Terrorists Demand Weapons, Money, Concessions On Future Nigerian Laws To Release Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren, Others –Assembly Speaker
The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has revealed that terrorists holding abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are demanding weapons, money and concessions on future Nigerian laws as conditions for their release.
Ogundoyin disclosed this while addressing the growing debate over whether governments should negotiate with kidnappers and terrorists to secure the freedom of victims.
His comments come weeks after terrorists attacked schools and communities in Esiele and Yawota, abducting pupils, teachers and residents and triggering nationwide outrage.
Questioning the wisdom of yielding to the demands of the abductors, Ogundoyin suggested that the terrorists' conditions go beyond the payment of ransom.
"To bring these children and teachers back, if it is up to you, will you negotiate with terrorists if terrorists ask for weapons, they ask for money, they ask for concessions on future laws of this land as part of their ransom?" he asked.
"If you were the governor, will you accept those ransoms? Will you accept that those people should be accepted into that community?"
The Speaker warned that negotiating with armed groups could strengthen their operations and encourage future attacks.
"The more you negotiate with these people, the more you embolden them," he added.
Ogundoyin's remarks come amid increasing pressure on the Oyo State and Federal Governments to secure the release of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on communities in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The abductions have sparked emotional appeals from parents and relatives, many of whom have repeatedly called on authorities to rescue their children alive.
In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, one of the affected mothers, Mrs Aduke Balogun, recounted how gunmen dressed in military uniforms stormed her community and abducted her eight-year-old daughter, Kehinde Kaosara.
"In Esiele, we are begging you. Our children went to school. It was after 9 a.m. when we truly saw the kidnappers. They wore army uniforms," she said.
"Before we understood what was going on, they started shooting and all of us ran away. I later saw my eight-year-old daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, among the abducted children.
"We are begging the government to bring back our children alive."
SaharaReporters previously reported that the terrorists invaded schools in Esiele and Yawota communities, killing an assistant headmaster identified as Joel Adesiyan and a commercial motorcyclist before marching pupils, teachers and residents into a nearby forest reserve.
The latest disclosure by the Oyo Speaker is likely to intensify discussions about the government's approach to negotiating with terrorist groups, particularly as families of the victims continue to demand urgent action to secure the release of their loved ones.
A federal high court in Abuja has convicted four persons over their involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.
Four out of the five suspects initially arraigned were convicted on all nine counts preferred against them by the federal government.
The suspects — Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — were arraigned on August 11, 2022, on a nine-count terrorism charge.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, held that he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against four defendants, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Those convicted are Omeiza, Idris, Abdulmalik, and Idris. Abubakar was discharged for lack of evidence linking him to the attack.
Nwite held that evidence before the court established that the four defendants belonged to and actively participated in the activities of the terrorist group, which included the church attack.
He convicted the four defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging.
THE CASE
The federal government alleged that the suspects joined the Al-Shabaab terrorist group in 2021 and operated a cell in Kogi state.
According to the prosecution, the defendants held meetings in Kogi and Ondo in 2022, where they planned the church attack.
They were accused of detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and carrying out the assault with AK-47 rifles, resulting in the deaths of over 40 people and injuries to more than 100 others.
The government said the attack was carried out to further the group’s religious ideology, offences punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
To prove the case, the prosecution called 11 witnesses that testified before the court and tendered 23 exhibits in evidence.
Among the items the court admitted in evidence were confessional statements and a digital forensic examination report, tendered alongside a Techno phone alleged to contain communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the terror attack.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, a Catholic priest, who presided over the Pentecost Sunday mass, testified that the church service was about to end when gunshots suddenly rang out, causing panic among worshippers.
The priest said he heard explosions and continuous gunfire, describing the scene as chaotic and terrifying.
He said many worshippers were killed and injured, and likened the experience to the ground opening beneath them.
The second prosecution witness had identified the second and fourth defendants as part of those who attacked worshipers.
The third defendant, a church member and a student had told the court how explosives detonated during the attack damaged her left leg, which made her undergo four surgeries on the leg and skin grafting.
She also said her two-year-old cousin died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The fourth witness had lost her two legs above the knees, and her left eye during the attack.
Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria collected about N600bn (N597.55bn) from consumers in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest industry data released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The figure, which covers January to March 2026, shows the DisCos generated revenue close to the N600bn mark despite persistent challenges in the power sector.
According to the NERC commercial performance factsheets, the DisCos recorded N204.74bn in January, N196.68bn in February and N196.13bn in March 2026, bringing the first-quarter total to N597.55bn, averaging approximately N199.18bn per month.
The NERC reports highlight varying levels of commercial efficiency across the 11 DisCos. While some companies showed improvements in billing and collection efficiencies in certain months, overall performance remained mixed, with notable revenue shortfalls recorded monthly.
In January, the DisCos had total billings of N268.20bn but collected only N204.74bn, leaving N63.46bn in uncollected revenue for the month. Billing efficiency stood at 79.72 per cent, while collection efficiency was 76.34 per cent.
February 2026 saw total billings of N242.29bn, with N196.68bn collected. This resulted in N45.61bn in uncollected bills. The month recorded better billing efficiency at 87.44 per cent and collection efficiency of 81.17 per cent.
