tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4351962287306158982024-03-19T04:53:13.152-04:00NAIJAFEEDNaijafeed is your one stop destination for anything Nigerian related. Your time is valuable, so why waste it scurrying the interwebs (it's a pretty big place) for Nigerian related gist when you can get your quick fix right here.
From entertainment news,sports,people,places, politics (we dabble) and anything else Naija you care about, we bring it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6902125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-84266757229682905942024-03-19T04:52:00.002-04:002024-03-19T04:52:18.651-04:00 Baby factories continue to thrive in Nigeria<p>Child traffickers often abduct girls and young women, take them to isolated locations and impregnate them. When they give birth, their babies are sold to childless couples. The practice has existed for years in Nigeria.<br /><br />So-called <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-10-rescued-from-baby-factory/a-55793673">baby making factories</a> are facilities in <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria/t-18943620">Nigeria</a> to which girls and young women are lured, impregnated and held against their will until they give birth. <br /><br />The "factories" are usually small, illegal facilities parading as private medical clinics that house pregnant women and subsequently offer their babies for sale.<br /><br />In some cases, young women have been held against their will and raped before their babies are sold on the black market.<br /><br />The practice is largely prevalent in the southeastern states of Abia, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.<br /><br />Around 200 underground baby factories have been shut over the last five years, according to Nigerian security agencies, however new facilities open to replace the closed ones.<br /><br />Earlier this month, police officers stormed a hideout in Abia where they rescued 16 pregnant girls and eight young children.<br /><br />Maureen Chinaka, a police spokeswoman revealed that the rescued girls were between the ages of 17 and 27 and had been told that they would be paid to leave the baby factories without their babies.<br /><br />Last June, 22 pregnant young girls and two babies were rescued from a facility in the same state, where they had been held hostage.<br />Why do the factories exist?<br /><br />There is a thriving market for babies among couples who are struggling to bear their own children. They are willing to pay between 1 million naira (€576) and 2 milion naira (€1,152) for a baby.<br /><br />There is a higher demand for male babies, which tend to be sold at a higher price than baby girls.<br /><br />Clare Ohunayo, a Nigerian activist and educationist, told DW that as long as there is demand for babies, the practice will prevail.<br />Supplying a demand<br /><br />Ohunayo blames it on high levels of poverty and the stigma that comes with being a childless couple in Nigeria.<br /><br />"The desperation that drives the baby factory has two sets of players. The first set is driven by the fear of poverty as a result of the socio-economic conditions of Nigeria," she said.<br /><br />Those who own these facilities where the girls are kept, the men who impregnate them, and the girls themselves are all pushed into it by poverty, according to Ohunayo.<br /><br />Some young female Nigerians told DW that they remain vulnerable because of their poor living conditions.<br /><br />"This baby booming industry, even though it has been in existence, the reason it's coming up [is] because people are really really stressed in terms of striving for a daily living," a young resident of Abuja said.<br /><br />Another Abuja resident told DW that: "We are experiencing an increase in crime rates due to hardship and poverty."<br /><br />But not everyone blames it on poverty.<br /><br />"Actually I think what is causing this menace has to do with moral decadence. Immoral people are desperate to make money. This is why you see this kind of thing happening, but to me I think it's very bad," said one Nigerian man.<br /><br />Giving birth to children is considered signifcant in many African societies, and often couples unable to have their own children face humiliation, even from family members.<br /><br />The demand for male children makes the practice especially lucrative, according to police officials.<br /><br />"On the other side you have childless couple who want to avoid the stigma of [being] childless," said Ohunayo, describing a major cultural factor behind the baby factories.<br />Ending the baby factory business<br /><br />Florence Marcus, a lawyer with the Abuja-based <a href="https://drac-ng.org/">Disability Rights Advocate Center</a> told DW there are laws to help tackle the menace.<br /><br />"This issue of baby factories is a gross violation of the rights of the victims, especially these young ladies who are often taken to these facilities without theor consent," she said.<br /><br />"The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act prohibits all forms of violence against person, particularly women and girls. The law provides maximum protection and effective remedies for the victims and also punishment for the offenders."<br /><br />Several arrests have been made across the Nigerian states in which the practice is prevalent.<br /><br />Zakaria Dauda, spokesman for the National Agency for the Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons, a government body, told DW that <a href="https://naptip.gov.ng/">the organization</a> will continue to make arrests and ensure that pepatrators are punished.<br /><br />"We know [with] the issue of baby factory most victims are usually young girls. We warn people of the dangers of such vices," he said.<br /><br />"And those who become suspects, we take them [in] for people to also know that there is a crime being perpetrated called sale of babies."</p><p><i>By Ben Shemang</i>, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097" target="_blank">DW</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2013/05/video-baby-trafficking-syndicate.html" target="_blank">Video - Baby trafficking syndicate arrested in Imo state</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2018/04/baby-factory-raided-in-lagos-nigeria.html" target="_blank">Baby factory raided in Lagos, Nigeria</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2013/12/16-pregnant-women-freed-from-baby.html" target="_blank">16 pregnant women freed from baby factory in Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-85590022737431856322024-03-19T04:43:00.002-04:002024-03-19T04:43:16.600-04:00Court in Nigeria Orders Binance to Relinquish Data of All Nigerians Trading on its Platform<p>The interim order comes after an earlier report that Nigeria wanted Binance to give information regarding its top 100 users in the nation and all transaction history spanning the past six months.<br /><br />A Nigerian court has ordered Binance to provide Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with comprehensive information on all persons from the nation trading on its platform, according to a <a href="https://gazettengr.com/court-orders-binance-to-release-names-transaction-details-of-nigerian-users/">report</a> by the local news outlet Peoples Gazette.<br /><br />The interim order comes after an earlier <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/03/13/binance-nigeria-brawl-continues-as-country-asks-exchange-to-submit-list-of-top-100-users/">report</a> that Nigeria had asked the crypto exchange to hand over the information regarding its top 100 users in the country and all transaction history spanning the past six months. But Justice Emeka Nwite from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court appears to have granted the motion of EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho which sought information on any Nigerian trading on Binance.<br /><br />The EFCC is Nigeria’s law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes.<br /><br />“The applicant’s application dated and filed February 29, 2024, is hereby granted as prayed. That an order of this honorable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform,” the judge ordered, the report said.