The Anambra Police Command has confirmed that a gunshot incident in the Ukwulu community, Dunukofia Local Government Area, on Saturday stemmed from a longstanding dispute between two siblings.

The command’s public relations officer (PRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Awka, the state capital.

Mr Ikenga said the siblings had been involved in a prolonged and serious misunderstanding, which eventually escalated into a physical altercation that led to one of them sustaining a gunshot injury.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and the armed suspect, who enlisted the help of another individual, are brothers who have had ongoing issues,” the statement read.

According to the PRO, on the evening of Saturday, operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, Enugu-Ukwu, swiftly responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene of the shooting.

“Their prompt intervention prevented the situation from escalating further.

“During the operation, police officers rescued the injured victim and recovered one AK-47 rifle, one pistol, and six rounds of live ammunition. Two suspects were arrested at the scene,” the police spokesperson.

Mr Ikenga said the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation, while the injured victim had been taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

He added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

Georgia-based Nigerian conman Badetito Obafemi has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his involvement in a years-long romance scam that netted him more than $300,000 in illicit money.

U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips sentenced Mr Obafemi to two years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release following incarceration and ordered him to pay restitution of $311,520 to his victims.

Mr Obafemi’s sentencing came almost a year after the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering following his involvement in fake online relationships targeting vulnerable individuals across many cities in the United States in April 2024.

According to court documents seen by Peoples Gazette, Mr Obafemi admitted to participating in a romance scam by luring his victims into fraudulent relationships before asking for money from them for a variety of reasons, including business, medical and travel expenses and food.

Mr Obafemi acknowledged conspiring with other perpetrators to receive wire transfers from the victims, coordinating the necessary bank account information, the timing of transfers, and the transfer of funds across multiple accounts. Authorities said the crime spree occurred between June 2016 and at least March 2018.

Court documents showed Mr Obafemi received an estimated $311,520 in funds into his accounts and those of two businesses, EasyTickets, LLC, and Goeasy Logistics, LLC, including a lump sum of $27,460 stolen by the convict from a victim based Taney County in New Jersey.

Mr Obafemi reportedly used one of his fake social media profiles, Kevin Condon, to trick the Taney County victim into sending the money to an account he controlled following a false romantic relationship in May 2016.

He also attempted to convince the the victim to deposit another $40,000, purportedly to pay a court in South Africa for his release from jail, but was unsuccessful.

Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, has sentenced nine internet fraudsters to jail, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed in a statement on Friday.

The anti-graft agency’s Benin zonal directorate secured the conviction of Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, Promise Osas Lucky, and Ebi Ferguson between March 27 and April 11, 2025.

According to the agency, the convicts—who were arrested in a sting operation following intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities—were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Desmond Aghanenu read: “That you Desmond Aghanenu (m) on or about the 14th of March, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

EFCC said all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel—F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, Isa K. Agwai, and Bala-Ribah—to pray the court to sentence them. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they had become remorseful for their actions.

“Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Desmond Aghanenu, Okolie Bright, Emeka Matthew, Anikwushe Calin, Precious Onyeka Okonkwo, Ojie Victor Emeka, Safety Tamarakuro Austin, [and] Promise Osas Lucky to two years imprisonment each or pay a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively, while Ebi Ferguson bagged three years imprisonment or pay a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira),” the sentence read.

The judge also ordered that all the convicts forfeit their phones, computers, and money found in their respective bank accounts to the federal government of Nigeria, and write an undertaking to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will commence training exercises for 10,000 new police recruits nationwide Saturday.

NPF said the intensive training program, designed to equip the new recruits with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively serve and protect their communities, will begin at various police colleges and training schools across the nation.

A statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “In preparation for the resumption, the Force Headquarters held an orientation ceremony for the Commandants and Directing Staff of the Training Institutions today April 11th 2025. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., represented virtually by the DIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development (DTD), DIG Frank Mba, mni., charged the Commandants of the Training Colleges and Schools to embrace the ongoing police reforms, uphold the highest ethical standards, and demonstrate firm professional conduct throughout the course of the training.