In March 2026, billings totalled N246.43bn, but collections stood at N196.13bn, indicating N50.30bn in uncollected revenue.
Billing and collection efficiencies were 83.89 per cent and 79.59 per cent, respectively, in the third month.
The reports also show significant unbilled energy each month.
Eko DisCo and Ikeja DisCo consistently ranked among the stronger performers in revenue recovery, with Eko achieving over 100 per cent recovery efficiency in February.
In contrast, companies such as Kaduna and Jos DisCos continued to struggle with lower collection and recovery rates. For instance, in February, Kaduna DisCo recorded a recovery efficiency of just 41.20 per cent, one of the lowest in the period.
The NERC data, which tracks energy received, energy billed, total billings, revenue collected, and recovery efficiency, provides a clear picture of the commercial viability of the privatised distribution companies.
Power consumers have continued to express frustration over high tariffs amid frequent outages and perceived poor service delivery. In the first quarter of the year, Nigerians endured a persistent power crisis due to gas constraints, causing generation to drop from around 4,000 megawatts to less than 2,000 MW at some points.
Stakeholders have repeatedly called for improved metering, tighter enforcement against energy theft, and better customer service to boost collection rates.
It was gathered that the ongoing challenges in the sector, including infrastructure deficits and liquidity issues, continue to affect the ability of DisCos to fully convert energy supplied into revenue.
During the quarter, the Nigerian Independent System Operator provided operational data illustrating the scale of the shortfall, noting that thermal power plants require an estimated 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity, but as of February 23, 2026, actual supply stood at about 692.00 mmscf per day—representing less than 43 per cent of the required volume.
As gas supply declined in Q1, several power plants have shut down while the Transmission Company of Nigeria engaged in load shedding, rationing the limited energy available among the DisCos.
On their various platforms, the distribution companies have repeatedly appealed to customers, attributing the outages to gas shortages. However, some Nigerians have reported an improvement in power supplies in the past few weeks.
This one is for those who want jobs as nightclub bouncers. I'm preparing my CV for a more rewarding job. I've been reliably informed that there will be soon be a vacancy at a large brewery abroad
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike had to be stretchered off in the Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
France international Hugo Ekitike is set to miss the FIFA World Cup 2026 after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Liverpool’s Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
French newspapers Le Parisien and L’Equipe reported the news of the 23-year-old’s injury on Wednesday.
The striker has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season for Liverpool since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for 69 million pounds ($93.58m) last July.
Ekitike pointed to his Achilles tendon as medical staff attended to him before he was carried off on a stretcher at Anfield, where Liverpool lost 2-0 in their quarterfinal second leg, exiting the competition with a 4-0 aggregate defeat on Tuesday night.
The French football federation (FFF) was not immediately available for comment when contacted by the news agency Reuters.
The World Cup is being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.
Ekitike’s two international goals for France – against Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier and Brazil in a friendly – came in his country’s last four games.
He has appeared eight times in total, but started three of the last six matches and has been seen as the main understudy to Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe.
A wave of deadly attacks marred Easter celebrations in northern Nigeria, leaving at least 16 people dead and dozens more displaced across Borno, Katsina, Benue and Kaduna states.
In Benue State, suspected armed herders stormed Mbalom, Mbatsada, and Agana communities in Gwer East Local Government Area, killing 10 people and injuring several others, while residents fled to safer areas.
In Kaduna State, terrorists raided two Christian churches in Ariko Village, Kachia Local Government Area, killing five worshippers and abducting 31 others.
The victims were later rescued by Nigerian Army troops following a swift operation, though the attackers escaped with significant casualties.
Katsina State recorded the deaths of one policeman during renewed banditry attacks in Tangani and Sayaya communities of Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas.
In Borno State, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Awapul community in Chibok Local Government Area, burning houses and shops and forcing residents to flee.
The assault came less than 24 hours after previous attacks on an internally displaced persons camp and a police post in Damasak and Nganzai, which killed four police officers and a civilian hunter.
The attacks came as security forces intensified efforts to rid the region of criminality.
The Benue attackers reportedly invaded the communities late on Saturday, being a market day at Mbalom.
The attackers invaded the market as well as the Mbatsada and Agana communities, leaving at least 10 people dead and several others injured.
The chairman of Gwer West LGA, Timothy Adi, confirmed the attack to The PUNCH, adding that two corpses were recovered on Saturday night.
He said, “The invasion and attacks happened yesterday (Saturday) between 5pm and 6pm. Nine corpses have so far been recovered, two yesterday (Saturday) and seven today (Sunday).”
The chairman lamented that the invasion was unprovoked as he called on the Federal Government to help curtail the activities of armed herders in the state.
Efforts to get the response of the state police command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, were not successful as her phone rang out.
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, condemned the attack, which he described as “a barbaric act and a direct affront to the collective peace and security of the state.”
At least five persons were killed when terrorists invaded Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, attacking two Christian worship centres and abducting several others during Easter celebrations.
The incident threw the community into panic as worshippers scampered for safety.
