Nigeria kidnappers kill 35 hostages even after ransom paid

Kidnappers in Nigeria have killed at least 35 people they abducted from a village in northern Zamfara state despite ransoms being paid for their release, a local official told the BBC.

In recent years, criminal gangs in the region, known in the country as bandits, have taken to kidnapping people as a means to raise money.

In this incident, 56 people were taken from Banga village, Kauran Namoda local government area in March. The gunmen then demanded a ransom of one million naira ($655; £485) per captive, media in Nigeria report.

Local government chairman Manniru Haidara Kaura said that most of those killed were young people who "were slaughtered like rams".

"What happened was that the bandits demanded ransom money, and after some back-and-forth, they were given what they asked for. They then released 18 people, including 17 women and one young boy, on Saturday," Haidara added.

"Only they [the gunmen] know why they killed them. They are senseless and heartless people. They forget that they are killing their own brothers, and we will all meet before Allah."

Residents said three pregnant women who were among the hostages gave birth while in captivity, but all the new-borns died due to lack of care.

Survivors recounted being forced to witness the brutal killing of fellow hostages before being allowed to leave the forest.

Sixteen of those released on Saturday are in hospital receiving treatment, while the bodies of the 38 killed by the bandits are unlikely to be returned as in these cases corpses are rarely released.

In a statement, the Zamfara government condemned the killings calling them "barbaric and cowardly" and declared that such atrocities added to its resolve to wipe out terrorism from the state.

"To the grieving families, we share your sorrow and pray for strength and healing. To the good people of Zamfara, remain united and vigilant. Report suspicious activities, and together, we will defeat evil."

The government has said that the killers would be brought to justice.

In an attempt to curb the spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a law was enacted in 2022 making it a crime to make ransom payments. It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years, however no-one has ever been arrested on those charges.

It also made abduction punishable by death in cases where victims die.

But families often feel forced to pay to save their loved ones, citing the government's inability to ensure their safety.

By Chris Ewokor & Mansur Abubakar, BBC

Video - Nigeria women’s team win 10th Africa football crown

The Super Falcons rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Morocco 3-2. The win gave Nigeria its 10th CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. Head coach Justin Madugu was named Coach of the Tournament.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria launches free mobile game that rewards players with cash, airtime and crypto

 

Designed for Nigeria’s mobile-first gamers, Rise & Hustle offers real rewards with no hidden fees.

Nigeria.-In a major shift for Nigeria’s mobile gaming landscape, a new game is set to make waves with a bold promise: play for free and earn for real. Rise & Hustle is designed specifically for Nigeria’s mobile-first population.

Designed for entry-level smartphones, the game uses very little data and skips the usual in-app purchases or pay-to-win features. That makes it a smart choice in a country where mobile gaming dominates and data costs still count.

Mobile gaming makes up 83 per cent of all gameplay in Nigeria, and with 92 per cent of people owning smartphones, Rise & Hustle is launching at just the right time.

More than just a game, it is packed with local slang, street-style art and stories that connect directly with young Nigerians. The colourful design and gameplay show off the humour, grit and spirit of a generation that’s quickly taking over the gaming world in the country.

Now players have the chance to earn in-game cash called Bucks by completing daily “Missions” which include mini-games and street-style challenges. Bucks can be spent on mobile airtime, data bundles, cashback at local stores and on merchandise.


The platform also allows Bucks to be exchanged for Rise Tokens, which run on the Binance Smart Chain, a well-known blockchain made by Binance that handles digital transactions quickly and cheaply. They follow BEP-20, which is a set of rules that helps the tokens work safely and seamlessly with different apps, wallets and services.

Real rewards and squad feature boost experience

Rise & Hustle Co-founder and CEO, Josh Tromans-Jones, said players can now enjoy a profitable gaming experience. “We’re excited to bring Rise & Hustle to Nigeria, where every tap, grind and level-up earns you Bucks that you can turn into airtime, Rise crypto and real rewards from our partners,” he said, according to the Guardian.

At the heart of Rise & Hustle is the Squad feature. It lets players team up, work together and share rewards. When one player earns Bucks, the whole squad benefits, encouraging teamwork while keeping the fun going.

Tromans-Jones said the game zeroes in on what Nigerian gamers really want and delivers. “Gamers in Lagos, Abuja and across Nigeria are done with games that only take their data and give nothing back. Rise & Hustle changes the game by delivering entertainment and real-world tangible rewards.

“Our proprietary rewards engine is built to benefit players at every level of the game from Missions (daily challenges and tasks) through to Squads, and we’re proud to launch the game here in Nigeria.”

Rise & Hustle has launched at a time when Nigerian gamers are eager for real value and aims to give players a genuine chance to earn rewards for their time spent playing. With no hidden fees and multiple ways to cash in, the platform shows that gaming can be both entertaining and rewarding.

Focus Africa

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Nigeria win 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after thrilling comeback against Morocco

Nigeria staged a remarkable fightback from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.

It was a record-extending 10th triumph for Nigeria, confirming their status as the most successful women’s team in Africa. Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi led the fightback at Rabat’s Stade Olympique before the substitute Jennifer Echegini swept home an 88th-minute winner.

The Morocco captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, and the winger Sanaâ Mssoudy scored in the first half hour to see the home team take a surprise lead as they sought to become only the fourth country to take the continental title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

The Super Falcons pick up $1m in prize money – doubled since the last edition – and become the first side to lift the new-look Wafcon trophy.

In Friday’s third-place playoff, Ghana defeated South Africa on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Casablanca. Nonhlanhla Mthandi’s fine strike from outside the penalty area put Banyana Banyana in front just before the break, but Ghana levelled in the 68th minute when a header from South Africa defender Alice Kusi deflected in off the goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

Linda Motlhalo was denied by the Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan late on, before Evelyn Badu hit the crossbar for the Black Queens in stoppage time. It was Konlan who made the difference in the shootout, saving two South Africa penalties as Ghana won 4-3. Victory over the defending champions earned Ghana their first top-three finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations since 2016.

Reuters

Dangote Demands Fuel Import Ban to Protect Nigeria’s Refining Future

 

The owner of the biggest refinery in Africa, Aliko Dangote, has urged the government to ban the import of fuels in line with its “Nigeria First” policy.

“The Nigeria First policy announced by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, should apply to the petroleum product sector and all other sectors,” Dangote said, as quoted by local media at an industry event, referring to the initiative launched earlier this year that bans government agencies from buying foreign goods if the same goods are available locally.

Dangote went on to say that a lot of the imported fuel in Nigeria was of subpar quality that would not be allowed in other fuel markets.

“We are now facing increased dumping of cheap, often toxic petroleum products, some of which are blended to substandard levels that would never be allowed in Europe or North America,” Nigeria’s richest man said. Dangote also said that some of the fuels that enter Nigeria are produced with discounted Russian oil, which makes them cheaper than local fuels, which is unfair to local refiners.

The Dangote refinery, with a total capacity of 650,000 barrels daily and a price tag of $20 billion, was built to reduce Nigeria’s 100% reliance on imported fuels. The refinery began operation in 2024 and has been ramping up since then. In an interesting twist, this ramp-up has seen a temporary rise in U.S. crude oil exports to Nigeria in the first quarter of this year as domestic demand declined on refinery maintenance, making the oil more affordable for Nigerian buyers.

Any imports, however, are a threat to the Dangote facility, whose owner has an ambition to one day supply all of the fuels consumed domestically. There might even be some left to export, per the plans. Indeed, according to Dangote, Nigeria is currently a net exporter of fuels, with 1.35 billion litres of gasoline exported over the last 50 days.

By Irina Slav, Oilprice