No Muslim is a Muslim without believing in Jesus – Naira Marley

Singer Naira Marley has asserted that any Muslim who doesn’t believe in Jesus isn’t a true Muslim.

This, he said, highlighted Jesus’ importance in Islamic theology.

“No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus (Peace be upon him),” he wrote via his X handle.

While Muslims consider Jesus a prophet of God and a messenger sent to the Children of Israel with the Gospel, Christians believe Jesus is God or the Son of God.

This fundamental difference in perspective has sparked a lively discussion, with some users praising Naira Marley’s willingness to share his thoughts and others criticising his views.

Ruth said: “You’re just here to cause confusion. Leave Jesus for us, we don’t care if you believe in him or not. He remains the son of God, full stop”.

idristaiwo wrote: “I think many Muslims believe in Jesus, he was mentioned severally in the Quran, where the problem is Muslims not accepting him as “God” they’ve vehemently rebuffed it to irks or Christians. Christians however don’t believe in Muhammed. It’s just crazy”.

AbuTwins wrote: “You’re right but let me clear it for you; yes we Muslims respect and venerate Jesus Christ. We consider him as one of the Almighty God’s greatest messengers to humankind not as God or as Son of God. In fact The Qur’an re-affirms his miraculous birth and his miraculous abilities. Furthermore, his mother Mary is regarded as one of the most pure and exalted women of all creation”.

Al bin Rashid Al Falasi wrote: “Muslims believe in Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother, Mary, so deeply that an entire chapter in the Quran is named after her. Yet, Judaism does not recognize Jesus as a prophet. Yet Christians love sending billions to Israel”

Naira Marley has been actively sharing his religious views since the start of 2025 Ramadan.

El-Rufai joins TikTok, gains 200,000 followers in 24 hours

Former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai has created an official account on the social media platform, TikTok.

With over 200,000 followers in just 24 hours, his announcement video has racked up an impressive 1.9 million views with over 21,000 comments.

El-Rufai in the video said his TikTok page aims to share his thoughts on politics and his new party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“This is my only and official TikTok page. Please join me for videos, comments and conversations on Nigeria politics as well as the activities of our new party Social Democratic Party (SDP). Welcome on board,” he said.

Interestingly, El-Rufai’s TikTok bio describes him as an “accidental public servant, certified ruffler of feathers and deliberate SDP member.”

This comes after his recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his decision to join the SDP on Monday.

UN secretary-general arrives in Bangladesh

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is visiting Bangladesh to review the situation of more than one million Rohingya refugees, officials said.

During the four-day-tour, Guterres will join tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in an Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday.

The Rohingya refugees are now living in camps in Bangladeshi Cox’s Bazar district, some 400 km southeast of capital Dhaka

Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain welcomed Guterres upon his arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Thursday.

Guterres is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday morning to wrap up his second visit to Bangladesh.

AMVCA to return for 11th edition, announces nominations March 23

The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) has announced its return for the 11th edition, scheduled to hold on May 10, 2025.

Nominations for the prestigious awards will be announced on March 23.

Organisers revealed that this year’s edition will feature a new category, Best Music Score, which aims to recognise the importance of music in filmmaking.

This addition brings the total number of award categories to 28.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels for West Africa at MultiChoice, emphasised the AMVCA’s commitment to celebrating African storytelling and talent.

25-year-old man allegedly hangs himself in Ogun forest

The police command in Ogun says it has begun an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, who allegedly hanged himself in a forest in Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

Its spokeswoman, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. She explained that the deceased body was found at the scene of the incident at about 4:30 p.m.

She said the incident was reported at the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Headquarters by a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, who discovered the deceased body while on a hunting expedition.

Ms Odutola disclosed that after making the discovery, Oluwalose sought help from a nearby village, where he met Joseph Dominic, the deceased’s elder brother.

She stated that the elder brother revealed that his brother had left for the farm earlier that morning but failed to return, prompting a search by family members, which was fruitless.

“Policemen and villagers, on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.

“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident.

“The police have documented the scene with photographic evidence, and the body has been transferred to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination,” she said.

NAHCON approves Max Air for 2025 Hajj

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has approved Max Air to transport intending pilgrims from Jigawa for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The director-general of the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ahmed Labbo, announced this in a statement on Thursday.