<br /><br />Nigeria has taken action against the crypto industry for allegedly <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/02/28/binance-nigeria-moved-26b-worth-of-untraceable-funds-in-2023-central-bank-chief-says-reports/">facilitating illegal capital outflows</a>, which purportedly led to the Nigerian naira weakening to record lows against the dollar. The nation’s authorities have taken a particular interest in Binance’s operations, demanding $10 billion in penalties for enabling<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/02/28/binance-nigeria-moved-26b-worth-of-untraceable-funds-in-2023-central-bank-chief-says-reports/"> some $26 billion of untraceable funds</a>.<br /><br />Nigerian authorities also detained two of <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/03/13/detained-binance-executives-to-remain-in-nigerian-custody-until-hearing-wsj/">Binance’s</a> senior executives after inviting them into the country to discuss the matter. The court hearing of the two detained Binance executives is scheduled for Wednesday, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-seeks-prolong-detention-binance-executives-2024-03-14/">reported</a>. Nigerian authorities have also proposed a 400% increase in registration fees for crypto firms.<br /><br />Binance and the EFCC did not immediately respond to CoinDesk’s request for comment. </p><p><i>By Amitoj Singh</i>, <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/?_gl=1*1aitrxc*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA5NzQyMjkyNy4xNzEwODM3NDIy*_ga_VM3STRYVN8*MTcxMDgzNzQyMS4xLjEuMTcxMDgzNzU4NS4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank">CoinDesk</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/nigeria-demands-binance-disclose-top.html" target="_blank">Nigeria demands Binance disclose top users, executives remain detained</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-nigeria-detains-binance-executives.html" target="_blank">Video - Nigeria detains Binance executives</a></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-81812036815070235862024-03-19T04:36:00.004-04:002024-03-19T04:36:38.078-04:00Gunmen kidnap more than 100 in latest Nigeria attacks<p>Kidnappers have abducted over 100 people in two new attacks in northwest Nigeria weeks after more than 250 school pupils were seized in the same state, residents and officials told AFP on Monday. <br /><br />They blamed gangs of criminals known locally as bandits for the abductions in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state over the weekend, which pile pressure on President <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/bola-tinubu/">Bola Ahmed Tinubu</a> after a spate of large-scale abductions.<br /><br />Bandits routinely target communities, loot villages and carry out mass kidnappings for ransom in northwest and north-central <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/nigeria/">Nigeria</a>, where the violence has displaced around a million people, according to the UN.<br /><br />On Sunday night, gunmen kidnapped 87 people in Kajuru Station, according to local government chairman Ibrahim Gajere.<br /><br />"They went and removed people from their homes at gunpoint," he said. <br /><br />Resident Harisu Dari said bandits stormed the village at around 10:00 pm and went door to door abducting residents.<br /><br />A UN source and a former local official, both speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the account.<br /><br />On Saturday, 16 people were kidnapped in Dogon Noma around 10 kilometres (six miles) away, according to Dari, the UN source and the former local official.<br /><br />Kaduna police and the state's security commissioner did not respond to repeated requests for confirmation.<br /> </p><p><b>'Out of control'</b><br /><br />Last week, gunmen abducted dozens of people from another village in Kajuru district.<br /><br />It followed the <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/kidnapping/">kidnapping</a> of more than 250 pupils from a school in Kuriga village about 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Kajuru district earlier this month, one of the biggest such attacks in years.<br /><br />A family member told AFP that state governor Uba Sani met relatives' representatives on Monday and said he was doing all he could to free the <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/children/">children</a>.<br /><br />Relatives say the kidnappers demanded a large payment for the return of the students, but last week President Tinubu said he had ordered security forces not to pay up.<br /><br />Kidnap victims in Nigeria are often freed following negotiations with the authorities, though a 2022 law banned handing money to kidnappers and officials deny ransom payments are made.<br /><br />Officials say troops have been searching forests to rescue the Kuriga students, but families say few details have emerged since the abductions.<br /><br />Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence said it had recorded 4,777 people abducted since Tinubu took office in May last year.<br /><br />Tinubu's government has promised to tackle insecurity, but in an interview last week senior SBM security analyst Confidence MacHarry told AFP there had been few improvements.<br /><br />"Nigerian security architecture is not responsive enough to stop the menace from going out of control," he warned.</p><p><a href="https://www.afp.com/en" target="_blank">AFP</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-families-and-victims-in-nigeria.html" target="_blank">Video - Families and victims in Nigeria reeling from impact of kidnappings</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-kaduna-state-abductions-raise.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - Kaduna state abductions raise Nigeria's insecurity crisis</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/president-tinubu-rules-out-ransoms-for.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">President Tinubu rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/kidnappers-say-they-will-kil-all-287.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">kidnappers say they will kill all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-25640466333654687062024-03-18T07:58:00.003-04:002024-03-18T07:58:19.750-04:00Video - Nigeria government bans leave of absence for health workers<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qq2WiyL5WcA?si=MxW3R3Y_V11GOydK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> The Nigerian government has banned health professionals from taking leave of absence as it tries to stop them taking jobs abroad while on leave. Many health workers in Nigeria have been taking the extended leave to secure jobs abroad and abandoning their posts at home without formally resigning.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2022/10/over-10000-doctors-left-nigeria-for-uk.html" target="_blank">Over 10,000 doctors left Nigeria for UK in last 7 yrs</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2019/04/nigeria-suffering-from-medical-brain.html" target="_blank">Nigeria suffering from medical brain drain</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-82823235733621654122024-03-18T07:55:00.002-04:002024-03-18T07:55:29.374-04:00Video - Thousands of farmers in Nigeria still displaced three months after Bokkos village attacks<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K56X3rO-CNs?si=zo2DLrM077zt_69G" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> Many villages in north-central Nigeria remain deserted nearly three months after a series of coordinated attacks. Gunmen targeted over 20 villages in the Bokkos local government area of Plateau State over several days in December 2023. Thousands of people remain displaced.