Chelsea delivered a dominant performance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, sweeping aside 10-man Barcelona 3–0 in a Champions League league-phase clash.

Araujo Sent Off as Chelsea Take Control

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when a Pedro Neto strike deflected off Jules Kounde and into the Barcelona net, putting the hosts ahead.

Barcelona’s problems deepened just before the interval when defender Ronald Araujo received a second yellow card, leaving the visitors a man down for the entire second half.

Estevao Wondergoal Lights Up Stamford Bridge

Chelsea capitalised on their numerical advantage after the break. Ten minutes into the second half, Brazilian winger Estevao produced a moment of brilliance, squeezing a stunning finish from an impossibly tight angle to make it 2–0.

Liam Delap added the third, timing his run perfectly to beat Barcelona’s offside trap before firing home to seal an emphatic victory.

Group Implications

The win lifts Chelsea to 10 points after five matchdays, placing them fifth in the league-phase standings ahead of the remaining fixtures. Barcelona remain on seven points and now risk missing out on automatic qualification for the knockout round.

Chelsea will look to carry their momentum into Sunday’s crucial Premier League derby against Arsenal. Barcelona, meanwhile, will hope to regroup when they host Deportivo Alavés at Camp Nou this weekend.

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The Federal Government has dismissed reports saying it has banned open grazing across the country, clarifying that no such policy has been announced.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the clarification on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, stating that the administration is instead implementing a gradual transition from open grazing to modern ranching systems.

Maiha explained that Nigeria currently has 273 legally gazetted grazing reserves covering more than 4.5 million hectares. He said the Federal Government is working closely with state governments to rehabilitate and upgrade these reserves to make them fully functional and appealing to pastoralists and other livestock operators.

According to him, the objective is not an abrupt prohibition of open grazing but the development of sustainable alternatives that will boost livestock productivity, reduce farmer–herder conflicts, and modernise the sector.

“Pastoralists, like all other economic actors, need a proper business environment. The gazetted grazing reserves are legally designated as the business premises for livestock activities. Our job is to modernise these reserves and ensure they are fully utilised,” the Minister said.

The Ministry urged the public to disregard misleading reports and rely solely on official government communication channels for accurate information on livestock development policies.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has banned open grazing nationwide as part of measures to address rising insecurity and recurring conflicts between herders and farmers.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Mukhtar Maiha, during the inauguration of the 1st National Council on Livestock Development in Yola, Adamawa State.

Maiha described open grazing as a major driver of violence, leading to loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of thousands of Nigerians.

“Nigerians have been subjected to untold hardships, including the killing of innocent farmers and herders, as a result of open grazing. There is an urgent need to put a stop to this problem,” he said.

The minister emphasized that open grazing is now classified as a capital offence, urging cattle rearers to adopt ranching as a safer and more profitable alternative.

“Ranching will not only prevent conflicts but also improve the quality and weight of cattle for better business,” Maiha added.

Farmers across several states have suffered attacks by armed herders, resulting in the destruction of communities and loss of lives. The new policy seeks to protect both farmers and herders while modernizing livestock management across the country.

Mixed Reactions Trail Announcement

While supporters say the plan offers hope for farmers, pastoralists, and investors—modernising a sector long hampered by outdated practices—critics point to the failed 2019 RUGA programme, which faced strong pushback and was eventually shelved.

Skeptics warn that the new policy may face the same challenges, citing concerns about funding, fair land allocation, political resistance, compensation for affected communities, and enforcement mechanisms, especially in states already battling land disputes.

Despite the concerns, the minister insisted that the new model was designed through extensive consultations and would be implemented with fairness and transparency.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed all government schools in Abuja to conclude their first-term examinations and shut down by Friday, November 28, 2025.

According to a circular marked “Serious and Urgent” from the FCT Education Secretariat—issued through the Secondary Education Board (SEB) and the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB)—schools are to begin exams on Wednesday, November 26, and complete all subjects within three days. All academic activities are to cease immediately after the examinations.

The directive comes amid heightened security measures ordered by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who has deployed a joint security taskforce across the capital.

Heightened Security Across Abuja

Wike has mandated enhanced monitoring at border crossings and major entry points into the FCT, following intelligence reports and recent security concerns. The joint taskforce includes personnel from the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other agencies, now stationed across strategic locations in the city.

Addressing the taskforce on Tuesday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, urged the operatives to work collaboratively to stamp out criminal activities in the territory. He noted that the Minister had provided full logistical support for the operation.

“By the time we leave here today, the funds for fueling, vehicle servicing, and allowances for personnel will have dropped into an account we can access,” he said.

Dantawaye added that the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police had jointly endorsed the operation, which will prioritise areas vulnerable to banditry and kidnapping.

Crackdown on Street Begging and Loitering

The CP also raised concerns over the increasing number of beggars in Abuja’s city centre. According to him, security agencies are working with relevant FCTA departments to address the situation pending the completion of legal protocols required for evacuation.

He warned that criminals often disguise themselves as beggars.

“We wouldn’t want people loitering around the city claiming to be beggars because some of them are not exactly beggars.
We’re going to profile them and take off the streets those who are criminally minded,” he said.

He added that genuine beggars would be handled lawfully in collaboration with environmental protection agencies.

The developments come as the FCT intensifies efforts to strengthen security across the territory, especially ahead of the holiday season.

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Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says lawmakers will, within the next six months, introduce penalties for government officials who engage in ransom negotiations or approve unstructured amnesty deals for bandits.

Kalu made the remark on Tuesday during a special plenary session on national security convened by the House to address the country’s worsening security situation. His proposal forms part of a broader legislative agenda aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to violent crime.

According to him, the parliament must take decisive steps, including legally prohibiting ransom negotiation and ensuring that all suspects linked to banditry face mandatory prosecution.

He said:

“What do we need to do in our phase one, between now and six months?
Number one is an anti-banditry resolution: to legally prohibit ransom negotiation and mandate criminal justice process over amnesty programmes.

The key provisions are as follows: (1) Criminal penalties for government officials who negotiate ransom or authorise unstructured amnesty deals.
(2) Mandatory prosecution through the criminal justice system for all banditry suspects.”

Kalu, who represents Abia State, expressed concern over the surging incidents of abductions, including recent cases involving schoolchildren and worshippers in several parts of the country. He stressed that Nigeria’s deteriorating security climate requires urgent and coordinated action from the Federal Government and security agencies.

He also advocated a fast-tracked process for the creation of state or local police, arguing that better-equipped and decentralised policing structures would significantly improve crime-fighting capacity.

The special session was held amid rising nationwide insecurity. In response to the situation, President Bola Tinubu has recently issued new directives to security agencies, withdrawn police officers from VIP escorts, and postponed foreign trips to focus on tackling the crisis.

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