See What A Nigerian Man Did To His Late Friend's Widow
A friend kept his 2m Naira with me for a long time before he died. He wanted to use it as a down payment for a land.
About 11 months later, his wife came to me. She needed help and requested for any amount as support as she wanted to start up a business.
I told her to come another day. And then, transferred to her 3m Naira.
She refused to be calmed as she was overwhelmed.
Then I told her, your husband gave me 2m Naira to keep. 750k is the interested generated for over 24 months in investment. 250k is from me.
I felt a lot of joy handing that money to her.
The interest? God whose orchestrated plan is mysterious, made me invest the money not knowing what the future holds. So, I was doing it for my friend’s wife and kids.
I'm sure these are the same excuses people were making in Oyo state and now they are paying the price for their lack of wisdom
AbuAeesha: Those Hunters never provoked anybody.they were ambushed and killed. They weren't bandits. And that wasn't the first time they were going to that axis for hunting...
I remember the incident that happened last year in Edo state when a group of Fulani "hunters" were caught and liquidated as they were trying to set up a base of operations in the forest around Uromi.
It is clear that if more people in the South West had been proactive like the people of Edo State, we wouldn't be facing this predicament.
Edit: Has anyone else noticed that the MURIC basket mouth has been strangely quiet in all this? He and his organisation haven’t condemned either the Ogbomosho or Ekiti kidnappings? That man should be picked up for questioning
The United Nations faces a severe liquidity crisis, with Secretary-General António Guterres warning of a “race to bankruptcy” by mid-August.
The United Nations is going broke as the U.S. and China withhold payments to the institution in a jostle for control.
Washington has failed to pay billions of dollars owed to the international body and exited dozens of its programs and agencies, including the World Health Organization, to combat what President Trump describes as wasteful spending and bad policymaking. The U.S. is more than $4 billion in arrears to the U.N.
China has compounded the U.N.’s liquidity crisis by slow-walking its own payments, even as Beijing declares itself the organization’s leading defender and, in a jab at the U.S., the “de facto No. 1 financial contributor.” Beijing still owes the U.N. $455 million even after injecting almost $850 million this week into the organization during a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The U.N. relies on U.S. and Chinese money for 42% of its basic funding.
Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the U.N. is in a “race to bankruptcy” and cited a “very real prospect of the financial collapse of our organization.” On the current trajectory, the U.N. says it will be out of cash by mid-August—just when the process of picking a successor to Guterres shifts into high gear.
China says it will honor its financial obligations. The U.S. says it is conditioning future financial support on deeper savings, with more job cuts, less business-class travel and greater use of machine translators.
“What we are working toward is not a rejection of multilateralism, but putting clarity and results over inefficiency and hollow words,” a senior State Department official, Michael G. DeSombre, told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.
The U.N. has complained about funding problems in the past, but this time it is taking unprecedented actions to deal with the shortfall.
Starved of cash, the U.N. has made historically large spending cuts and embarked on an efficiency drive. It has closed offices and eliminated a record 3,000 secretariat posts. It has shortened interpreter hours, powered down escalators and ignored loose cladding on its 75-year-old headquarters in New York.
The U.N. has accelerated troop drawdowns in African hot spots such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conserve cash and slashed peacekeeping expenditures. It has also delayed reimbursements to Nepal, Bangladesh and other poor nations that supply troops for “blue-helmet” operations.
How insolvency would play out for the world’s leading international forum is unclear. But staff around the world would go unpaid, halting food and security programs.
The U.N. can’t borrow money and its leadership has limited power to restructure operations or fire employees, whose salaries account for 70% of expenses. The U.N.’s 193 member states determine staffing and mandates, and have been more inclined to add initiatives than cut the organization’s roughly 40,000 programs.
When the U.N. comptroller tried to save $700,000 by closing one of the headquarters’ secure entrances, diplomats revolted at the inconvenience of a crisis largely manufactured in Washington; the gate reopened two days later.
The U.N.’s sprawl includes the New York-based secretariat and 15 specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Telecommunication Union, which respectively coordinate responses to diseases like Ebola, ensure aircraft fly safely and standardize how phone networks interconnect. It also manages over 50,000 peacekeepers in conflict zones.
The funding deficit hits the U.N. as it is saddled with ever more governance challenges, from artificial intelligence and biosecurity to ocean mining and outer space. The countries with the most influence are delaying funding, the U.S. and China, both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, where most nations get rotating seats but no veto.
U.N. finances are byzantine. The organization runs different budgets for its regular operations and its more costly peacekeeping endeavors, while the specialized agencies handle their own money and bureaucracies.
Assessments are based on the size of member economies, with U.S. contributions capped at 22% of the regular budget. China’s economic growth over the past decade has rocketed it into second place, to just above 20% from around 5%.
Unusual rules undermine the U.N.’s financial position: Funds unspent at year-end get credited back to member states based on what nations owe—whether or not they contributed.
Chronically late payments limit the time for the U.N. to allocate the funds; one year, China didn’t pay until Dec. 27. Credits are building up because of unspent money: $299 million for 2026, or over 9% of the budget, and an expected $400 million next year.
“We are trapped in a Kafkaesque cycle; expected to give back cash that does not exist,” the secretary-general wrote to members this year urging them to adjust the policy.
In line with its large cutbacks in foreign assistance, including the closing of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Trump administration has overhauled how it will provide “voluntary” assistance at the U.N.
At the U.N., the Trump administration has begun to channel aid money through a single department established to manage emergencies, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, earmarking $3.8 billion so far.
The U.S. remains the largest underwriter of humanitarian funding, but its allocation is down from more than $10 billion or more annually in recent years. The new strategy also puts stipulations on how and where the funds can be used, and raises questions about future direct U.S. support to specialized U.N. bodies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund.
“Individual U.N. agencies will need to adapt, shrink or die,” the State Department said in December when it announced the approach.
While U.S. support for U.N. work is a positive, the amounts remain unclear, said Jordie Hannum, senior director of U.S.-U.N. relations at the United Nations Foundation, which advocates for the body.
Contributions to humanitarian activities don’t address the U.S. arrears to the U.N.: some $2.037 billion owed for the regular budget plus $2.247 billion for peacekeeping.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz has pledged a “substantial” U.N. budgetary payment but has conditioned the money on deeper cuts. A problem looms: Under U.N. rules, members lose voting rights in the General Assembly once their arrears top two years of assessed dues, a situation the U.S. could face as early as 2027.
Other traditional donors are likewise cutting funding to U.N. humanitarian programs that combat hunger and disease, driven by austerity efforts in the U.K. and Germany and rightward political shifts in Sweden and the Netherlands. Like the Trump administration, Argentina has exited agencies like the WHO.