The councillor representing Awon Ward, Mark Bawa, confirmed the attack to The PUNCH.
He named the affected churches as First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both located in Ariko.
“I am currently on my way to the community to ascertain the exact number of casualties. Some sources said seven people were killed, while others claimed eight. I will provide an update once details are confirmed,” Bawa said.
“The attackers came in large numbers. They surrounded the area and began shooting sporadically at worshippers. Several people were killed, and many others were taken away into the bush,” he stated.
Troops of the Nigerian Army, however, rescued 31 civilians abducted during the service.
The rescue followed a distress call reporting that terrorists had invaded an ECWA Church in the community and abducted worshippers during the service.
A statement on the Army’s X handle on Sunday said that on receiving the information, troops swiftly mobilised to the scene and, with support and guidance from members of the Ariko community, advanced in pursuit of the fleeing attackers.
The Army said the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, overpowering them with superior firepower.
“Troops of the Nigerian Army, through a swift response, have successfully foiled a terrorist attack, leading to the rescue of 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service in Ariko Village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The swift response followed a distress call reporting the abduction of worshippers during an Easter service at an ECWA Church in Ariko Village.
“The troops, on receipt of the information, promptly mobilised to the scene. With the support and guidance of members of the Ariko community, they advanced in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists and engaged the criminals in a fierce firefight, overwhelming them with superior firepower.
“The pressure mounted by the advancing troops forced the terrorists to abandon 31 hostages, including one injured victim who is currently receiving medical attention,” the statement read.
The service said troops recovered the remains of five victims already killed by the terrorists at the scene.
“Regrettably, the remains of five victims already killed by the terrorists were also recovered at the scene.
“The fleeing terrorists are believed to have sustained significant casualties, as evidenced by blood trails along their escape routes.
“Troops have since intensified pursuit operations to track the fleeing elements to their enclaves, with ongoing efforts aimed at rescuing any remaining captives and ensuring the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the statement said.
“To consolidate the gains recorded, additional troops have been deployed to the area to reinforce ongoing operations, enhance security presence, and prevent further threats to lives and property,” it added.
A policeman was reportedly killed during the renewed bandits’ attack on Sunday in Tangani and Sayaya communities of Musawa and Matazu local government areas of Katsina State.
On Sunday, Governor Dikko Radda visited the Sayaya community following the attack.
The assailants reportedly invaded the area, ambushed the police station where a policeman lost his life, attacked the primary healthcare centre, and looted several shops in the town.
Radda inspected the affected facilities to assess the extent of the damage and commiserated with residents over the incident.
The governor also condoled with the Divisional Police Officer and officers of the command over the death of the policeman and extended his sympathies to the families affected by the violence.
Governor Radda also directed the deployment of additional security operatives to reinforce safety in the town.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress chieftain and former Minister of State for Education, Lawal Batagarawa, had, while briefing newsmen on Sunday, condemned the persistent and unwanted killing of lives, especially in the northern region of Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the police on the number of people killed.
Meanwhile, suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Sunday attacked Awapul, a community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.
Our correspondent gathered that the terrorists struck the town in large numbers around 1:30 a.m., shooting sporadically before wreaking havoc on critical infrastructure, including private homes and shops.
Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said no lives were lost.
He said, “There was an attack this morning around 1:30 a.m. in Chibok Local Government, in a village called Awapul. The attack was carried out by unknown men suspected to be Boko Haram.”
He added, “No casualties. It was a destruction of properties.”
Residents who spoke to The PUNCH said the attackers rode on motorcycles and operated for over an hour.
One resident, who pleaded not to be identified, said some victims affected by the attack had fled the community in search of safer areas.
“They burned down houses and small shops. Some owners have gone to Chibok main town to take refuge,” the source said.
He called on the government for immediate action to protect the community.
“Our plea is simple, not for food or clothing. What we need is protection so we can go about our daily activities,” the source added.
The attack came less than 24 hours after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked an internally displaced persons camp in Damasak and the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters in the state, where they partially burnt an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier and killed four police officers and one hunter.
Daso, who disclosed the attack in a statement on Saturday, said the attackers deployed Rocket-Propelled Grenades and other sophisticated weapons in an attempt to overrun the town but were repelled by security agents.
“The attackers, who deployed Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other sophisticated weapons, caused damage to a section of the station and partially burnt an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).
“Regrettably, four police personnel paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” he said.
Well, the koran in Surah Al-Imran (3:106-107) actually says that one of the punishments of those who end up in the "fire" is that they will be given black faces. A lot of modern Muslims try to reinterprete this verse and say that it is using figurative or symbolic language and that the phrase "black face" in the verse doesn't mean actual dark skin pigment. The problem is that practically ALL of the earliest, first generation Muslim scholars agreed that Surah 3:106-107 was referring to real black skin.
As for the hadith I shared, the sad thing about it is that this is a textbook example of manipulation by exploiting a a person's low self-esteem for the purpose of recruiting them to carry out acts of violence on your behalf.
From what I have read further on this hadith, rhe black man’s name—as spoken by Muhammad—is Ju‘aal (Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah 749). This is unfortunate because the word "Ju‘al" in Arabic was and still is a racial slur meaning a small, unattractive, black man. A Ju‘al is a black dung beetle which is typically found in the excrement of donkeys and camels.
