An explosion inside a mosque in Northern Afghanistan on Thursday killed 11 people during the funeral service for an Afghan acting provincial governor who was assassinated earlier in the week, officials say.

The blast occurred in Faizabad the capital of Badakhsan, an Afghanistan province that shares borders with China and Tajikistan.

About 30 people were also injured by the blast according to the Taliban-run Ministry of Interior which condemned the attack in a statement.

“The Ministry of Interior of the IEA condemns this brutality of the disgraced enemies,” the statement by the Ministry of Interior reads.

The funeral was in memory of Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, a Taliban provincial deputy governor who was killed by a suicide bomber on Tuesday.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack which saw a suicide bomber drive a car filled with explosives close to Mr Ahmadi’s car.

The suicide bomber detonated the explosives leading to the death of Mr Ahmadi and his driver.

The assassinated deputy governor was being laid to rest at the mosque when an explosion went off, killing 11 people and injuring over 30 people in the mosque.

Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai took to Twitter to condemn the Thursday blast at the mosque.

He labelled the attack an act of “terrorism” which is “against human and Islamic standards”.

He also conveyed his condolences to the affected families.

Taliban security forces have sealed off the scene of the attack, mounting checkpoints on roads that lead to the mosque.

The Taliban administration has often carried out raids on members of the Islamic State which have claimed responsibility for various attacks in the country.

Armed men invaded Yangoji village, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and abducted a seven-year-old girl.

A resident of the village, Suleiman Musa, said the hoodlums invaded the community in the early hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

He said the hoodlums invaded the village firing several gunshots before breaking into some houses where they abducted the seven-year-old girl.

According to him, the quick intervention of a police team forced the gunmen to scramble out of the village.

It was gathered that the Kwali Divisional Police headquarters responded to the distress call on the attack at about 5 am yesterday.

The hoodlums reportedly engaged the security team in a gun battle before escaping with the abducted girl.

The security team is currently combing the area to rescue the victim and arrest the gunmen.

A pharmacist identified as Amos Nzioki was on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, charged before a Mombasa court in Kenya, for allegedly inducing an abortion on a teenager.

It was alleged that he helped a 15-year-old girl who had conceived through defilement, secure an abortion on June 3, 2023.

The matter was reported by the minor’s parents after the abortion procedure was confirmed by doctors at Coast General Hospital.

“The girl’s guardian reported the incident to the police after the abortion was confirmed on examination by doctors,” part of the statement read.

Police have since launched a manhunt for the man accused of defiling and impregnating the minor.

Nzioki pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a Ksh300,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Ksh200,000.

Singer Habib Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has welcomed a son with his lover, identified as Akinyanju Omobolarinde.

Omobolarinde shared pictures of the newborn and her baby bump on her Instagram page on Tuesday, as she announced the birth of her son.

She wrote, “He has done so much for us I can’t tell it all 🫣 Thank you God for the journey so far am so glad to join the motherhood 💃💃💃💃💃“Coming back for my epistle and appreciation oooo but aye Ope yo. Congratulations to us Okikiolami #portablebaeby & #ashabi_simple. May God bless and protect him for us ANUOLUWAPO FITILAMIHAN“Another Tuesday king to Badmus family 😋😋😋😋😋 king producing kings AKOI KING NATION.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa State Command has arrested an 18-year-old boy, Ibrahim Umar, for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl Zango Quarters, in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the Corps in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, June 5, 2023, said the suspect is an IDP from Borno and a friend of the victim’s family.

Shehu said the suspect was arrested on Thursday, June 1, at about 9:45am on a suspected rape case of a minor which is contrary to section 3 of VAPP Law of Jigawa State and punishable under same.

“He was arrested following a complaint lodged by the Sister of the victim of the same address who reported that her 9 year old Sister (name withheld), a Primary Three (3) Student was molested severally by the suspect who happens to be a family friend and an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from Maiduguri, Borno State.

