NEWS

The African Union has urged restraint after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated military strikes on Iran, cautioning that any further escalation could trigger far-reaching global consequences, including for African countries. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, appealed for dialogue and immediate de-escalation as tensions intensify across the Middle East. He warned that a deepening crisis could heighten global instability, with serious effects on energy markets, food security, and economic resilience — particularly in Africa, where many nations are already grappling with conflict and economic strain. The statement followed reports that Iran launched missiles toward Israel early Saturday in response to earlier strikes on its terr...

Iran reportedly fired missiles toward Israel on Saturday morning in response to earlier coordinated strikes carried out on its territory. The development comes after U.S. President, Donald Trump, confirmed American participation in what he described as “major combat operations” inside Iran. According to reports, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it detected missiles launched from Iran shortly after the offensive began. Air raid sirens were sounded nationwide, while the military stated it was working to intercept the incoming projectiles and carry out countermeasures where necessary. The IDF urged citizens to comply strictly with Home Front Command safety directives, cautioning that its defensive systems are not completely foolproof. In a separate development, Trump...

No fewer than 20 people have been confirmed dead after a Bolivian military cargo aircraft transporting banknotes crashed while attempting to land near the capital, La Paz. The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport plane built by Lockheed Martin, reportedly skidded off the runway at El Alto International Airport before plunging into a busy roadway, smashing into several vehicles and damaging trucks. Videos from the scene showed wreckage scattered across the avenue, as members of the public rushed to collect banknotes strewn around the crash site. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, while authorities later set the recovered cash ablaze in a bonfire. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, though witnesses cited severe weather conditions. Cristina Choque, a 60-yea...

A woman has been banished from Umekpu village in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State after she was accused of selling her sister-in-law's son for 800,000. According to sources, the village leadership took swift action after the matter came to light, declaring her persona non grata in the community. A video which emerged on Thursday shows the woman being escorted out of the community by a crowd of villagers singing derogatory songs and taunting her. Speaking in the footage, one of the community leaders gave the reason behind the decision to banish the woman. "We are banishing her from our community, Umekpu Village, Ogbaku, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State,” the man said. “She sold her sister-in-law’s son, that is the son of her brother’s wife, fo...

Residents of Kafanchan in Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State were gripped by panic on Friday after a fire broke out at the Jama’a Emir’s Palace. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, with thick smoke seen rising from parts of the palace complex, drawing concerned residents and passersby to the scene. The palace, situated in Kafanchan — the administrative headquarters of Jama’a LGA — is a key traditional landmark in the area. As of the time this report was filed, the fire was still burning, while officials of the Kaduna State Fire Service worked to contain the blaze and stop it from spreading to other sections of the historic structure. Eyewitnesses said the fire started in one part of the palace before escalating rapidly, prompting urgent calls for emer...

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s deepening socio-economic and political troubles, calling on authorities to urgently address insecurity, economic sabotage and governance failures. In a communiqué issued after its First Plenary Meeting held from February 19 to 26, 2026, the bishops lamented recurring violence, widespread poverty and what they described as poor leadership. The statement was signed by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri, outgoing CBCN President, and Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi, outgoing Secretary. The bishops decried persistent massacres, mass burials and grief across communities, noting that despite Nigeria’s abundant mineral wealth, weak governance has hindered national development. They criticised the loss of ...

The Senate has indicated its readiness to accelerate the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the creation of state police, following renewed pressure from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sweeping security reforms. Speaking in a telephone interview, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly is giving heightened attention to the President’s appeal. According to him, lawmakers had already reached near consensus on the proposal even before the President’s recent public call. Adaramodu explained that broad-based support from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, state Houses of Assembly and traditional institutions has strengthened momentum for the reform. He noted that delays in the wider constitutional review were...

US Congresswoman, Nancy Mace has introduced legislation that would allow the federal government to impose the de@th penalty on people convicted of raping or sexually assaulting children. Arts & Entertainment The bill, titled the Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act, is intended to expand capital punishment eligibility to several federal child s£x crime statutes and to the rape of a child under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to the press release. “We have zero mercy for child rapists,” Mace said in a statement. “Those who prey on our most vulnerable deserve the harshest consequences we can deliver. No predator should be allowed to walk away from the most unthinkable crimes against children.” The proposal would amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to authorize capi...

The court of appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside a N38.9 billion judgement previously awarded against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a long-running dispute over consultancy fees linked to the Paris Club refund. In a unanimous decision delivered on February 20, the appellate court overturned the earlier ruling of the federal high court, which had entered judgement in favour of Joe Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Agi instituted the suit in 2017 against the minister of finance, the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the attorneys-general of the 36 states. He claimed entitlement to 20 percent of the Paris Club refund as consultancy fees. The court ruled in his favour in 2022, prompting appeals by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the st...