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2020/11/nigeria-is-also-losing-control-of-its.html" target="_blank">Nigeria is also losing control of its troubled northwest region</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2020/11/scores-killed-in-massacre-of-farmers-in.html" target="_blank">Scores Killed In Massacre Of Farmers In Nigeria</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/nigeria-considering-state-policing-to.html" target="_blank">Nigeria considering state policing to combat growing insecurity</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-17639735966377857122024-03-18T07:50:00.001-04:002024-03-18T07:50:09.780-04:00Video - 16 Nigerian soldiers killed in attack in Delta State<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKGvtJADb9s?si=n85zmqiogGoY_cb2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> National defense authorities in Nigeria have ordered the arrests of those behind the killing of sixteen soldiers. </p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related story: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/nigeria-military-denies-reprisal-attack.html" target="_blank">Nigeria military denies reprisal attack after 16 troops killed</a></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-61373687344177246562024-03-18T07:47:00.003-04:002024-03-18T07:47:43.452-04:00Video - AI-powered phone helps Nigerians with visual impairment access information<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OkJvInnfsU0?si=tGeWvAKjZN0345Ka" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> Artificial intelligence (AI) is making a positive impact on the visually impaired community in Nigeria, as they now have access to information through AI-powered mobile phones, even without an internet connection.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related story: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/app-in-nigeria-is-saving-lives-by.html" target="_blank">App in Nigeria is saving lives by connecting people to pro bono legal services</a></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-7872333666559387472024-03-18T07:43:00.000-04:002024-03-18T07:43:53.502-04:00Video - Nigeria opens its air and land borders with Niger<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AFP5rPD8-zY?si=pNptmhhUVGgh9wrv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> Nigeria has decided to reopen its air and land borders with its neighbor, Niger. This decision also involves lifting other sanctions imposed after the military takeover in Niger last year.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-56140503973884279552024-03-18T07:41:00.001-04:002024-03-18T07:41:02.880-04:00Video - Dangote refinery in Nigeria to import crude from U.S.<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iznW64x-raU?si=GW2WXpp7RoaaKKAz" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> The announcement comes as the Dangote refinery intensifies moves to start pumping out refined products. The facility is targeting an initial processing rate of 350,000 barrels a day before ramping up toward its full capacity.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p> Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/dangote-wants-to-set-up-trading-arm-for.html" target="_blank">Dangote wants to set up trading arm for Lagos mega refinery</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2022/08/dangote-oil-refinery-to-help-solve-fuel.html" target="_blank">Dangote oil refinery to help solve fuel shortage in Nigeria</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-88427544391124714142024-03-18T07:36:00.007-04:002024-03-18T07:37:12.305-04:00Video - Families and victims in Nigeria reeling from impact of kidnappings<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SBzaBvvkSD8?si=egjnYO2WAjRMbrJt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> For much of the last decade, Nigeria's northern region has been plagued by abductions and attacks on schools. These kidnappings leave victims and their families with physical and psychological scars, as well as financial turmoil due to hefty ransom demands.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-kaduna-state-abductions-raise.html" target="_blank">Video - Kaduna state abductions raise Nigeria's insecurity crisis</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/president-tinubu-rules-out-ransoms-for.html" target="_blank">President Tinubu rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/kidnappers-say-they-will-kil-all-287.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">kidnappers say they will kill all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-22184489934114738522024-03-18T07:33:00.004-04:002024-03-18T07:33:41.426-04:00Video - Increased charcoal usage raises pollution and health concerns in Nigeria<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fBhB3hRMXyQ?si=dO96sRLaZGc-tWyB" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> In Nigeria, the demand for charcoal is up. While that's good news for charcoal producers, others worry about the charcoal industry's impact on the environment. They want the government to prioritize the supply of liquified petroleum gas to Nigerian households to help curb the destructive environmental and health effects of the charcoal trade.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related story: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2023/12/cop28-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels.html" target="_blank">COP28 'Transition Away' From Fossil Fuels deal brings Mixed Reaction in Nigeria</a></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-90265445215353080162024-03-18T07:28:00.006-04:002024-03-18T07:29:35.730-04:00Video - Kaduna state abductions raise Nigeria's insecurity crisis<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nd06Z74NM0A?si=bukNISLB6QZO54Kf" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> Authorities in Nigeria's Kaduna State, are determined to address the increasing number of abductions. Armed groups have been wreaking havoc in the area for years. They target villagers, motorists on highways, and students from schools, demanding ransom in return.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/president-tinubu-rules-out-ransoms-for.html" target="_blank">President Tinubu rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/kidnappers-say-they-will-kil-all-287.html" target="_blank">kidnappers say they will kill all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-75408744993657307822024-03-18T07:18:00.005-04:002024-03-18T07:18:53.095-04:00Nigeria military denies reprisal attack after 16 troops killed<p>Men in army uniform ransacked and burned homes in Nigeria's oil-producing Delta state days after youths killed 16 soldiers sent there to resolve a land dispute, residents said, but the defence chief denied military involvement.<br /><br />Residents said soldiers attacked the riverside Okuoma community of a few hundred people on Sunday while looking for those responsible for Thursday's killings.<br /><br />Tam Oburumu, who fled from his home, said uniformed men were going around looking for weapons and ransacked houses before torching them.<br /><br />"The damage for now is huge, a lot of houses were burned,"<br /><br />Oburumu said by phone from a nearby village where he has sought refuge.<br /><br />Government-owned properties, including a primary school and hospital, were spared, residents said.<br /><br />President Bola Tinubu said he had given the military full authority to hunt down those responsible for killing the soldiers, which he described as an "unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people".<br /><br />But defence chief General Christopher Musa denied that soldiers had attacked the community.<br /><br />"No reprisals by the army. We are searching for the murderers and their weapon cache," Musa said in a text message to Reuters.<br /><br />There are frequent, sometimes deadly, clashes over land or over compensation for oil spills by energy companies in many Delta state communities.<br /><br />Friday Addy, a trader in Okuoma, said she and her mother had left their home when soldiers arrived.<br /><br />"The people have fled for their lives, and many are missing and we cannot locate them. We are helpless," said Addy.