She stated that the young girl innocently revealed the ordeal to her friends while in school who later informed her (the sister) on reaching back home,” the statement read.

“She said upon hearing that she subjected the Nine (9) year old to questioning which she told her that Ibrahim used to take her to an uncompleted building around the vicinity, usually in the evenings around 6 to 7pm and forcefully engaged her sexually.

“Medical report indicates evidence of sexual penetration as the hymen is completely absent. Drugs including Antibiotics and analgesics were administered with advice for a sitz bath.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and has on Monday 5th day of June, 2023 taken to Court (CMC ||) in Dutse and remanded in custody until 28th day of June, 2023 for further mention.”

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 49 suspects over the looting of properties at Triumph Plaza in Fagge Local Government Area of the state.

The suspected hoodlums were arrested after they took advantage of the demolition exercise embarked upon by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to loot properties from the rubbles and other buildings.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday, June 5, 2023.

“On 04/06/2023 at about 2200hrs, reports were received from good Samaritans that some hoodlums, hundreds in numbers were grouping and planning to loot properties of buildings/structures at Triumph Plaza, Fagge LGA, Kano,” the statement read.

“On receipt of the reports, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc directed the immediate deployments of teams of Operation Restore Peace to the scene, and the suspected looters were dispersed.”

“Forty-nine (49) suspects were arrested and the following looted properties were recovered as follows; 3 Flash Doors, Flash Windows, 4 LG Air Conditioner, 8 Pieces of Polling Door Iron, and Sixteen (16) Heavy Duty Hammer, etc. The investigation is in progress

“The Commissioner of Police also advised parents and community leaders to talk to their wards/youths to desist from looting people’s properties as it is a clear case of mischief and theft which are punishable under the law.”

A Catechist from St. Martins Parish Mbape in Adikpo deanery, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue state, is on the run following the death of a young lady suspected to be his lover.

The catechist identified as Oliver Vershima was caught around 7 pm on Sunday evening, June 4, 2023, while attempting to dispose of the lady’s body.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, a native from the community, Terhemba, said the suspect, who was assigned to work at St. Augustine Zone, Jov Mbahura, concealed the woman’s body inside his room after she died during attempt to terminate her pregnancy.

“On questioning him, it was discovered that he (Oliver) had impregnated the lady and they tried to terminate the pregnancy but in the process, the lady lost her life early hours of the day,” he explained.

The catechist then hid the dead body inside his room until nightfall so he could take the body out of the village and possibly run away.

“Unfortunately for him, he was caught while trying to carry the body out of the village but he later escaped in the melee,” Terhemba added.

Terhemba said the identity of the lady was yet to be ascertained, adding that she came from a neighbouring community.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident to Punch, said that the corpse of the lady had been recovered and deposited at the hospital morgue.

“Corpse of the said young girl who was said to have visited her man friend was recovered and taken to the mortuary after a report was received but the said Oliver is yet to be seen as he brought the corpse out of his room and ran away,” The PPRO said that the investigation is ongoing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it would appeal a judgement acquitting Stephen Oronsaye, former head of service of the federation, of the N2 billion money laundering charge brought against him.

Oronsaye was in 2016 arraigned alongside Osarenkhoe Afe, Managing Director of Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, on a 49-count charge.

The charges were later amended to 22, after it was separated from that of the former head of the Presidential Pension Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina, who was then at large.

The former Head of Service was accused of using three companies; Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment & Construction Company Limited, to divert money during the civil service biometric data project.

Ruling on the case on Monday, June 5, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the allegations by the EFCC lacked merit as they failed to provide adequate evidence to warrant Oronsaye’s conviction.

However, the anti-graft accused the judge of overlooking the evidence of the 21 witnesses called in during the trial as well as the confessional statement of one of the defendants, Osarenkhoe Afe.

A 23-year-old student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) identified simply as Adekunle, was shot dead by armed robbers while trying to retrieve his friend’s stolen phone.