“The IGP also expressed his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of recruits on training, in areas of feeding and accommodation, and also ensuring they have a stable and conducive environment throughout their training period. He charged the incoming recruits to be of good conduct, maintain policing ethics and positive character in the course of their training and career.

“The IGP expressed his appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his dedication and commitment towards improving the operational strength and capability of the Nigeria Police Force, noting that this significant influx of new officers would mark a substantial investment in bolstering law enforcement capabilities and enhancing public safety nationwide.”

Michelle Obama has denied rumours of impending divorce with former US President Barack Obama, calling them baseless.

In a recent episode of Sophia Bush’s podcast “Work in Progress“, Michelle set the record straight, explaining that her decision to skip high-profile events like President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and President Donald Trump’s inauguration were simply personal choices.

She expressed frustration that people couldn’t fathom a grown woman making decisions for herself without it being attributed to marital issues.

“That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with: disappointing people. I mean, so much so that this year people were, you know, they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.

“That this couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?’ she continued.

Obama added: ‘That’s what society does to us.’

Michelle emphasised the importance of independence and self-empowerment, revealing that she’s now making choices solely for herself, a departure from her earlier life as First Lady and wife.

She’s prioritising personal growth, self-discovery and her personal desires.

The former First Lady also touched on societal expectations and how they impact women’s decisions.

She believed that society often labels women’s independence as “negative and horrible” when it doesn’t fit traditional stereotypes.

“We start actually, finally going, “What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?” And if it doesn’t fit into the sort of stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.’

‘So you know, now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of who do I truly want to be every day,’ she said.

Michelle said that looks ‘like whatever I want it to look like.’

“And I still find time to, you know, give speeches, to be out there in the world, to work on projects. I still care about girls’ education.

“We, you know, the library is opening a year from now.”

“But the interesting thing is that when I say no, for the most part, people are like, I get it, and I’m OK, right?” she added.

The United States Supreme Court has ordered President Donald Trump’s government to take steps to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who was mistakenly deported to a prison camp in El Salvador last month back to the U.S.

According to the New York Times, an unsigned order by the apex court on Thursday stopped short of ordering the Trump administration officials to return Mr Garcia to the United States, indicating that courts may not have the power to require the executive branch to do so.

Judge Paula Xinis of the Federal District Court in Maryland had last week ordered that Mr Garcia must be returned to the United States by Monday after the Trump administration acknowledged their mistake in the process that saw the victim deported to the notorious Terrorism Confinement Centre in El Salvador.

Ms Xinis’ ruling prompted the Trump administration to approach the Supreme Court for intervention in the case, with the government arguing it would be difficult to facilitate Mr Garcia’s return to the States.

Although the Supreme Court did not explicitly order the repatriation of Mr Garcia from El Salvador, the apex court endorsed part of a trial judge’s order requiring the government to “facilitate and effectuate the return” of Mr Garcia.

“The order properly requires the government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the Supreme Court said in the ruling.

The court added, “The intended scope of the term ‘effectuate’ in the district court’s order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the district court’s authority.”

The case will now return to the trial court, and it is not clear whether and when Mr Garcia will be returned to the United States.

“As the Supreme Court correctly recognised, it is the exclusive prerogative of the president to conduct foreign affairs,” a Department of Justice spokesman said.

“By directly noting the deference owed to the executive branch, this ruling once again illustrates that activist judges do not have the jurisdiction to seize control of the president’s authority to conduct foreign policy.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Rossman, one of Mr Garcia’s lawyers, expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s action, stating, “The rule of law won today. Time to bring him home.”

The Dominican Republic authorities have said 221 people were killed when the roof of the iconic Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed on Tuesday. This came as rescue efforts and operations ended after the search for the bodies of the victims.

Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the country’s Emergency Operations Center, confirmed the latest death toll on Thursday.

“Today, we conclude the most difficult work in my 20 years as the head of the EOC,” Mr Mendez said.

An additional 189 people were also rescued from the rubble of the collapsed nightclub.

On Tuesday, the collapsed building occurred when hundreds of guests were inside the venue attending a concert by popular merengue singer Rubby Pérez.

Aside from Mr Pérez, others among the casualties are a provincial governor and the president of one of the country’s most important banks, as well as the right-handed baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel.