“The U.S. is the epitome of the trend, but it’s not unique to the U.S.,” said Thibault Camelli, a former French diplomat now at New York University and an authority on U.N. budgeting.
China’s pressure on U.N. finances is more subtle, including through a body that controls the U.N. purse—the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.
At the U.N., Beijing’s diplomats often speak through a coalition of nations called the Group of 77, such as in May when it opposed a motion to reduce the pay of peacekeepers, many of whom are Chinese. A study published this year by a nongovernmental organization tracked how Beijing harnessed the G77 to lobby the budgetary committee in concert with Moscow to reduce spending on human rights. China provides minimal funding to U.N. humanitarian programs.
Historically, China paid its dues in the first several months of each year, but in 2022 began withholding final contributions until much later for what U.N. analysts view as leverage to promote political priorities.
“The U.S. isn’t paying its dues and over the past few years, China has been gaming the payment system,” said Hannum.
A driver and passenger who filmed themselves at speeds of over 130mph (209kmh) in a 30mph zone have been jailed over the death of a man they crashed into.
Uways Hussain and Usmon Mahmood filmed themselves inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon, running red lights and weaving through traffic before hitting 50-year-old Sylvester Abayomi, who was on his way to work.
Hussain was jailed for 11 years and eight months for causing death by dangerous driving, while Mahmood was jailed for 12 years and nine months for aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving.
Greater Manchester Police said the crash on Manchester's Kingsway was "one of the worst disregards of speeding" officers had seen.
Sentencing at the city's crown court earlier, Judge Nicholas Dean said the collision on 9 March was "wholly unnecessary and entirely avoidable".
"It was a sustained, deliberate and escalating course of highly dangerous conduct over a prolonged period," he said. "It was terrifying."
The victim's partner Denise Doyle described him as "the most caring soul and gentle person you could ever meet".
"Sylvester was simply on his way to work," she said. "An ordinary hard-working man. He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did."
Addressing the defendants, she added: "You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity."
Abayomi drove on to Kingsway on a green light before he was fatally struck at around 04:36 GMT by the VW Golf GTI driven by 20-year-old Hussain, of Marley Road, Manchester.
The car, which was owned by 23-year-old Mahmood, of Buller Road, Manchester, had run a red light and was travelling at 139mph (223.7kmh) in the seconds before impact.
Following the crash, Hussain's Apple watch automatically called 999 after detecting he had been in a collision.
Unaware of the call, the pair were recorded talking about calling an Uber to leave the scene and reporting the car as stolen.
Judge Dean described the transcript of the call as "chilling".
"It doesn't reveal shock or concern for the victim," he said.
Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, said the pair left the scene and ran from officers when they were tracked down, before being arrested.
Sylvester Abayomi's partner Denise Doyle said he was the "love of my life"
Det Sgt Thomas Johnson said the case was "one of the most extreme cases of dangerous driving we have encountered" and that Hussain and Mahmood's actions had "tragically resulted in the loss of Sylvester's life".
"Our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time," he said.
"No sentence can ever truly compensate for the loss of a life, but the actions of Hussain and Mahmood show a complete disregard for the safety of others.
"We hope this outcome offers some measure of justice to Sylvester's loved ones. We urge the public to challenge dangerous driving behaviour and report concerns to police."
Hussain admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen.
He indicated a guilty plea at magistrates' court - earlier in the legal process than Mahmood did.
Mahmood later admitted aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving whilst uninsured.
Hussain, who had a previous conviction for drug-driving, was a law student who worked full-time at an airport, Neil Ronan, defending said.
Clare Ashcroft, defending Mahmood, said he had been about to start an apprenticeship with Network Rail.
She added: "He is starting to understand the impact of his behaviour. In my submission he is remorseful."
GMP said the sentences were believed to be among the highest for a death by dangerous driving offence involving a single fatality.
The force also said it was "one of the first times nationally where a passenger has been convicted for aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving".
Yesterday, I posted that I had lost my dad in a very sudden way.
He was an elderly man, but he was hale and hearty. He fell while he was climbing the stairs to go to bed at night and hit his head.
We called an ambulance, but even after they made us pay N100,000, they did not show up after an hour had passed. We were forced to drive to the hospital at 12.00 midnight where my beloved father was pronounced dead on arrival.
I've been comforting my mom and siblings all this while.
It was when I went to see his body at the Mortuary that I almost lost my composure because he looked so alive. There was a smile on his face and he looked so calm.
I'm praying for a miracle of resurrection.
I know that with God nothing is impossible.
I remember how in the Bible Paul prayed to God and resurrected a man who died after he fell from the first floor of a building.
I also know our Lord raised Lazarus from the dead after 3 days.
All I ask my fellow believers is to pray for the resurrection of my father as you go for Church service this morning.
I still believe in miracles and I believe it was not my father's time to depart from this world.
Please mods, be merciful and put this on the front page so as many people as possible can see it.
I'm hoping for a mighty testimony.
If it doesn't happen, I'm willing to accept that this is God’s Will, but I first want to appeal to God’s mercy and loving kindness before I accept His judgement.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers. It means a lot to me.
Dijita: I am sorry to hear this. Please accept my condolences. May the good God give you the fortitude to bear the loss. May God give you and your family the strength to stand with each other. May you father's soul rest in peace. Amen
It feels unreal. We were chatting in the living room when he suddenly got up and said he was going to bed. We live in a flat and his room is upstairs. Next thing we heard was a loud noise like something heavy was falling. I rushed to the scene and saw my beloved father lying unconscious. I still can't believe it
I've just come from the Mortuary and his face looked so calm and serene and there was a smile on his face. I'm struggling to accept that he is gone
muyico: Oh sorry Take care Rip to daddy I, lost mine 2001 Dat is 25yrs ago! Now! Man shift reach U
webincomeplus: I've seen a lot of stupid things people have done over the past one year. But none is as stupid as Liverpool's decision to let Luis Diaz go.
“Nigerian don’t even want 24 hours light, can they even afford 24 hours light ? Nigerians just want to come home at 8pm and meet light so they won’t sweat when they sleep and also meet the light by 7am so they can iron thier cloths and then you can take the light and divert it to where factories are. Nigerians are not asking for much and they’re the easiest people to please. How can this be too much?”
- Deji Adeyanju.
“Nigerian don’t even want 24 hours light, can they even afford 24 hours light ? Nigerians just want to come home at 8pm and meet light so they won’t sweat when they sleep and also meet the light by 7am so they can iron thier cloths and then you can take the light and divert it to… pic.twitter.com/eiLELR0wDu
•Herdsmen kill 7 in Benue; as gunmen kidnap farm manager in Ondo
No fewer than 39 persons were killed late Sunday night at Guyaku commubnity in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State by Boko Haram members.
