Russian forces rape, behead and gouge out victims’ organs in Mali
Russian soldiers are raping and beheading civilians and gouging out their organs in a supposed fight against extremism in Mali.
Moscow’s Africa Corps appears to have taken over from the disbanded Wagner Group mercenary organisation, which was also accused of war crimes in Africa.
Witnesses say the unit has shot civilians on sight and harvested their organs, an investigation by the Associated Press has found.
“It’s a scorched earth policy,” said a Malian village chief who fled the Russian forces. “The soldiers speak to no one. Anyone they see, they shoot. No questions, no warning. People don’t even know why they are being killed.”
West Africa’s Sahel has become the world’s deadliest hotspot for extremist violence, with thousands of people killed in recent years.
The military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have abandoned Western partners and turned to Russia for help against al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked fighters.
Two refugees showed videos of burned villages to the Associated Press. Two others said they had found their loved ones’ bodies with their liver and kidneys missing.
“Only the name was changed [from Wagner to Africa Corps],” one local told AP. “The clothes, the vehicles, the people stayed the same. The methods stayed the same, and even became worse.”
Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed that the Africa Corps was operating in Mali “at the request of the Malian authorities”. Malian officials have not publicly acknowledged the Russian presence.
The Telegraph reported last month that Russia has become Mali’s main security partner in the fight against al-Qaeda for control of the west African nation.
The Africa Corps formed after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner founder, died in a suspicious plane crash in 2023 following his armed rebellion against Vladimir Putin. Analysts estimate 2,000 of its fighters operate in Mali.
One refugee, Mougaloa, said masked “white men” killed her 20-year-old son three months ago after Malian soldiers questioned him about militants.
In October, the men returned and abducted her daughter Fatma. The family has not heard from her.
“We were so scared,” the woman said. “We are hoping she will get here at some point.” She added that the men repeatedly used the word “pes”, a Russian slang term for dog
Another woman, Fatma, said forces had looted her village of Kurmare last month, killing men and taking jewellery.
She found her son shot dead at his shop, and her daughter died from seizures while fleeing to Mauritania.
Civilian deaths blamed on Russians dropped to 447 this year from 911 last year, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. But Heni Nsaibia, an analyst, said actual numbers may be higher because “people are more scared to report”.
A UN peacekeeping mission withdrew from Mali in 2023, and the country left the International Criminal Court this year.
Eduardo Gonzalez Cueva, a UN independent expert, said Mali’s junta, which took power in a 2021 coup, ignored his visit requests and questionnaires this year.
Mistress nearly plunges from 10th floor while escaping from lover’s wife
CLINGING for dear life, this is the shocking moment an alleged mistress nearly plunges to her death trying to hide from her lover’s wife.
Neighbours spotted the woman dangling from a 10th floor balcony as she appears to almost lose her grip.
The heart-stopping moment was captured in China, as onlookers watched on in horror at the woman attempting shimmy herself to a safer location.
A shirtless man can be seen talking to the woman through the window before he disappears from view.
Holding her phone, she then starts her descent to the floor below, climbing down drain pipes and windowsills.
The woman appears to slide down a water pipe to a neighbour’s window, when she bangs on for help.
Fortunately, the person inside opens up and helps the woman to safety.
Local reports claim a cheating husband panicked when his wife returned home early and pushed his mistress out onto the balcony to prevent her from being discovered.
The footage spread rapidly across Chinese social platforms, attracting widespread attention and prompting intense speculation about events inside.
Online commenters said the pair had been left “socially dead” after the video was shared repeatedly, with many predicting they would face considerable embarrassment.
Others warned that climbing outside a high-rise posed extreme danger and could easily have led to tragedy, especially given the narrow ledges and lack of protective barriers.
It comes after a 29-year-old man died after falling from a balcony at a popular holiday park.
Bartosz Urbaniak, 29, suffered trauma to the brain after he lost his footing at the Big Weekender event at Butlin’s, Skegness.
Witnesses claim the dad-of-one attempted to climb from one balcony to another before plunging to his death.
It’s understood he had been drinking at the time.
A trainee nurse who was also at the event rushed to give him CPR until the air ambulance arrived.
He was rushed to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham but despite medics’ best efforts, tragically died two days later.