Scores of family members have been showing up at the site of the tragedy, hoping to find their missing loved ones since the collapsed nightclub occurred.

Homeroom Figueroa, the director of strategy and government communication, said officials have been moving to the phase of “understanding and explaining what happened without being quick to judge.”

According to him, the National Office for Seismic Assessment and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings will oversee a team of national and international experts to conduct a “technical study to understand with precision what happened” and “determine steps to follow in the area of justice.”

The police command in Anambra has detained four suspects for threatening to kidnap, abduct, attack, and cyberstalk innocent individuals in the state, particularly in Ihiala.

In a statement on Friday, Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s spokesman, confirmed their arrests and detention.

Mr Ikenga noted that the accused’s intended acts could disrupt public safety and undermine Anambra’s security architecture.

He disclosed that the arrest and detention followed an investigation by the joint security force in Ihiala.

Mr Ikenga said the arrests were made possible because the command operatives acted on intelligence gathered over time regarding faceless individuals involved in threats of kidnapping, abduction, violence, and cyberstalking.

“Consequently, on Thursday, at about 2:53 p.m., our operatives arrested four male suspects, who are all residents of Okohia in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra,” Mr Ikenga stated.

He added that mobile phones and SIM cards used by the suspects to issue threats and incite panic were recovered during the operation.

“All the suspects confessed to the crimes and are currently in custody for further interrogation,” he said.

Araromi market, located inside Agodi, adjacent the Correctional Service on Thursday night, recorded another fire incident.

The market is notable for sales of auto spare parts and accessories. Scavengers and those who live on dismantling vehicles also make a living from abandoned cars in the market.

It was gathered not less than 12 shops with properties worth millions were destroyed in the latest fire incident.

Eyewitness account states that the incident started at Block A, No 64 Mayegun Cement store around 10:55pm.

The incident, which lasted for several hours, was attributed to surge in power supply to the area.

Confirming the incident, General Manager of Oyo Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said the agency received the distressed call at exactly 11:02pm.

Akinyinka said: “The agency’s control room received the distressed call at exactly 23:02 hrs on Thursday, April 10, 2025 through telephoning and Mr Young to shop on fire at the above address.

“The fire personnel led by CFS Jimoh promptly deployed to the scene of the fire incident. On arrival, we met some lockup shops well alight and we swiftly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to other nearby shops.

“The fire affected 12 out of multiple numbers of shops and we were able to save property worth billions of naira in the market. The appliance returned to the station by 03:18hrs and on standby.”

There have been multiple fire incidents at Araromi Market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan in recent times.

The Nation reports on January 14, 2023, a fire broke out at the market, gutting over 25 shops.

The fire started from one shop and spread to others due to the late arrival of the fire fighters.

The cause was attributed to scavengers burning disused tires, which ignited nearby combustibles.

On December 20, 2024, another fire incident occurred with flames engulfing the market around 2 am.

The fire destroyed properties worth millions, and traders suffered heavy losses.

The cause of the fire was uncertain but early reports suggested it might have been triggered by an electrical fault.

On March 30, 2025, the market was engulfed in flames around 2 am. The fire destroyed properties worth millions and initial report didn’t give the immediate and remote cause of the incident.

The incidents have resulted in significant losses with traders anyways clamouring for enhanced safety measures in the market.

An helicopter carrying six people plunged into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon, killing all on board.

The victims include the pilot and a visiting family of five from Spain, among them three children.

The aircraft, identified as a Bell 206, had taken off from Manhattan less than 30 minutes before the crash.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that all six bodies have been recovered.

Emergency responders pronounced four victims dead at the scene, while the remaining two succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the crash will be thoroughly investigated, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the inquiry

The FAA’s statement reads: “A Bell 206 helicopter crashed and is submerged in the Hudson River in New York City. The number of people on board is unknown at this time. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The #NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”

Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced Adebambo Fawas Olamilekan to one year in prison for internet fraud.

Olamilekan was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence and cheating, contrary to Sections 320 and 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

According to a statement on the X handle of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), he pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

The judge proceeded to sentence him to one year imprisonment with an option of fine N1m.