“NAHCON has officially appointed Max Air as the designated airline for airlifting Jigawa State pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj,” Mr Labbo stated.

He explained that the decision followed a management meeting and the signing an agreement with airlines at NAHCON headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Labbo expressed satisfaction with NAHCON’s extensive preparations and assured that all necessary arrangements had been made for a smooth journey for the pilgrims.

He added that the travelling bags and uniforms for the state’s intending pilgrims are ready for collection.

Mr further reassured the intending pilgrims of a seamless experience at home and abroad.

According to him, selecting Max Air as an air carrier for the 2025 Hajj reflects NAHCON’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and comfort for all pilgrims.

Mr Labbo also commended Governor Umar Namadi for his continued support and leadership, making the board’s operations transformative and successful.

Police recover headless body of boy and also discover bride with slit throat in Jigawa

The police command in Jigawa says its operatives have begun an investigation into the circumstances around the headless corpse of a teenager found on the side of the road in Jikas-Dabaja village of Gwaram LGA.

SP Lawan Shiisu, the command’s spokesperson, said this in a statement.

Mr Shiisu said the teenager’s corpse was found at about 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

“On Wednesday at about 2200hrs, the Divisional Police Headquarters Gwaram informed us about a corpse in Jikas-Dabaja village, Gwaram LGA.

“A team of policemen rushed to the scene and on arrival, they discovered a headless corpse. The corpse also had his private parts removed.

“The corpse was later identified as that of a 14-year-old Almajiri, who went missing two (sic) earlier,” Mr Shiisu said.

He explained that the victim’s relatives were contacted after being certified dead by a medical doctor on call.

”The remains were released to them for burial. Investigations are ongoing with a view to apprehending the perpetrators,” he said.

In another development, Mr Shiisu said the police were also investigating the death of a 22-year-old bride in Hadejia LGA.

Mr Shiisu said the deceased, identified as Zainab Ibrahim, was found dead with her throat slit five weeks after her wedding.

He added that the victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Hadejia, where a doctor pronounced her dead.

The police spokesman said the investigation has since begun, and efforts were being made to apprehend the crime’s perpetrators.

Fubara writes Rivers Assembly, plans budget presentation Wednesday

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has again written to the State House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his intention to re-present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval.

The governor, in a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said he intends to prevent the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit.

Fubara said his decision is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget.

He recalled the bitter experience of visiting the Assembly Quarters with his entourage, where the lawmakers were temporarily sitting to present the budget, but he was denied access to the complex.

The letter read, “You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March 2025, for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“As you know, the planned presentation of the said budget could not take place because my entourage and I were locked out at the gate and denied entry into the premises despite the prior delivery of a soft copy of the notice to you following the failure of the Clerk to accept the hard copy from us.

“Recall further that before this unfortunate incident, the House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even when we were yet to be served with the certified true copy of the judgment and accompanying enrolled orders.

“Therefore, we were simply complying with both the order of the Supreme Court and the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly when we came to present the 2025 budget on the 12th of March, 2025.

“The Supreme Court has directed that all arms of government should exercise their powers and perform their duties within the ambits of the Constitution and ordinary laws of our country, and this we must do to end the lingering stalemate and advance the progress of our state and the well-being of our people.

“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the state and our people should take priority over political conflicts.

“Against this background, it is my pleasure to again notify you, Mr. Speaker, of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 19th March 2025, by 11.00 a.m. or any other date within March 2025 that you may consider convenient.

“Thank you for the kind consideration of my request by the House, and please accept, Mr. Speaker, the assurance of my highest regards.”

Senate pass bill granting traditional rulers constitutional roles for second reading

The Senate on Thursday approved for second reading the bill to establish the National Council for Traditional Rulers, aimed at formally giving monarchs and community heads vital roles in the country.

The bill was sponsored by the Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Lalong.

When the bill was first introduced, it sparked extensive debate among lawmakers, with concerns raised about potential conflicts between the responsibilities of traditional rulers and elected officials at the Local Government level.

But Lalong, a former Plateau governor argued that today’s traditional rulers are well-educated and can provide valuable counsel on issues such as insecurity and other national matters, which could assist the government in addressing the needs of the citizens.

The erstwhile director-general of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign Council also asserted that they would be useful in the areas of security and conflict resolution in local communities.