A former medical director at the Optimal Cancer Care Foundation in Lagos, Dr Olufemi Olaleye, has been remanded in custody in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexual offences.
He was brought before the Medway Magistrates’ Court on Friday, which ordered his remand till January 2, 2026.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the 57-year-old was arrested at the Gatwick Airport, London, on Thursday, November 27, upon arriving in the UK from Nigeria.
He was immediately taken into custody by the North Kent Police Station for questioning.
Olaleye, a British citizen, worked in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Darent Valley Hospital under the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust from January 2005 to September 2008.
It was around this time that the alleged sexual incidents involving several women happened.
Kent Police, which confirmed his arrest to our correspondent on Tuesday, said three charges of voyeurism were filed against the suspect.
The Police Press Officer, Charles Harman, while responding to enquiries from Saturday PUNCH via email, said, “Kent Police was made aware of a man suspected of offences returning to the UK from Nigeria via Gatwick airport on Thursday, 27 November 2025. Officers attended the terminal and a man was arrested. Francis Olaleye, 57, from Plumstead Common Road, Plumstead, London, was later charged with three counts of voyeurism. He denied all charges at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, November 29, and has been remanded in custody until his next hearing on Friday, December 5.”
Francis Olaleye?
After the police identified the suspect with the name “Francis”, Saturday PUNCH dug into Olaleye’s social media profiles to avoid a case of mistaken identity.
Findings by our correspondent showed that the medical doctor may have changed his name a few times.
On Company House, he was identified as “Frank Olufemi Olaleye”.
But when he registered as a director at Wish for Africa, a charity organisation he formed in October 2007 and dissolved in 2010, he identified as “Frank Olaleye”.
In his certificate of incorporation, he claimed “Olufemi” was his previous surname.
On LinkedIn and Instagram, however, he identified as “Dr Femi Olaleye”.
In cover photos of books he authored, which he shared on Instagram, he identified as “Olufemi Olaleye”.
It is not clear when he added “Francis” to his name.
However, Saturday PUNCH can confirm that Frank, Femi, Olufemi, Francis are all the same person who worked as a medical doctor in Dartford and was director at Wish for Africa.
There also appears to be a discrepancy in his age.
While his record with Company House showed he was born August 1968 (57), on Instagram, Olaleye in August 2025 told his followers he was ready to give 58 of his books out to mark his 58th birthday.
Voyeurism
A support officer from the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre, Matt J, while responding to Saturday PUNCH via email, gave more details of the charges against Olaleye — three counts of voyeurism—recording a private act—punishable under the Sexual Offences Act of 2003.
The charges state, “Between 01/05/2004 and 31/07/2007 at Dartford in the county of Kent recorded another person doing a private act with the intention that you would, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, look at an image of that other person doing the act, knowing that the other person did not consent to your recording the act with that intention.”
Voyeurism, according to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, is the practice of getting pleasure by secretly watching people who are wearing no clothes or having sex.
In the UK, it is illegal to secretly watch, film, or photograph someone expecting privacy—such as when naked, using the toilet, or having sex—without their consent.
Findings by our correspondent showed that while the defendant was in the UK at the time, he allegedly filmed sexual acts with some women.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that among them was a married woman whose explicit video was seen by her husband, leading to the dissolution of her marriage.
The victim is among the three police witnesses.
Morademu S.O., of the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre, said when the matter came up for hearing on Friday, Olaleye was ordered to be remanded till January 2, 2026 when the remand would be reviewed.
In an email exchange with Saturday PUNCH, she said the court heard that the defendant could re-offend, posed a flight risk and could abscond.
The matter was adjourned for hearing till January 21 at 10am in Courtroom 01, Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.
Olaleye’s legal troubles in Nigeria
Olaleye’s arrest in the UK in November 2025 follows a high-profile sexual offence case in Lagos.
He was arraigned on November 30, 2022, before the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on two counts of defilement of a child and sexual assault by penetration involving his wife’s niece.
The allegations spanned March 2020 to November 2021, when the survivor was reported to be 15 to 16.
His estranged wife, Aderemi Olaleye, testified as the first prosecution witness.
She told the court that the survivor lived with them from November 2019 and confessed in November 2021 that Olaleye had been sexually abusing her.