The statement reads: “Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced one Adebambo Fawas Olamilekan to one year imprisonment for internet fraud.

Olamilekan was arraigned on April 3, 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Office, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a two-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence and cheating, contrary to Sections 320 and 323 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Adebambo Fawas Olamilekan, on or about 14th May, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession documents, where you falsely represented yourself as a female, which were printed from your iPhone 13 pro, and which documents you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence and committed an offence contrary to 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

“He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

“In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, O.Daramola, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered some documents as well as the defendant’s confessional statement.

“Daramola also urged the court to convict him as charged.

“Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Okunuga found him guilty and sentenced him to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of One Million Naira.

“The judge also ordered that his iPhone device as well as a Zenith Bank managers cheque of N100,000.00 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

The Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, on Wednesday visited the John Randle centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Lagos as part of her official visit to the state.

The Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, and senior officials of the Ministry, warmly received the royal guest at the centre, a cultural hub dedicated to preserving and showcasing Yoruba heritage.

Before the tour, the Crown Princess had paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House in Marina, as the state government expressed appreciation for her keen interest in Lagos and its cultural landscape.

This was disclosed via a statement on the Lagos state government official X handle on Thursday, April 10.

The statement partly reads: “The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, and Directors of the Ministry, warmly received Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée of Sweden and Duchess of Västergötland, during her official visit to the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History on Wednesday.

“The visit was part of the Crown Princess’s ongoing visit to Lagos, aimed at deepening her experience of the state’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant hospitality sector. The John Randle Centre, a flagship cultural and historical facility in Lagos, provided an opportunity for Her Royal Highness to explore the depth and diversity of Yoruba traditions, arts, and history.

“Earlier, the Crown Princess had paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House, Marina, where she was received with honour and appreciation for her interest in Lagos and its cultural landscape.”

The Lagos State Government has set up an ad-hoc pumping station at Adeniji Adele underbridge to alleviate flooding in Aroloya Street, Ojo-Giwa, Binuyo, Oroyinyin, and surrounding areas.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Wahab said the move was part of the state’s efforts to address the temporary blockage of drains caused by ongoing construction work on Lagos Island.

He added that the choice of Adeniji Adele underbridge for the pumping station was informed by the need not to disrupt the ongoing construction works in the listed areas.

He said that the measure would provide relief to the affected residents and business owners.

He said, “The flooding was caused by a temporary blockage of the drains in the area as a result of the ongoing constructions, which was part of the total regeneration of Lagos Island. I urge business owners and residents to be patient with the state government as we work to complete this crucial regeneration project, which will ultimately benefit the community.”

The commissioner added that the construction would be completed in a short time and urged stakeholders to contribute to the success of the project.

He encouraged residents to properly dispose of their waste according to guidelines set by the Lagos State Government.

He said, “It should be noted that the state government has approved a total regeneration of Lagos Island; to include improving and expanding the drainage infrastructures. These are primary and secondary channels, constructing pumping stations with smart sensors for flood control.”

He said the project also included promoting sustainable urban regeneration by reconstructing major roads within the area to address tidal challenges.

He stated, “We appeal for the cooperation of the residents and business owners with the contractors. However, while efforts are being made to minimise inconveniences, occasional disruptions may occur. Everyone must be rest assured that the welfare of Lagosians is paramount to the government.’’

The police command in Ondo State has begun investigations into the three headless bodies dumped in a river in Ore in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the incident on Thursday in Ore, said that efforts were ongoing to identify the culprits of the crime.

Mr Ayanlade explained that operatives had been deployed to the community to apprehend the perpetrators.

He said that the corpses had been evacuated by the police and deposited at the Ore General Hospital morgue.

Mr Ayanlade said, “I can confirm to you that three bodies were recovered at a river in Odigbo and immediately it was reported at the Ore Division. The DPO moved a detective to the scene where the three headless bodies were recovered. Community leaders and other interest groups have been invited to identify the corpses but unfortunately the bodies are yet to be identified. It is believed that the bodies were brought there and dumped at that site by unknown assailants but investigations are ongoing to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book.’’