<br /></p><p><i>By Tife Owolabi and Ope Adetayo</i>, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/" target="_blank">Reuters</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-66888582352133710492024-03-15T06:25:00.002-04:002024-03-15T06:25:38.654-04:00Military in Nigeria kill 213 terrorists, apprehend 283 others<p>The <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/677459-why-112-idps-were-abducted-in-borno-dhq.html">Defence Headquarters</a> (DHQ) said Nigerian troops killed at least 213 terrorists and arrested 283 others in different theatres of operation across the country in the last week.<br /><br />The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, disclosed this while giving an update on the operations of the armed forces on Thursday in Abuja.<br /><br />Mr Buba, a major general, said the troops within the period also apprehended 67 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 26 kidnapped hostages.<br /><br /><br />He said they also recovered 189 assorted weapons and 4,003 assorted ammunition comprising 111 AK47 rifles, G3 rifles, 31 locally fabricated guns, five pump action guns, automatic pump action guns, and 26 Dane guns among others.<br /><br />He said that other weapons recovered included 2,766 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 982 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 240 live cartridges, 2 shotgun cartridges, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, and 36 empty cases of 7.62mm ammo.<br /><br />Other items according to him, are 38 magazines, three G3 magazines, eight vehicles, 44 motorcycles, 19 mobile phones, four bicycles, rifle butt, rifle stock and the sum of N628,000 amongst other items.<br /><br />In the North-east, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, eliminated 70 terrorists and arrested 23 BH/ISWAP terrorists as well as recovered one G3 rifle, 50 AK47 rifles, 1,012 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 243 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 motorcycles, 10 bicycles amongst others.<br /><br />He said that a total of 472 ISWAP/JAS terrorists fighters and their families comprising 26 adult males, 146 adult females and 300 children surrendered to troops within the theatre of operations.<br /><br />According to him, the air component neutralised several ISWAP/JAS terrorists and destroyed their logistics within the Southern Tumbuns.<br /><br />In the North-central, Mr Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke killed nine insurgents and arrested 18 violent extremists within the week.<br /><br />He said the troops also recovered several arms, ammunition and other items.<br /><br />In the North-west, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji killed 26 terrorists and rescued 15 kidnapped hostages during the week.<br /><br />He said the air component had on 5 March knocked out terrorists’ commanders and their foot soldiers hibernating in Southern Tsaskiya, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.<br /><br />According to him, the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were killed and their structures destroyed.<br /><br />“Similarly, on March 6, following credible intelligence and confirmatory ISR the air component in multiple passes conducted air interdiction at terrorists’ commander Alhaji Nashama’s and Jammo Smally’s enclaves in Birnin Magaji and Maradun Local Government Areas of Zamfara.<br /><br />“The locations were thoroughly scanned and observed to be active with terrorists’ activities and attacked with rockets and cannons.<br /><br />“Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralized and their structures destroyed,” he said.<br /><br />Mr Buba added that troops of Operation Whirl Punch killed 17 insurgents, arrested 42 violent extremists/terrorists and rescued nine kidnapped hostages.<br /><br />He said the air component also conducted air interdiction at terrorists’ commander Alhaji Labi’s enclave in Gaude Forest, Kaduna State following confirmation of resurgence of terrorists at the location.<br /><br />He said soldiers attacked the location killing several terrorists and destroying their logistics.<br /><br />In the South-south, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 45 illegal refining sites with 150 dugout pits, 30 boats, 73 storage tanks, 209 drums and 15 vehicles.<br /><br />According to him, other items recovered include 105 cooking ovens, three pumping machines, two outboard engines, one tricycle and four motorcycles.<br /><br />He added that the troops recovered 1.2 million litres of stolen crude oil, 313,780 litres of illegally refined AGO and 13,000 litres of PMS during the week.<br /><br />In the South-east, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA killed 26 terrorists and recovered three G3 rifles, 12 AK47 rifles, one fabricated gun, two pump action guns, automatic pump action guns, RPG bombs and 269 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.<br /><br />Other items recovered are 216 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 172 live cartridges, eight IEDs (OGBUNIGWE), four AK47 magazines, three G3 magazines and three motorcycles amongst other items.<br /><br />“All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action,” he said.<br /><br /> <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/" target="_blank">Premium Times</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2023/12/military-of-nigeria-attempting-to-cover.html" target="_blank">Military of Nigeria attempting to cover up mass killing of civilians</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2023/12/accidental-military-drone-strikes-kill.html" target="_blank">Accidental Military drone strikes kill dozens in Nigeria</a></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-57353329729226231692024-03-14T20:58:00.004-04:002024-03-14T21:02:30.950-04:00President Tinubu rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue<p>President Tinubu has ruled out the payment of ransoms for nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted from their school in the conflict-hit north a week ago, raising questions from analysts on Thursday about how best to rescue the children without hurting them.<br /><br />Meanwhile, at least two people with extensive knowledge of the security crisis in Nigeria's northwest told The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-africa-niger-nigeria-c501e491e516783d013346dbf746effa">the abductors</a> of the schoolchildren in the state of Kaduna are known and are hiding in the vast ungoverned and unoccupied forests of the region. They both urged the government to engage in dialogue with the armed groups to resolve the protracted conflict.<br /><br /><a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abduction-gunmen-e7d9ba127485e893d80eae1218b702fd">At least 1,400 students</a> have so far been kidnapped from Nigerian schools since the first major school abduction — in Borno state’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-boko-haram-organized-crime-11b3f96a7d2525f4988e65120ddcd552">Chibok village in 2014</a> — stunned the world. Most of those eventually released only regained their freedom after ransom payments, according to their schools and parents, even though the Nigerian government does not admit to paying ransoms.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Nigeria's information minister Mohammed Idris told reporters that President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to urgently rescue the schoolchildren and "in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.”<br /><br />No group has claimed responsibility for the Kaduna attack. Local residents blamed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-africa-niger-nigeria-c501e491e516783d013346dbf746effa">bandit groups</a> known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in northwestern and central regions, most of them herders in conflict with host communities.<br /><br />Unlike the Chibok girls, who were seized by Islamic militants from the Boko Haram group, no religious motive is suspected in the most recent abductions.<br /><br />The mastermind of the Kaduna abduction is known, as are other bandit leaders, said Murtala Ahmed Rufa’i, an associate professor of peace and conflict studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, in Sokoto state, and one of Nigeria’s foremost conflict researchers.