2mch: Just imagine! What a Hadith! Is this one in the Quran? So you mean black people read this and it doesn’t make them do double take?
I'll agree with u 100% that there are racist Christians. But Christ Himself was not racist.
I would like you to comment on this hadith and tell me where the source of the racism in the hadith comes from. Is it from the person who is regarded as the most important Muslim in the history of the world? Can you produce any Biblical verse of Christ saying anything as offensive as this?
Two more nations signed on to a letter Saturday strongly condemning Iran’s partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – isolating the Islamic Republic diplomatically as it seeks to apply maximum economic pressure by bottling up oil shipments.
The two latest to join are Australia and the United Arab Emirates – one of Iran’s Gulf neighbors who has been bombarded with missile attacks from Tehran – bringing the total to 22 countries.
Earlier signatories were the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan, whose Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters Thursday that she informed President Trump what her country “can do and cannot do,” citing war limits outlined in Japan’s constitution.
A group of countries is offering to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to get ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor.
“They are really stepping up to the plate,” Trump said at the White House, despite his on and off fury that allies weren’t sharing more of the burden.
Later Friday, he posted that the Strait “will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!”
Defense experts said naval escorts to protect shipping would require the use of destroyers. Following Iran’s initial threats to US, Israeli and allied ships, vessels flagged to China, India, Turkey and Pakistan have continued to trickle through the crucial corridor.
Iran was also preparing to allow Japanese ships to pass through the strait, Al Jazeera reported.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement for Norwuz, but hasn’t been seen publicly since succeeding his father, who was killed in an Israeli strike Feb. 28.
“We have not closed the strait. In our opinion, the strait is open. It is closed only to ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait,” Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo News late Friday.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran:Trump administration laying groundwork to resume talks with Iran: reportIranian protesters say revolution is just around the corner — can’t wait to ‘finish the job’Mystery of Iran’s new supreme leader baffles intelligence: ‘beyond weird’Iran’s allies threaten Red Sea attacks as mullahs choke Strait of Hormuz
The 22 countries, meanwhile, blasted Tehran for recent attacks on “unarmed” vessels in a joint statement.
“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,” the countries said in the statement.
Iran has threatened US, Israeli and allied vessels, but some ships flagged to China and India are getting through.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” it continued, without specifying the nature of that support.
Putting an end to oil exports from the Gulf region amounts to “removing close to 20 percent of global oil supplies from the market, about 80 percent of which is shipped to Asia,” according to a paper released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on Friday.
A photo of the victims of the Iranian missile that struck a women’s salon in the town of Bayt Awa in the West Bank, including a pregnant woman and a minor:
- Sahera Masalma (salon owner) - Amal Masalma (six months pregnant) - Mais Masalma (minor)
Traditional ruler of Okpella Kingdom, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, His Royal Highness, Mike Sado, yesterday said he bought drone and recruited over 100 security personnel to tackle insecurity in Estako East Local Government and its environs.
He said he would erect a building for the Police Area Command.
The Okpella monarch, who spoke during an interaction with reporters, dismissed reports of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Oba Sado said some of his subjects that were used to sharing community development levies were unhappy with the reforms he introduced in the past seven months.
He said he ensured there was no more misuse of the fund, adding that infrastructural improvements had been recorded since he ascended the throne.
He said the alleged petition to the EFCC was aimed at damaging his reputation because of his insistence that community funds must be used for development, rather than shared among a few individuals.
The monarch said he had increased revenue from N120,000 to over N8 million monthly.
Sigh. You have to wonder at the density of some people. So Bayern Munich has now become a team that hawks its talents? Bayern Munich is now like Borussia Dortmund that has a known history of selling young talent for big money? Oga, maybe just confine yourself to watching football because you're clearly lacking in knowledge when it comes to how big teams run their transfer policies.
helinues: All four senior first team goalkeepers are injured at the same time.
You read it well but couldn't comprehend
There's probably high bid on the boy as the season is rounding up. Champions League is the best way to showcase his talent
First leg they won from away with 6 goals to 1, 5 goals deficit. The returning leg is at their home, they can even use under 13 as goalkeeper
😳🇩🇪 Unbelievable situation at Bayern ahead of their Champions League return leg — ALL their goalkeepers are injured.
Sven Ulreich picked up a tear against Leverkusen yesterday and is ruled out of the clash with Atalanta. Manuel Neuer is also sidelined, while Jonas Urbig cannot play after suffering a concussion in the first leg of the Round of 16. 🤕
‼️ And it gets even crazier — U19 goalkeeper Leon Klanac has also been injured.
As things stand, Bayern are set to call up U19 backup goalkeeper Leonard Prescott, a 1.96m tall 16-year old, to the squad. 💎🧤
Based on documented patterns in news reports and historical analyses, a reasonable estimate for the number of major public death threats (direct vows to "kill," "pursue," "assassinate," official hit lists with crosshairs, or high-level commander statements naming Benjamin Netanyahu specifically) is roughly 15–30 times since the mid-2010s (when Netanyahu became a focal point of Iran's anti-Israel rhetoric over the nuclear program and regional strikes).