Aderemi recounted that the abuse began with introducing the girl to pornography, progressing to fingering, MouthAction, and penetration, often in areas of the home without CCTV cameras, typically around 2am.
She alleged Olaleye drugged her with substances like junior aspirin and Phenergan on nights he wanted to abuse the niece, and that the family driver once saw the girl vomiting sperm.
Aderemi reported the matter to the police in March 2022 after the survivor confided in a relative.
Medical evidence from the Mirabel Centre showed the girl had bruises and cuts in her private parts.
On October 24, 2023, Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted Olaleye on both counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment, describing him as a “dangerous offender” with no remorse.
However, Olaleye appealed the conviction.
On November 29, 2024, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal nullified the conviction, discharged, and acquitted him.
The appellate court, led by Justice Olukayode Bada, overturned Oshodi’s judgement, citing tainted testimony, lack of credible evidence, and critical errors in the trial court’s proceedings.
It ruled that the prosecution evidence was unreliable, particularly describing Aderemi as a “tainted witness” motivated by greed to seize Olaleye’s assets.
The court cited instances where she allegedly changed car ownership, manipulated bank signatures, and pressured him to transfer house ownership while he was in custody.
It also noted inconsistencies in testimonies and that the trial judge improperly interfered by descending into the arena.
The Lagos State Government appealed to the Supreme Court on December 27, 2024, seeking to reverse the acquittal and restore the conviction.
But after the appeal court ruling, Olaleye left Nigeria.
Posts on his social media showed he visited different countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Italy and authored four books on his trial, where he claimed to be a survivor.
He also granted press interviews published in many national newspapers, which he posted on his Instagram.
He was going to London when he was arrested at the Gatwick Airport.
Water rationing has begun in some areas, with the flow from taps reduced or even stopped altogether overnight.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged people to use water sparingly - or the city, or at least parts of it, may even have to evacuate.
Ahmback: But water consumption has risen even faster, quadrupling from 346 million cubic metres in 1976 to 1.2 billion cubic metres now. Increasing wealth has allowed more people to buy washing machines and dishwashers.
Iran's capital is counting down to "day zero" - the day the water runs out and the taps run dry.
Reservoirs that supply Tehran's 15 million residents are almost empty.
The Karaj dam, which supplies a quarter of the city's drinking water, is just 8% full.
Water rationing has begun in some areas, with the flow from taps reduced or even stopped altogether overnight.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged people to use water sparingly - or the city, or at least parts of it, may even have to evacuate.
So what's going on?
Rain should start falling in the autumn after Iran's hot dry summer.
But according to the country's National Weather Forecasting Centre, this has been the driest September to November period in half a century, with rainfall 89% below the long-term average.
The combination of low rainfall and high heat has lasted for more than five years, leaving the country parched.
But the weather - and the shadow of climate change - aren't the only factors in Tehran's water crisis.
According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the population of the metropolitan area of the city has almost doubled from 4.9 million in 1979 to 9.7 million today.
But water consumption has risen even faster, quadrupling from 346 million cubic metres in 1976 to 1.2 billion cubic metres now. Increasing wealth has allowed more people to buy washing machines and dishwashers.
To supplement supplies from reservoirs, Tehran has had to turn to natural aquifers underground, which provide between 30% and 60% of its tap water in recent years.
But that puts the city in direct competition with farmers who draw on the water to irrigate crops.
Levels are falling by 101 million cubic metres a year around Tehran, according to analysis in the journal Science Advances. That's water that has accumulated from many decades of rain - and will take at least as long to replenish.
Professor Kaveh Madani, the former deputy head of Iran's environment department and now director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, said chronic mismanagement of natural resources has led to what he calls water bankruptcy.
He told Sky News: "These things were not created overnight.
"They're the product of decades of bad management, lack of foresight, overreliance and false confidence in how much infrastructure and engineering projects can do in a country that is relatively water short."
Government ministers blame the water shortage on climate change, water leaks from pipes and the 12-day war with Israel.
Whatever the reason, it underlines the threat of water scarcity to global cities. Tehran is not alone.
Cape Town in South Africa narrowly avoided taps running dry eight years ago after a city-wide effort to save water.
