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Early morning fire has engulfed a part of the Justrite Superstore in the Akowonjo area of Lagos State.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, however, said the incident, which happened at a store around Jimoh Bus Stop, Egbeda-Akowonjo, Lagos, was extinguished by firefighters.

“The incident involves the second floor of the commercial building, housing the electronics section of the store,” the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said in a statement on Thursday.

“Upon arrival, firefighters swiftly deployed firefighting equipment and commenced coordinated operations to contain the fire, prevent its spread to adjoining sections of the building, and safeguard lives, property and the environment.

“The Fire has been put out, and recovery of the remains is ongoing to bring the mop-up exercise to a wrap. The cause of the fire is suggestive of an alternative power source solar inverter system, while no casualty has been recorded.”

Footage of the inferno, shared on social media and by the agency, showed smoke billowing from the rooftop.
See more photos from the fire outbreak below:

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced three suspects in the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.

According to the court, the sentencing of Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.

Before the verdict by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms. He added that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.

Ibrahim pointed out that this showed that they were remorseful of their actions, and all the counts they were charged with are not related to the kidnapping.

He added that the convicts were married men who have children and have aged parents who are dependent on them. He pleaded with the court to give them a second chance at life and sentence them on liberal terms.

Counsel for the prosecution, however, pointed out that the convicts were aware of the people on the battlefield, and as true Nigerians, they should have reported it to the authorities.

After the charges were read to them, they pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed terrorist group.

At their arraignment on alleged terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the three defendants also pleaded guilty to concealing information on the planning and execution of the abduction.

However, only the first accused person, Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, pleaded guilty to counts 7, 8, 9 and 10, which bordered on training and passing instructions and inciting terror group members on a particular religious ideology.

The three accused persons were on trial by DSS on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, and terrorism-related offences.

According to the charges, the defendants, all from Niger State, are accused of knowingly withholding information about individuals linked to terrorist activities, participating in kidnapping, and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.

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The United States House of Representatives has approved a record $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), paving the way for the largest military budget in the nation’s history as Washington expands funding for military operations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The legislation was passed on Tuesday by a narrow 216-212 vote, largely along party lines, with Republicans overwhelmingly supporting the measure while most Democrats voted against it, citing concerns over escalating military spending and the widening conflict in the Middle East.

The annual defence policy bill authorises funding for the Department of Defense, covering troop salaries, military operations, weapons procurement, research and development, and national security programmes.

A significant portion of the funding is expected to support U.S. military operations connected to the Iran conflict, which administration officials estimate has already cost approximately $37.5 billion. The bill also provides for military modernisation, expanded missile defence systems, enhanced naval and air capabilities, and a pay increase of up to 7 percent for members of the U.S. armed forces.

Republican lawmakers defended the legislation, arguing that the United States must strengthen its military capabilities to confront growing global security threats and ensure that American troops deployed abroad have the resources needed to carry out their missions.

Supporters of the bill said the funding is critical to maintaining U.S. military superiority, reinforcing alliances, and responding to evolving security challenges in the Middle East and other regions.

However, Democrats criticised the measure, saying Congress had failed to exercise sufficient oversight of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict. They argued that the unprecedented level of defence spending would significantly increase the federal deficit while diverting resources from domestic priorities.

Opponents also objected to several policy provisions included in the legislation, including measures aimed at strengthening military cooperation with Israel and other conservative-backed national security initiatives.

The $1.15 trillion package represents the highest defence authorisation ever approved by the House and underscores Washington’s increasing focus on military readiness amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Despite its passage in the House, the legislation must still be considered by the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to debate its spending levels and policy provisions. Any differences between the House and Senate versions will need to be reconciled before the final bill is sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

If enacted into law, the measure would provide the Pentagon with unprecedented funding to support military operations, modernise America’s armed forces, and sustain U.S. strategic commitments around the world.