Broader indirect or proxy rhetoric (e.g., general calls to eliminate Israeli leadership during flare-ups) pushes the total into the dozens or more over his full time in office (1996–99 and 2009–present). These spike during crises but are not tallied exhaustively—sources consistently call them "repeated," "ongoing," or part of a "pattern" without quantifying.
Timeline of major documented threats
Here is a compiled timeline of key periods and specific incidents (drawn from reported history; not every minor statement is listed, as many blend into general anti-Israel rhetoric):
- 1990s (Netanyahu's first term as PM): Public threats and propaganda from Palestinian groups (Iran-backed), framing Israeli leaders as targets amid Oslo process tensions and bombings.
- Early 2000s–2006 (Second Intifada/Lebanon War): Hezbollah and Iran-aligned media issued political/military threats and indirect rhetoric portraying the Israeli PM as a legitimate target during conflicts.
- 2012–2015: Iranian officials and state media repeatedly issued verbal threats and condemnations, tied to Netanyahu's strong opposition to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and sanctions. He was framed as Iran's primary adversary.
- 2018–2020: Iran-aligned militias and rhetoric escalated after Israeli strikes on Iranian positions in Syria; leadership-targeting threats became more common in regional media.
- November 2022: IRGC commander Mojtaba Fada explicitly threatened to "frog march [Netanyahu] to Iran wearing a leash and a slave collar" (kidnap and enslave him).
- 2023–2024 (rising regional tensions): Multiple propaganda threats from Iran-aligned networks, plus concrete plots foiled by Israel's Shin Bet (e.g., recruitment of an Israeli citizen via Turkey; drone incidents). Broader vows of "harsh punishment" after events like the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
- February 2026: Iranian state TV (Ofogh network) broadcast an on-air "hit list" of seven senior Israeli officials, prominently featuring Netanyahu with crosshairs and a Hebrew-language threat: "We will determine the time of your death, wait for the Ababil" (referring to an Iranian drone).
March 15, 2026 (ongoing Iran-Israel-US war): IRGC issued its most direct official statement to date via Sepah News: "If this child-killing criminal [Netanyahu] is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force."
This came amid rumors of his death and retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes (including the reported killing of Iran's Supreme Leader). Described as the "highest level of official threat language" in the current conflict.
These threats are primarily rhetorical/psychological warfare tools—broadcast on state TV or IRGC channels to mobilize supporters and deter Israel—rather than always tied to active plots (though Israel has foiled several Iran-linked assassination attempts).
They intensify with every major trigger (strikes, nuclear talks, proxy wars) and reflect Iran's long-standing policy viewing Israel (and Netanyahu as its face) as an existential enemy.
Red cards were issued to 23 players after a mass brawl broke out between Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro in the Campeonato Mineiro final.
Kaio Jorge scored the winner in Belo Horizonte as Cruzeiro, managed by former Brazil boss Tite, edged rivals Atletico 1-0 to become the champions of the state of Minas Gerais for the first time since 2019.
But the match was marred by a violent melee in the dying seconds, which forced security staff and military police to intervene and resulted in 23 players, including Atletico's former Brazil forward Hulk, being sent off retrospectively.
The mass confrontation began when Atletico goalkeeper Everson pushed Christian to the ground and planted his knee on the chest of the Cruzeiro midfielder, who had collided with him while chasing a loose ball.
Christian's team-mates immediately confronted Everson, shoving the keeper onto the goalpost, triggering wider issues as more players joined in while security staff tried to separate the teams.
Though no red cards were issued by referee Matheus Delgado Candancan during the game, Brazilian media outlet Globo reported, external 23 players were sent off later because the fight stopped the match official from showing the cards on the field.
Cruzeiro had 12 players including goalscorer Jorge sent off. Former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest full-back Renan Lodi and Hulk were among the 11 Atletico players dismissed.
The record for the most red cards in a senior game came during a match between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in the fifth division of Argentine football in February 2011.
All 36 players who were involved in the match were sent off for what the referee described in his post-match report as a "generalised brawl."
"It's regrettable," Hulk said after Sunday's final.
"We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution."
Both Atletico and Cruzeiro are winless after four Serie A games this season and sit 17th and 19th respectively in the Brazilian top flight.
About 40 percent of university lecturers now sleep in their offices due to the country’s worsening housing crisis, Timothy Nubi, professor of estate management and sustainable housing advocate, has said.
Nubi disclosed this on Wednesday at the Film Screening and Conversation on Solidarity and Movement Building to Advocate for Inclusive Housing for the Urban Poor, held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The event was organised by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, in collaboration with the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD), the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and Rethinking Cities.
Speaking during the session, Nubi said the rising cost of accommodation around major urban centres, particularly Lagos, has pushed many academics into desperate living conditions.
“I stand here to tell you today that almost 40 per cent of lecturers in universities sleep in their offices,” he said.
“They sleep in their offices. You see them taking baths around the faculty every morning. That is the state of the country.”
The professor explained that the situation reflects the growing pressure the housing crisis is placing on Nigerians who traditionally belonged to the middle class.
