Nigeria’s Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has withdrawn from Miss South Africa 2024 following controversy surrounding her mother’s citizenship.
She had made it to the Top 9 of contestants before South Africans began to demand for her disqualification on grounds that she is not a South African national.
8 August 2024 I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I'm really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown.
Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey however, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I. With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all of the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all.
I personally like her, but she should not make people to dislike her, people are going through a lot today in Nigeria and making insensitive comments will anger many
Why digging it out now, these people will go to any length to discredit, ridicule and embarrass this girl, and force her to quit the show
This year's miss south Africa pageant show has exposed the dark underbelly of the south African society, it has brought out all the beast in south Africans simply because a girl with nigerian roots is contesting, reading their hateful and disgusting comments on social media shows their level of hatred towards nigerians
She should just withdraw from the show, I'm never going to forgive them for this
Nigerian Soldiers Enforcing Curfew In Bauchi Open Fire On Residents, Kill 5, Injure Others
Source: Sahara reporters
BREAKING: Nigerian Soldiers Enforcing Emir’s Curfew Order Open Fire On Bauchi Community Residents, Kill 5, Injure 8 Others
Tension has risen in Lere District, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, following a deadly clash between soldiers and residents.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers from Operation Haven of the Nigerian Army, who were enforcing a curfew imposed by the local Emir, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar Bawa, killed five people and injured eight others.
The violence allegedly erupted after the soldiers brutally beat a driver who refused to pay a bribe, sparking outrage among local youths who confronted the military personnel.
Witnesses report that Nigerian Army soldiers stormed a market in Lere District on Tuesday at 9pm, an hour before the scheduled 10pm curfew, and opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuring eight others.
This incident occurred despite residents having complied with the curfew for over three weeks.
A resident who spoke to SaharaReporters on the condition of anonymity said, “This has been ongoing for over a year.
“Yesterday, a motor driver was stopped at a checkpoint, and when he refused to give money to the soldiers, they brutally beat him.
“The youths of Lere mobilised to the checkpoint to intervene, but the soldiers and mobile police officers opened fire, killing Habibu Aminu Mahmoud, 31, a graduate of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, and three others: Salau Ahmad Kasim, 13, Babawo Lauwahu Kanji, 32, and Deene Baban Uwale, 15.
“Usman Abubakar was also killed. The soldiers and police prevented the injured youths from getting medical attention, blocking them from being taken to the hospital until they confirmed their deaths.
“The Emir, who is an ordinary Emir, not even a second- class Emir imposed a curfew which the chairman of the local government area and the police who came there confirmed that they were not aware of.
“People have been obeying the curfew, but the Emir has been collaborating with the soldiers and some civilians he employed as Joint Task Force including Babawo Yahaya, Sulaiman Yahaya and Sulaiman Babawo, to always go around at night to enforce it and even if people are inside their houses watching television, they would drag them out and beat them.
“The attack and killing that happened last night was after the clash between the soldiers and the angry youths over the beating of the driver.”
Abubakar Aminu, a resident who spoke to SaharaReporters by phone, revealed that he was shot in the leg during the incident. He also disclosed that his mother, Zainab Aminu, was injured in the shooting. Both Abubakar and his mother are currently receiving medical treatment at the local general hospital.
He said, “My name is Abubakar Aminu. Yes, I am one of the people the soldiers injured last night. My mother was also injured. I am at the general hospital where I am receiving treatment because I was injured in my leg by the soldiers.
“We did not do anything. Our Emir declared a curfew that always starts by 10 in the night but yesterday, it was not 10 yet, it was around 9pm when the soldiers came to the market and started shooting at us. They killed some people and injured many of us.”
Bauchi Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Wakili, confirmed the incident when contacted, but attributed the violence to a clash between Nigerian soldiers and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the area, rather than a curfew enforcement operation.
The police spokesperson said, “Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the unfortunate incident involving the late Habibu Aminu from Lere village in Tafawa Balewa LGA.
