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.

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development board of directors has approved a total of €230 million and $10 million to finance projects to stimulate development and boost economic activities in West Africa.

A statement by the bank on Tuesday said the financing package was granted during the 91st ordinary board meeting, held under the chairmanship of George Donkor, president of the board of Directors of EBID.

The statement said the facilities would give a $50 million line of credit to Sterling Bank in Nigeria to support small and medium enterprises operating in various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, renewable energy, and transport.

A €10 million facility will be given to Benin Cashew SA to co-finance the construction of five cashew nut processing units and a cashew balsam production unit in the Glo Djigbe industrial zone in the Republic of Benin.

This project is estimated to cover 50 per cent of national cashew production needs while creating 1,666 permanent and daily jobs within the framework of Benin’s Strategic Plan for the Development of the Agricultural Sector.

Additionally, a $180 million line of credit will go to Mota-Engil, Nigeria, to co-finance the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail project, linking northern Nigeria to the Niger Republic.

The project will strengthen regional integration, facilitate cross-border trade, and create over 100,000 jobs during construction and 20,000 permanent jobs once operational.

According to it, the newly approved commitments align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9 – industry, innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 13 – Climate Action.

It added that the commitment also aligned with EBID’s strategy to develop priority sectors.

With this investment, EBID’s total commitments in the sub-region amount to $4.5 billion.

Migrants who obtained temporary permission to live in the United States through the CBP One app under former president Joe Biden have received orders to self-deport “immediately,” US media reported Tuesday.

A US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told AFP that “formal termination notices” had been issued to certain “illegal aliens,” but did not provide details on how they were selected.

“Formal termination notices have been issued, and affected aliens are urged to voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home App,” the senior DHS spokesperson told AFP. “Those who refuse will be found, removed, and permanently barred from reentry.”

Starting in January 2023, the CBP One app allowed migrants to schedule appointments at certain southwestern US ports of entry, and was a central part of the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole strategy.

The latest orders could affect more than 930,000 migrants, National Public Radio reported.

President Donald Trump canceled any further entries via the CBP One app on the first day of his second term. Doing so blocked access to a platform that allowed migrants in Mexico to make appointments with US officials at designated border crossings, where they could apply for temporary residency.

Trump vowed to deport “millions” of undocumented migrants as he was sworn in for his second term, after running an election campaign that focused on illegal immigration.

On the campaign trail, Trump likened migrants to “animals” and “monsters,” claiming they were responsible for violent crime across the country.

“Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security,” the DHS spokesperson said Tuesday.

Those whose parole was cancelled were informed via email that DHS was exercising its discretionary authority under US law to do so.

The latest orders come after the Trump administration terminated the legal status of 532,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants last month, giving them weeks to leave the country.

Rescuers raced to find survivors early Wednesday after the roof of a Dominican Republic nightclub collapsed during a concert by popular singer Rubby Perez, one of nearly 100 people killed in the disaster.

Rescue workers were pressing on with the search effort, which more than 24 hours after the roof caved in began to be limited more to recovering bodies.

Renowned Dominican merengue singer Perez, who was on stage at the popular Jet Set nightclub when the roof collapsed shortly after midnight Tuesday, was one of those killed, according to his manager.

“We are waiting for the children to reach an agreement for the funeral,” Perez’s manager Enrique Paulino told AFP.

About 370 rescue personnel combed mounds of fallen bricks, steel bars and tin sheets for survivors.

Also among the dead was 51-year-old retired Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, who won a World Series in 2011 with the St Louis Cardinals.

He was rescued alive but died of his injuries while being taken to hospital, local media reported.

A black-and-white photo of the player and images of the Dominican flag were projected onto the scoreboard at Citi Field in New York before Tuesday’s game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins.

“Peace to his soul,” the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League wrote on social media.

Local media said there were between 500 and 1,000 people in the club when disaster struck at around 12:44 am (0444 GMT) Tuesday. The club has capacity for 700 people seated and about 1,000 people standing.

Dozens of ambulances ferried the injured to hospital, as scores of people gathered outside the venue desperately seeking news of their loved ones.

Perez was on stage when there was a blackout and the roof came crashing down, according to eyewitness reports.

Perez’s daughter Zulinka told reporters she had managed to escape after the roof collapsed, but he did not.

Also among the dead was the governor of the Monte Cristi municipality, Nelsy Cruz, according to President Luis Abinader.

The president visited the scene and declared three days of national mourning.

The death toll started at 15 and kept rising throughout Tuesday. By early Wednesday, the preliminary toll had reached 98, said Juan Manuel Mendez, director of the Emergency Operations Center.