<br /><br />“His father is alive,” he said of the suspect behind the Kaduna abduction. "These bandits are people that are known by their names, families and by their locations. If you want to engage, you talk to the parents. They are criminals (but) still have parents that they listen to,” he said.<br /><br />At least 100 of the schoolchildren abducted in Kaduna are estimated to be aged 12 or younger, fitting an established pattern, with children seen as easy targets to mount pressure on the government.<br /><br />The children's abduction is not driven by the need for ransoms and such abductions can only be resolved through negotiations with the armed groups, according to Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Nigerian cleric known to have access to the bandits and who has negotiated with them in the past.<br /><br />“It is more than an economic motive," Gumi said, saying there is “an underground ethnic war" between the the herdsmen from the Fulani ethnic group and other, more urbanized parts of Nigeria. His comments echoed claims made previously by the herdsmen that they struggle with less development than other regions.<br /><br />Security operations to rescue those kidnapped sometimes stretch into months, leaving families desperate to meet the ransom demands.<br /><br />“People whose relations are kidnapped don’t cooperate with security agencies. Otherwise, some of these money being paid, since they are not electronically transferred, could be traced,” said Mike Ejiofor, a former director with Nigeria’s secret police.<br /><br />The minister’s comments suggests the government has “other alternatives to use to free those people,” said Ejiofor. However, the use of force could have serious consequences, he warned. “To go and do it forcefully, I think we will have some collateral damage,” he said.</p><p><i>By Chinedu Asadu</i>, <a href="https://apnews.com/" target="_blank">AP</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/kidnappers-say-they-will-kil-all-287.html" target="_blank">kidnappers say they will kill all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-43726697407558230912024-03-14T06:06:00.004-04:002024-03-14T06:06:40.815-04:00Video - Impact of rising food prices in Nigeria on Ramadan<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KjmQ4gVdZ1M?si=2RXksh6zwye9r-pV" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> As the holy month of Ramadan continues, Muslims in Nigeria are grappling with the issue of high living costs. There are concerns that they may have to reduce expenses due to the growing inflationary pressures.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-nigeria-secures-134-million-to.html" target="_blank">Video - Nigeria secures $134 million to tackle food crisis</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/video-bakers-in-nigeria-threaten.html" target="_blank">Video - Bakers in Nigeria threaten shutdown amidst rising production costs</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/video-rising-food-prices-spark-protests.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - Rising Food Prices spark protests and smuggling in Nigeria</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-43770627210598350862024-03-14T06:03:00.003-04:002024-03-14T06:10:00.681-04:00Video - Nigeria imposes mandatory annual levy for organizations employing expatriate workers<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XXOLkkrdlII?si=J15gooNkAK4htrwc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> To promote local employment opportunities, Nigerian authorities mandate that organizations employing expatriate workers pay an annual levy of 15,000 U.S. dollars for directors and 10,000 U.S. dollars for other employees.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related story: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/nigeria-imposes-annual-levy-on.html" target="_blank">Nigeria imposes annual levy on expatriate workers</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/video-why-are-multinationals-like-p-gsk.html" target="_blank">Video - Why Are Multinationals Like P&G, GSK and Sanofi Leaving Nigeria?</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-34547204695165238412024-03-14T05:55:00.005-04:002024-03-14T05:56:10.876-04:00Nigeria Orders Creation of Police Base in Remote Community After Mass Kidnappings<p>Police in Nigeria have ordered the creation of a new base for officers and the deployment of special forces in a remote village in northwest Kaduna state, where nearly 300 students were abducted by armed bandits on March 7.<br /><br />Nigerian police chief Kayode Egbetokun announced plans for the new base and the deployment during a visit with Kaduna Governor Uba Sani on Tuesday.<br /><br />He said the steps will help restore residents’ confidence in their safety while security forces continue the search for the missing students.<br /><br />Last Thursday, armed bandits on motorbikes invaded an elementary school in the village of Kuriga in Kaduna state and abducted 287 school students — the highest single abduction of students in years.<br /><br />Days later in a separate attack, bandits kidnapped 61 people from Kajuru district, about 150 kilometers miles away.<br /><br />The new police base will be in Kuriga and deployment of extra officers to the area has begun.<br /><br />Egbetokun says authorities are working to secure the abductees’ release.<br /><br />"We're launching the special intervention squad for Kaduna state,” Egbetokun said. “If only to give confidence to the people, the men will be deployed and with the support that you have pledged to give, I’m sure that the community will start to feel safe again."<br /><br />Sani said he is hopeful the police operations will succeed.<br /><br />"We are extremely confident that the school children by the grace of God will return back home safely,” he said, “and I'm happy by the decision of the inspector general of police to quickly deploy mobile base in Kuriga community."<br /><br />Last week, local media reported more than 300 women and children who were gathering firewood were kidnapped in northeastern Borno state by Islamic militants.<br /><br />Insecurity is a major challenge for President Bola Tinubu, who launched an initiative called “Renewed Hope” after assuming office last May.<br /><br />The recent kidnappings are blamed, in part, on the absence of security forces in those remote areas.<br /><br />Last month, the president met with all 36 state governors to discuss decentralizing Nigeria’s police force and creating a police arm for each state.<br /><br />Analyst Kabiru Adamu of Beacon Security said, if organized properly, this could be a step in the right direction.<br /><br />“There are gaps within the security architecture,” Adamu said. “I am supportive of the decentralization of policing but I think what we need more than anything is accountability. So that by the time we create state police, the accountability elements that have been created in the federal level will trickle down to the state level."<br /><br />Years of fighting Islamist militants and crime gangs have stretched Nigerian security forces thin.<br /><br />Many are hoping the creation of new bases and state police arms will help keep the kidnappers away.</p><p><i>By Timothy Obiezu</i>, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/" target="_blank">VOA</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/kidnappers-say-they-will-kil-all-287.html" target="_blank">kidnappers say they will kil all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-6256767711365284012024-03-14T05:51:00.002-04:002024-03-14T20:59:09.166-04:00kidnappers say they will kill all 287 school if $622,000 ransom not paid<p>Gunmen who kidnapped at least 287 school children in <a href="https://www.cnn.com/world/africa/nigeria">Nigeria</a> last Thursday have demanded a ransom of 1 billion naira ($621,848) and threatened to kill all of the students if their demands are not met, a member of the local community told CNN on Wednesday.