“The situation arose following an altercation between some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Lere Village and personnel of Operation Safe Haven stationed in Tafawa Balewa.
“It's important to note that the Command swiftly responded to the situation. Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner, Auwal Musa Mohammed, dispatched a Unit of the Mobile Police Force to the area for reinforcement.
“Additionally, a team of seasoned detectives has been constituted to conduct a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to ensure that justice is served.
“The officers involved in the incident will be identified and held accountable according to the law. The Commissioner of Police is committed to a meticulous investigation process that utilizes all necessary protocols, including technical and scientific tools.
“It is crucial to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out to provide justice and resolution in this matter."
Israel should stop looking for trouble everywhere, they violated Iran's air space last week and nobody said anything about it, no condemnation from the US and Europe
If Iran retaliate now, all the hypocrites will label them evil
(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a restrained response to Israel's suspected killing of the leader of Hamas, advising against attacks on Israeli civilians, two senior Iranian sources said.
The message, according to the sources, was delivered on Monday by Sergei Shoigu, a senior ally of the Kremlin leader, in meetings with top Iranian officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.
Tehran also pressed Moscow for the delivery of Russian made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the two Iranian sources, privy to the meeting in Tehran, the sources told Reuters.
In Moscow, the Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment. State-run RIA news agency reported on Tuesday that Shoigu said he discussed Haniyeh's killing on his Tehran visit.
The two sources with knowledge of the matter did not provide further details on the talks with Shoigu, who was defence minister before becoming the secretary of Russia's security council in May.
They said Shoigu's visit was one of several avenues Moscow had used to relay to Iran the need for restraint while at the same time condemning Haniyeh's killing as "a very dangerous assassination", in a bid to prevent a Middle East war.
The Middle East, the sources said, was on the brink of a major war and those behind the assassination were clearly trying to trigger such a conflict.
Russia has cultivated closer ties with Iran since the start of its war with Ukraine and has said it is preparing to sign a wide-ranging cooperation agreement with Tehran.
There was no immediate comment from Iran's Foreign ministry. On Monday it said Tehran did not seek to raise regional tensions but needed to punish Israel to prevent further instability.
DIPLOMACY NO LONGER AN OPTION
In Washington, an official from the Biden administration warned on Monday of the risks of a major regional conflict. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized that the scale of Iran's and Hezbollah's response would be a key factor in determining the extent of a potential conflict.
Despite efforts by Western and regional states to persuade Iran to retaliate in a measured way, or not at all, Tehran has told foreign officials it will respond "severely" to the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran, where he attended President Masoud Pezeshkian's inauguration, four Iranian sources independently confirmed.
In Lebanon, a prominent Lebanese source close to Hezbollah said "a retaliatory strike is inevitable and diplomacy is no longer a viable option", adding Iran wants the strike to be "severe" but not lead to a regional war. However, he said, this does not rule out the possibility of a war in Lebanon between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel.
A Middle East-focused senior U.S. official said Washington was doing all it can "to dissuade all parties from going to a place they can’t get back from," stressing that other states in the region and Europe should do more. A Qatari official said Doha was in constant discussion with Iran to lessen tensions. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Monday that Israel must be prepared for anything, including a swift transition to offense.
The country's response to any attack by Hezbollah or Iran would likely depend more on the damage caused rather than the scale of the attack, according to two sources familiar with recent Israeli assessments.
Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility for the killing. Iran backs Hamas, which is at war with Israel in Gaza, and also Hezbollah, with whom Israel has been trading fire since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and ignited the Gaza conflict.
I don't understand the reason for this high-handedness and the violent suppression of the ongoing protest from the government
If your government is doing well, nobody will protest against you, Tinubu is becoming too tyrannical, he's insensitive to the plights of the nigerian people
Our constitution provides for fundamental rights which are inalienable rights.
Amnesty International, global human rights organisation, has reported that over 1000 Nigerians who participated in a nationwide protest against worsening hunger and misgovernance are currently being held in prison custody across the country.