Even London, known for its rain, is at risk of drought. Supplies haven't kept up with population growth and booming demand.
As Tehran has found, droughts that are being made more likely and more severe with climate change can expose the fragility of water supply.
Nigeria's civil service unveils plan for merit-based reforms
The 44th Annual National Council of Civil Service Commissions of the Federation concluded in Umuahia with extensive deliberations on the 2026-2030 strategic plan, which prioritises merit-based recruitment, digital transformation, and institutional independence, in line with global best practices.
The Council, in a communique issued Thursday in Umuahia and endorsed by an eight-member drafting committee, and read by the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Balarabe Abubakar, stated that the resolution would facilitate strategic repositioning and professionalisation of the civil service.
It urged the Federal Civil Service Commission to develop critical success factors for pilot states with political support, using Abia State as a model for domesticating the strategic plan.
The Council further urged state civil service commissions to adopt and implement a human resource management information system promptly, and called on all states to review or develop strategic plans within 12 months, taking cues from the federal plan and sourcing robust funding from government budgets, development partners, and NGOs.
It also advised states to establish strategy implementation coordination units to oversee execution, monitoring, and reporting of their strategic plans.
The Council recommended a zero-tolerance policy against any public servant found falsifying age, credentials, or other vital records, while charging Civil Service Commissions across the federation to restore merit as the principal consideration in recruitment and promotion, and to institute objective formulas to ensure inclusivity and diversity management.
The Commission noted that the theme of the meeting, “Repositioning Civil Service Commissions in Nigeria as a Hub of Professionalism in Public Service Human Resource Management,” aligns with national reforms, including the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan, and Nigeria’s aspiration to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
“There is the need to address staff retention in the face of the JAPA syndrome, improve remunerations, and provide conducive work environment, the need to prioritise and standardize training for all cadres to engender merit-based promotion and career development of civil servants in the face of paucity of training funds, and the need for the state governments to give the state civil service commissions free hand to exercise their constitutional duties,” the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Balarabe Abubakar, read.
The five-day annual council, which was declared open by Governor Alex Otti and who was represented by the SSG Professor Kenneth Kalu, had in attendance the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Alaopa; chairmen of civil service commissions of the 36 states of the federation; commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission; and other stakeholders in the federal and state civil service commissions, including the Chairman of Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pst. Mrs. Enoh Jerry-Eze.
There's no such thing as Islamophobia. We know what the root of evil in the world is. Even your leaders in Nigeria are willing to speak the truth sometimes
Incognito403: Islamophobes do their islamophobia even on unrelated topics.
Jealous aunt drowns niece, 6, at wedding because child ‘looked prettier than her,’ admits to murdering 3 other relatives
A woman is accused of drowning her six-year-old niece during a wedding celebration because the child “looked prettier than her.”
The woman, who goes by Poonam, reportedly drowned her young relative in a tub of water after her family gathered for a ceremony in Panipat, northern India, on Monday.
The girl, named Vidhi, had attended the wedding with her father, mother, 10-month-old brother and her grandmother.
Vidhi’s father is said to have received a phone call during the celebrations, informing him that the girl had gone missing – prompting a family search party.
After an hour, Vidhi’s grandmother, Omwati, tragically found her dead in a nearby storeroom, with her head submerged underwater.
She was rushed to the nearby NC Medical College, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police arrested Poonam following the death, where she then confessed to killing Vidhi, her paternal niece.
According to local media, Poonam told police that “she didn’t want anyone to look more beautiful” than her at the wedding.
Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh said that according to investigators, the woman committed the crime when all the guests were out of the house.
Poonam allegedly saw the child climbing the stairs before following her to the terrace and making conversation with her.
“After having her placed in a plastic tub filled with water outside the storeroom, she drowned the child in the tub, then bolted the door from the outside, and came down,” Superintendent Singh said.
“During interrogation, the accused woman told the police that she was irritated by beautiful girls.”
Poonan also reportedly confessed to previously murdering another three children, including another niece and her own son, whom she also drowned.
In 2023, the woman allegedly murdered her sister-in-law’s daughter, 9, before then killing her own son to “avoid suspicion.”
In August this year, she allegedly killed a young girl in a nearby town because she was “prettier” than her.