<br /><br />“They called me from a hidden number yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at around 16 minutes past 12, and demanded 1 billion naira ($621,848) as a ransom for the students. They said [the ultimatum] will only last for three weeks or 20 days from the date they kidnapped the children and if there’s no action from the government, they will kill all of them,” said Aminu Jibril, a resident of Kuriga village, in Kaduna state, where the school is located.<br /><br />The children were kidnapped on March 7.<br /><br />Jibril also told CNN that the perpetrators said the kidnapping was “a way of getting back at the government and security agencies for killing their gang members.”<br /><br />The member of the Kuriga community said he believed the kidnappers got his number from the head of the school’s junior secondary section, who was kidnapped alongside the students.<br /><br />More than 300 students were taken early Thursday morning by armed bandits on motorcycles who stormed the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, in Kaduna’s Chikun district, the state’s police spokesman Mansur Hassan told CNN on Friday.<br /><br />Some of the students were rescued but 287 of them remain with the kidnappers. About 100 of them are from the primary school and the rest from the secondary school.<br /><br />The Kaduna Governor Uba Sani said in a statement Thursday that his government was “doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the pupils and students.”<br /><br />Sani also said a member of the community who confronted the abductors during the attack was killed.<br /><br />Kaduna state, which borders the Nigerian capital Abuja to the southwest, has grappled with recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits and has witnessed several mass abductions in recent years, including in the district where the LEA Primary and Secondary School is located.<br /><br />In 2021, at least 140 students were kidnapped by armed men from a private secondary school.<br /><br />The incident came just months after around 20 students from a private university in Chikun’s Kasarami village were abducted by gunmen.<br /><br />Five of those students were killed after a ransom deadline was not met, family members told CNN at the time.</p><p><i>By Nimi Princewill</i>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/61-people-kidnapped-in-kaduna-nigeria.html" target="_blank">61 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-14356707053694901902024-03-13T06:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T06:00:43.126-04:00Police station attacked, cars, shops torched by mob at Market in Nigeria capital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm3AQ5qIbzbWyieP8xLT1p3PuthMHaTaxb8CtHggW_C-z2sawPDtQWHYXi9-2LCbNbG7a6HAcoj0Xr5kE1ZG34yrNCdVC164-HLJ-zmUNCdn5wlENodspeSGdGT3Qe7_C99vHFgjvL0unFYvbc82DHDeFkMpzS-m-4j7oUmuMd7wyiTPZtjp7dH47_PEN/s1020/Wuse_Market_looting.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1020" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm3AQ5qIbzbWyieP8xLT1p3PuthMHaTaxb8CtHggW_C-z2sawPDtQWHYXi9-2LCbNbG7a6HAcoj0Xr5kE1ZG34yrNCdVC164-HLJ-zmUNCdn5wlENodspeSGdGT3Qe7_C99vHFgjvL0unFYvbc82DHDeFkMpzS-m-4j7oUmuMd7wyiTPZtjp7dH47_PEN/w400-h224/Wuse_Market_looting.png" width="400" /></a></div>Protesters on Tuesday attacked a police station and set some cars on fire at the popular Wuse Market in Abuja, after a hawker was shot dead by security operatives.<p><br />Witnesses said the hawker, who the police identified as 27-year-old Ibrahim Yahaya, was shot after he was arrested by some “task force officers” and the police.<br /><br />The hawker was trying to escape from custody when he was shot, shop owners, who said they witnessed the incident, said.<br /><br />The killing was said to have triggered angry reactions from some youths in the market.<br /><br />The mob made their way to the police station in the market, destroying windows and setting some cars in the surrounding on fire. About eight cars were burnt down in the incident that went wild at about 3.30 p.m.<br /><br />The police fired teargas to disperse the mob, according to those who said they witnessed the incident.<br /><br />About 10 shops also caught fire in the chaos.<br /><br />A black plume of smoke rising above the market was seen by residents at places away from the scene.<br /><br />Some shop owners blamed the fire that razed the shops on police teargas.<br /><br />A shop owner, John Abasi, told PREMIUM TIMES: “Truly it was the teargas that caused the fire. You know when someone is killed, people will react. So people tried to attack the person who shot the guy, but he ran away. So they were going to destroy his things. That is why they burnt the cars there (pointing to the direction of the burnt cars). The police then started shooting the teargas which went into people’s shops and burnt their goods.”<br /><br />Daily Trust reported that a senior official of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) inside the market confirmed that the shooting of the hawker provoked the attackers to burn down some shops. AMML office was said to have been affected by the fire. The official told the newspaper that the office and some vehicles in the car park within the market were torched by the youths.<br /> </p><p><b>Police confirm killing</b><br /><br />The police, on Tuesday, confirmed the killing of the hawker, 27-year-old Mr Yahaya.<br /><br />However, Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, cleared the police of the shooting.<br /><br />She said the deceased, who died after he was rushed to the hospital, was shot by a correctional service (prison) officer while he was trying to escape from custody.<br /><br />“Preliminary investigation revealed that one Ibrahim Yahaya ‘27 years’ was apprehended by operatives of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Task Force and was taken before a mobile court which sits every Tuesday in Wuse Market, and he was convicted,” the spokesperson wrote.<br /><br />“Suspect alongside others were being conveyed to the prison, when he reportedly jumped from the vehicle and took to his heels in an attempt to escape. Two armed corrections personnel who were in the vehicle went after him and in the process, shot him. They said Ibrahim Yahaya was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors on the ground confirmed him dead.”<br /><br />The police spokesperson said, “The development led some irate mobs who witnessed the situation to set ablaze eight (8) vehicles and ten (10) shops in the environ.”<br /><br />She added: “The whole fire situation erupted uproar from residents but was brought under control by a combined effort of Federal fire service and other security agencies present.<br /><br />“While normalcy has since been restored, and investigation still ongoing, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh psc, mni, enjoins residents to peacefully go about their lawful businesses without fear.”<br /> </p><p><b>Officials speak</b><br /><br />No fewer than 10 shops were razed down by fire in Wuse Market during the incident, according to the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).<br /><br />FEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, said this in a statement in Abuja.<br /><br />Mrs Isa, who said that no life was lost, added that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.<br /><br />She, however, said the fire was brought under control by a combined team of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Department.<br /><br />The FEMA spokesperson said the agency received a distress call on the 112 emergency toll-free number at 4.05 p.m. about the fire incident at the market.<br /><br />She added that the agency, being the lead coordinating body for all emergencies in the FCT, thereafter, activated its stakeholders to ensure maximum response.<br /><br />Mrs Isa identified the stakeholders as the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency, FCT Police Command, and Julius Berger Fire Service.<br /><br />The acting Director General of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/home">FEMA</a>, Mohammed Sabo, appealed to FCT residents to equip their homes and business places with basic firefighting equipment like extinguishers and fire blankets.