The organisation criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for responding to the peaceful protests with a crackdown, rather than addressing the economic issues that are exacerbating hunger and harming families.
According to the Amnesty International, at least 632 protesters are being held in Kano State, while over 109 are being detained in Sokoto prison custody.
The organisation expressed concerns over the mass arrests and called for a more constructive approach to addressing the protesters' grievances.
In the statement shared on social media, the organisation wrote: "Instead of addressing people’s concern on the economy, the Nigerian authorities embarked on crackdown.
"So far, over 1000 people have been remanded over the protest against hunger.
"At least 632 protesters have been remanded in Kano, while over 109 were remanded in Sokoto prison.]
Botragelad: It's called backing an ally. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's been firing off their popguns, and Israel's Iron Dome has been batting them away like pesky mosquitoes. And you think that's comparable to actual military firepower?
We're dealing with the big boys here, not Hezbollah's playground nonsense. And as for Iran's response, please tell them to hurry up, we're all dying to see what they've got. I'm sure it'll be a thrilling display of rubbish. Lol
Hezbollah attacks so far has been limited, they've been using rockets instead of drones and ballistic missiles to avoid escalation
Botragelad: Oh, spare me the theatrics. You're a global power, allegedly, but your generals keep getting picked off like sitting ducks, both inside and outside of Iran.
Meanwhile, how many Israeli generals have been taken out by Iranian missiles? I'm still waiting for an answer, but I suppose it's easier to just make a lot of noise and pretend to be a big shot. This Iranian noise is getting tiresome, if you ask me.
The fact that a superpower country like America is worried about Iran should tell you something, they've already sent aircraft carriers and fighter jets because they know Iran better than you.
Hezbollah alone is rumored to posses between 150,000-200,000 of rockets, drones and ballistic missiles of different sizes and range
You think israel will survive such massive attack, wake up man
I don't want anybody from both sides to die, it's not necessary
Botragelad: Iran's still making unnecessary noise in the media? Too chicken to launch an attack, they're counting on Russia's outdated air defences to save their skin.
Let me fill you in on what the US is up to. You see, they've got different leaders with different approaches. Biden's a bit of a softie, he'll warn you and wait for you to make a move. But if it were another US president, Iran wouldn't even think about attacking Israel, the US would have taken them out before they could even blink!
What the US is doing is giving Iran a gentle warning: don't get too big for your boots or Israel will come knocking, and the US will back them up. Where do you think that'll leave Iran? Even Russia won't be able to bail them out then! Instead of getting their act together, Iran's trying to act tough, but that'll only get them obliterated.
And let's be real, Russia wouldn't dare take on NATO or a US ally. everyone's scared in their boots at the thought of the US! They're just holding back to avoid looking like bullies. Don't underestimate the US, they can take down any country without breaking a sweat. It's called being kind and giving you a chance to behave. But if you don't, those F22s and F35s will turn your country into a smoldering ruin. No deity will save you then.
Lol, everyone knows USA is a superpower country, but don't underestimate Iran, Iran is a regional power in the middle east.
You need to do a little research about Iran, check global firepower, Iran is ranked before israel in military power, yes israel has nuclear weapons, Iran too has a lot of conventional military power that will decimate israel, no air defense system can intercept nonstop hundreds of missiles and drones from different directions, the air defense systems will be overwhelmed
both countries can eliminate each other, don't underrate Iran because of your love for israel, let us preach peace instead
Don't also forget that Iran is close to developing its nuclear weapons, Iran can build a nuclear bomb within two weeks according to international atomic energy
Any war with Iran will affect global economy as well because Iran is a major oil producing country
US President Joe Biden met his senior national security team on Monday as concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel grew.
Mr Biden said he had been briefed on preparations to support Israel should it be attacked, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said officials were working "around the clock" to prevent an escalation.
Tensions have risen over the last week following the assassination of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh, for which Iran has blamed Israel and vowed “severe” retaliation. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Numerous countries, including the US and UK, have also told their citizens to leave Lebanon, from where it is feared Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia and political movement, could play a role in any response.