Police revealed that the family previously considered these deaths accidental and that Poonam “committed these crimes one after the other.”
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday stirred excitement at the 2025 Imo State Economic Summit in Owerri after declaring that the United Kingdom may well have Nigeria to thank for one of its future national leaders, Conservative heavyweight, Kemi Badenoch.
Speaking before government officials, investors and development partners, Johnson praised the deepening ties between Nigeria and the UK, describing the movement of people between both countries as a “huge blessing” that continues to shape politics, commerce and culture on both sides.
Johnson, known for his flamboyant rhetoric, did not hold back in expressing admiration for Badenoch.
He said Nigeria should take pride in the fact that one of its own is now considered a future British prime minister.
“We send you former UK prime ministers,” Johnson quipped, “and you send us a future UK prime minister in the form of Kemi Badenoch, who comes from Nigeria and is doing better and better these days.”
Johnson also praised the long-standing relationship between the two nations, saying the shared history, language and cultural exchanges make the partnership natural and mutually beneficial.
He said the real strength of UK–Nigeria relations lies not only in trade but in “the things we do together, the things we do in partnership.”
The Imo State Economic Summit, convened to attract investment and reposition the state’s economy, gained an unexpected diplomatic highlight with Johnson’s remarks.
Your movies are low grade and pedestrian, 😂. I don't watch either Nollywood or Ghollywood. They're 2 sides of the same coin. Africans don't know how to make intelligent movies.
God1000: Nigeria is the entertainment powerhouse of Africa, also our movies are evergreen & of high quality
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Police said a man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing his 100-year-old mother at their home in western Tokyo before he called to say he was tired of caring for her.
Around 1 p.m., Masato Watabe, 79, allegedly covered his mother Masako's mouth and committed other acts of violence against her at their residence. He made the emergency call around 2:10 p.m., and woman was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Japan's declining birthrate and rapid aging population have created a social problem where elderly people with limited physical ability are increasingly forced to care for their older relatives.
According to the police, Masato admitted to the allegation. Since the two had been living together in Machida, Tokyo, police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The monarch of Bayagan-Ile community, Alhaji Rafiu Salami, remains in the custody of his abductors five days after being kidnapped, community sources confirmed on Thursday.
The traditional ruler was reportedly abducted while on his farm on Saturday morning in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Since the incident, conflicting reports about his release have circulated.
Speaking with Vanguard, community spokesperson Alhaji Rafiu Ayinla said he personally spoke with the monarch on Tuesday, who confirmed that he was still held at the same location since his abduction.
“When I spoke with him on Tuesday, he said he had been at the same spot since he was kidnapped. Our priority is negotiating the ransom; we are not discussing any other issue for now,” Ayinla said.
He further noted that aside from a local government councillor and neighbouring monarchs who visited to sympathize with the community, there has been no official visit from the police or the government house in Ilorin.
Official Statement from the Royal Family
In a statement, Ayinla emphasized that reports claiming the monarch had been rescued by local hunters are false.
“I personally spoke with Kabiyesi on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025, and he confirmed that he is still in the custody of his abductors. The narrative suggesting that he has regained his freedom is fake and should be disregarded in its entirety,” the statement read.
The Royal Family appealed to the public, media, and social media users to verify any information regarding the monarch directly with them to prevent misinformation and unnecessary tension.
The community continues to work toward securing the safe release of their monarch.
Senate summons finance, education, defence ministers over $30m failed safe school initiative
The Senate has summoned the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, over the failure of the Safe School Initiative (SSI) to meet the objective of keeping the schools safe in spite of government investing over $30 million in it.
Also summoned were the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd); the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), Dr Mohammed Abubakar Audi; and representatives of school proprietors.
The Senate’s AdHoc Committee investigating the implementation of the Safe School Initiative (SSI), headed by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said the trend of attacks on schools highlighted the concerns about the programme’s failure to address the purpose for which it was introduced.
On Wednesday, the committee said at least 1,680 schoolchildren had been kidnapped in Nigeria since 2014 when the Chibok girls incident happened. It said similarly, terrorists attacked about 180 school facilities within the same period, according to its AdHoc Committee investigating the implementation of the Safe School Initiative (SSI).