According to him, the cost of renting even modest accommodation around the University of Lagos has risen beyond what many academics can reasonably afford.
Nubi cited a recent case in which a two-bedroom apartment around the Akoka area was rented for N3.5 million per year, noting that such prices are far beyond the reach of many professors.
“No professor will conveniently afford to pay N3.5 million for accommodation. That is about seven months of salary,” he said.
The don added that the challenge is not limited to lecturers but reflects a broader national housing crisis affecting millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria’s housing deficit, he noted, has grown dramatically over the decades. While the shortfall was estimated at about five million housing units years ago, it is now believed to be between 17 million and 22 million units.
“Instead of the problem reducing, the problem keeps increasing,” he said.
He explained that the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, was created partly to address this gap by producing empirical research to guide housing policy and build capacity among policymakers.
Beyond Nigeria, Nubi said history shows that societies that fail to address housing inequality risk social instability. He cited the Great Fire of London in the early 17th century, which led to the Poor Relief Act, a system where property owners contributed funds to support housing for low-income residents.
He said the policy later evolved into public housing schemes and mixed-income communities designed to ensure that the poor were not segregated from the rest of society.
“In some countries today, when developers build housing estates, they are required to allocate a percentage of the units for teachers, drivers and other workers who cannot afford market rents,” he said. “That is how mixed communities are built.”
Nubi stressed that inclusive housing policies remain essential for social stability, warning that neglecting the housing needs of low-income residents could have far-reaching consequences.
He called for stronger collaboration among researchers, policymakers and civil society groups to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s housing crisis.
Civil society organisations and housing rights activists at the event also criticised the forceful evictions and demolition of homes in several Nigerian cities, citing recent incidents in the Makoko and Oworonshoki communities in Lagos State as examples of actions that have worsened housing insecurity for low-income residents.
Buhle Booi, a South African housing activist, highlighted the creative advocacy strategies adopted by the “Reclaim the City” movement in Cape Town. He explained that the campaigns were designed to push for the recovery of public land for the development of affordable housing.
According to Booi, sustainable solutions to housing displacement require legislative backing and strategic engagement with government institutions, rather than reactive measures alone.
He also stressed the importance of transitional housing schemes to reduce the immediate impact of evictions, while underscoring the responsibility of the state to provide alternative accommodation for displaced residents.
Temilade Sesan of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) examined Lagos’ housing challenges within a broader African context.
Sesan compared the Lagos situation with experiences from Cairo in Egypt and Nairobi in Kenya, outlining policies and approaches that have produced varying results.
She noted that Nairobi has made notable progress in recent years, particularly through the enactment of an Affordable Housing Act, which defines housing affordability using the minimum wage of domestic workers as a benchmark.
Rihanna's Los Angeles Home Hit By Gunfire With Singer Reportedly Inside
Pop superstar Rihanna’s Los Angeles home was hit by gunfire on Sunday after a woman opened fire on the property while the singer was reportedly inside, according to US media.
The shooting erupted after 1:00 pm (2000 GMT) when a suspect fired approximately 10 rounds from a vehicle across the street from the mansion in the Beverly Hills area, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing police.
At least one round pierced a wall of the residence, where Rihanna lives with partner A$AP Rocky and their children, local news station KTLA said. The singer was inside the residence, the reports said.
Rihanna, one of the world’s most popular pop stars, has not publicly commented on the shooting.
Officers said the suspect was a woman in her 30s who allegedly fled the scene before being arrested without incident a short time later. Police recovered a weapon during the arrest, KTLA added.
Investigators are still determining a motive for the attack.
Gate to Rihanna’s home, an RV hit by bullets as suspect fired assault-style rifle, police say
A woman fired several shots into the Beverly Hills-area home of pop star Rihanna on Sunday, and a round penetrated a wall of the mansion, a law enforcement source told The Times.
Los Angeles police responded to the report of the shooting at 1:21 p.m. Sunday in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood, a spokesperson said, and a 30-year-old female suspect was taken into custody.
The pop star was home, the source said.
According to police, the suspect fired multiple rounds from inside her vehicle toward the celebrity’s home. No injuries were reported in the incident, according to Police Sgt. Jonathan de Vera, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD radio dispatch for the incident said that at least 10 shots had been fired at the residence from a vehicle across the street from the property’s gate. The vehicle, a white Tesla, then fled south on Coldwater Canyon Drive, per the dispatch audio.
As police searched for the Tesla, they relayed details over the radio: The suspect’s hair was in braids; she wore a cream-colored blouse; her car was dirty on the bottom. Officers in a helicopter soon caught sight of her vehicle and followed it to a shopping center parking lot in Sherman Oaks, where they arrested her around 30 minutes after the 911 call came in, according to radio correspondence reviewed by The Times.
“When they pulled the suspect over and took her into custody, they searched the vehicle and located an assault rifle and seven casings,” said Armen Arias, an LAPD spokesperson.
Police found bullet holes in a gate at Rihanna’s home and in an RV parked in the driveway, he said.