He said, “When there are crises and killings, the first thing people say is ‘let’s hold the traditional ruler responsible.’ It is true in their communities, they know everybody, including the criminals. But we expect them to be the ones running up and down.

“We need to charge them with responsibilities where they will be committed. But for now, you can’t hold them responsible. As the director-general of the campaign for Asiwaju and Kashim, we went around having some meetings with these traditional rulers.

“Every time we want them to participate, they ask to be given a role. So, it was also part of our (electioneering) campaign. So, I don’t see how we can jettison that when we are struggling for a constitutional amendment with respect to security. If we don’t have security, every other thing we are doing is rubbish.”

Despite his assurance, some senators still expressed concerns about the possibility of overlapping duties and emphasized the need for the bill to clearly delineate the roles of traditional rulers and government officials to avoid confusion.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the importance of clearly defining the functions of traditional rulers within the bill.

He also suggested holding a public hearing to gather input before the bill proceeds to a third reading.

Akpabio acknowledged the value traditional rulers could bring in providing counsel on a wide range of issues that could benefit the government.

The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment, with a mandate to report back within four weeks

Spain court remands ex-UN official wanted by US for fraud

A Spanish court has ordered a former top UN official wanted on suspicion of fraud which cost the agency millions of dollars to be remanded in custody, according to a ruling made public Thursday.

An internal UN court ruled last year that Vitaly Vanshelboim, a Ukrainian, secretly collected $3.0 million in gifts, including a new Mercedes, from a British businessman while he invested more than $58 million of the body’s money in the man’s companies.

At the time he was the deputy head of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), a little-known agency that acts as a kind of general contractor for other arms of the organisation.

Vanshelboim was put on leave in 2021 while the UN investigated the allegations and was sacked in early 2023. He moved to Spain three years ago.

A New York court in January issued an international arrest warrant for Vanshelboim for alleged bribery, money laundering and electronic fraud.

Spain’s top criminal court on Wednesday ordered he be remanded in custody because he poses a flight risk, according to a ruling made public on Thursday.

While Vanshelboim has family and economic ties in Spain, “such ties cannot be considered sufficiently strong to counter the aforementioned risk, given that he has only been living here for three years,” the court said.

The UN has said it lost the bulk of the more than $58 million in UNOPS funds which Vanshelboim entrusted to the British businessman.

The scandal led to an overhaul of the agency and embarrassed the UN.

Many prison inmates facing death from hunger-Panel

Many inmates in custodial centres are reportedly facing death from hunger due to poor feeding and rampant food racketeering.

This was made known on Thursday in Abuja by the Secretary of the Independent Investigative Panel, Dr Uju Agomoh, on alleged corruption and other violations against the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) while briefing the media.

Ms Agomoh spoke to journalists at the ongoing second public hearing to address the alleged corruption, abuse of power and degrading treatment of detainees against NCoS on Thursday in Abuja.

She said, “During our inspection visit as a panel, in February 2024, there was no food up to the approved weekly standards by the service. The stock they are supposed to have for at least seven days, as is the practice, is not being implemented. This is about being open to knowing where the problem is because many inmates are dying due to lack of food. I have personally been going to correctional centres for more than 30 years, but I have never seen what we see these days. There have always been problems, but it has never been the way it is now.’’

Ms Agomoh, who doubled as the Founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Actions (PRAWA), emphasised that transparency was crucial for the investigative panel’s goal of enhancing efficiency within the NCoS.

She, however, warned that starving inmates posed a danger, as hunger could fuel aggression.

She added that the panel’s investigation revealed that officers in-charge of facilities were responsible for supplying food, but prioritised profits over performing their duties.

She noted, “First, the quantity that is provided is small. Second, this drive for profit-making worsens the process. The officers in-charge are one of the checks and balances for the contractors.’’

The panel secretary requested a response from the Nigerian Correctional Service regarding the implementation of Section 14, Subsection 4 of the NCoS Act.

Speaking, the NCoS Acting Comptroller General, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed that a ‘Prison Ration Committee’ had been established to monitor the quality and quantity of food served to inmates.

Mr Nwakuche, represented by Assistant Controller General (ACG), Ibrahim Idris, assured that the service regularly conducted routine checks and maintained a constant presence on duty.