The killings came on a day a pastor, his wife and two children were also murdered by gunmen at Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Same night, at least 23 pupils and wife of a school proprietor were kidnapped in an orphanage and school facility at Zariagi area of Lokoja in Kogi State, just as gunmen abducted a farm manager, Afolabi Ajayi, at Imafon community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
At least, seven people were equally killed by suspected herdsmen at Channel One community, a border settlement along the Arufu–Wukari road in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was learned that the attack in Adamawa, which has thrown Guyaku into mourning, reportedly lasted for hours as the heavily armed insurgents stormed the village, unleashing terror on defenseless residents.
The community, along with Garkida, shares border with the dreaded Sambisa forest, along the Adamawa-Borno federal highway.
Survivors said the attackers killed scores, razed homes, burned places of worship, and destroyed valuable property, including motorcycles and other means of livelihood.
A local leader, Aggrey Ali, of Kumo Gombi, said the community was left helpless as the insurgents operated for an extended period, causing widespread devastation before fleeing.
“They came in large numbers and attacked our people without mercy. Many were killed, our worship centres were burned, and properties destroyed,” he lamented.
The incident has left fear and tension at Guyaku and surrounding communities, with many residents, particularly women, children and the elderly, fleeing their homes over concerns of another possible attack.
Massacre tragic, barbaric — Gov Fintiri
Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who rushed to the area in the early hours of yesterday, after the attack, described the massacre as tragic, barbaric and completely unacceptable.
The governor, who also sympathised with bereaved families, condoled the residents over the killings, and pledged intensified collaboration with security agencies to track down the perpetrators and prevent future assaults.
“This is a painful moment for our state. The killing of innocent citizens in such a cruel manner is unacceptable. We will not relent in our duty to protect lives and property,” he said.
Governor Fintiri’s visit was seen by residents as both symbolic and reassuring, as he promised immediate government intervention, support for victims, and renewed security surveillance in affected areas.
The attack has also sparked renewed calls for stronger federal and state security cooperation to tackle insurgency and protect rural communities in Adamawa, especially those bordering conflict-prone zones.
7 feared dead, several injured as herdsmen attack Benue border community
In Benue State, seven persons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen, while several others were injured, following a two-day attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Channel One community, a border settlement along the Arufu–Wukari road in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo Local Government Area.
The attacks, which reportedly began over the weekend and continued into yesterday afternoon, have thrown the community and surrounding settlements into panic, forcing many residents to flee their homes.
A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers stormed the area in large numbers, riding on motorcycles and wielding firearms, shooting indiscriminately at residents.
“The attack started over the weekend and continued into Monday afternoon. Seven persons have been confirmed dead, while several others sustained life-threatening injuries, so the figure of the dead might increase,” the source said.
He further disclosed that those injured were rushed to different medical facilities in Anyiin town, while about seven victims in critical condition were transferred to Ugba in Logo LGA for urgent treatment.
“We learned that the attackers came heavily armed and operated in groups on motorcycles. There are suspicions that they may be operating from Shaor, one of the deserted villages previously identified in intelligence reports as a possible hideout,” he added.
The renewed violence has triggered mass displacement, with residents of Channel One and neighbouring communities reportedly abandoning their homes for safer locations amid fears of further attacks.
The source also called for urgent security intervention, urging authorities to intensify clearance operations in suspected hideouts and strengthen border security.
“There is need for coordinated clearance operations to dislodge suspected camps in Shaor and other deserted settlements. Security agencies must also work across Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba states to monitor cross-border movements and prevent further attacks,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Logo LGA, Clement Kav, confirmed the attack and casualty figures.
“They killed seven persons and injured four others. They usually come, attack and flee back to where they came from. The attack happened late Saturday into Sunday night,” Kav said.
He added that he had already briefed security authorities on the situation, saying “I have informed the commissioner of police and the adviser on homeland security.’’
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the command was yet to receive official details of the incident at the time of filing this report.
Gunmen kill pastor, wife, two children in fresh Plateau attack
Similarly, gunmen on Sunday night attacked Gako Village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing a pastor, his wife and two children, in what residents described as a fresh wave of violence in the area.
The victims were identified as Rev. Ayuba Choji, his wife, Chundung Ayuba, and their two children, Cyril Ayuba and Endurance Ayuba.
Sources in the community said the assailants stormed the village at about 11 p.m. and opened fire indiscriminately.
A community member, Martha Dalyop, told Vanguard that the gunmen invaded the area late at night, shooting sporadically and causing residents to flee for safety.
She lamented that the recurring attacks had continued to leave communities in fear, with many unable to sleep in their homes or tend to their farms.
Confirming the incident, the Publicity Secretary of Berom Youths Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, said the latest attack showed that the assailants were now targeting relaxation spots, farming communities and local vigilantes protecting rural areas.
According to him, the attackers often split themselves into groups during operations, with some launching attacks on residents, others destroying farmlands, while another group mounts surveillance or blocks roads to prevent escape or intervention.
Tengwong further disclosed that a large expanse of farmland had been destroyed by gunmen in the past 48 hours at Kassa in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, destroying cabbage, hot pepper and maize farms, and worsening the plight of farmers in the affected communities.
The latest incident has heightened tension across Riyom and neighbouring Barkin Ladi communities, with residents calling on security agencies and the government to intensify efforts to halt the killings and destruction of livelihoods in Plateau State.
Gunmen kidnap 23 pupils in Kogi orphanage attack
Also on Sunday night, gunmen abducted 23 pupils and the wife of a school proprietor, following an attack on an orphanage and school facility in the Zariagi area of Lokoja, Kogi State.
The attack, which occurred late Sunday, targeted a facility identified as Dahallukitab Group of Schools.
Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said security operatives responded swiftly, leading to the rescue of 15 of the abducted pupils.
The commissioner, who disclosed that the school was operating outside regulatory oversight, said: “The facility was operating illegally in a remote, bushy environment without registration with the state government and without the knowledge of relevant authorities and security agencies,” Fanwo said.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining eight victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
“Kogi State government commends the gallantry, professionalism, and swift response of the police and other security agencies for rising decisively to the occasion,” he noted.
Fanwo warned against operating schools and orphanages in isolated areas without proper authorisation, describing such practices as dangerous.
“While the government remains fully committed to ensuring the rescue of all victims, it is important to stress that the operation of orphanages, schools, and similar institutions in isolated and vulnerable locations, without proper registration and notification to relevant authorities, poses serious security risks, especially in the current security climate,” he said.