The pop star reportedly lives in a colonial-style mansion in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood with her rapper partner ASAP Rocky. The couple share three young children, a daughter and two sons. It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone else was home at the time of the shooting.
TEENAGE pregnancy remains a serious public health challenge in Nigeria, with northern states such as Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna recording the highest rates.
This is according to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released on Sunday in Abuja and produced under the National Health Act (2014).
It highlighted adolescent reproductive health trended nationwide and revealed emerging regional disparities.
It showed that 32 percent of girls aged 15-19 in Kebbi had been pregnant, followed by Zamfara and Kaduna at 30 percent each, while Lagos and Edo recorded about three percent.
The findings, drawn from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2024, revealed sharp regional differences and underlined the need for targeted interventions to improve adolescent reproductive health outcomes across Nigeria.
According to the report, teenage pregnancy increases risks of maternal and child morbidity and mortality, while also contributing to social challenges such as school dropout among adolescent girls in high-risk states.
It noted that pregnancy prevalence declined with education, from 34 percent among girls with no schooling to four percent among those with education beyond secondary school, highlighting education’s protective effect.
The report noted improvements in menstrual hygiene management, with 95 percent of adolescent girls reporting they could wash and change privately at home, while 94 percent used appropriate menstrual materials.
However, the report raised concerns about adolescent mental health and substance abuse, noting increasing alcohol and drug use, including tramadol and cannabis, particularly among secondary school students nationwide.
It stated that adolescents and young people aged 10-24 accounted for about 32 percent of Nigeria’s population and bear a high burden of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.
The report highlighted government’s commitment to strengthening mental health services during World Mental Health Day and International Adolescent Health Week in 2025, promoting multisectoral collaboration to address substance abuse.
These efforts involved partnerships among the Ministry of Health, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and civil society organisations.
MultiChoice is shutting down its streaming platform, Showmax, after eleven years of operation.
The decision taken by the company was communicated to Showmax subscribers on Thursday.
“We’re writing to inform you of an important update regarding Showmax,” the streaming platform said in the mail sent to its subscribers.
“Following a comprehensive review, the Showmax Board has taken the decision to discontinue the Showmax service in the near future.”
MultiChoice said the move is a reflection of its bid to “focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.
“Importantly, at the moment there will be no interruption to your current service. You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time”.
While it did not provide a timeline for the discontinuation of the Showmax streaming service, MultiChoice said subscribers remain their “priority”.
“We understand that this news may raise questions. Showmax subscribers are a priority for us, and we are working on plans to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition when the time comes.
“We will share further details well in advance, including timelines and any future steps, should they be required,” the subscription video-on-demand, over-the-top streaming service said.
Showmax was launched in 2015 in South Africa but has, over the years, spread rapidly across the continent, operating in scores of countries.
Its operation began to compete with global streaming platforms and to respond to increasing demands for online entertainment on the continent.
Showmax offers sports, movies, documentaries, and series streamed over the internet.
Last year, South African authorities approved the takeover of MultiChoice by pay-TV powerhouse and StudioCanal parent company Canal+.
That move paved the way for the French media giant to acquire Africa’s largest pay-TV group, which includes DStv and GOtv.
Under the terms of the deal, Canal+ has made a mandatory cash offer of ZAR 125 ($7.11) per share to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of MultiChoice not already owned by the French media group.
The approved conditions include public interest commitments aimed at enhancing the participation of historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) and small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa’s audiovisual sector. The commitments also guarantee sustained investment in local general entertainment and sports programming.
Canal+ and MultiChoice are now set to implement a structural arrangement, unveiled in February, which addresses local ownership regulations under South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act.
The plan includes the separation of MultiChoice’s South African broadcasting licensee, MultiChoice, into an independent, HDP-majority-owned entity.
If I were from the Niger Delta, I would be weeping over how my natural resources have benefitted an undeserving handful of persons to my detriment and at my expense.
The Naira has recorded nine consecutive days of depreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Wednesday. .
Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate data showed that the Naira further weakened on Wednesday to N1,387.09, down from N1,384.29 on Tuesday.
This means that the Naira dipped by N2.8 on a day-to-day basis. Meanwhile, the Naira dropped significantly by N37.85 since February 23, 2026, when the currency started its depreciation streak at the official foreign exchange market.
At the black market, the Naira remained stable at N1,390 per dollar, according to multiple Bureau de Change operators in Abuja, up from N1,370 recorded nine days ago.
Meanwhile, the country’s external reserves rose further to $49.88 billion as of March 3, 2026.
Ogbeni, the overwhelming majority of Arabs are super poor. You think Arabs only live in the handful of oil producing Gulf States like Saudi Arabia and UAE?
Most Arabs live in the Maghreb (North Africa) and the Levant (Near East) and these are poor countries who are dependent on foreign aid.
Iran that you are defending isn't even an Arab State, it is a majority Persian state with a few other ethnic minorities as part of the population.
That's the problem I have with you lot. You're so boastful, ignorant and uninformed, but it doesn't seem to bother you.
simpleseyi: . Iranians are not poor like you who gives your Pastors money to buy jets while you cannot afford a bus to work. Have you ever seen a poor Arab anywhere?
