The Lagos government has announced plans to install 3,000 smart cameras across the state to enhance road safety and traffic management.

Akin-George Fashola, director of the Vehicle Inspection Service, disclosed this during a radio programme on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Fashola stated that the cameras would monitor speed limits and serve as an electronic policing (e-policing) tool for the government.

He explained that the initiative was part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) introduced by the state government to improve the monitoring, management, and enforcement of road traffic laws.

“This year, the VIS will focus more on enforcing speed limits in Lagos. It’s not a new initiative, but we need to be more rigorous in implementation.

“We must slow people down to reduce the high rate of accidents in the state,” he said.

He also mentioned that, as part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for better traffic management, smart cameras had already been installed in key locations such as Alapere, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, and Allen Junction.

“The speed limit for Alapere is 80km/h inward Alausa and 60km/h outward toward Oworonshoki due to pedestrian traffic and the nature of the expressway. We also considered the petrol stations along the expressway to prevent collisions with fuel tankers.

“On Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, the speed limit is set at 60km/h because it is a densely populated area where people cross the road indiscriminately,” added Mr Fashola.

The VIS director explained that at Allen Junction, the cameras focus not on speed limits but on detecting violations such as running red lights and failing to stop at designated areas.

“This is part of our e-policing strategy, saying motorists exceeding speed limits will be sanctioned, with a fine of ₦50,000 for violations.

“Drivers who violate traffic laws, as detected by the ITS, will receive SMS notifications from the VIS detailing the nature of the violation and the corresponding fines,” Mr Fashola said.

According to him, motorists can contest fines if they have proof but noted that the government would also provide technology-based evidence to support enforcement actions.

Mr Fashola also highlighted how technology had improved VIS services, including the introduction of online roadworthiness certification for pre-existing vehicle owners.

South African multi-talented maestro Blulyt has acquired a brand-new brown BMW in East Rand.

Blulyt made this known in a video on Tuesday.

In the video, Blulyt was seen signing documents for the blue BMW in East Rand, after which she drove off in excitement.

Blulyt previously hinted at her plans to take the African music industry by storm in 2025.

Blulyt is a South African multi-talented maestro making waves in the music industry. She is a dancer and singer who has recently ventured into Amapiano music, releasing her latest collaboration with DJ Bellami, 24 Skepe.

This new track introduces a fresh and vibrant sound to the Amapiano genre, characterized by its deep house influences and signature high-pitched melodies.

Blulyt has also been featured on a tribute album honoring the late Gee Six Five, where she remixed the popular song Obani Lababantu. This showcase of her talent has solidified her presence in the entertainment industry, marking her as a rising star to watch.

With her unique sound and style, Blulyt is undoubtedly one of the most exciting new voices in African music. Her future collaborations and projects are highly anticipated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to former President Goodluck Jonathan on his selection as the recipient of the 2025 Sunhak Peace Founders’ Award.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded Dr. Jonathan’s dedication to peace, democracy, and national unity, calling the award a well-deserved recognition of his lifelong efforts in fostering harmony across Africa and beyond.

“Dr. Jonathan’s unwavering commitment to peace and democracy has earned him global admiration. His historic acceptance of the 2015 presidential election results and the peaceful transfer of power remain a shining example of statesmanship that strengthened Nigeria’s democratic foundation,”Tinubu stated.

The Sunhak Peace Prize, awarded by the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, recognises individuals and organisations making significant contributions to world peace and human development.

By honouring Jonathan, the committee acknowledges his work in mediation, conflict resolution, and democratic advocacy across the African continent.

Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the committee for highlighting the efforts of global leaders striving to build a better world.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been nominated as the winner of the 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Award.

Mr Ikechukwu Eze, Special Adviser to Jonathan disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Eze said that the award would be presented to the former president by Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea on April 11.

According to him, Jonathan becomes the third person and the first African leader to win this category of the award, after former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon and Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr Hun Sen.

Eze said that this year’s award ceremony, the sixth in the series, would take place in Seoul on April 11, where Jonathan and other laureates would be decorated.

He quoted the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee as stating that the honour was in recognition of Jonathan’s consistent mediations and pro-democracy activities to bring peace to the African continent.

This, according to him, is especially through the instrumentality of the various associations he chairs, including Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF) and International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).