Speaking after the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja, Senator Kalu pledged that the committee would expose all issues related to the SSI’s poor performance. He stated, “It is unacceptable that our schools remain soft targets for terrorists and kidnappers.
“We will track every naira and every dollar allocated to the Safe School Initiative, some of which were the $30 million mobilised between 2014 and 2021 aside the latest N144 billion released for the initiative by the federal government.
“Nigerians deserve to know why, despite enormous investment and global support, our schools remain unsafe.
“The committee will undertake a comprehensive financial and operational audit, engaging federal ministries, state governments, security agencies, and civil society partners.”
The committee planned to conduct a comprehensive financial and operational audit, involving federal ministries, state governments, security agencies, and civil society organisations. The review will examine how funds have been used since 2014, the deployment and effectiveness of security personnel, early warning and emergency response systems, infrastructure improvements in vulnerable schools, and collaborations with international donors and private sector partners.
Kalu emphasised that the investigation is not aimed at targeting individuals or institutions but is meant to enhance accountability.
This investigation was prompted by recent national outrage over the abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where the school’s vice principal was also killed by bandits.
During the plenary session, lawmakers questioned the use of Safe School Initiative funds given the ongoing security failures, he explained.
I have just read the entire 56 pages of this paper, “I am a Bandit: A Decade of Research in Zamfara State Bandit’s Den,” delivered by Dr. Murtala Rufa’i in September 2021, and I have provided a summary so that you wouldn’t have to read the entire document.
1. Contemporary rural banditry started in Zamfara in 2011, and the first gang was formed by two criminals known as Kundu and Buharin Daji.
By 2021, just a decade later, over 120 bandit gangs have emerged and had presence in six states. 10,000 bandits operated in Zamfara alone, killed over 12,000 people, stole more than 250,000 cattle, destroyed about 120 villages, and displaced 50,000 people.
2.As far back as 1891, banditry had existed in Zamfara, so it is not a new phenomenon in that region of the country.
Oral historians spoke of it and accused traditional rulers of colluding with bandits to rustle cattle and rob people. In fact, in the colonial period, bandits killed 210 traders and stole goods worth about 150,000 British Pounds.
The colonial government had to respond swiftly by stationing armed policemen in all strategic routes to curb this menace.
3. There are different speculations about the emergence of banditry in present day Zamfara.
The first speculation is that politicians recruited some youths and gave them arms to achieve their political agenda in 2011. After winning the elections, these armed youths were abandoned. Since they had weapons, they began to rob people and rustle cattle, and instead of state authorities tackling this challenge, they gave the bandits amnesty and state pardon.
The second speculation is that the bandits are simply aggrieved groups fighting for justice. They had since been subjected to extortion, exploitation, and deprivation by different state agencies. They formed a group named Kungiyar Gayu, which means ‘an association of young guys,’ to fight for social justice.
The third speculation is illicit mining. Illegal miners, seeking to gain the upper hand over their competitors, armed young boys from the forests of Dan Sadau, Dan Gulbi, and Bagega, all major mining areas in Zamfara State, a state blessed with huge gold deposits. These local miners collaborated with illegal foreign groups of South African, Chinese, and Russian origins to supply arms to the young boys. They delivered arms using helicopters. Some traditional rulers are also alleged to be involved in these illegal mining activities.
4. Sheik Gumi, after a tour to some of the bandits’ dens, provided an estimate of 100,000 arms in the hands of bandits, which raises the question of how these bandits get weapons.
The ‘porous border thesis’ provides an explanation. Nigeria has about 1,950 official borders, but there is an absolute shortage of manpower to oversee these borders. Even when these borders are manned, some of the officials have been accused of conniving with bandits to facilitate the movement of weapons into the country.
5. Teenage boys, young girls, and even married women, are involved in banditry. Some attacks have been carried out by teenage boys without the consent of their elders.
The young girls provided services such as intelligence gathering and serving as cooks to the bandits. Sometimes these armed girls were charged to look after the kidnapped victims so that they do not escape. These women also received their share of the ‘spoils of war,’ in cash and cattle
It should be noted that not every one of these women chose to become bandits. Some of them were given out as wives to leaders of bandit groups in exchange for protection of their villages
6. Bandits have also been involved in raping young girls who were sent to fetch firewood or cut grass in nearby bush. In 2012 alone, over 50 cases of rape were recorded in one district, but the number is higher, as many parents often keep silent to avoid social rejection of the victims.