A Hezbollah official said Wednesday that the Lebanese terror group will not intervene militarily in the event of “limited” US strikes on its backer Iran, but will consider any attack against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a “red line.”
While US President Donald Trump has for weeks threatened major military action against Iran, The New York Times reported Sunday that he is considering launching a limited strike to pressure Tehran to agree to his nuclear demands. If the Islamic Republic continues to hold out, that strike could be followed by a far larger campaign later this year targeting regime change, the report said.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has said that his group is in a “defensive position,” but it would consider itself “targeted” by any US attack on Iran.
However, the group’s official told AFP on condition of anonymity: “In the event of limited US strikes on Iran, Hezbollah’s position will be to not intervene militarily.”
If the group determines, however, that the United States is trying to “provoke the downfall of the Iranian regime or to target the supreme leader, Hezbollah will then intervene,” they added.
The official predicted that in a hypothetical scenario where the US attempted to militarily unseat the Iranian government, US-ally Israel would “inevitably wage a war against Lebanon.”
In recent weeks, the Israeli military has stepped up airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon,with assessments indicating that the Iran-backed terror group may join Tehran in a new conflict against Israel.
“What the Lebanese fear is a chain reaction: an American strike against Iran, a Hezbollah retaliatory strike against Israel, followed by a massive Israeli response,” said a Lebanese official who requested anonymity.
On Tuesday, two senior Lebanese officials said that Israel recently sent an indirect message to Lebanon that it would strike the country hard, targeting civilian infrastructure, including the airport, in the event that Hezbollah gets involved in any US-Iran war.
“There are signs that the Israelis could strike very hard in the event of an escalation, potentially including strategic infrastructure such as the airport,” Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Tuesday in Geneva.
Raggi said Lebanese authorities had appealed to Hezbollah not to respond in any way that could trigger “bad situations” for Lebanese civilians, stressing: “This war does not concern us.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, whose government has sought the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah since taking office a year ago, urged the terror group not to drag the country into a new conflict, speaking in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday: “The Gaza adventure imposed a high cost on Lebanon. We hope that we will not be dragged into another adventure.”
During the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in 2023 and 2024, the Israeli military said it only targeted sites belonging to the Iran-backed terror group. No Israeli strikes targeted key Lebanese infrastructure.
The Israel-Hezbollah war started when the terror group began firing missiles across the border on October 8, 2023 — a day after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
The November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel followed an Israeli ground invasion and concurrent air assault that severely degraded the group and killed much of its leadership.
Israel has consistently targeted what it says are Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its force following the November 2024 ceasefire that ended a year of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group.
Under the agreement, Hezbollah was required to withdraw and disarm south of the Litani River, but Israel alleges that the terror group remains entrenched in the area, leading the IDF to conduct near-daily strikes.
Lebanon’s government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and the army last month said it had completed the first phase of its plan to do so, covering the area between the Litani River and the Israeli border about 30 kilometers (20 miles) further south.
That is a parody account. MOSSAD doesn't have a Facebook account.
Dogalmighty17: 12 hours ago, Israel's Mossad, the deadliest intel agency on earth, posted a very ominous warning on its Facebook page. The warning is: SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN NIGERIA.
Mossad is known to be very discreet so for them to post something like this so openly says a lot.
Abdul Hamed, a Nigerian national who arrived in the UK by boat, has been jailed for six years following a serious sexual assault conviction at Swindon Crown Court.
The court heard that Hamed entered a woman’s home by climbing through a window and raped her on two occasions while her children were asleep in a nearby room. The incident caused significant trauma to the victim and raised serious public safety concerns.
Hamed was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison. Estimates suggest the cost of his incarceration to the public purse will be around £250,000 over the course of his sentence.
The case has sparked debate after it emerged that no immediate deportation order was issued alongside the custodial sentence. Critics argue the punishment does not reflect the severity of the crime and have questioned why deportation was not automatic following conviction.
The Home Office has not publicly commented on whether deportation proceedings will follow after Hamed completes his sentence.
The case has renewed wider discussions around sentencing, migration policy, and public protection in the UK.
Popular Nigerian[b] socialite Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has reacted to singer Davido’s loss at the 2026 Grammy Awards, alleging that the artiste is being deliberately frustrated for refusing to compromise his values[/b].
Davido lost out to South African star Tyla in the Best African Music Performance category at the Grammy Awards ceremony held on Sunday.
Reacting via a post on his Instagram page, Cubana Chief Priest claimed that Davido’s repeated Grammy losses were part of efforts by some Western music industry figures to pressure the singer into practices he described as “demonic.”
According to him, Davido’s refusal to bow to such alleged demands has made him a target for constant frustration on the global stage.
“Oyibo dey do everything possible to break a strong man so he can do their demonic sh*t with them, but he will never do it,” Cubana Chief Priest wrote.
He urged the Afrobeats star to remain focused, uphold his principles and continue releasing music for his fans despite the setback.
“Heads up brother, open the bag and drop another hot one for us. E no dey finish, gbedu na water,” he added.
Crime › Ogbomosho: Terrorists Demand Weapons, Money, Implementation Of Sharia by DiamondsAreFore(op): 9:06am