NAN reports that the Founders Sunhak Peace Award and the Sunhak Peace Prize are two categories of awards presented biennially by the committee to individuals and organisations acknowledged as worthy contributors to world peace and human development.

Prominent past winners of the second category, which is the Sunhak Peace Prize, included former Senegalese President Macky Sall and President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

Others were Dame Sarah Gilbert, Co-developer of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine as well as GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

Eze said that Jonathan would be receiving his award alongside three individuals who were recently announced by José Barroso, the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee Chair and former President of the European Commission, as winners in the other category.

They include Patrick Awuah Jr., Founder and President of Ashesi University in Ghana, Hugh Evans, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Citizen and Wanjira Mathai, Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute.

Eze also quoted the founder of the prize, Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, as stating in her pre-event address that the lives of the laureates had been an inspiring testament to how peace could be realised through concrete actions and cultural transformation.

“Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has identified and honoured individuals.

“Individuals who have dedicated themselves to addressing urgent global challenges based on its three core values: respect for human rights, reconciliation of conflicts and ecological conservation,’’ Moon said.

Established in 2015, the biennial Sunhak Peace Prize honours individuals and organisations that have shown extraordinary services to global peace and well-being in any of the three areas.

The areas are sustainable human development, conflict resolution or ecological conservation.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps says it has uncovered an illegal crude oil reservoir in Ondo.

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This was disclosed in a statement by Daniel Aidamenbor, the spokesman for NSCDC in Ondo, on Tuesday.

Mr Aidamenbor explained that the illegal crude oil reservoir was uncovered during a joint operation with the Nigerian Army and TANTITA Security Service.

He added that the reservoir was hidden in a forest in Obe-Akingboye, in the Ilaje LGA.

According to him, the discovery was made on Sunday at about 02:12 p.m., with no arrest made as the suspects had already fled the scene of the crime.

“The Ondo State commandant, Oluyemi Ibiloye, has issued a stern warning to those involved in illegal dealings in petroleum products to desist or face the full weight of the law.

”He also reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting critical national assets, particularly in the solid minerals sector,” Mr Aidamenbor said.

The police command in Edo has launched a manhunt for a suspect who allegedly killed his fiancée, known as Mama Hallelujah, and her three-year-old daughter, Miracle.

Moses Yamu, the command’s spokesman, announced this Tuesday in Benin.

Mr Yamu explained that the gruesome murder of the mother and child was discovered on March 18 by a concerned neighbour in Ovbiogoe Community, near Ekiadolor, Ovia North-East LGA.

He said the concerned neighbour had reported a foul smell coming from the victim’s residence on Idiangbona Street.

”Acting on the report, the divisional police officer of Ekiadolor, alongside operatives, forced their way into the apartment, which had been locked from the outside. Inside, they found the decomposing bodies of the woman and her child.

“The woman had a deep cut on her head, suspected to be from a machete, while the child was lifeless on the bed,” Mr Yamu explained.

He said preliminary investigations implicated the suspect, who has been missing since the discovery.

”The couple have been preparing for their wedding, scheduled for March 29, before the tragic incident.

“All evidence so far points to the fiancé, who has since gone underground. The police are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring his arrest,” Mr Yamu stated.

He assured the public that the command was fully committed to bringing the suspect to justice, urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station.

“We appeal to members of the public to assist with credible information that can lead to his apprehension. Justice must be served for the victims,” he said.

He added that the police had intensified investigations, while the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary for further examination.

The Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, has resigned his appointment.

The resignation of the HoS, who served under the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was contained in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator and obtained by newsmen on Tuesday morning.

The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), thanked Nwaeke for his service to him within the short period since he assumed office and wished him well in his future endeavours.

The statement reads, “The office of His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, is saddened to announce the resignation of the Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke, FCA, Mni.

“His Excellency, the Administrator appreciates the immense contributions he has shown this administration in the short period he served and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

Meanwhile, Ibas has appointed Prof. Ibibi Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

Worika’s appointment was also contained in a statement from the office of the Sole Administrator also obtained on Tuesday morning.

The statement reads, “His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) CFR, the Administrator of Rivers State, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG).

“His appointment follows careful consideration of his credentials, extensive experience, and performance during rigorous selection process.

“Professor Worika’s distinguished career spans academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him uniquely qualified to support the administrator in the onerous task of achieving Mr President’s mandate. His appointment takes immediate effect.