7. Finally, banditry has become very sophisticated, as bandits have grown in strength, tactics and connections with various terrorist groups across West Africa and beyond.
With all the atrocities committed by these bandits, is it right to keep addressing them as bandits? Should they not be addressed as terrorists?
Thank you for reading.
You can access the full document here if you are interested in reading it:
Jakarta has become the world's most populous city, according to the World Urbanization Prospects 2025 released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
Using an updated and harmonized method for defining urban areas, the report estimates Jakarta's population at nearly 42 million, placing it ahead of Dhaka, which is about 40 million, and Tokyo, 33 million. The revised ranking illustrates how updated measurement criteria and continued demographic growth are reshaping understandings of urban scale in Asia and globally.
The 2025 edition introduces the Degree of Urbanization, a geospatial approach that applies consistent population and density thresholds to classify cities, towns, and rural areas. This method replaces earlier versions of the report that relied on country-specific definitions, which varied widely.
UN DESA notes that the updated criteria produce a more comparable representation of urban areas across regions. Under this method, Tokyo remains one of the world's largest metropolitan regions but has shown a slight population decrease, while Jakarta's continuous urban area captures a broader and more densely populated extent than previously reported.
The report finds that cities are now home to 45% of the world's 8.2 billion people, up from 20% in 1950. The number of urban residents has more than doubled since mid-century, and projections indicate that by 2050, two-thirds of global population growth will occur in cities.
The number of megacities, urban areas with at least 10 million inhabitants, has reached 33 in 2025, more than half of which are located in Asia. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to 37, with Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Hajipur, and Kuala Lumpur among those projected to exceed 10 million residents.
At the same time, the report highlights that small and medium-sized cities continue to accommodate most of the world's urban population and are experiencing the fastest growth, particularly in Africa and Asia. Of the more than 12,000 cities examined, 96% have fewer than one million inhabitants, and the total number of cities worldwide has more than doubled since 1975.
Jakarta's position in the updated ranking reflects ongoing demographic pressures and long-standing infrastructural challenges. The region faces issues related to density, air quality, mobility, and land subsidence, with nearly 40% of the city located below sea level due to groundwater extraction, urban expansion, and rising sea levels. These conditions have informed national discussions on long-term planning and contributed to Indonesia's decision to relocate its administrative capital.
In 2019, the Indonesian parliament approved legislation to move the capital to Nusantara, a planned city on the island of Borneo located about 1,300 kilometers from Jakarta. The initiative aims to address structural constraints in the current capital and create a new administrative center designed with climate adaptation and renewable energy in mind.
Early planning for Nusantara outlines elevated buildings and pedestrian-oriented layouts shaped by local terrain and environmental conditions, along with expanded public transportation. While the project has encountered delays and has been the subject of environmental and logistical scrutiny, it represents one of the most extensive applications of "managed retreat," a strategy involving the planned relocation of populations away from areas facing long-term environmental risks.
South-East — 90 In 100 person South-West — 88 In 100 person South-South — 88 In 100 person North-Central — 62 In 100 person North-East — 34 In 100 person North-West — 25 In 100 person
They've been murdering blacks in Darfur for over 300 years since the last independent Black kingdom was conquered by Arabs in the same way that Uthman Dan Fodio conquered the 7 Hausa Kingdoms and reduced them to Fulani slavery.
That's the reason why Southern Sudan is an independent country today. They fought 40 years for their independence from the Arab North because they were fed with being treated like 4th class citizens in their own country
DomPerignon: Sudan borders the Red Sea—a corridor vital to Israel’s maritime security and trade. RSF territorial gains bring it closer to Port Sudan and Red Sea logistics routes, offering Israel indirect influence over a region increasingly contested by Persian Gulf powers and global rivals.
UAE-Israel-RSF nexus: The United Arab Emirates, RSF’s primary backer, is also one of Israel’s closest regional allies. Intelligence coordination between Mossad and Emirati services has reportedly facilitated covert support for RSF, including drone warfare tactics and battlefield logistics.