During Monday's briefing, Mr Biden was told the timing and nature of an Iranian attack remained unclear, according to US news site Axios. A day earlier, Mr Blinken reportedly told his G7 counterparts that Iran and Hezbollah could attack Israel within 24 to 48 hours.
In a statement released after the briefing, Mr Biden said: "We received updates on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, and preparations to support Israel should it be attacked again.
He added that steps were being taken to respond to attacks on US forces "in a manner and place of our choosing". On Monday, several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack on a US military base in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Mr Blinken said officials were "engaged in intense diplomacy pretty much around the clock with a very simple message: All parties must refrain from escalation".
"Escalation is not in anyone's interests. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity," he said. He added that a ceasefire would "unlock possibilities for more enduring calm not only in Gaza itself, but in other areas where the conflict can spread".
"It is urgent that all parties make the right choices in the hours and days ahead," he said. Earlier in the day, Mr Biden spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan about "efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal", a statement from the White House said.
A joint statement from the G7 also expressed "deep concern at the heightened level of tension in the Middle East which threatens to ignite a broader conflict in the region". "No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East," it said.
Come on bro, don't misbehave with your brain. America defeated Germany thousands of kilometers from them, and Germany was not a rag tag terrorist group like Iran. It was the world power then.
lol, so Iran's military is a rag tag to you, a country that is close to having its own nuclear weapons
Botragelad: Russia, a dependable ally? what a farce! Where were they when Israel took out Ismail Haniyeh and those Iranian nuclear scientist? Probably too busy sipping vodka to notice. Let's get real.
Russia's idea of 'support' is sending outdated weapons,etc to their mates and hoping for the best. And since the USA is the bogeyman, they'll inevitably arm Iran, just like the USA is doing in Ukraine.
The real question, of course, is whether these weapons will be anything more than a joke when the mighty Israeli and US war machines come storming in and reduce Iran's key facilities to smoldering rubble just like Russia's currency/economy. Lol
Now, have a look at the photos, would you? That's what a reliable ally looks like - not Russia. If Iran were as confident as they claim, they'd have taken a shot at Israel by now instead of begging for air defence handouts from Russia.
I mean, take a look at the aircraft carriers and warships the US have deployed to the Middle East, that's some serious firepower! And let's be real, Russia's weapons are little more than toys compared to that lot. Iran knows it, they're just putting on a show for their supporters. Try taking on Israel directly, and see what happens. The Houthis can tell you all about it... if they can stop crying about their last thrashing!😂
Don't underestimate Russia's military capability and technology I'm not a fan of Putin but they still have the capacity project power in the whole of Asia
US is sending warships and fighter jets to the middle east to defend israel, now Russia is also arming their ally
I'm not surprised by this move from Russia, Iran has been helping Russia with weapons for some time now, a major dependable ally for Russia as they continue to supply Russia with missiles and drones to fight Ukraine
Middle east will soon explode into chaos
FreeStuffsNG: Iran practically is next door to Russia but US has to travel several kilometres to reach Israel.
There's poor strategic thinking if the support of US to Israel is compared to Russia supporting Iran, it is obviously skewed against the Americans and Isreal.
This is why diplomacy is the best option and they should have seen this strategic disadvantage before murdering of Haniyeh.
Russia is delivering advanced air defence systems and radar equipment to Iran in preparation for a major escalation with Israel.
[b]The move came after Tehran requested more arms from its ally, Iranian officials told The New York Times, following a visit from a senior ally of Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s security council, met with Iran’s president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader.
“We are ready to cooperate fully with Iran in various areas,” Mr Shoigu said. Moscow has grown closer to Tehran since the war in Ukraine
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, thanked Moscow for standing by Tehran in “difficult times” and said he was determined to expand relations with his “strategic partner”.
It comes as Joe Biden, the US president, was told by his national security team that it is still unclear when Iran and Hezbollah might mount an attack against Israel and what it might entail, sources told Axios
Several protesters on Monday took to the streets in Katsina State, waving the Russian flag and tree leaves.