“Professor Worika’s appointment reflects the administrator’s commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers’ people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security.”

A court in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, has issued an arrest warrant against a man in a case filed over the death of a cat.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaque passed the order after taking cognisance of the charges brought against Akbar Hossain Shiblu.

Mr Shiblu was issued an arrest warrant for his involvement in killing a cat on February 1.

On February 5, Nafisa Chowdhury lodged the case on behalf of the People for Animal Welfare Foundation in Bangladesh.

In the case statement, Ms Chowdhury said the cat went missing on February 1.

Subsequently, the CCTV footage showed Mr Shiblu kicking the cat to death.

The negotiations between U.S. and Russian delegations in Riyadh will be held in a closed format.

The negotiation had already started, Al Arabiya broadcaster reported earlier in the day.

The RIA Novosti correspondent confirmed that the Russian delegation had arrived at the negotiation venue at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

Saudi Arabia’s state security service officers had asked journalists and others to leave the hotel’s premises and refrain from photo and video recording.

Security personnel in vehicles were stationed throughout the hotel grounds, and entry into the building was strictly prohibited.

The Russian delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Russia was represented at the meeting by Grigory Karasin, head of the Russian upper house’s foreign affairs committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service.

The talks are expected to focus primarily on the nuances of a possible resumption of the initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

It was discussed during the last phone call between the Russian and U.S. presidents.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate probe into the prison break at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi.

This is contained in a statement by the minister’s special adviser on media, Babatunde Alao, on Monday in Abuja.

The minister described the incident as unfortunate and vowed to ensure all fleeing inmates are captured.

He said the ministry would leverage the service’s robust biometrics and already deployed technological solutions to ensure this.

Mr Tunji-Ojo also ordered the acting controller general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility.

He also directed Mr Ndidi to evaluate the situation and commence a comprehensive audit to unravel the events that led to the incident.

The minister assured that the ministry and security agencies were on top of the situation to maintain law and order.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, distributed 10,000 bags (25kg) of rice to religious leaders and Muslim groups in FCT as a Ramadan package.

Mr Wike explained during the distribution on Monday in Gwagwalada that the gesture was part of the FCT Administration’s annual support to Muslims in FCT.

The minister, represented by his chief of staff, Chidi Amadi, identified the beneficiaries as Muslim religious groups, associations and vulnerable groups in the FCT.

“The distribution of the 10,000 bags of rice is part of our efforts to identify with our Muslim brothers, the needy and the less privileged who really need such support.

“The minister, in his own little way, is trying to identify with the religious community in FCT,” he said.

Earlier, FCTA director of protocol Sani Daura said that other beneficiaries of the Ramadan package would include FCT-graded chiefs, religious leaders, and the FCT Welfare Association.

Mr Daura said that Mr Wike approved the procurement and distribution of the items in keeping with the FCT Administration’s long-standing tradition of catering to residents’ welfare, particularly during festive periods.

The beneficiaries thanked Mr Wike for the gesture, describing it as “thoughtful.”

One of them, the chief imam of the FCT Minister’s residence, Life Camp, Abuja, Lawal Mustapha, said the kind gesture would ease the food burden among vulnerable households.

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has denied reports that she apologised to the Senate over the issue that led to her suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan in a statement on Monday, described the claims as “false and misleading,” insisting that she still stands by her position.

“The reports suggesting that I have apologized to the Senate and retracted my position are completely untrue. I stand firmly by my words and actions and have not issued any apology to the Senate or anyone regarding this matter,” she said.

She criticised those spreading the false reports, accusing them of trying to twist the truth and mislead the public.

The senator, who was suspended after a disagreement with Senate leadership, said she remains committed to defending the rights of her people. She also claimed that some individuals were trying to manipulate public opinion with fake statements.

“I urge the public to disregard these rumours and publications as they do not represent my position. My commitment remains to truth, justice, and the people I represent.”

She also expressed concern over what she called a planned effort to silence her voice in the National Assembly.

She stated, “This is not just about me; it is about the integrity of our democracy. I will not be intimidated or forced into submission through false narratives.”

She urged Nigerians to be careful of misinformation, adding that any official statement from her would come only from her verified channels.

“I appreciate the support and solidarity of my people. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for what is right and just.”

There have been calls for Akpoti-Uduaghan to be recalled following her suspension from the senate.

