Africa Fashion Week London 2026 is delighted to welcome back Princess Adesile as our Official Ambassador.

A modern Yoruba royal from Nigeria and an accomplished equestrian, Princess Adesile embodies a new generation of African cultural ambassadors who honour tradition and embrace innovation, creativity and contemporary leadership.

While her royal heritage is deeply rooted in Yoruba culture, her influence extends far beyond it. Princess Adesile has become widely recognised for her passion for equestrianism and her striking appearances at the renowned Ojude Oba Festival, where she has helped bring the centuries-old tradition of ceremonial horseback riding to the attention of a new global audience and inspired a greater visibility for female riders.

Her attendance at AFWL2025 last year demonstrated her in the middle of a powerful intersection of fashion, heritage and African culture. From wearing traditional Yoruba-inspired regalia to contemporary fashion, she portrayed the idea that African fashion is more than just clothing; it is history, identity and storytelling brought to life. Now returning to our catwalk, in regalia or the latest designer collections, she’ll portray the idea that African fashion is more than just clothing; it is history, identity and storytelling brought to life.

Princess Adesile always carries herself with confidence and an unwavering pride in her heritage, making her a fitting ambassador for a platform that celebrates the diversity and future of African traditions.

Come and meet her at AFWL2026. Unfortunately, she won’t be bringing her horses!

“Some titles are earned, but this one feels like home.

Being the Cultural Ambassador for African Fashion Week London is more than an honour; it’s a privilege to be part of a family that celebrates our stories, our heritage, and the beauty of African fashion with so much love. Thank you, AFWL, for believing in me.

Here’s to continuing this beautiful journey together!”

Princess Adesile

The post Princess Adesile Returns to Africa Fashion Week London as the AFWL Ambassador of Culture appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

The Army said the victims regained their freedom following an intelligence-led operation that lasted for more than a month and targeted the kidnappers’ network and hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park and other parts of the country.

According to a statement issued hours after the rescue on Friday by the Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the operation involved troops of the Nigerian Army led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife.

The soldiers worked alongside operatives of other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters.

The Army said 44 abducted pupils and teachers were rescued in total.

It explained that the operation focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins behind the abduction, dismantling their logistics network and arresting their informants.

The statement read, “Following an intelligence-led, carefully planned and executed operation on 10 July 2026, troops of the Nigerian Army, led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, in collaboration with special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), specifically the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Defence Headquarters with Special Forces elements from the Nigerian Army, Navy, the Air Force and the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies, as well as local vigilantes, hunters and Amotekun, in a well-coordinated operation rescued a total of 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped by terrorists from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May 2026.

The operations, which lasted for more than a month, focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins that masterminded the kidnapping, busting and dismantling their networks and logistics links, including their informants and hideouts located within the Old Oyo National Park Forest, Oyo State.”

According to the Army, several suspects were arrested in Oyo and other states, a development it said disrupted the group’s activities and forced the terrorists to free the captives.

“As part of the operations, multiple arrests were made within Oyo State and in other locations across some states in the country.

“These arrests completely disorganised the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers. Further operations are to be conducted,” it stated

The Army added that the operation was carefully executed to ensure the safe rescue of the victims without collateral damage.

“However, there were some casualties on the part of the security forces,” the statement added.

The Army disclosed that the rescued pupils and teachers are receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital before being handed over to the Oyo State Government for reunification with their families.

The GOC, on behalf of all participating agencies, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his strategic guidance and support, which he said contributed to the success of the operation.

He also commended Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, other service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA, and heads of other security agencies for their support.

The Army further appreciated media organisations and Nigerians for supporting the security agencies and urged members of the public to remain vigilant by providing timely and credible information to aid ongoing security operations.

The victims were abducted on May 15 when gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to earlier official accounts, 39 pupils and seven teachers were taken during the attack, while the assistant headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed during the attack while attempting to escape.

Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the terrorists while in captivity.