They were spotted chatting “APC hunger. We are not in support” in their local language. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the ruling party in Nigeria.
The protesters mostly young people and children kick-started the protest from the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s family house at Yar’adua quarters in Katsina and matched through Kofar Durbi street down to the defunct Yar-Kutungu Market, chanting “Hunger is killing us”.
The fresh protest came barely three days after relative peace had returned to the state in the wake of the violence that greeted the first few days of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
But police officers fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. The demonstrations started nationwide on August 1, 2024, and would last for ten days, according to the organisers.
This is the result of bad governance, I hope our president will learn from this and do the right thing.
All I see in Nigeria today from politicians is complete lack of respect for the people, pervasive corruption and arrogance among the political class.
No single progress Since 1960, are we cursed or what
I don't support military takeover in Nigeria, I also don't support violent protest and looting, protesters should be peaceful while expressing their grievances
Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman spent nearly four decades rising to the top of the military and said on Monday he was “taking full responsibility” after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and fled.
Bedecked with medal ribbons on his green fatigues and wearing a four-star general’s cap, Waker said 76-year-old Hasina had quit and that the army would “form an interim government”.
“I give you my word that all the injustices will be addressed,” the career infantry officer said in a broadcast to the nation on state television, although it was not immediately clear if he would head the new government
“The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence.”
The mild-looking, bespectacled officer was appointed as chief of army staff, the military’s top job, only in June. Hasina had trusted him because he was a distant relative.
The experienced soldier has served as a UN peacekeeper as well as in Hasina’s office.
His father-in-law was army chief during the first of Hasina’s five terms as prime minister from 1996-2001.
The military declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and installed a caretaker government for two years.
Hasina then ruled Bangladesh from 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.
‘Forge a beautiful future’
As protesters stormed Hasina’s palace on Monday and she fled by helicopter, Waker said he would speak to the president to form a government.
He vowed that the new authorities would “prosecute all murders” following weeks of deadly protests.
The army was deployed on the streets to crush the protests last month but shifted on Sunday and in several instances allowed demonstrations to go on.
Waker said he had held talks with the main opposition parties and civil society members, although not with Hasina’s Awami League.
“All of us together will forge a beautiful future. If we work together, we can achieve a favourable outcome,” he said.
The Bangladesh Military Academy graduate, who served two tours as a UN peacekeeper in Angola and Liberia, called for the weeks of protests to stop.
At least 300 people were killed in the unrest.
“If the situation gets better, there is no need for emergency,” he said.
Waker appealed to the university students who first launched protests in early July to support the army. The protests were initially against government hiring rules but spiralled into demands for Hasina to leave office.
“Now the task of the students is to keep calm and help us,” he said.
Waker, who Bangladeshi media say is aged 57 or 58, also received officer training in Britain.
Married with two daughters, he holds master’s degrees in defence studies from Bangladesh’s National University and King’s College London.
He was commissioned in 1985, also serving as an instructor at the Army’s College for Infantry and Tactics and at Bangladesh’s Institute for Peace Support Operations.
NOwazobia: To think this is an OP that always advocate for integrity, peace, and harmony makes this post which I thought he must have taken down by now pathetic, and makes him an hypocrite, and a devil like those he criticized regularly.
The Idiot removed the photos which clearly link the fake news to Niger Republic, and left the one that nothing is written on it to confuse people that it happened in Nigeria.
Seun, you need to tell your mods to take down this post, as the attached news, and image cannot be found anywhere in Nigeria.
Even Sahara reporters where the mugu copied the news from have taken down the post as they verified that it is a fake news.
Very mischievous OP who say one thing, and does another.
You called my post fake, so what do you have to say with the news of people waving Russian flag all on front page today?
Politics › Re: Protesters’ Demands Are Legitimate, They Deserve Listening Ears - Obasanjo To FG by God1000(m): 8:38pm On Aug 09, 2024