Normalization calculus: Hemedti has signaled openness to finalizing Sudan’s normalization with Israel, a process stalled since 2020. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of the SAF and Sudan’s internationally recognized leader, has also expressed interest in normalization—but Israel’s engagement has leaned more decisively toward Hemedti and the RSF. Unlike SAF’s leadership, which is weighed down by rigid command structures and a legacy of repression, the RSF presents itself as agile and pragmatic—despite its record of mass atrocities.
That was one isolated incident that happened in the 1990s and the culprits were jailed for doing it.
Are you aware that Arabs are still enslaving blacks and committing genocide against them in Sudan?
PMForce: Are you aware Ethiopian jews mothers are given "birth control pills" Against their will to control birth of "black people", do you even know Israel?
Kwara Inclusion Advocates (KIA), a coalition of citizens at home and abroad, has renewed calls for a Christian governor in the state, citing years of leadership imbalance.
The group made its position clear during a virtual media parley with senior editors and political correspondents on Saturday in Lagos.
KIA, whose members span multiple ethnic and religious communities in Kwara and include a significant diaspora presence in the United States, said the push reflects concerns about exclusion and its impact on trust and social cohesion.
According to the conveners, Fola Abiodun Adekeye and Tunji Adeyemi, persistent political exclusion has fuelled tension and vulnerability in the state.
“Kwara is one of Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan and plural states. Yet, this diversity has not been reflected in its political leadership configuration in recent years,” the group said.
“This imbalance is not sustainable. Exclusion—especially when weaponised—creates fertile ground for insecurity.’’
The coalition referenced recent commentary by Iyiola Oyedepo, who warned that some political actors exploit religious sentiment to maintain influence.
The conveners described Oyedepo’s intervention as a “timely reminder that Kwara cannot afford divisive politics disguised as tradition”.
While emphasising that it does not endorse any individual or political party, the group noted that the call for a Christian governor is about fairness and balance rather than sectarian interest.
“This conversation is philosophical, not sectional. It reflects the desire of many Kwarans for a political culture that mirrors our diversity and strengthens social cohesion,” the group said.
The conveners urged political actors to avoid exclusionary tendencies in the lead-up to the 2027 election.
“The 2027 election is a referendum on what Kwara represents. We must choose between being a beacon of coexistence or sliding into the shadows of fear and manipulation,” the group added.
Rufai reveals monthly salaries of Nigerian ambassadors
A popular TV personality, Oseni Rufai, has revealed the monthly salaries of Nigerian ambassadors.
This is following the list of Ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the national assembly by President Bola Tinubu on Saturday.
Tinubu forwarded the names of 32 additional ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, following the recent submission of an initial three nominees.
The list included former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among others.
Rufai explained that the salary of a Nigerian ambassador, as a senior Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is governed by the Consolidated Diplomatic, Consular and Foreign Service Cadre Salary Structure, CONPSS, in the Nigerian public service.
Ambassadors typically fall into the highest grade levels (GL 17 or equivalent), with additional allowances for overseas postings.
Based on available data from government budget allocations, salary surveys, and reports on foreign service personnel costs, the basic salary is modest by international standards but is supplemented by substantial allowances.
Exact figures can vary by posting location, experience, and currency fluctuations (as of November 2025, 1 USD is about 1,650 NGN).
The Arise TV journalist explained that the “Basic salary of an ambassador includes a monthly basic pay of approximately N800,000 to N1,200,000 (about $485–$727 USD).
He said that this is drawn from the CONPSS scale for top-tier diplomatic officers, adding that entry-level foreign service officers start at around N300,000–N500,000 monthly, but ambassadors, being at the pinnacle of the career ladder, command the upper end.
“Annual Basic Salary: N9.6 million to N14.4 million (about $5,818–$8,727 USD).
“These figures align with general public sector pay for Grade Level 17 officers, adjusted for inflation and the 2025 minimum wage increase to N70,000.
“However, basic pay alone does not reflect total compensation, as diplomats receive significant extras to cover living costs abroad.
Key Allowances and Total Compensation Nigerian ambassadors posted overseas receive a package designed to offset high living expenses, hardship, and representational duties.
“Total monthly take-home pay often exceeds N2–5 million ($1,212–$3,030 USD), depending on the host country…”
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