<br /><br />Mr Sabo noted that the 10 shops affected by the fire incident did not have a fire extinguisher.<br /><br />He also noted that access to the place was unhampered allowing the fire trucks to effectively fight the fire.<br /><br />He advised market management to put a fire tinder in place to prevent loss of properties during fire outbreaks.<br /><br />Mr Sabo also urged FCT residents to avoid storing petroleum products and other combustible items in their homes.<br /><br />He called on residents to always use the 112-emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency.<br /><br />Earlier, Innocent Amaechina, spokesperson for the Abuja Market Management Ltd (AMML), who confirmed the outbreak of the fire, said that only a portion of the market was affected.<br /><br />Mr Amaechina refuted the erroneous report in social media that the whole market was engulfed in fire.<br /><br />The official, who also could not confirm the cause of the fire, said the incident reportedly began between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.<br /><br />He said that some shops, including the office of the AMML in the market, were burnt down by the fire.<br /><br />He added that some vehicles parked at the northern parking lots in the market were equally burnt.<br /><br />“I have not been able to have access to the market to assess the extent of the damage, but the police and fire service officials have arrived at the scene and taken control of the situation,” he said.</p><i>By Ademola Popoola</i>, <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/" target="_blank">Premium Times </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-5962370951966670482024-03-13T05:47:00.003-04:002024-03-13T05:47:56.768-04:00Video - Nigeria collaborates with the UN to combat HIV/AIDS stigma<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IofJfMEH6sQ?si=xAo01wm-Agz2Hk8G" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> Despite significant progress in reducing HIV/AIDS infections and related deaths, stigma persists, particularly in workplace environments, according to UN-AIDS. Nigeria aims to further address this issue through collaboration with the United Nations.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2019/11/nigeria-vows-to-end-hiv-scourge-by-2030.html" target="_blank">Nigeria vows to end HIV scourge by 2030</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2015/01/nigeria-will-start-producing-anti.html" target="_blank">Nigeria will start producing anti-retroviral drugs</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-17051459267526229622024-03-13T05:42:00.005-04:002024-03-13T05:42:54.185-04:00Gabriel Osho of Luton Town called up for Nigeria Super Eagles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzkypPjxSkags1okLpyucCRda7YQFCcTKq9e2VsSn8QzBTltX6gjCuEknDsYrsSr3gTBx02K24xIUq_NqvrN-NZZNFq41B7THexkE4pyepXR4gVS-YBGAeKJkreQZo9OCrn9gBQDkhhJsIkDumxnAIHhc1serGbfbNAkuMSI7aKTqO8mZ93PXSXYR93Mb/s570/Osho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="570" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzkypPjxSkags1okLpyucCRda7YQFCcTKq9e2VsSn8QzBTltX6gjCuEknDsYrsSr3gTBx02K24xIUq_NqvrN-NZZNFq41B7THexkE4pyepXR4gVS-YBGAeKJkreQZo9OCrn9gBQDkhhJsIkDumxnAIHhc1serGbfbNAkuMSI7aKTqO8mZ93PXSXYR93Mb/w400-h225/Osho.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=301">Luton Town</a>'s <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/243400/gabriel-osho">Gabriel Osho</a> was handed his first international call up by <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=657">Nigeria</a>, along with Benjamin Ihefu of Tanzanian club Ihefu SC, for two friendlies against <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=4469">Ghana</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=2849">Mali</a> later this month.<br /><br />Osho, 25, was born in <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=448">England</a> to Nigerian parents and is among 27 players called up by Nigeria for the tune up games, which will be played in <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=2869">Morocco</a>.<br /><br />But the <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/league/_/name/ENG.1">Premier League</a> defender could be doubtful for the games after being taken off late with a knee injury in the Hatters' 1-1 Premier League draw against <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=384">Crystal Palace</a> on Saturday.<br /><br />Returning to the squad, which is largely populated by returnees from the <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/league/_/name/CAF.NATIONS">Africa Cup of Nations</a>, is midfield general <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/187638/wilfred-ndidi">Wilfred Ndidi</a>, who missed the tournament with injury.<br /><br />The Leicester star leads a bunch of other returnees, including defenders Jamilu Collins and <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/205618/tyronne-ebuehi">Tyronne Ebuehi</a>, midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru, as well as forwards <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/263134/nathan-tella">Nathan Tella</a>, Cyriel Dessers of Glasgow Rangers, and <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=393">Nottingham Forest</a>'s <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/194686/taiwo-awoniyi">Taiwo Awoniyi</a>.<br /><br />But there was no place for skipper <a href="http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/140658/ahmed-musa">Ahmed Musa</a>, who recently parted ways with his Turkish club. Vice-captain WIlliam Troost-Ekong is also missing with a season-ending injury that he picked up during the tournament.<br /><br />Nigeria are currently without a coach, after Jose Peseiro's contract lapsed at the end of February. The Portuguese and the NFF could not come to an agreement on a new contract and the federation have since begun the search for a new coach.<br /><br />It is expected that Technical Director Augustin Eguavoen will lead the team to Morocco while the NFF continue their search for a permanent coach to replace Peseiro.<br /><br />Nigeria take on arch rivals Ghana on March 22 at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in the first of the double-header friendly. Both teams last met in March 2022 in a two-legged play-off for a place at that year's <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/league/_/name/FIFA.WORLD">FIFA World Cup</a> finals in <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=4398">Qatar</a>, with the Black Stars edging the fixture on the away-goal rule after a 1-1 aggregate.<br /><br />Four days later, they play Mali at the same venue. Both sides last clashed in a friendly match in Rouen, <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team?id=478">France</a> in the summer of 2016. The encounter ended scoreless. Three years earlier, Mali's Eagles lost 1-4 to the Super Eagles in the semifinal of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, who went on to win the title in Johannesburg.<br /></p><p><i>By Colin Udoh</i>, <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/" target="_blank">ESPN</a><br /> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-9738390434660613062024-03-13T05:37:00.005-04:002024-03-13T05:37:58.100-04:00Nigeria demands Binance disclose top users, executives remain detained<p>Nigeria is actively seeking information from Binance regarding its top 100 users in the country and all transaction history spanning the past six months, according to a Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/9c1394de-0492-4597-b075-cbf19e0b6e83?accessToken=zwAAAY4z5JukkdOcE5TeBJJFl9Owdcvxngtugw.MEYCIQDRDtaBQYLfcj0uJFmNEXSxKOJLf-le2QFi8WIHncUaXwIhAPtcRrxllkA6Y_OvFfAv3dZzTs7hi_oOdwA7vCFRXan4&segmentId=e95a9ae7-622c-6235-5f87-51e412b47e97&shareType=enterprise">report</a>.<br /><br />This news overlaps with the revelation of the names of the two executives from the cryptocurrency exchange who were detained two weeks ago: Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of investigations, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the crypto platform’s regional manager for Africa, the Wired <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/binance-top-investigator-detained-nigeria/">reported</a> Tuesday.