A member of the panel, Dr Ikechukwu Ezeugo, observed that only a few of the correctional service’s over 12 farm centres were operational.

Mr Ezeugo further observed that food produced by inmates in the farm centres was not utilised to feed them, but rather sold to food contractors, who then resale or resupply the produce to the farm centres and other custodial facilities.

He said, “The panel also discovered that inmates at the farm centres were unfit for labour, including those with health conditions like sickle cell anaemia, as well as underage detainees.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had in September 2024 inaugurated the panel to probe allegations of corruption and gross abuse of office levelled against some personnel of the NCoS.

Mr Tunji-Ojo, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board, suspended several officers overseeing the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres in Kirikiri, Lagos State.

Nigerians constitute 90% of Christians killed worldwide annually- U.S. Congress

The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa Chairman, Chris Smith, has cleared the U.S. President Donald Trump to impose harsh sanctions on Nigeria over the killing of Christians in the West African country.

The House Subcommittee reached the resolution following a Wednesday hearing regarding the prosecution of Christians in the West African nation, noting that the wanton violence against Christians in Nigeria had significantly worsened in recent years.

“One of our distinguished witnesses today—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria— travelled a long distance to be with us today and will testify, and this is from his testimony. Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists,” Mr Smith said during the hearing on Wednesday.

He said, “They steal and vandalise, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from the elected officials. None of them have been arrested and brought to justice.”

The subcommittee noted that Nigerians constituted 90 per cent of Christians killed worldwide annually, citing a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa showing out of the 55,910 people killed between October 2019 and September 2023, 21,000 of them were abducted in the context of terror groups.

“Make no mistake, all of these attacks are based on religion, like I said, and diverting attention from it denies what we have seen with our own eyes. This “religious cleansing” needs to stop, and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” the report noted.

The subcommittee blamed the Nigerian government for not doing enough to protect protest Christians from persecution even though freedom of religion is enshrined in the country’s constitution while decrying instances where Nigerian court system has been weaponised to punish Christian population.

“Yet, the Government of Nigeria has failed to make progress against religiously motivated persecution of Christians despite religious freedom being enshrined as an essential human right in its Constitution,” the subcommittee noted in their report.

It added, “Likewise, Nigerian legal framework supports pluralism at both federal and state levels but glaring contradictions exist, especially with laws that criminalise blasphemy—some even carrying the death penalty.”

Mr Smith blamed the previous Joe Biden administration for removing Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation, which was placed on the country under first Donald Trump term at the White House despite U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s recommendations for four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024 to redesignate the country.

He recommended that Mr Trump should do more to help Christians in Nigeria, including placing the country on CPC designate on Nigeria and urged him to reach out to his Nigerian counterpart Bola Tinubu on the matter.

Mr Smith also asked the Trump administration and the U.S. Senate to be ready to work together to impose sanctions if the killing of Christians doesn’t stop.

“While I strongly believe that President Trump will again designate Nigeria a CPC—and do much more to assist the persecuted church including outreach to Nigerian President Tinubu —last night I reintroduced the resolution. I hope that we will have a robust discussion and that it will get marked up,” Mr Smith said.

He added, “Let me also say that, and I’ll put the rest of my statement into the record, this hearing we’re hoping will be a catalyst for action by our own government and also by Congress and of course , above all, the Executive Branch. The new president has a lot to do and I think he’ll do this and then, if necessary, impose sanctions. Where that has happened, there has been change. Where it doesn’t happen, the status quo, the killing fields continue.”

Police exhume corpse of murdered LASU graduate

The police command in Lagos State on Wednesday exhumed the body of a 28-year-old graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), Adedamola Ogunbode.

The corpse was buried in a shallow grave behind the LASU fence in its Ojo Campus.

The deceased, a political science education graduate, had been missing since January 16.

The police earlier announced the arrest of four suspects and a search for four others allegedly linked to the murder of the 2024 graduate.

The suspects were alleged to have transferred the money in the deceased’s bank account and shared among themselves.

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who was at the site of the exhumation, said that one of the suspects led the police to the site.

He said, “January 16 was when all this started after a report was received by the Ojo Police Division that the young man went missing. After the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, assumed duty on February 18, he gave orders to the State Criminal investigation Department to investigate the case. That was when the case was upgraded from that of a missing person to a case of suspected murder. This led to arrest of one of the principal suspects who did not only confess to killing the young man, but also led us here, where the victim was buried.’’