It was gathered that the headless bodies were discovered in the river by some residents and immediately reported the incident to the police.

Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde has announced plans to replicate the world’s second-largest wholesale food market in Ijaiye, Ibadan, the state capital.

The market to be replicated is the Rungis International Market, located in Paris, France.

Makinde revealed that he has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Semmaris, the French organisation responsible for the market, to bring a similar wholesale food market to Ibadan.

Makinde is in France with other government leaders, including Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Minister Mohammed Idris, as well as policy influencers and key executives from major French corporations for a high-level meeting at the invitation of the French Government.

Disclosing plans to replicate the Rungis market, Makinde wrote on X: “We were given a tour of the Rungis International Market in Paris, the second largest wholesale food market in the world which we will replicate in Ijaiye, Ibadan, Oyo State this year. We have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Semmaris, France which is in charge of the market as we prepare to develop a similar one in Oyo State.

“The Rungis-style market in Ijaiye will create a ready market for wholesale agricultural produce thus benefitting our farmers, contributing to our economy and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. This is in keeping with our administration’s plan to ensure that Oyo State is the modern agribusiness hub of sub-Saharan Africa.”

At least seven journalists have been detained on terrorism allegations, an international journalism monitor said, after they aired a story accusing men in military uniforms of raping a woman in 2020.

The east African giant of some 130 million people is regularly criticised by human rights NGOs for the repression of dissenting voices.

The country ranks 141st out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders 2024 press freedom index, which cites “widespread self-censorship”.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said late on Wednesday that seven people were detained in late March after the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service broadcast a woman’s claims “to have been abducted and raped by men in military uniform while she was a student in 2020”.

The woman later retracted her statements on a state-owned channel.

EBS’s founder apologised, saying the station “discovered that the allegations were fabricated after the programme aired”, according to the CPJ.

According to court documents reviewed by the CPJ, police allege that the journalists “sought to incite conflict, threaten the constitutional order, and overthrow the government in coordination with ‘extremist’ groups” in the Amhara region.

The journalists, along with the woman who made the accusations, were remanded in custody pending a 14-day investigation.

“Arresting journalists on terrorism allegations is a disproportionate response to concerns over lapses in journalistic ethics,” said CPJ Africa programme coordinator Muthoki Mumo.

Amhara, the country’s second-most populated region, has recently seen a surge in violence.

In April 2023, a local group called the Fano went from being allies of the federal government to launching an armed rebellion.

Despite the government placing the region under a state of emergency from August 2023 to June 2024, the unrest did not stop, and authorities sent in military reinforcements in September.

Today, a large part of Amhara is beyond the control of the federal authorities, and fighting has intensified in recent weeks.

The Vatican on Thursday published a photograph of Pope Francis meeting King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla the day before during the British monarch’s state visit to Italy.

Wednesday’s meeting was a surprise, as Buckingham palace had cancelled the planned audience due to the 88-year-old pope’s poor health.

Francis, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, is recovering from five weeks in hospital with life-threatening pneumonia.

It was the first meeting between Charles, the head of the Church of England, and the pope since the monarch ascended to the throne in 2022.

The pontiff offered his congratulations to the royal couple, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary Wednesday, the palace and the Vatican said.

During the 20-minute encounter, the king — who is recovering from cancer — and the pope also exchanged well-wishes for each other’s health, the Vatican said.

“Their majesties were delighted the Pope was well enough to host them — and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person,” a Buckingham Palace statement added.

Charles, 76, has been suffering from an unnamed cancer for more than a year and less than two weeks ago he was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing side effects from his treatment.

He was out of action for a matter of days before resuming his official engagements on April 1.

Francis, who almost died twice during his treatment for double pneumonia, has been in convalescence since his return to the Vatican on March 23.

Despite being ordered to rest and recover for two months, the Argentine made a surprise appearance in St Peter’s Square last Sunday at the end of a mass.

On Tuesday, the Vatican said that Francis’s voice and mobility were improving, raising hopes that he may take part in upcoming Easter celebrations.

He has been using a cannula — a plastic tube tucked into the nostrils — to help him breathe, notably at night, but was not wearing one in the picture released Thursday.