Fanwo, who urged operators to comply with safety regulations, said further: “The government strongly discourages such practices and reiterates the need for strict compliance with regulatory and safety protocols.
“All operators of such facilities are advised to engage with appropriate government agencies to ensure proper oversight, security assessment, and protection.”
He added that security agencies were working to bring the situation under control, noting that updates would be provided as operations continued.
Gunmen kidnap farm manager in Ondo community
In a related development, gunmen yesterday abducted a farm manager, Afolabi Ajayi, in Imafon community, Akure North LGA of Ondo State. The attack occurred around 10:30 a.m. as Ajayi stepped out of his car to enter the poultry farm.
A family source said the victim had visited the farm to check on workers when the gunmen emerged and whisked him into the forest. The family reported the incident to the police immediately. At press time, the abductors had yet to make contact with the family for ransom.
Confirming the incident, the state police image maker, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was notified of a kidnapping at Ilado, where a farmer was taken while working on his farm.
Abayomi said tactical teams and additional security personnel had been deployed to comb the surrounding bush
“The operation aims to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators. The command assures the public that all necessary operational strategies are being employed, with utmost priority placed on the victim’s safety,’’ he said.
He said further updates would be communicated as the situation unfolded.
A fresh xenophobic violence in South Africa has claimed the lives of two Nigerians, triggering fear and panic within the diaspora community and prompting urgent diplomatic engagement by the Federal Government.
The development comes as Nigerians living in South Africa demanded protection by the Federal Government, saying that protecting Nigerians abroad is both a constitutional and moral obligation of the government.
The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg confirmed that Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew were killed in separate incidents linked to rising anti-foreigner tensions.
The Consul-General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed in a statement on Monday that Emmanuel died from injuries allegedly sustained after being beaten by personnel of the South African National Defence Force on April 20.
Andrew, she said, was apprehended on April 19 in the Booysens area of Pretoria following an alleged altercation with members of the Tshwane Metro Police, and his body was later discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary.
The consul-general said the separate cases, involving security personnel, have left the victims’ families, the Nigerian community, and diplomatic missions in shock.
A formal case has since been opened with the South African Police Service, while the Nigerian mission has urged the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to ensure a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation.
“We call on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“No matter the allegations, there are lawful processes. Everyone should be presumed innocent and granted a fair hearing in a court of law. No one should take the law into their hands,” she said.
The Consul General added that the consulate was engaging relevant authorities and would provide necessary support to the families of the deceased, while warning against the growing trend of profiling Nigerians as criminals.
Okey-Uche also urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding as investigations continue.
The killings come amid escalating xenophobic hostility, with multiple viral videos showing threats, intimidation, and attempts by mobs to target foreign nationals.
In one such video, a Nigerian trader was confronted during an anti-immigrant protest and ordered to leave the country with his family.
“How come you are here in South Africa to continue selling goods?” one of the men asked.
Despite explaining his long stay and livelihood, the trader’s plea was dismissed.
“I didn’t come to South Africa today. I have been here for a long time. The only thing is what I’m doing to feed my children,” he said.
The group, however, insisted that foreigners were no longer welcome.
“From now on, we don’t want foreigners in this town. We are fixing our South Africa now,” one voice declared.
“Take your wife and go back to your country. Take your children and go and raise them at home,” a second voice said.
In another disturbing development, an Ethiopian national was shot dead in what appeared to be a targeted killing in downtown Johannesburg, further heightening concerns over the safety of foreign nationals.
CCTV footage circulating online showed the victim being approached and shot at close range at a busy intersection, with no immediate provocation or robbery, suggesting a deliberate attack.
Authorities confirmed that no arrests had been made and investigations were ongoing.
Amid the violence, the South African Police Service condemned acts of intimidation against foreigners.
“These actions are not only unlawful, but they stand in direct opposition to the values of dignity, equality, and human rights upon which our democracy is founded,” the police said.
Nigerians seek help
Reacting, the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa warned of increasing hostility, harassment, and alleged police brutality against Nigerians and other African nationals.
NICASA President, Frank Onyekwelu, described the situation as alarming and called for urgent intervention by Nigerian and African leaders.
“We are alarmed by the increasing normalisation of hostility, manifested through inflammatory rhetoric by certain political actors, unlawful intimidation, and discriminatory enforcement practices by some law enforcement personnel.
“These actions not only undermine human dignity, but also threaten the long-standing bonds of African solidarity.
“On behalf of the Nigerian community, I appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives to act with urgency, firmness, and strategic diplomacy in tackling these developments,” he said.
Onyekwelu further called for stronger diplomatic engagement, accountability for erring officers, and the creation of mechanisms to document and address xenophobic abuses.
“Nigerians in South Africa are law-abiding, economically contributing, and socially integrated members of society. The reckless stereotyping and collective criminalisation of our people must stop.
“NICASA reiterates its commitment to peace, lawful conduct, and constructive engagement within our host nation. We urge compatriots to remain calm, vigilant, and compliant with the laws of South Africa, while we pursue diplomatic and institutional remedies,” he said.
Safety advisory
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission also issued safety advisories, warning of escalating protests in parts of South Africa, including Durban, Cape Town, and KwaZulu-Natal, where incidents of looting, property damage, and violence have been reported.
“Nigerian nationals are also urged to remain law-abiding always,” the commission stated.
The agency advised Nigerians to avoid confrontations, monitor local developments, and, in some cases, temporarily shut down businesses to prevent losses.
Despite the tensions, Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, maintained that the situation was under control and not a coordinated siege against Nigerians.
“Let me first make the point that right now, Nigerians are not under siege in South Africa. The situation is currently under control. The governments are working on it.
“The two governments are working on it. Actually, the priority right now is to ensure the safety and well-being of every citizen, including foreigners,” he said.
He described the incidents as “isolated tension” and urged caution, noting that authorities had taken steps to contain unrest in affected areas.
Ramaphosa cautions
On his part, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged foreign nationals to respect the country’s laws and traditions while reaffirming his commitment to international law and human rights.
In a video during his address on Monday, on the occasion of Freedom Day, he said, “To those who are here legally, respect us as South Africans, respect our laws, respect our conventions and our traditions, as you would want us to respect the laws and traditions of your own country,” he said.
FG engages S’Africa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally called on South Africa to ensure the protection of the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The call was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
“Nigeria recalls the recent attacks on foreign nationals in some major cities in South Africa.
“As brotherly countries, Nigeria wishes to use the occasion of the anniversary of Freedom Day to call on the Government of South Africa to protect the lives and property of foreigners from fellow African countries currently residing in their country.