The push to recall her followed her suspension from the Senate, after a heated dispute with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements.

She also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and has since taken her case before local and foreign media and the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed that it had received the petition seeking the recall process of Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, received the petition on Monday.

Two ex-police officers have been arrested in Mexico for alleged links to a suspected drug cartel training ground where bones, shoes and clothing were found earlier this month, authorities said Sunday.

The discovery of human remains at what Human Rights Watch has called an “apparent mass killing site” has caused shock in a country where murders and kidnappings are daily occurrences.

One of the former officers is accused of kidnapping a man who was held at the Izaguirre Ranch in Teuchitlan in the western state of Jalisco, the state attorney general’s office said in a statement.

The former agent and colleagues detained the victim for a supposed search as he was riding a motorbike, before handing him over to a group who took him to the site, it said.

The man was later released from the ranch following an armed confrontation, the statement added.

Families searching for some of the more than 100,000 people missing in Mexico discovered bodies on March 5 at the site where forced recruits are thought to have been held.

Some 124,000 people are officially registered as missing in Mexico, mostly since 2006 when the government declared war on drug cartels.

The Guerreros Buscadores collective – a group dedicated to locating missing people – described the site as an “extermination center” with “clandestine crematoriums”.

The Mexican attorney general’s office, which is set to take over the investigation, said Sunday that a second former police officer had been arrested in connection to the case.

Both ex-officers belonged to a police force whose chief had already been detained.

Attorney General Alejandro Gertz promised Wednesday there would be no cover-up in the investigation, saying extensive evidence meant that the “truth will come out.”

He listed multiple flaws in the initial investigation overseen by the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office, including a failure to thoroughly search the site.

The chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has created an Insolvency Unit for the court to ensure efficient service delivery.

The court’s chief registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, announced this in a statement on Sunday night.

Mr Hassan said the creation of the unit was done pursuant to the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Act, 2019 (as amended).

He said the creation was also in line with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Act, 2024, and the Bankruptcy Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.

“The functions of the Insolvency Unit are to oversee the effective implementation of the provisions of the above enactments as it relates to Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVA), administration, receivership, winding up and various forms of restructuring of companies.

“The unit is created in line with global best practices on insolvency and to also provide specialised and standardised services on insolvency matters. It also offers insolvency practitioners a dedicated channel for supervisory and enforcement services,” the statement said.

According to the statement, this is a milestone in the quest for modernisation and updating insolvency practices and proceedings in Nigeria.

It said the unit would also offer fast-track services required to implement its mandate.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday, reinstating him as acting president — a role he took after the president was suspended for declaring martial law.

The court ruling is the latest development in South Korea’s complex and sprawling political crisis, which President Yoon Suk Yeol started with a short-lived attempt to subvert civilian rule in December.

Lawmakers defied armed soldiers at parliament to vote down Yoon’s December 3 martial law declaration and impeached him soon after, with Han stepping in as acting president.

But he was himself impeached by lawmakers just weeks later over his purported involvement in the martial law debacle, plus a dispute over judicial appointments.

“The Constitutional Court has rendered a decision to reject the impeachment trial request against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo,” the court said Monday in a statement.

The court ruled five-to-one against Han’s impeachment, with two judges arguing the case should not have made it to court as lawmakers did not have a super majority to impeach him in the first place.

Han’s actions while in office “cannot be seen as constituting a betrayal of the people’s trust indirectly granted through the President,” the court ruled.

The decision is effective immediately and cannot be appealed.

Han, who immediately resumed the acting presidency Monday, thanked the Constitutional Court for its “wise decision”.

“I believe that all citizens are clearly speaking out against the highly polarised political sphere. I think there is no place for division now. Our country’s priority is to move forward,” he added.

The court’s decision was closely watched as it comes ahead of a highly anticipated ruling on suspended President Yoon’s impeachment, the date of which has not yet been announced.

Despite experts predicting a verdict on that case by mid-March, the Constitutional Court has yet to rule, making Yoon’s case the longest deliberation in its history.

The leader of the opposition, Lee Jae-myung, said the verdict on Han should not be “disrespected” but urged the Constitutional Court to move more swiftly on Yoon’s case.

“The entire nation is losing sleep over Yoon Suk Yeol’s illegal military coup,” he said, adding it was “hard to fathom why the Constitutional Court continues to postpone the ruling date.”

