, colleagues, and members of the film industry who remembered him for his contributions to Yoruba theatre and Nollywood.

In an interview recorded in 2024 by filmmaker Kunle Afod, Oyewo had opened up about the health challenges he faced in recent years.

According to the actor, his health problems began in 2019 when he started experiencing difficulty passing urine.

He revealed that he initially visited a family doctor in Ilaramokin, Ondo State, who advised him to undergo further medical examinations to determine the cause of the condition.

The actor explained that the diagnosis eventually led to a series of medical procedures and surgeries.

See the last video below…….

A man suspected of impersonating a retired Nigerian Army officer has been arrested by troops in Kaduna State.

Military sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, June 11, 2026, by troops of the 312 Artillery Regiment deployed at the Strike Force Base in the Sabo area.

According to the sources, the man was allegedly posing as retired Major General A.T. Ibrahim.

The arrest reportedly followed credible intelligence that led troops to the suspect’s location at about 9:14 a.m.

“The individual was arrested for allegedly impersonating Maj.-Gen. A.T. Ibrahim (rtd) and is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation,” a source said.

Military authorities stated that the suspect will be handed over to relevant agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution after preliminary military procedures are completed.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect’s motive or whether the impersonation was used to facilitate any criminal activity.

A video circulating on social media has drawn attention to the situation of women in Afghanistan following reports of a hit-and-run incident and allegations of violence against female protesters.

According to Afghan media outlet Aamaj News, a vehicle allegedly struck four women who were walking along a street. Reports claimed that the SUV was being driven by a Taliban member.

The footage reportedly shows the vehicle hitting the women before fleeing the scene.

Witnesses said two of the women managed to move out of the way in time, while the remaining two were struck by the vehicle. One of the victims was reported to be in critical condition.

See video below……..

Pedestrians nearby quickly rushed to assist the injured women.

The video was later shared on X by Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, who said she received the footage from an Afghan woman.

Sharing the video, Alinejad wrote:

“I received this video from a woman of Afghanistan with a [simple] message: ‘Please use your platform and tell the world that they are killing us here, we are tired of Taliban. Please don’t let the world forget Afghan women. We are fed up with Taliban. Enough is enough’.”

She added that the person responsible for the incident had reportedly been identified and that efforts to apprehend them were ongoing. However, no further details were provided regarding the alleged Taliban connection.

In a separate post, Alinejad also shared claims regarding the treatment of women protesting for their rights in Afghanistan.

According to her statement:

“Today, women in Afghanistan are being shot in the streets simply for wanting an education, wanting a job. Wanting to work and wanting to walk outside without a man’s permission.

Taliban security forces killed one person and several wounded. Dozens arrested including women and girls.

It started last Friday, when Taliban imams announced from mosque loudspeakers that women were forbidden from leaving their homes without full hijab, including face cover.

Morality police flooded Herat’s streets, markets, and shopping centers, batons in hand, arresting women for their clothing.

Just one day after some men in the West rolled out the red carpet for the Taliban, normalizing them, legitimizing them, shaking their hands, you can see how savagely women being shot and beaten up in the streets.”

See below……..

Today, women in Afghanistan are being shot in the streets simply for anting an education, wanting a job. Wanting to work and wanting to walk outside without a man's permission.

Taliban security forces killed one person and several wounded. Dozens arrested including women and… https://t.co/rijPlCXjyr pic.twitter.com/oy1ae9QcYn

— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) June 9, 2026

A family of six has tragically lost their lives in a road accident in Malaysia just hours after collecting their brand-new vehicle from a dealership.

The victims had reportedly picked up their new Proton X50 SUV at around 11 a.m. on June 7 and even posed for photographs with the vehicle before setting off on a journey to visit the grave of a deceased family member.

According to reports, the SUV was owned by 21-year-old Ahmad Fahim Ahmad Shukri.

The family was travelling toward a cemetery when tragedy struck in Juru, Penang.

Eyewitness accounts and dashcam footage reportedly showed the SUV veering into the opposite lane on a straight section of road in Kampung Baru Pinang Tunggal before colliding head-on with a 10-tonne lorry carrying soil.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but six occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead.

The victims were identified as Ahmad Fahim Ahmad Shukri, his elder brother Lance Corporal Ahmad Syafiq Ahmad Shukri, 27, Nora Mhd Husin, 55, Jamaliah Sannusi, 27, Iskandar Arfan Ibrahim, 7, and two-month-old Ahmad Mikail Ahmad Syafiq.

Family of Six Killed in Tragic Crash Hours After Collecting New SUV

A family of six has tragically lost their lives in a road accident in Malaysia just hours after collecting their brand-new vehicle from a dealership.

The victims had reportedly picked up their new Proton X50… pic.twitter.com/jaXFKgV2EH

— Iamelizabeth (@elizabethblogng) June 11, 2026

A three-year-old girl, Aulia Sofea Ahmad Syafiq, survived the crash and was taken to hospital for treatment. She was reported to be in serious condition.

Speaking about the heartbreaking loss, Ibrahim Ghazali, the father of seven-year-old Iskandar Arfan, said the family had been excited about receiving the new vehicle earlier that day.

“They were very happy this morning to collect the car, but everything happened so suddenly.

“We never saw it coming.”

A senior Russian military officer, Colonel Damir Davydov, has been confirmed dead following a car explosion near Moscow.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday while he was driving near his home city of Balashikha.

Authorities said Davydov, 57, was pulled from the burning vehicle but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Before his death, he headed the Russian military’s artillery and missile ammunition supply directorate, a key logistics position responsible for overseeing the distribution of weapons to Russian armed forces.

The explosion is being viewed in the context of a series of targeted attacks on Russian military officials and pro-war figures since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Reports also suggested that Davydov’s son had previously shared images of his father’s car online, including its registration plate, which some believe may have contributed to the vehicle being tracked.

A woman identified as Ntanganedzeni Siphugu has appeared before a court in Limpopo, South Africa, after being charged in connection with the deaths of her two children.

Siphugu appeared in court on Tuesday facing two counts of murder following the deaths of her children, aged six and nine.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on June 1, 2026, at Madabani Village in Limpopo.

NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said investigations indicate that the mother allegedly gave the children a poisonous substance at their family home.

According to Malabi, the children became seriously ill the following day after allegedly consuming the substance.

One of the children was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival. The second child also later died.

The deaths prompted a police investigation, which subsequently led to Siphugu’s arrest and prosecution.

The matter was brought before the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court, where the case was postponed until June 12, 2026, to allow for a formal bail application.

Siphugu remains in custody pending the outcome of the bail proceedings.