“Nigeria remains confident that the enduring partnership between both nations will continue to contribute to peace, stability, and sustainable development across the African continent.
“The government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria extend their best wishes to the government and people of South Africa for continued unity, progress, and prosperity,” the statement read.
It noted that Nigeria and South Africa share deep historical ties rooted in the anti-apartheid struggle and have since built a strong bilateral relationship spanning trade, defence, education, and cultural exchange, as well as cooperation within the African Union and United Nations.
It also highlighted ongoing collaboration through frameworks such as the Bi-National Commission, while stressing the importance of continental unity and collective progress.
Congratulating South Africa on its Freedom Day, Nigeria said the occasion marked the historic 1994 democratic elections that ended apartheid and ushered in majority rule.
The statement added that the 2026 celebration reflected 32 years of democratic governance and the country’s commitment to constitutionalism, rule of law, equality, and human dignity.
“On this auspicious occasion, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with South Africa and deepening cooperation across strategic sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries,” the statement stated.
Muneer Yaqub, a Nigerian researcher and PhD graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, United States, recently earned recognition as the Outstanding Graduate Student (PhD) selected from across six schools at the institution. He specialises in antimicrobial resistance, with research focused on highly drug-resistant, hospital-acquired pathogens at the Dillon Lab. In this interview with ADAM MOSADIOLUWA, he speaks on his academic journey from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), to a fully funded doctoral programme in the United States, the challenges of adapting to a new academic and cultural environment, his leadership roles and mentorship initiatives for international students, and the perseverance required to complete a PhD at 27.
CAN you take us through your journey from studying Microbiology at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), to becoming a PhD student at the University of Texas at Dallas in the United States? What drove that ambition, and what were the biggest hurdles along the way?
I studied Microbiology at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and that was really where my interest in infectious diseases started to take shape. At the time, I didn’t have some grand, fully formed plan to do a PhD abroad. I was just curious especially about why some infections don’t respond to treatment the way we expect.
Over time, that curiosity turned into something more intentional. I started looking into opportunities outside Nigeria, partly because I wanted access to better research infrastructure, and partly because I wanted to challenge myself. The biggest hurdles were honestly information and access. It wasn’t always clear what the process looked like or what was required. You’re figuring things out as you go, often without guidance.
There were also structural limitations as an international student funding, eligibility, things like that. But once I understood the system better, it became more about positioning myself properly and staying consistent.
Immediately after your first degree at UDUS, you secured a fully funded fellowship to pursue your PhD in the US. What did that process look like, and how challenging was the transition from Nigeria to life as a doctoral student abroad?
Getting a fully funded PhD wasn’t a straight line. It was a lot of trial and error understanding how applications work, how to present your story, and what programs are actually looking for. Moving to the University of Texas at Dallas was a big shift. Academically, you’re expected to be much more independent. No one is holding your hand—you have to think critically, design experiments, defend your ideas. Outside the lab, it was also an adjustment new environment, new culture, building a support system from scratch. I think the hardest part was learning the “unwritten rules” how to communicate with professors, how to navigate opportunities, and how to advocate for yourself. That takes time.
You were recently named the Outstanding Graduate Student (PhD) at UT Dallas, selected from among nominations across six schools. How challenging was it to finish your PhD at 27, and what does this recognition mean to you personally, and maybe as a Nigerian as well?
It means a lot, honestly. A PhD can be a very quiet journey most of the work happens behind the scenes, and progress is often slow and uncertain. So to have that work recognized at the level of the university is special. Finishing at 27 wasn’t easy. There’s pressure to perform, to produce results, to stay on track, even when things aren’t working. And in research, things often don’t work. As a Nigerian, it also means something more. You’re aware of where you’re coming from, and you know that there are many people back home with the same potential but fewer opportunities. So it feels like representation in a way.
The award recognises academic excellence, service, and perseverance in the face of challenges. Which of these would you say was the most demanding to demonstrate?
Perseverance, easily. Excellence is something you work towards. Service is a choice you make. But perseverance is tested when things are not going well when experiments fail, when results don’t make sense, when opportunities don’t come through. There were stretches where progress felt very slow. Staying consistent during those periods that was the hardest part.
Your research focuses on highly drug-resistant, hospital-acquired pathogens, a subject with serious real-world implications. What drew you to antimicrobial resistance, and what is your work at the Dillon Lab aiming to solve?
I work in the Dillon Lab, and my research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Acinetobacter baumannii, which is a major hospital-acquired pathogen. What drew me to this field is how real the problem is. These are infections that are becoming harder to treat, even with our best antibiotics. A big part of my work looks at cases where bacteria appear susceptible in the lab but still survive during treatment. That gap between what we measure and what actually happens in patients is something we’re trying to understand better.
You have presented your research at major conferences, including ASM Microbe and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. How important has it been to take your work beyond the lab and into wider scientific conversations?
Presenting at conferences like those organized by the American Society for Microbiology and Cold Spring Harbor has been very important for me. It pushes you to explain your work clearly, and it exposes you to how others are thinking about similar problems. You get feedback, you refine your ideas, and sometimes you see your work from a completely different angle. It also reminds you that science is not just about your lab it’s a larger conversation.
You served as the first Graduate Student Representative for the Department of Biological Sciences and as the pioneer President of the UTD Global Ambassadors programme for international students. What motivated you to take on these roles alongside a demanding doctoral programme?
I took on those roles because I saw gaps that needed to be addressed. As an international student, I understood how confusing the system can be. Serving as Graduate Student Representative and leading the Global Ambassadors program gave me a chance to help improve that experience for others. It was definitely a balancing act with research, but it also gave me a sense of purpose beyond the lab.
I’m aware you founded Temple of Scholars to help international students secure funded graduate scholarships in the US. Where did that mission come from, and what impact has it had so far?
Temple of Scholars, now ScholarshipHQ, came directly from my own experience. When I was applying, I struggled to find clear, reliable information. There are many talented students, but they don’t always know how to navigate the process. I wanted to create something that makes that journey easier for others. Over time, it’s grown into a platform that has helped a lot of students secure funded opportunities, which has been really rewarding to see.
"Greener Pasture: How to Secure a Fully Funded Master’s and PhD Scholarship in the US" is a book you authored on securing fully funded scholarships. What do you think is the single most important misconception Nigerian and African students have about the scholarship application process?
That it’s just about grades. Grades matter, but they’re not enough. What really matters is how you present yourself your experiences, your goals, and how well you align with the program. A lot of strong students miss out because they don’t tell their story effectively.
Your writing has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times and Science Magazine, which is rare for a doctoral scientist. How did that aspect of your career develop, and how do you see journalism and research intersecting in your work?