The incident happened at Harvey Road, Moore Road Junction, in the Yaba area of the state on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

According to Punch, Adekunle and his school mate identified simply as Opeyemi boarded a shuttle bus from Yaba to UNILAG and while in the vehicle, a man, who was hanging at the back of the bus, dispossessed Opeyemi of her iPhone 7 plus.

Opeyemi raised the alarm and Adekunle, in a desperate attempt to retrieve the phone from the robber who jumped down from the bus and fled, pursued him.

Realizing that Adekunle was closing in on the suspect, one of the hoodlums suspected to be working with the fleeing suspect appeared from nowhere and shot the student.

Speaking with the publication on Monday, June 5, an eyewitness who does not want his name mentioned for security reasons, said the robber’s accomplice shot Adekunle in the head, adding that the undergraduate died on the spot.

“The incident happened on June 3 around 9pm. What happened was that someone shot the deceased at a close range on the left side of his head and he died on the spot. An ATM card found on him bears the name Adekunle,” the witness explained.

“Later on, we gathered from a girl that gave her name as Opeyemi, who claimed to be a student of Business Administration, UNILAG, that she and the deceased, whom she knew as a student of UNILAG, boarded a shuttle bus from Yaba and were heading to UNILAG when she got dispossessed of her iPhone 7 Plus by a thief hanging at the back of the bus.”

She said the deceased attempted to help by pursuing the robber but in the process, another group of persons came out and one of them shot him at a close range on the left side of his head and he died on the spot.”

It was gathered that policemen, who arrived at the scene later, evacuated Adekunle’s corpse and deposited it at the morgue of the Mainland Hospital.

The spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident said the command had commenced an investigation to track down the suspects behind the attack.

“The deceased was a UNILAG student. The suspects are being trailed for possible arrest and the command has contacted the victim’s relatives. The case has been transferred to the SCID, Panti, for discreet investigation,” he said.

The Bayelsa Community Safety Corps and local vigilantes have apprehended six suspected criminals who specialized in vandalizing electrical installations in the state.

The 6-gang men were caught at the weekend in Angiama community while vandalizing electrical towers supplying power from Kolo Creek to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Ebitei Tonyon, who confirmed the arrest said the suspects dismantled one of the towers at the Angiama axis of the electric line.

The suspects arrested are identified as follows: Obadiah Abule,22, of Oporoma, Desmond John, 22, Daniel Tonifia,21, Diapreye Ebifadei, 29, Ibrahim Usman,27, from Nasarawa State, and Prince You, 43, from Yenagoa LGA.

Hon. Ebitei expressed displeasure over the incessant vandalism of electrical installations by young youths, which twats government efforts to provide basic amenities to the people.

He however warns those exhibiting these ugly acts to desist from it or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

The commissioner thanked the team of the community safety corps, the Nigerian Police, and the local vigilantes, for their cooperation in the successful arrest of these vandals, saying that they would be tried and prosecuted according to the laws, to serve as deterrent to others with similar intent.

Hon. Ebitei used the medium to charge community leaders to safeguard government properties in their domains to serve the purpose for which they are executed. Saying that, no government would function effectively without the support from the people.

On Monday, two men, Wale Fatai, 32, and Deji Oyemomilara, 25, were arraigned at the Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun for alleged breach of peace, conspiracy and threat to life.

The defendants face a three-count charge.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, E.O Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences on March 23 at about 10:30 p.m. in the Aparadiga area, Itele-Awori, Ota.

Mr Adaraloye told the court that the defendants, with their accomplices, conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by constituting a nuisance in the community.

He said they threatened the life of the chairman of Olaoluwa Community Development Area (CDA), Nurudeen, by threatening to kill him.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The magistrate, A.O. Adeyemi, admitted each defendant to N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

Ms Adeyemi ordered that the surety reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ogun government.

She adjourned the case until June 26 for further hearing.