“As long as there is hope for life, all authorities will be working to recover or rescue these people,” he said earlier.

Senator Theodore Orji, a former governor of Abia state, has denied involvement in an alleged N228.4m fraud linked to Effdee Nigeria Limited, describing it as a deliberate attempt to smear his reputation.

Orji was reacting to reports published across media platforms about a Motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court, Abuja, which was fixed for hearing on May 28.

A statement on Tuesday from Orji’s liaison office claimed that the report was completely false, baseless and malicious, adding that those who authored it failed to conduct proper fact-check.

A glaring inaccuracy, according to the statement, was the claim that Senator Orji served as Governor in 2016 and 2017, whereas his tenure ended in May 2015.

It dismissed as false any associations between Senator Orji and Mr. Uchenna Erondu or Mr. Austin Akuma, stressing that none of the two individuals had any role in his administration.

Senator Orji further denied any knowledge of, or connection to, Effdee Nigeria Limited – the company wrongly linked to him in the report.

“This publication is not only false but also maliciously intended to damage Senator Orji’s hard-earned reputation. He is a man known for his integrity and dedication to public service,” the statement read.

Consequently, Senator Orij demanded a full retraction of the story across all platforms where it was published.

The EFCC is seeking an order for final forfeiture of the N228.4 million allegedly linked to the former Governor in the suit pending before Justice Emeka Nwite.

In a supporting affidavit, the EFCC claimed that the money was a subject of investigation by its operatives, which was found in the possession of a firm, Effdee Nigeria Limited, adding that it was suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The EFCC said: “Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia State Government to wit: conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering and diversion of public funds.

“Effdee Nigeria Ltd, in whose possession the monies were found, is reasonably suspected to have conspired with Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the former governor of Abia State, some officials in the former governor’s administration and his family members.”

It stated that the ex-governor and others were being investigated for the allegations following an intelligence report received by the Commission against Orji.

According to the anti-graft agency, there was the need to preserve the money pending investigation and/or prosecution.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted three days of moderate-heavy rainfall in six States of the country.

The affected States are: Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa Delta and Ogun.

The rainfall is anticipated between Wednesday April 9-11, 2025.

The agency, in its heavy rainfall forecast bulletin on Tuesday, also forecasted light-moderate rainfall in Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Imo, Abia, Ekiti and few others states.

It added that other parts of the country would experience very light or no rain in the next three days.

The agency in the bulletin also hinted that there are prospects of flash floods as a result of the expected moderate-heavy rainfall.

NiMet while noting that strong winds may accompany the rains, advised the public not to drive through surface runoff waters, as they have strong undercurrents.

Other likely hazards according to the agency include; “Slippery road surfaces, reduced visibility during the rain which can disrupt road traffic. Strong winds are a threat to weak structures, trees and mast. Disconnect electrical appliances before and not during the rains”.

One person was hacked and others sustained injuries during rivalry cultist clash in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree on Tuesday.

The Nation learnt the clash involved two cult groups after their two of their members were at loggerheads over love affairs with a lady.

A source on the campus confided allies of one of the two members invaded the campus around noon with weapons including cutlass and assorted charms to attack the other.

“The invasion escalated the disagreement leading to the supporters of the two cult group to attack themselves. One of them named Biggy was hacked on his head to the point that he was unconscious. During the time of clash students who were running for safety were injured,” he stated.

When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity of the school, Mr Fadeji Joseph confirmed the incident.

He said: “It was true we had a crisis in the school earlier in the day. Two rival cult member had disagreement over a girl which led to a free for all among the two rival cult group.”

He confirmed that two persons were injured without any casualty contrary to rumour that one person was killed.

He explained: “One person was attacked with cutlass and was wounded while another lady was wounded while scampering for safety due to the situation. The two victims are at the hospital.

“The situation is now calm, as we have invited the police anti-cult unit and are presently on campus to restore peace and order which is already in place. I am in the campus as I speak with you and I am telling you, the situation is under control”.

A British woman has given birth to a healthy baby girl after having her sister’s womb transplanted into her, becoming UK’s first that could benefit thousands more women, Daily Mail reports.

Grace Davidson, 36, who was reportedly born without a womb, and husband Angus, 37, have described welcoming their girl child, Amy Isabel, into the world on the February 27 as “the greatest gift we could ever have asked for.”

Grace was said to have discovered that she had Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome at the at of 19.

The syndrome is a condition of the reproductive system which means women are born with no womb or an under developed womb.

A team of 20 doctors and nurses were said to be on hand for the caesarean section birth at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London, in case of complications, but Amy was born healthy weighing 2.06kg (4.5 pounds) and needed no specialist care.

