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Iran fires back at Israel after onslaught targets nuclear facilities

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This picture shows rocket trails in the sky above Netanya on June 13, 2025. Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and loud blasts were heard on June 13, AFP journalists reported, as the Israeli military said it had detected a missile launched from Iran. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
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Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel in a counter-strike Friday, after an unprecedented onslaught hammered the Islamic republic’s top military brass and targeted its nuclear facilities and bases.

Air raids sirens and explosions rang out across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the airways to issue a word of caution, saying he expected “several waves of Iranian attacks” in response.
Smoke could later be seen billowing above the skyscrapers in downtown Tel Aviv, according to an AFP journalist, as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it attacked dozens of targets in Israel.

Fire and smoke rise from a building, reportedly hit by a missile fired from Iran, in central Tel Aviv on June 13, 2025. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)

Several people were trapped in a high-rise building in central Israel, the firefighting service said.

The salvo came hours after Israel said its wide-spread air raids had killed several top Iranian generals, including most of the senior leadership of the Revolutionary Guards’ air force, following several rounds of strikes that hit about 200 targets including nuclear facilities.

As the two sides traded blows, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to bring Israel “to ruin” during a televised address.

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“The armed forces of the Islamic republic will inflict heavy blows upon this malevolent enemy,” Khamenei told the nation.

This picture shows a rocket trail in the sky above Jerusalem on June 13, 2025. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)

In the onslaught’s wake, Trump urged Iran on Friday to “make a deal” on its nuclear programme, warning of “even more brutal” attacks to come.

The United States underlined that it was not involved in the Israeli action and warned Iran not to attack its personnel or interests, but Tehran said Washington would be “responsible for consequences”.

Netanyahu said Israel — the Middle East’s only, if undeclared, nuclear poewr — struck at the “heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme”, taking aim at scientists and the main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
The strikes would “continue as many days as it takes”, the Israeli premier said, while the military said intelligence showed Iran was approaching the “point of no return” on its nuclear programme.

The strikes killed Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, Iranian media reported.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected “calls for Iran to show restraint in the face of Israeli aggression”, according to a statement.

Security Council meeting

Khamenei swiftly appointed new commanders to replace those killed, while state media said a senior adviser to the supreme leader had himself been wounded.

“The senior chain of command of the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had assembled in an underground command centre to prepare for an attack on the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said, adding that its attacks had killed most of them.
Iran confirmed the Guards aerospace commander had been killed, along with “a group of brave and dedicated fighters”.

Israeli troops and first responders gather near a building, reportedly hit by a missile fired from Iran, in central Tel Aviv on June 13, 2025. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
AFP images showed a gaping hole in the side of a Tehran residential building that appeared to have sustained a targeted strike.
State media reported continued attacks and interceptions well into the evening Friday, including on the northwest where it said 18 people were killed.

Tasnim news agency said six nuclear scientists were among the dead.

The UN Security Council said it would hold an emergency meeting at 1900 GMT.

The meeting was requested by Iran, and supported by Russia and China, a diplomatic source told AFP.

‘Scathing response’

In Tehran, where the streets were largely deserted, 62-year-old retiree Ahmad Moadi said: “How much longer are we going to live in fear?”

“As an Iranian, I believe there must be an overwhelming response, a scathing response.”

Air traffic was halted at Tehran’s main gateway, Imam Khomeini International Airport, while Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspace.

Israel declared a state of emergency as anxieties grew amid a wave of uncertainty gripping the region.

“I’m worried for my children, and also about my livelihood, because this affects the market. You can’t work, you can’t do anything,” Tel Aviv resident Vered Saar told AFP.

Oil prices surged while stocks sank on the Israeli strikes, which came after Trump’s warning of a “massive conflict” in the region.

Trump had also said the United States was drawing down staff in the Middle East, after Iran had threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict broke out.

Prior to the strikes, Trump said he believed a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme was “fairly close”, cautioning however that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement.

Radiation ‘unchanged’ in Natanz area
With the violence raising questions on whether a sixth round of talks planned between the US and Iran would go ahead on Sunday in Oman, Trump said Washington was “hoping to get back to the negotiating table”.

Confirming Natanz had been among Israel’s targets, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said radiation levels outside the site “remained unchanged”.

“Most of the damage is on the surface level,” said the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran’s spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi.

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, said: “I think Israel has declared all-out war against Iran.”

The United States and other Western governments have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, an ambition it has consistently denied.

Israel again called for global action after the IAEA accused Iran on Thursday of non-compliance with its obligations.

