World Cup child trafficking bid caught by Nigerian authorities

Nigerian authorities say they have rescued nine young girls and one boy who were being trafficked to Russia.

Five suspects, including a policeman and a quarantine officer, were arrested for allegedly facilitating their travel, the government agency fighting trafficking says.

The victims were found while trying to board a plane from Lagos to Moscow.

They had football supporter ID cards in order to look as though they were fans heading to the World Cup in Russia.

The children, who were unaccompanied, are now in a shelter for victims of trafficking which run by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (Naptip).

Five other potential victims, also children, were stopped from boarding a flight to Russia when staff noticed they had one-way tickets.

Criminals have been pressurising young Nigerians and their parents to take advantage of the World Cup to get Russian visas, Naptip says.

It warns that, once out of the country, the victims would be exploited by traffickers.

Many victims of trafficking from Africa to Europe come from Nigeria.

According to the UN's agency for migration, most of the potential sex trafficking victims arriving in Italy by sea are Nigerian.

BBC

Nigerians mourn the passing of reggae star Ras Kimono

Nigerian reggae singer Ras Kimono has died aged 60, after a short illness. 

Born Ukeleke Elumelu Onwubuya, Ras Kimono, alongside his Massive Dread Band, won several awards and was prominent in the Nigerian music scene for his socially-conscious lyrics.

 
Kimono's music addressed the country's various socio-political problems and his debut album 'Under Pressure,' was a huge hit in the Nigerian music scene in the late 80s. 

Kimono also addressed the ills of South Africa's apartheid regime through his song 'Kill Apartheid.'
The reggae singer, who recently celebrated his birthday, died on Sunday morning after taking ill ahead of a scheduled trip to the US, according to local media. 

Many Nigerians, such as lawmaker Shehu Sani, took to social media to pay tribute to the music star.
Sani spoke of Kimono's impact in tackling injustice through his music. 

"Ras Kimono.. made an immeasurable contribution in the field of arts. He used music for political awakening. He was not a praise singer for the establishment. His songs were for the poor and for his country. Adieu," Sani wrote on Twitter.

Nigerian musicians tend to avoid political commentary, partly due to an ingrained fear of persecution from the powerful ruling class. 

One notable exception was legendary Afrobeats star Fela Kuti who frequently clashed with Nigeria's military regime -- at huge personal cost to him. 

Another senator, Ben Murray Bruce also paid tribute to Kimono on Twitter, writing: "I feel so sad hearing about the death of reggae legend Ras Kimono. He redefined the face of music and there will be none like him. He will be dearly missed."

Others recalled how Kimono's music was a part of their childhood and a staple of birthday parties growing up.

CNN

Video - Nigerian chef hosts web series on Iftar dishes

A popular Nigerian chef, Akanji Abiola, is hosting a daily web series tagged "IftarWithChefStone." It is specifically for the month of Ramadan. The series has over 2,000 online subscribers and features a fusion of Nigerian and international dishes. The easy to make meals are a healthy way to start and end each day, during the fasting season. The shows are recorded and posted on various social media platforms.

30 people kidnapped by bandits in northern Nigeria - 2 killed

More than 30 people have been abducted and two killed by armed bandits in several attacks on a highway in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, local officials said Saturday. The attacks are the latest in a spate of kidnappings for ransom in the Birnin Gwari district over the last two months.

“Around 6.25 pm (1725 GMT) on Friday, 22 people were kidnapped by armed bandits along Birnin Gwari highway, between Udawa and Labi villages”, said Isah Muhammad Galadima, spokesman for local traditional ruler the Emir of Birnin Gwari. 

“The bandits, who carried heavy weapons on motorbikes, intercepted seven vehicles and kidnapped everybody, even a young mother with her baby,” Galadima told AFP. “Earlier on Friday, another 10 people were also kidnapped along this highway by the armed bandits.” 

He added that the bandits had contacted the husband of the kidnapped young mother and asked him to pay a ransom for his wife and baby’s release. 

Two local officials confirmed that “at least 30 people” were abducted on the highway, adding that two people were also killed. “Two passengers were killed and six others were injured from gunshots. The injured are now in hospital in Udawa village,” said Danladi Haruna, head of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ Birnin Gwari branch. Yusuf Abdullahi Udawa, spokesman for the union’s Udawa branch, said that “when the vehicles stopped (the bandits) took away 30 passengers that were not affected by the shootings”. 

“The new strategy the gunmen employ is to open fire on on-coming vehicles, forcing them to stop or veer off the road and crash in the bush,” he said. “There are few policemen manning few checkpoints on the highway. They just flee when heavily armed gangs open fire instead of facing them.” In early May, about 100 people were abducted in just two days on another road in the Birnin Gwari region, where kidnappings have reached unprecedented levels. 

The gangs, who roam on motorcycles on the hunt for victims, are known to operate in northern Kaduna and Zamfara state. Kidnapping for ransom used to be a phenomenon isolated to oil-rich southern Nigeria. But it has spread further north and become lucrative due to economic hardship. Abductees are often released within days if the ransom is paid — if not, they are killed, according to security sources.

Vanguard

Video - Fears over pay overshadow Nigeria's World Cup campaign

Nigeria kick off their World Cup campaign on Saturday, when they face Croatia in Group D. The players from the West African nation will be hoping to focus on their performances without having to worry about the possibility of not being paid properly. Team officials say they want to avoid a repeat of what happened during the last World Cup in 2014, when Nigerian players refused to train ahead of their match over a pay dispute. They have promised prompt payment of allowances this time, promises that officials failed to keep in the past.