Writing started as a way for me to process my experiences and communicate ideas beyond the lab. Publishing in The New York Times and Science came from engaging with topics that sit at the intersection of science and real life. I see writing and research as connected. Research answers questions, but writing helps bring those answers to people in a way they can understand and relate to.
Doctoral research is known to be mentally and emotionally demanding. Were there moments when you genuinely struggled to keep going, and how did you navigate those periods?
Yes, definitely. There were times when experiments failed repeatedly or when I wasn’t sure if I was on the right track. That’s a normal part of research, but it doesn’t feel normal when you’re in it. What helped was stepping back when needed, talking to mentors, and reminding myself that setbacks are part of the process not a sign that you’re not capable.
Who or what has kept you motivated over the years? Is there a person, a memory, or a belief that sustains you when things get difficult?
A mix of things. My background plays a role I’m aware of the opportunities I’ve had and the responsibility that comes with them. But also, I just genuinely enjoy understanding how things work. That curiosity has carried me through a lot.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not studying or writing papers?
I read a lot mostly books that go beyond science into philosophy, history, and storytelling. I also enjoy writing. It’s a different way of thinking and helps me make sense of my experiences.
You have built an impressive profile across research, leadership, writing, and mentorship. Where does Muneer Yaqub see himself after completing PhD?
I see myself continuing in research, but in a way that connects more directly to real-world applications. Whether that’s in academia or industry, I want to work on problems that translate into actual impact.
What would you say to a young Nigerian university student who envisions a future like yours but has no idea where to begin?
Start where you are. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but you need to be intentional. Look for information, build experience, and be consistent. And don’t count yourself out too early. A lot of opportunities feel out of reach until you actually understand how they work.
A UK immigrant and career criminal charged with a “pure evil” killing spree in Georgia that claimed the life of a Department of Homeland Security employee and two others was found dead in jail Tuesday night, according to authorities.
Olaolukitan Adon-Abel, 26, was discovered dead in his cell. Authorities performed lifesaving measures on the convicted felon, but he was ultimately pronounced dead, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
His cause of death is not yet known, but officials do not suspect foul play and will conduct an internal review, cops said.
Olaolukitan Adon Abel, 26, was found in his cell unresponsive and later pronounced dead on April 21, 2026.
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Adon-Abel, a convicted felon immigrant who was naturalized under the Biden administration while serving in the US Navy, allegedly shot and stabbed DHS auditor Lauren Bullis, 40, as she took her dog Sancho out for a walk around 7 a.m. April 13.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the crime “pure evil” that “devastated our department.”
The deadly spree started hours earlier outside a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb County, when the suspect gunned down Prianna Weathers, 31, around 1 a.m., cops said.
The madman then drove roughly 16 miles before he allegedly opened fire on Tony Mathews, 49, who was homeless and sleeping outside the Kroger grocery store in Brookhaven at about 2 a.m.
Several hours later, Adon-Abel allegedly shot and stabbed Bullis roughly 15 miles away, according to authorities.
Adon Abel was accused of killing three people including DHS auditor Lauren Bullis, 40, in last week’s attack.
Bullis’ husband, Jimmie, reunited with their beloved dog, who ran off after the tragic attack, he previously told The Post.
Adon-Abel’s roommates told the Associated Press that he got into an intense argument over the air conditioning in their home and stormed out before going on the killing spree.
The accused killer, who became a naturalized citizen in 2022 while he served in the Navy and was stationed in the San Diego area, had a lengthy rap sheet before the heinous murders, according to Mullin.
“He possesses a prior criminal record that includes convictions for sexual battery, battery against a police officer, obstruction, and assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, and now stands accused of murdering [DHS] employee Lauren Bullis by shooting and stabbing her while she walked her dog,” he said in a statement.
“These acts of pure evil have devastated our department, and my prayers are with the families of the victims.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Adon-Abel’s prior convictions predated his arrival in the US.
Investigators haven’t revealed a motive in the deadly spree, but the victims appeared to have been targeted at random.
President William Ruto said that Kenyans spoke some of the best English in the world
Kenyan President William Ruto has faced a social media backlash after publicly suggesting that Nigerian-accented English was incomprehensible and required a translator.
Addressing Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, Ruto said: "If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying - you need a translator," while boasting that Kenyans spoke "some of the best English in the world".
His remarks drew fierce condemnation from Nigerians and other Africans online who accused the Kenyan leader of demeaning a fellow African nation.
"English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress," wrote Hopewell Chin'ono, a Zimbabwean journalist.
As former British colonies, both Kenya and Nigeria share English as an official language, but each country has developed distinct spoken varieties with different phonetic structures.
These differences reflect the influence of indigenous languages - Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix give rise to its own accents.
But in his address to the diaspora gathering, Ruto said Kenya's education system produced strong English proficiency and that it was difficult to understand Nigerians when they spoke English.
"Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English," he said, sparking laughter in the room.
"We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training," Ruto added.
His remarks have sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many users criticising the Kenyan leader for showcasing a "deep inferiority complex rooted in colonial conditioning".
"Ruto is mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner.The Nation of Achebe and Chimamanda," former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani posted on X, referring to Wole Soyinka - the country's only Nobel Prize winner - along with acclaimed authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Other social media users urged Ruto to focus on addressing pressing issues facing his citizens - such as the cost of living and unemployment - rather than engaging in what they described as distractions.
Online barbs between Kenya and Nigeria are a frequent occurrence, often marked by intense, humorous and sometimes volatile cyber wars on platforms like X.
These exchanges typically revolve around economic comparisons, pop culture and sport and, more recently, political remarks.
Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu faced a backlash from Kenyans online after stating that Nigerians were "better off than those in Kenya and other African countries" despite rising fuel prices at home.
While Ruto did not make a direct reference to any specific comment, some online interpretations suggested his remarks may be in response to Tinubu's comments.
There has been no official response from Ruto's government, but some Kenyans have defended him online, arguing that critics have misunderstood the intent of his remarks and missed the humour.
The performance on the south coast was particularly dire. Rosenior's side managed only six shots throughout the game and failed to register a single one on target.
Following the match, travelling supporters at the Amex Stadium voiced their frustrations, calling for his removal.
Chelsea face huge cost sacking Rosenior
Should the Chelsea board heed these calls, the decision could come with an eye-watering price tag.
According to reports from The Sun, sacking Rosenior could cost the club as much as £24 million.
This figure is based on his reported £4 million-per-year salary and a long-term contract that runs until 2031, assuming no specific release clauses are in place.
This potential payout follows a recent pattern of costly managerial changes at Stamford Bridge, with Graham Potter, Enzo Maresca, and Mauricio Pochettino all receiving significant compensation packages upon their departures in recent years.