Mr Hundeyin said that the police would apprehend the remaining suspects and wrap up the investigation.

He said, “Now that we have seen the body, the investigation is gradually coming to an end. We will intensify efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects.’’

The spokesperson assured Lagos residents that justice would be served in the case.

“The suspects will definitely be prosecuted to ensure that justice is served. We use this opportunity to commiserate with the family of the deceased. We also thank the Lagos State Government for its immense support in every area of crime fighting within the state.” ‘

Mr Hundeyin told journalists on Monday that the police had sealed a church where one of the arrested persons worshipped, following intelligence report of a planned arson in retaliation.

He stated, “The church was sealed following intelligence reports that some people planned to burn it out of vengeance, and we do not want that to happen.’’

Those present at the site included police personnel, health workers, local government officials, LASU students, lecturers, and Ojo residents.

LASEMA confirms two deaths, six injuries in Otedola bridge tanker explosion

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that two persons died and six others sustained injuries in the gas tanker explosion that occurred under the Otedola Bridge on Tuesday night.

It also confirmed that 12 vehicles, eight tricycles and a building were destroyed by the incident which happened around 8pm on Tuesday.

A 30 tonnes DAF truck without registration number, laden with Automated Gas Oil (AGO) fell on its side while negotiating a bend inward Omole.

As soon as it fell, an explosion followed with fire balls spiralling into a nearby Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a bungalow and a mechanic village.

Giving update on the incident Wednesday morning, the Permanent Secretary (PS) LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said the deceased were both male adults.

He said three of the six injured persons suffered severe burns and were moved to the hospital while the other three received immediate medical attention.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “At 20:14pm, LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team arrived to find a 30 ton DAF gas tanker overturned and engulfed in flames, spreading fire to nearby vehicles and houses.

“Safety precautions were implemented. Fire containment measures were established to prevent further spread. Search and rescue operations continued.

“The fire was put out at 10:02pm on Tuesday. The fatality has been handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), while victims were receiving medical treatment.

“LASEMA Response Team (LRT), LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Unit, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were agencies that participated in the operation,” he said.

Mamman Giwa assumes duty as 29th police commissioner in Enugu

Mamman Giwa has assumed duty as the 29th police commissioner of the Enugu command.

Mr Giwa, who succeeded the former Commissioner, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, who was recently promoted to assistant inspector general of police and redeployed, resumed duty on Tuesday.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Giwa, on resumption of duty in Enugu, sought the cooperation of residents to help the police achieve its mandate of securing lives and property.

He pledged commitment to implementing a professional, proactive, and people-friendly policing strategy.

Jos resident sentenced to prison for stealing neighbour’s foodstuff

On Wednesday, a Jos Magistrates’ Court sentenced a 23-year-old trader, Joseph Peter, to nine months imprisonment for stealing foodstuff and a gas cooker from his neighbour’s house.

Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos sentenced Peter after pleading guilty to breaking, entering, and theft.

The judge gave the convict an option to pay N20,000 as a fine.

She also ordered the convict to pay N130,000 as compensation to the complainant.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Ijuptil Thiawur, told the court that the case was reported at the Anglo-Jos Police Station on January 11 by Ngumut Jacob, the complainant.

Thiawur said the convict also stole clothes, a laptop and a phone.

One dead, four injured at Lagos gas tanker explosion

A gas tanker explosion at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, has claimed the life of one person, with four others sustaining injury, while 14 vehicles were destroyed.

Ibrahim Farinloye, the coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in Lagos, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday night.

Mr Farinloye added that the explosion occurred around 8:30 p.m. at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, affected a storey building and damaged four shops.

He said the incident occurred when a fully loaded gas tanker fell while trying to access the expressway from Otedola Estate road.

Iran condemns train hijack in Pakistan

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has condemned a terrorist attack on a passenger train and the subsequent hostage-taking in Pakistan.

Mr Baghaei extended his sympathies to the government and people of Pakistan.

He reaffirmed Iran’s stance against all forms of terrorism, saying that Iran is ready to assist Pakistan in bringing terrorism to an end.

Militants launched the attack in the Kacchi district of Balochistan province.

The attack targeted the Jaffar Express train, which was carrying over 450 passengers from southwest Quetta city to northwest Peshawar.