“Every day, every hour, every minute, every second, the international trust in the Republic of Korea is being broken, the economic damage is mounting,” he added.

If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld, South Korea must hold fresh elections within 60 days of the verdict.

Monday’s ruling “does not have a direct legal correlation with the pending decision on Yoon’s impeachment,” Yoo Jung-hoon, attorney and political commentator, told AFP.

“The judges did not deliberate on the legality of martial law but rather on Han’s involvement in the case,” he said.

Yoon was suspended by parliament in December.

He was arrested in January in a dawn raid in connection to a separate criminal investigation on insurrection charges — which are not covered by presidential immunity.

Yoon is the first sitting South Korean president to stand trial in a criminal case.

He was released from detention in early March on procedural grounds — a move that has appeared to invigorate his supporters.

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets over the weekend, as rallies for and against Yoon intensified ahead of the court verdict.

Lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party told reporters at the National Assembly that Han’s reinstatement was welcome.

The opposition who impeached him should “apologise to the people for paralysing state affairs for 87 days with a hasty impeachment bid,” which was done for political purposes, Kweon added.

The South African ambassador who was expelled from the United States in a row with President Donald Trump’s government arrived home on Sunday to a raucous welcome and struck a defiant tone over the decision.

Ties between Washington and Pretoria have slumped since Trump cut financial aid to South Africa over what he alleges is its anti-white land policy, its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other foreign policy clashes.

Former South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool (c) arrives at the Cape Town International Airport, in Cape Town, on March 23, 2025.

“It was not our choice to come home, but we come home with no regrets,” expelled ambassador Ebrahim Rasool said in Cape Town after he was ousted from Washington on accusations of being “a race-baiting politician” who hates Trump.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Rasool was expelled after he described Trump’s Make America Great Again movement as a supremacist reaction to diversity in the United States.

Rasool was greeted with cheers and applause from hundreds of placard-waving supporters mostly clad in the green and yellow of the ruling African National Congress party at Cape Town International Airport.

Former South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool (c), greets relatives and supporters upon his arrival at the Cape Town International airport, in Cape Town, on March 23, 2025.

“I want to say that we would have liked to come back with a welcome like this if we could report to you that we had turned away the lies of a white genocide in South Africa, but we did not succeed in America with that,” he said with a megaphone after a more than 30-hour trip via Qatari capital Doha.

The former anti-apartheid campaigner defended his remarks about Trump’s policies, saying he had intended to analyse a political phenomenon and warn South Africans that the “old way of doing business with the US was not going to work”.

“Our language must change not only to transactionality but also a language that can penetrate a group that has clearly identified a fringe white community in South Africa as their constituency,” he said.

“The fact that what I said caught the attention of the president and the secretary of state and moved them enough to declare me persona non grata says that the message went to the highest office,” he added.

South Africa, the current president of the Group of 20 leading economies, this week said it considered improving its relationship with the United States a priority.

The United States is South Africa’s second-biggest trading partner and will take over the rotating G20 presidency next year.

Rasool is due to provide a report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Pretoria should nonetheless not try to mend its ties with Washington “without sacrificing our values” Rasool said.

“The declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you, but when you return to a crowd like this… I will wear my persona non grata as a badge of dignity, our values and that we have done the right thing,” he said.

Trump froze US aid to South Africa in February, citing a law in the country that he alleges allows land to be seized from white farmers.

Relations have also been strained by South Africa’s case against US ally Israel at the ICJ. Pretoria alleges Israel has committed genocidal acts against the Palestinians in its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Trump further heightened tensions this month, saying South Africa’s farmers were welcome to settle in the United States after repeating his accusations — without providing evidence – that the government was “confiscating” land from white people.

Trump’s ally Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa under apartheid, has also accused Ramaphosa’s government of having “openly racist ownership laws”.

Ramaphosa said South Africa would seek to engage with the United States by dispatching envoys from the business community and government.

Ninety-three-year-old Hajiya Sarafa’u Umaru, mother of Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has died.

The death was announced in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed, on Sunday in Katsina.

The statement stated, “With profound sadness, the Government of Katsina State announces the passing of Hajiya Safara’u Umaru Baribari, the beloved mother of Governor Dikko Radda.

Hajiya Safara’u departed this world last night at the blessed age of 93.

She was a woman of remarkable strength and dignity with wisdom flowed from decades of lived experience.”