With just four league matches remaining, Chelsea are languishing 10 points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.
Their next major test is an FA Cup semi-final clash against Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday.
The world has heard harrowing accounts of Israeli men and women sexually brutalised in Hamas captivity — but now chilling new testimony is emerging from inside Gaza itself.
Gazans living under Hamas rule are beginning to break their silence, describing sexual abuse by multiple men, sexual blackmail for aid or money and abuse by people in positions of power.
It comes as concerns grow that the group is re-establishing control, while global attention shifts to the conflict in Iran.
Human rights organisations in Gaza have told the Daily Mail that up to 60,000 women are vulnerable, with reports also indicating a rise in child marriages and pregnancies.
The Daily Mail has obtained rare video testimony, filmed by Jusoor News from inside the Strip, where speaking out carries severe risk.
In one account told by a male Gazan, whose identity has to remain anonymous for his safety, he described how he found a widow displaced in the war being molested inside a tent by 'a bunch of' Hamas members and was warned to stay silent.
'We were contacted by the wife of a friend. She had asked a Qassam Brigades commander to help her, but he took advantage of her,' he said
'His behaviour is disgraceful. We investigated the matter and found her in a tent in the Gharabli area where a bunch of Qassam members were taking advantage of her.
'We informed the leadership but we were told we had to keep silent about it.'
An elderly Gazan woman told Jusoor News that charitable organisations in Gaza are deceiving and exploiting 'women who are desperate' Another anonymous woman accused religious organisations in the Strip of 'sexual harassment, psychological abuse, and harassing young women'
Another Gazan man confirmed that a similar episode had happened with one of his female neighbours, who was blackmailed by 'one of Hamas’s charity organisations… they wanted her to wh*** herself in exchange for a food parcel, or an aid voucher, or 100 shekels'.
Another man, who identified as being in the Qassam Brigades, confirmed this was the case with widows.
He said he had told the leadership that some Qassam members were taking advantage of the 'wives of Martyrs' in a tent in the Gharabli area, which is in Deir al-Balah.
He was ordered to keep it quiet. 'We told them it was an insult to our honour and dignity,' he said, and tore down the tent in anger.
The testimonies come amid wider allegations of sexual violence in the conflict, including accounts made by many Israeli hostages including Arbel Yehoud, who told the Daily Mail she was raped every day during captivity while held in tents after being kidnapped from her kibbutz on October 7, 2023.
Meanwhile Hamas, who are rejecting proposals to disarm in the ceasefire agreement, still rule with an iron fist — and, according to people on the ground in Gaza, that includes taking advantage of vulnerable women.
Abdullah (not his real name), a journalist from Jusoor News who filmed the testimonies, spoke to the Daily Mail from hiding, for fear of being found by the group.
'Unfortunately, there are many cases — very widespread. In every area, many women are exploited, especially widows and divorced women, because they have no support and no income. Their vulnerability is taken advantage of, and the situation is getting worse day by day.'
Noor (not her real name), a divorced mother of four displaced during the war, spoke to the Daily Mail from Gaza, whispering down the phone for fear of being caught.
She described sexual coercion in return for aid when a religious figure started to harass her at her lowest point.
'I didn’t receive any aid, so I went to a charitable organisation. A man there, who appeared religious and respectable, promised to help me.
'I am a mother of four children. I am displaced because of the war and I do not belong to a recognised displacement camp, so I did not receive any aid. I went to an Islamic charity that distributes aid to displaced and needy people in Gaza.
'I was welcomed by a man who looked religious, like a sheikh. He said he would stand by me and help me. I told him I was separated from my husband. He said: "Oh, separated? A woman as beautiful as you?"'
He took Noor’s phone number, which she says she believed would lead to fatherly support — but instead he suggested a late-night video call.
'From the beginning, the way he spoke to me felt like harassment. I am much younger than him. I trusted him because he was an older man; I saw him like a father. He is the age of my father, but he harassed me directly. I was afraid, of course. He was pursuing me.
'I asked him how he could talk to me like that. And he should be ashamed.
'I told him I would expose him. He said: "You cannot expose me, I am the government here."'
Noor says this reflects a wider pattern, where vulnerable women are targeted because they lack providers and rely on aid.
'They exploit women’s need for help. But the women are too scared to speak up.'
One man, who identified as being in the Qassam Brigades, was told to 'keep quiet' by leadership after he reported that women were being raped by Hamas fighters.
A male Gazan, whose identity has to remain anonymous for his safety, described how he found a widow displaced in the war being molested inside a tent by 'a bunch of' Hamas members
A report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has found a surge in child marriage and adolescent pregnancy in Gaza.
Pre-war figures show adolescent marriage rates fell to 11 per cent in 2022, down from 26 per cent in 2009, highlighting a reversal of earlier progress.
It said at least 400 girls aged 14 to 16 were registered married over just four months in 2025, though the UNFPA warned this likely represents only a fraction of the true scale due to underreporting and the collapse of formal registration systems.
'We are witnessing the dismantling of a generation’s future,' said Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Country Representative for the State of Palestine, who said the trend has been driven by war and worsening humanitarian conditions.
'Honestly, they are deceiving women. There are charitable organisations exploiting women. They deceive women who are desperate. They are desperate for a bit of sugar or a grain of rice,' an elderly Gazan woman told Jusoor News, her identity concealed to protect her safety.
Another woman said: 'A guy will say: "Come, we have a relief package for you". He represents an Islamic organisation — a movement whose name I won’t mention, but it is a political organisation. "If you come with me and do so and so, I’ll give you so and so" — and the women, who have no life experience, end up getting exploited.'
She continued: 'This shouldn’t be happening at all, it just shouldn’t. One charity in Gaza is unfortunately the biggest perpetrator. From its chairman all the way down to its doorman, it’s being done by all their employees and members, as though it’s an organisation set up for sexual harassment, psychological abuse, and harassing young women.'
During the Israel-Hamas war, Associated Press documented several incidents in 2025, including the case of a 38-year-old woman who believed she had found a lifeline when she turned to aid for her six children.
After weeks of struggling she was told a man could help with food, aid, and a job.
She approached him after being separated from her husband and forced to shut her business, but then he took her to an empty apartment. He complimented her and told her to remove her headscarf.
He told her he loved her and would not force her, she said, but he also would not let her leave. Eventually, she said, a sexual encounter took place. She declined further detail, saying she felt fear and shame.
'I had to play along because I was scared, I wanted out of this place,' she told AP.
Before leaving, she was given 100 shekels (about £25). Two weeks later, she received a box of medicine and a box of food. 'The promised job never materialised,' it reported.