The agency later said it would hold an extraordinary meeting of its board of governors in the coming days.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set by a largely moribund 2015 agreement with major powers, but still short of the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear warhead.
AFP

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BREAKING: JAMB releases first batch of 2026 UTME results, warns against score manipulation

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who participated in the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held on Thursday.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Friday.

According to the Board, candidates can now access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to either 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number registered during the examination process.

At this stage, only result viewing is available, as printing of result slips has not yet been enabled.

JAMB emphasised that the UTME exercise is still ongoing, adding that additional batches of results will be released progressively as marking and processing continue.

The Board also issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or falsify results.

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It cautioned candidates against altering SMS messages received from its official platforms to misrepresent their scores to others, including parents and guardians.

JAMB Releases Results of 632,788 Candidates from Day One of the 2026 UTME
The results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, candidates should send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019…
— Fabian Benjamin (@FabianB58246501) April 17, 2026

Describing such actions as a serious criminal offence, JAMB disclosed that it has already taken action against offenders. “Two candidates and one parent are currently in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement revealed.

The Board reiterated that anyone found guilty of such misconduct would face the full weight of the law.

JAMB urged candidates to adhere strictly to official channels and maintain integrity throughout the examination process, as it continues efforts to ensure a credible and transparent admissions system in Nigeria.

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Arewa APC Forum withdraws support for Tinubu citing nepotism, incompetence

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The Arewa APC Forum, Kano State chapter, has announced the withdrawal of its support for the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns over governance and leadership direction.

In a statement dated April 17, 2026, the forum said its decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on the state of affairs at the federal level.

The group stated that it could no longer, “in good conscience,” continue to support the current administration, which it criticised over alleged issues including nepotism, incompetence, and corruption.

“We believe that leadership must inspire confidence, uphold fairness, and demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity, institutional integrity, and responsible governance,” the statement read.

It added that where such values are persistently undermined, “silence becomes complicity.”

The forum further declared that its confidence in the current political direction has been withdrawn, urging its members to align with this position in future political engagements.

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The statement was signed by Sallah Hakilu Kibiya, chairman of the forum in Kano State.

The development signals potential cracks within support structures linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the northern region, as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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Sen. Ngwu donates security gadgets to Forest Guards, lauds Mbah’s investment in security

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The Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Senator Osita Ngwu, has donated critical security equipment to the Enugu State Forest Guard to bolster its operational capacity and sustain the state’s strides in combating insecurity.

The donation, made on Friday at the Forest Guard Command headquarters in Enugu, included tested body armour, bulletproof vests and helmets, long-range binoculars, communication radios, and first aid materials aimed at improving field efficiency and personnel safety.

Speaking during the presentation, Senator Ngwu commended Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as unprecedented investment in the state’s security architecture, noting that Enugu has emerged as a reference point in security management.

“To the glory of God, we have a governor who is overperforming and understands what governance entails across all sectors. Particularly in security, only a few people know that the Command and Control Centre in Enugu is currently the best in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the level of sophistication of the centre surpasses what is obtainable even at the federal level, stressing that the infrastructure has significantly strengthened efforts to safeguard lives and property.

The lawmaker explained that his intervention was inspired by the governor’s commitment to security, emphasizing that governance requires collective responsibility.

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He called on citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

“There is a saying in security: if you see something, you must say something. Without information, the work becomes more difficult,” he noted.

Ngwu also acknowledged that insecurity can heighten during election periods, sometimes driven by political activities, but maintained that a responsible government must remain proactive in tackling threats and ensuring that criminal elements are brought to justice.

Highlighting the state’s Security Trust Fund, he noted that it supports multiple security agencies, including the police, army, DSS, neighbourhood watch, and the Forest Guard, adding that his donation was a modest contribution to complement the governor’s efforts.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Enugu State Forest Guard Board, Col. Daniel Chukwu (rtd.), described the donation as timely, recalling that the agency initially met a “broken and dysfunctional system” which required rebuilding from the ground up.

“We thank the governor for the enabling environment and unwavering support. Every proposal aimed at improving operations and welfare receives prompt approval,” he said.

Chukwu disclosed that the first batch of personnel had been trained in Osun State, with positive results already evident, and urged other stakeholders to emulate the senator’s gesture.

Also speaking, the Commander of the Forest Guard, DCP Olasoji Akinbayo (rtd) described the donation as a morale booster, noting that it would enhance ongoing operations across the state’s forests.

“You have set the ball rolling with this uncommon act. We expect more support from citizens so that we can do more,” he said.

He further revealed that the state government had procured over 1,000 sophisticated rifles for the outfit, enabling operatives to intensify efforts in tackling crime and securing forested areas.

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