Mr Kaula-Mohammed added that, beyond being the mother of Mr Radda, she nurtured generations of leaders and community pillars.

He added, “Her children include the current Village Head of Radda, Alhaji Kabir Umar-Radda, and Hajiya Hauwa Umar-Radda, former wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. A true Fulani matriarch, Hajiya Safara’u leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond her immediate family. Her values of integrity, perseverance, and community service continue to inspire all who knew her.’’

Mr Kaula-Mohammed said that the late matriarch would be laid to rest by 4:00 p.m., on Sunday in Radda village, Charanchi Local Government of the state.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has granted automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students who benefitted from a foreign scholarship programme to study health-related courses in India.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, in Kano.

The statement stated that Mr Yusuf made the announcement during a reception and Iftar (Ramadan breaking of fast) organised for the students, who studied at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, and returned to the state on Friday.

He said, “We have made all necessary arrangements to offer you automatic employment within the Kano State Civil Service. Your appointment letters will be issued shortly through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Head of Service.

“You will also benefit from the newly implemented minimum wage of ₦71,000 in the state. We have improved allowances for healthcare workers to ensure a conducive working environment.’’

The governor expressed concern over individuals who received government-sponsored education but later left the state for employment elsewhere.

“I am surprised to see beneficiaries of government scholarships working outside Kano instead of contributing to the state’s development. We appeal to you to use your knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of our people, especially women, and address critical health issues such as maternal mortality and sickle cell anaemia,” he said.

According to him, the state’s investment in education and healthcare aims to strengthen service delivery within Kano, and retaining skilled professionals is key to achieving that goal.

Mr Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continuing the foreign scholarship programme initiated by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.

“When we assumed office, we promised to sustain this initiative. Out of the 1,000 beneficiaries, 418 were sent to India and Uganda last year. All have graduated, while the remaining 68 students in India are expected to return by April,” he said.

Among the 54 returning scholar are 36 medical doctors, 11 pharmacists, two anatomists and a radiographer.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board, Kabiru Getso, some of the specialised courses studied by the students were the first of their kind in Kano and Northern Nigeria.

“Achieving this milestone puts the state in a strong position to improve healthcare services. All the students excelled academically, completing their programmes with impressive grades and no carryovers,” Mr Getso noted.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, the group’s captain, Yusuf Abubakar, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Kano State Government.

“Words are not enough to convey our gratitude. We are deeply thankful for this life-changing opportunity,” he said.

A joint operation among the Nigerian military, State Security Services, members of the Hunters’ Group, and led by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has led to the rescue of a naval officer and two civilians, including the arrest of four suspected kidnappers.

The FCT Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement on X, on Sunday, said the trio were kidnapped at about 07:35 p.m., on Friday, by heavily armed assailants who attacked Mamman Vatsa Estate Gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire at moving vehicles.

Mrs Adeh said, “Shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.”

The spokesperson said the command’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Isyaku Sharu, upon receiving the distress report, collaborated with the other security outfits to conduct an intense search-and-rescue operation across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

She said, “Acting on credible intelligence, between 2:00 am and 5:30 am on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, where four (4) suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed. Additionally, the sum of ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.”

Stating that the victims were in stable condition and receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic, Mrs Adeh noted that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large. She assured that security deployments had also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences.

She therefore advised members of the public to go about their daily activities without any apprehension, urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police via the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653; Complaint Response Unit: 08107314192.

Pope Francis left Rome’s Gemelli hospital Sunday, over five weeks after the 88-year-old was admitted on February 14 with breathing difficulties which turned into pneumonia.

The head of the Catholic Church left by car, waving from the closed window of the front seat as he drove past journalists, and could be seen wearing a cannula – a plastic tube tucked into his nostrils which delivers oxygen.

Pope Francis waves as he leaves by car the Gemelli hospital after a five weeks hospitalization.

Earlier, the Pope greeted and thanked the faithful from a balcony of the hospital on Sunday, the first time he has been seen in public since his admission.

People reflect on the window of the car as Pope Francis leaves by the Gemelli hospital after a five-week hospitalization for pneumonia, in Rome on March 23, 2025.

“Thank you, everyone,” a weak-sounding Francis said into a microphone, as he sat in a wheelchair waving gently to hundreds of people gathered below, doing a thumbs-up sign.

Credit: AFP