'Women are being sexually abused now, worse than during the war,' said Gazan writer and author of 'Seashells on the beach of Gaza', Hamza Howidy.
He warned many victims remain silent due to stigma and fear of social consequences.
'The problem is that most women will never speak about it publicly because society considers it shameful…
'It’s not only widows who are being affected, but also unmarried women.
'Many women are now forced to seek assistance simply to feed their children, and in doing so they become vulnerable to exploitation. It is heartbreaking.'
He said the cycle will continue unless women are given economic independence.
Abdullah added: 'Hamas has exploited media channels, spreading exaggerated or false numbers.
'Hamas have lied about everything, they stole the aid, created the famine narrative and the gullible West believes it. They have no respect for anyone.'
Smaller platforms like Jusoor, he said, are among the few bringing testimonies out.
'We have a duty to amplify these voices.'
He described threats to his life, including armed men arriving at his location.
'If I had been there, they would have shot me.'
He said he has been forced into hiding and continues reporting despite risks.
The Daily Mail contacted UN Women, who didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Two other human rights groups inside Gaza were contacted, one of which said they were unaware of women being exploited.
This is echoed by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, director of Realign for Palestine, who says that many won’t speak for fear of Hamas infiltration or lack of access.
'I have seen videos showing women being covered up and sold under the guise of helping them find a husband.
'Many women in Gaza have been subjected to exploitation — but there is no central body documenting these cases,' he said.
'Many NGOs and organisations that are supposedly concerned with women's issues are unable to be of help, either for fear of Hamas or its enforced notion that Gazan women are perfectly fine under its control or authority.’
What Aliko Dangote said about how much tax he is paying to the FG:
I'm sure it might be shocking to you to know that the Federal Government of Nigeria, not even the state, they make more money from, for example, our cement business.
For every one naira that we earn, around 52 kobo of it all goes to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
"Tinubu's govt takes 52 kobo from every N1 on cement”—-That is N6240 from every bag of cement and they are still borrowing, what are they doing with the money? —Aliko Dangote. pic.twitter.com/dXYfk1rhGz
●Ukraine forces Russians to surrender using only robots
●Zelensky claims enemy position seized autonomously for the first time – without any of his troops being put at risk
Ukrainian forces have seized a Russian position using only drones and ground-based robots for the first time, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine’s president claimed that the enemy soldiers surrendered during the operation without any of his troops being put at risk.
In an address to mark Ukrainian Gunsmith Day, he said: “For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned systems – ground systems and drones.
“The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side.”
The proliferation of drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) on the battlefield, which can be piloted by human soldiers from a safer location miles away, is rapidly superseding the use of infantry in Ukraine.
UGVs are used for a range of missions, including assault operations, evacuating wounded troops from so-called “kill zones” where the risks to human life are almost untenable, detecting and neutralising mines, logistics and supply runs, and reconnaissance.
More than 280 companies have been developing ground robots in Ukraine. From just hundreds of units in 2024, Kyiv aims to produce more than 20,000 this year, with 99 per cent domestically made.
They have a range of up to 31 miles, and many front-line models cost the equivalent of £7,500 to £22,000.
More than 22,000 missions have been carried out in the last three months using ground robotic systems such as the Ratel, TerMIT, Ardal, Rys, Zmiy, Protector and Volia, according to Mr Zelensky.
The number of tasks they are able to perform increases every month.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ukrainian army chief, said recently that robotic complexes completed 50 per cent more military tasks in March compared with the month before. Some brigades have even launched UGV-dedicated units.
“In other words, lives were saved more than 22,000 times when a robot went into the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is about high technology protecting the highest value – human life,” Mr Zelensky said on Monday.
He did not specify where the incident took place or what the circumstances were.
The role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the battlefield is established, but UGVs, a comparatively recent development, have completed increasingly daring missions in recent months.
In December, an unmanned ground vehicle known as the DevDroid TW 12.7, armed with a .50-calibre M2 Browning machine gun, held off Russian soldiers from a Ukrainian position for 45 days on its own while soldiers operated it some 15 miles away.
It received maintenance and reloading from human soldiers every 48 hours.
In January, three Russian soldiers were shown in footage setting down their guns and surrendering to an armed UGV near Lyman, in the first recorded instance of such an incident.
The same month, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade also released a clip depicting a kamikaze UGV carrying 12 TM-62 anti-tank mines advancing on Russian troops sheltering from the droid.
In March, Ukraine managed to rescue two prisoners of war from a soldier escorting them using several strike drones, which chased the Russian while the captives escaped his grasp.
Earlier this month, members of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” deployed a “Zmiy” UGV for the first time to put out a fire in Kramatorsk.
The turn to robots comes as Russia increases its use of “double tap” strikes targeting emergency responders, with more than 100 such incidents in 2025, according to Truth Hounds, a human rights organisation investigating war crimes in Ukraine.
The first recorded robot-only assault on a Russian position took place in 2024.
Last month, Andriy Biletsky, the commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, said that up to 30 per cent of Ukraine’s infantry could be replaced by UGVs this year, and up to 80 per cent in the future.
Other commanders have been more reticent, cautioning that they remain vulnerable to electronic warfare, terrain constraints, weather conditions and attacks by Russian drones.
“Current unmanned and autonomous systems remain short of abilities required to replace humans at scale,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Ukrainian army chief, said late last year.
Russia also uses a range of home-made UGVs in Ukraine, most prominently the Courier combat UGV. The Courier has been extensively commended on state television, which claims it can travel up to 16 miles for up to five hours autonomously.
Is he being disrespectful or is this an uncomfortable truth?
If Nigeria does well, Ghana does well. I mean, when you have cousins, 250 million of them, you want them to do well, so that one million of them don't come drifting towards a small country like Ghana. So every day I wake up, I pray for Nigeria.
I say, God, let Nigeria get their act together. And so I remember when a lot of the people in Ghana migrated from Nigeria. They find their roots from the Yoruba kingdoms and all that. And so the Ghana people and all, you know, migrated from Nigeria.
This is the first time an African president would talk about Nigeria in a less than admirable tone. But would you blame the president of Ghana for speaking so frankly? Bola Tinubu opened the floodgates with that less than careless remark on Kenya. True leaders don’t do that! pic.twitter.com/XGk3rVYDoX
Nigeria stands clearly as an outlier in West Africa’s inflation landscape. At 15.06%, it is not just the highest, it is almost double the next country (Sierra Leone at 8.05%). #Statisense (Trading Economies)
Family › Man Returns ₦3 Million To His Friend’s Widow by BlackViper(op): 9:25am On Jun 04