A banned terrorist outfit, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the attack via social media.

Gunmen hijack train conveying 450 passengers; Pakistani forces rescue 155

Pakistani security forces have freed 155 passengers from a hijacked train as the operation to rescue the remaining hostages continues in the south-western province of Balochistan, officials said on Wednesday.

The train, which was carrying around 450 passengers, including army personnel and their families, was targeted by more than 100 gunmen from the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday afternoon.

“A full-scale military operation is underway in which 27 terrorists have been killed,” security sources said.

“Militants were using the passengers as shields and they have placed suicide bombers wearing explosive vests dangerously close to the hostages,” said a security official, who is not authorised to speak on the record.

Pakistani elite commandos, backed by air power, have launched a massive operation after the train was hijacked in the remote Sibi district.

Local media reported that at least 10 people, including the train driver, were killed in the gun battle.

The total number of casualties among soldiers, passengers and militants remains unclear after several hours of clashes.

The BLA, which has previously targeted trains and buses carrying security personnel, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group demanded a prisoner exchange and threatened to kill hostages if the operation continued.

Violence in Balochistan has surged as China and Pakistan advance the second phase of a major infrastructure project linking Chinese cities to the Arabian Sea.

The BLA and local political groups accuse both governments of exploiting the region’s resources through coercive policies.

EFCC publishes list of scam companies, warns Nigerians about Ponzi schemes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has issued a public alert regarding the activities of 58 companies allegedly operating illegal Ponzi schemes under the guise of investment opportunities.

The anti-graft agency said the companies were neither registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria nor the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EFCC said it had taken legal action against many of the entities, leading to the conviction of five, while another five have pleaded guilty and are awaiting further judicial processes.

The companies are Wales Kingdom Capital, Bethseida Group of Companies, AQM Capital Ltd, Titan Multibusiness Investment Ltd, Brickwall Global Investment Ltd, Farmforte Ltd & Agro Partnership Tech, Green Eagles Agricbusiness Solution Ltd, Richfield Multiconcepts Ltd, Forte Asset Management Ltd, Biss Networks Nigeria Ltd, S Mobile Netzone Ltd.; Pristine Mobile Network, and Letsfarm Integrated Services.

Others are Bara Finance & Investment Ltd, Vicampro Farms Ltd, Brooks Network Ltd, Gas Station Supply Services Ltd, Brass & Books Ltd, Annexation Biz Concept & Maitanbuwal Global Venturescrowdyvest Ltd, and Crowdyvest Ltd.

Also listed are Jadek Agro Connect Ltd, Adeeva Capital Ltd, Oxford International Group and Oxford Gold Integrated, Skapomah Global Ltd, MBA Trading & Capital Investment Ltd, TRJ Company Ltd, Farm4Me Agriculture Ltd, Quintessential Investment Company, deprinz Global Enterprises, Rockstar Establishment Ltd, S.U. Global Investment, Citi Trust Funding PLC, Farm Buddy, Eatrich 369 Farms & Food, and Globertrot Farmsponsors Nig. Ltd.

Farm Sponsors Ltd, Cititrust Credit Ltd, Farmfunded Agroservices Ltd, Adamakin Investment & Works Ltd, Cititrust Holding PLC, Green Eagles Agribusiness Solutions Ltd, Chinmark Homes & Shelters Ltd, Emerald Farms & Consultant Ltd, Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage Ltd, Farm 360 & Agriculture Company, Requid Technologies Ltd, West Agro Agriculture & Food Processing Ltd, NISL Ventures Ltd & Estate of Laolu Martins, XY Connect Investment Ltd, River Branch Unique Investment Ltd, Hallmark Capital Ltd, CJC Markets Ltd, Crowd One Investment, and Farmkart Foods Ltd were also listed.

Other alleged scam companies on the EFCC alert are KD Likemind Stakeholders Ltd, Holibiz Finance Ltd, Ifeanyi Okpe Oil & Gas Services, Servapps Nigeria Ltd, Barrick Gold Mining Company and 360 Agric Partners Ltd.

The anti-graft agency assured the public of its continued vigilance in monitoring financial activities across the nation.

It advised Nigerians to exercise caution when investing and verify the legitimacy of investment firms through appropriate regulatory agencies before engaging in any financial transactions.