Alphanewsng gathered that while the Army said 44 victims were rescued, earlier official accounts indicated that 46 people were abducted (39 pupils and seven teachers). It is not immediately clear whether the Army’s figure excludes the two teachers who were killed.

However, confirming the rescue in a statement on Friday evening, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said all the victims were rescued.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo, have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.

He disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services.

He added that several other members of the gang were neutralised by security operatives during the operation.

According to him, the victims were rescued without the Federal Government acceding to the kidnappers’ demand for the release of a Boko Haram kingpin standing trial for terrorism.

In a separate statement on his X handle, Tinubu also announced that the abducted children and teachers were freed alive and unharmed.

The post How 44 abducted Oyo pupils, teachers were rescued – Army appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

The pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oyo State have been freed.

The release followed months of operations involving security forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the abductees were freed on Friday evening and that several terrorists were killed in the process.

This newspaper reported that a total of 46 people—consisting of 39 students and seven teachers—were kidnapped when terrorists simultaneously raided Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community High School (Ahoro-Esinele), and L.A. Primary School (Ahoro-Esinele) in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The Defence Headquarters later identified the abductors as dislodged members of Boko Haram. The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, on Thursday stated that the terrorists kidnapped the oyo pupils to force the government to release some terror commanders.

Details of the operation that led to their release remain sketchy for now. ALPHANEWS NG will keep following up on the matter and provide further updates. Details later…

The post BREAKING: Kidnapped Oyo pupils, teachers freed appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Sources have told the Guardian that Trump made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, to ensure that the change was made.

The decision gives the US a huge boost on the field as they attempt to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002. Balogun has been a constant threat for the US so far this tournament, and has scored three goals in three starts.

Fifa has been approached for comment. The US president thanked football’s world governing body for suspending the red card. “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee said it made the decision in line with Article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not related to match-fixing. Balogun will be on a probationary period of one year, meaning the red card technically still remains on his record. If, during that year, Balogun commits what the code refers to as “another infringement of a similar nature and gravity”, the striker will serve his one-game ban.

Fifa previously used Article 27 to clear Cristiano Ronaldo to start the opening games of Portugal’s World Cup after his red card against the Republic of Ireland

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement that it was “astonished” at the decision. The RBFA later pointed out that the suspension of the ban ran in contradiction to Fifa statutes governing the punishment for red cards, which carry a one-game ban “automatically”. The RBFA said it was “investigating all potential options”.

Manager Rudi Garcia likened Fifa’s decision to an April Fools’ Day joke.

“I didn’t know that 5 July was equal to 1 April [April Fools’ Day] at Fifa,” Garcia said in his native French at a news conference on Sunday. “I think we should refer to the [statement] of my federation, the Belgian federation. I think a lot of things are in it. The federation does not defend itself, it does not defend the national team – it defends football in general. It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics.”

A US Soccer spokesperson said on Sunday that the federation was engaged in the process that ended up clearing Balogun for the last-16 game.

Mauricio Pochettino praised Fifa’s move in a news conference, reiterating his belief that the call to issue a red card to Balogun was harsh.

Everyone that really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity, I think we celebrate all that decision,” Pochettino said. “We were punished enough against Bosnia Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes [because of] a decision that was completely unfair. … 99.9% of people agree there was an unfair red card.”

US players said they received news of Balogun’s availability on the team bus on the way to training.

“Some guys are playing Clash Royale, some guys were just in the back listening music, and then think somewhere in between that, we heard all the reports,” the defender Chris Richards said. “My family probably sent me eight tweets. I wasn’t sure, nobody told us ahead of time that this was happening. We weren’t quite sure if it was true or not. I think everyone knows with AI and with this and that, there can be a few question marks, but ultimately we found out through social media. It was just cool to finally get the confirmation that it was true.”

Richards said that about 10 minutes passed between the moment when the US players first started getting reports of Balogun’s availability, and getting official confirmation from a US Soccer official by the time they got off the bus for Sunday’s training session – the final one before the all-important Belgium matchup.

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The post Trump lobbied Fifa to lift Folarin Balogun suspension for World Cup game v Belgium appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.