Three Americans sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been repatriated to the United States to serve the remainder of their jail terms.

Initially handed death sentences by a military court, their punishments were commuted to life imprisonment last week.

U.S. Department of State spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, confirmed the development, saying, “The three were in our custody.”

According to the BBC, the trio, Marcel Malanga Malu, Tylor Thomson, and Zalman Polun Benjamin, departed Kinshasa on Tuesday. Congolese presidential spokesperson Tina Salama said their transfer followed “strict compliance with legal procedures.”

The DR Congo presidency stated that the repatriation was “part of a dynamic of strengthening judicial diplomacy and international cooperation in matters of justice and human rights” between both countries.

The Americans were among 37 people sentenced to death last September for their alleged roles in an attack on the presidential palace and the residence of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi in May 2023. They were convicted of terrorism, criminal conspiracy, and other charges—all of which they denied.

The suspected ringleader, Christian Malanga, a U.S. citizen of Congolese descent and father of one of the repatriated men, was killed during the attempted coup, along with five others.

While the exact terms of the prisoner transfer agreement remain unclear, the U.S. State Department said the repatriation was facilitated in coordination with its embassy in Kinshasa. However, legal experts suggest that the convicts are unlikely to be released or have their sentences reduced.

“The United States condemned the armed attacks and supported the Congolese government’s efforts to hold perpetrators accountable,” Bruce stated, adding that Washington also sought “consistent, compassionate, humane treatment and a fair legal process.”

Meanwhile, other foreign nationals, including a Briton, Belgian, Canadian, and dual Congolese-Belgian citizen, remain in custody. One of them, Jean-Jacques Wondo, was transferred to Belgium earlier this year due to health concerns.

The repatriation comes amid growing U.S. interest in DR Congo’s mineral sector. Last week, a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump visited Kinshasa and confirmed ongoing talks involving multibillion-dollar investments. The country holds significant reserves of cobalt and coltan, essential for electronic devices and electric vehicle batteries—resources currently dominated by Chinese firms.

Three mortuary attendants are currently in police detention in Abia state after being accused of tampering with the body of a deceased man.

The alleged missing body parts include the man’s tongue and manhood.

According to reports, friends and family members of the deceased arrived at the mortuary, located between Afoukwu and Abayi Okoroato village along the Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway in Obingwa Local Government Area, to retrieve the body for burial.

While preparing the body, they conducted a random check and discovered that both the deceased’s tongue and testicle were missing, sparking outrage.

The shocking discovery triggered a violent response from the youths of the deceased’s community, who accompanied the family to the mortuary.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the youths attacking the mortuary facility, damaging buildings, and vandalizing property.

The mortuary attendants, who allegedly tried to flee, were apprehended by the mob, beaten severely, and left with injuries.

Other youths also ransacked the facility, destroying everything in sight.

Police officers from the Eastern Ngwa Division in Umuobiakwa responded to the scene after the attendants had been beaten, rescuing them from further harm.

When questioned by the authorities, the mortuary attendants denied any knowledge of the missing body parts but speculated that rodents may have consumed them.

However, some residents were skeptical, pointing out that it seemed unlikely that rodents could have entered the deceased’s mouth to eat his tongue.

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many questioning the integrity of the mortuary and the possibility of foul play.

The severing of body parts is considered a severe taboo in Igbo culture, and some families who had deposited their loved ones at the morgue rushed to retrieve their bodies, fearing their loved ones’ remains could also be tampered with.

Actress and filmmaker, Iyabo Ojo, alongside her daughter Priscilla, recently paid a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to formally invite him to the traditional wedding ceremony of Priscilla and her Tanzanian partner, Juma Jux.

Receiving a royal endorsement from the Ooni, which is seen as a prestigious honor, Iyabo expressed her gratitude on Instagram, saying: “When the Revered Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, @ooniadimulaife, the Royal Father of the Day, lends his Royal Endorsement to your Wedding, know that your Marriage is truly Blessed! Long live our King.”

The couple had already celebrated their Muslim wedding in Tanzania on February 7th, followed by a court wedding on February 13th.

Their traditional wedding in Nigeria, set for April 17th, will mark the third and final celebration of their union.