<br /><br />Last month, Gambaryan, who was a former crypto-focused U.S. federal agent, and Anjarwalla had their passports confiscated and have been held in confinement at a government facility in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Their detainment is part of Nigeria’s broader crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges, coinciding with questionable efforts by the government to revive the naira, the country’s national currency.<br /><br />Before their detention, Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, and Anjarwalla, a dual citizen of the U.K. and Kenya, responded to an invitation from the Nigerian government to discuss Binance operations and the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/22/crypto-users-in-nigeria-briefly-lose-access-to-binance-kraken-and-coinbase/">restrictions imposed</a> on the cryptocurrency exchange.<br /><br />Nigeria’s central bank had expressed concerns about the loss of tax revenue from unregistered crypto exchanges. Additionally, it accused Binance of operating illegally and facilitating “illicit flows from sources and users who we cannot adequately identify,” amounting to $26 billion. As a result, the detained executives may face charges related to currency manipulation, tax evasion and illegal operations, per a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-29/ngn-usd-nigeria-detains-binance-executives?leadSource=uverify%20wall&sref=3REHEaVI">report</a>.<br /><br />However, according to their families, none of the executives have been formally charged with any criminal offenses as of Tuesday. The Financial Times reports that Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency was granted permission to detain both Binance executives for 14 days, which concluded on Tuesday. A proposed hearing to extend the court order is scheduled for Wednesday.<br /><br />In response to this heightened regulatory scrutiny and contentious negotiation tactics in Nigeria, Binance <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/05/binance-to-halt-naira-services-amid-ongoing-regulatory-probe-in-nigeria/">discontinued</a> its naira (NGN) services last week.<br /><br />Nigeria’s request for Binance’s top users in the country is the new focal point in negotiations between the largest crypto platform and Africa’s top crypto market. Just last week, local <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/674230-more-troubles-for-binance-nigerian-lawmakers-threaten-arrest-warrant-on-executives.html">reports</a> claimed that Nigeria’s parliament threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for the company’s executives and summoned Binance CEO Richard Teng to provide explanations regarding investigations into the company’s alleged involvement in money laundering and terror financing.<br /><br />Meanwhile, documents reviewed by FT reveal that Nigeria, through its national security adviser, has requested that Binance address any outstanding tax liabilities.</p><p><i>By Tage Kene-Okafor</i>, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/" target="_blank">TechCrunch</a><br /></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/nigeria-plans-clampdown-on-binance.html" target="_blank">Nigeria plans clampdown on Binance, other crypto firms</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/nigeria-detains-binance-executives-in.html" target="_blank">Nigeria detains Binance executives in cryptocurrency crackdown</a> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-55094890744466510992024-03-12T18:31:00.003-04:002024-03-12T18:31:30.766-04:0061 people kidnapped in Kaduna, Nigeria<p>At least 61 people were reportedly abducted as terrorists attacked Buda, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of <a href="https://kdsg.gov.ng/">Kaduna State</a>, on Monday.<br /><br />Residents of the area told PUNCH Newspaper that the latest mass abduction incident happened late Monday night at about 11:45 p.m.<br /><br />A resident, Dauda Kajuru, said the kidnappers stormed the community in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately as they abducted residents.<br /><br /><br />“What happened yesterday was terrifying. The bandits came intending to abduct scores of people that’ll outnumber that of school pupils in Kuriga Village of Chikun Local Government Area, but the swift response of soldiers who were not more than 2 kilometres away from Kajuru curtailed the number.<br /><br />“My siblings were part of those abducted yesterday and based on the information available as of this morning, the bandits with their victims are yet to get to their destination,” Mr Kajuru was quoted by the newspaper.<br /><br />He said the terrorists operated unchallenged because of the removal of an army commander popular known as (Tega) serving in the area. He said terrorist activities resumed around the Kajuru local council after the army officer was posted out.<br /><br />Another resident, Lawal Abdullahi, whose wife was among the victims, also confirmed that 61 people were abducted in the late-night incident.<br /><br />Mr Abdullahi said the victims in the Monday attack included women, children and a nursing mother.<br /><br />The attack came days after terrorists invaded a public school in Kuriga and abducted over 287 schoolchildren in the same state.<br /><br />The victims of the attack on Kuriga are still with their abductors in the forest.<br /><br />The Kaduna State Government is yet to speak on the latest incident.<br /><br />The phone number of the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not connect Thursday afternoon when PREMIUM TIMES tried to have him comment on the development.<br /><br />Also, the police spokesperson in the state, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached on the phone.</p><p><i>By Abubakar Ahmadu Maishanu</i>, <a href="https://www.premiumtimesng.com/" target="_blank">Premium Times</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/at-least-15-students-kidnapped-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Video - At least 15 students kidnapped in Nigeria - Third mass kidnapping since last week</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/gunmen-abduct-287-students-in.html" style="color: #009934; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gunmen abduct 287 students in northwestern Nigeria in latest school attack</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/suspected-insurgents-kidnap-50-people.html" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #009934; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Suspected insurgents kidnap 50 people in northeast Nigeria</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.3px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/03/more-kidnappings-are-feared-in-nigeria.html" target="_blank">More kidnappings are feared in Nigeria as state body prepares intervention measures</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-435196228730615898.post-81435452823082598252024-03-12T18:25:00.003-04:002024-03-12T18:25:34.858-04:00Video - Nigeria secures $134 million to tackle food crisis<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6OEYrOqtBw?si=4oqP5jYBjAdNCv1g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> The facility from the African Development Bank will be used to grow essential crops such as rice, maize, cassava, and soybeans. It's part of the Nigerian government's effort to tackle the nation's deepening food crisis. About 8 percent of Nigerians are food insecure, according to the International Monetary Fund.</p><p><a href="http://www.cgtn.com" target="_blank">CGTN</a></p><p>Related stories: <a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/video-bakers-in-nigeria-threaten.html" target="_blank">Video - Bakers in Nigeria threaten shutdown amidst rising production costs</a></p><p><a href="http://www.naijafeed.com/2024/02/video-rising-food-prices-spark-protests.html" target="_blank">Video - Rising Food Prices spark protests and smuggling in Nigeria</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0