Amy’s entrance into the world, on February 27, came three weeks earlier than planned as Grace’s cervix started to shorten – a possible sign that labour was imminent.

Her medical team decided to proceed with an ‘abundance of caution’, as they wanted to reduce strain on the transplanted womb with a caesarean delivery before Grace went into labour.

Grace, a dietitian from north London, described holding her baby for the first time as “beyond amazing.”

“It was without any doubt, the best day of our lives. Full of joy, so much happiness and tears. I had longed to be a mum for so long,” she told the Daily Mail.

The baby was named in honour of Grace’s sister Amy Purdie, 42, a mother of two who donated her womb to her sister in February 2023.

Amy was said to have endured eight hours of surgery and weeks of recovery to donate her womb but described giving the couple the chance to have a baby as “a huge privilege” despite not liking “hospitals needles or blood.”

The baby’s middle name honours Isabel Quiroga, a consultant from the transplantation and endocrine surgery at The Churchill Hospital, Oxford who co-led the marathon 17-hour surgery to extract and implant the donated womb.

Miss Quiroga, who was present at the delivery, reportedly broke down in tears in the operating theatre when the couple told her of their name plan.

The report added that Professor Richard Smith, a consultant gynaecological surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, who co-led the operation with Miss Quiroga said the birth “offered new hope for thousands of women in the UK who would otherwise never have the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.”

It was also revealed that the team has now carried out three more womb transplants on women over the past two years this time using wombs donated by deceased donors – another UK first.

“They are all well, menstruating monthly and we are hoping for some pregnancies very soon,” Professor Smith told the Mail.

The couple hope to try or one more child as the womb will e removed within five years so that Grace can stop taking immunosuppressant medication, which can raise the risk of cancer.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, awarded the sum of N100m in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care which led to the death of a student.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgement in the suit brought before the court by the complainant, Mr. Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, who sued the school for negligence that resulted in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie, after awarding the cost, ordered a 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.

He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.

In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie, who fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption in the school, led to her untimely death.

Kamzie was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 and became severely ill by October 2, and died a few days later.

Justice Oriji, while pronouncing the decision of the court, held that the evidence presented clearly showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately to Kamzie’s medical needs.

“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school.

“There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.

Oriji, however, acknowledged the fact that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident.

He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.

While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures in Kamzie’s name in her honour, Oriji noted that the improvement in the school’s sickbay was sufficient to show that the school is making amends for its mistake.

“The court is of the opinion that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family.

“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has said his decision to impose an increased 14 per cent tariff on Nigeria’s exports to the United States stemmed from the country’s import restrictions on 25 American product categories, creating trade barriers between the two countries.

Mr Trump had last week announced ‘Liberation Day’ retaliatory tariffs on almost all countries, including a 14 per cent tariff on Nigeria. The Trump administration claimed that Nigeria maintains an average 27 per cent tariff against the U.S., which the politician tagged as ‘unfair dealing’.

In a fact sheet published on Monday by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as part of Mr Trump’s talking points on the controversial tariff policy, the Trump administration justified the newly imposed tariffs on Nigeria by pointing to a policy that prohibits the export of some products, including food and pharmaceutical goods, from the U.S. to Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts U.S. exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods. Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit U.S. market access and reduce export opportunities,” USTR explained.

The USTR added, “These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for U.S. businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market.”

Mr Trump’s decision to impose tariffs targeting the majority of countries around the world has thrown the global economy into turmoil, with stock markets in the United States, China, the United Kingdom, India, and dozens of other nations recording significant falls on Monday.

The top 500 billionaires in the world lost a combined $208 billion in less than 24 hours following Mr Trump’s announcement, marking the fourth-largest one-day decline in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index’s 13-year history—and the largest since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, China and Canada have announced their own retaliatory measures against the U.S., with the former imposing a matching 34 per cent tariff on American products, as well as restrictions on the export of seven rare earth elements, pharmaceutical products, and food items to the United States.

Sirajo Jaja, Bauchi’s accountant-general, was, on Monday, arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, over allegations bordering on money laundering.

Mr Jaja was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

He was arraigned alongside Aliyu Abubakar, a bureau de change operator and his company.

After the counts were read to them, they pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2025.

The defence lawyer, Chris Uche, informed the court of a motion filed concerning his client’s bail. He prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Mr Uche, in his application for bail, argued that the charges against Mr Jaja allegedly arose from the federal government’s determination to intimidate Governor Bala Mohammed to drop his political ambition for 2027.

The lawyer said the offence with which they were being charged was a bailable one. He said the defendants were not being accused of any capital offence or acts of terrorism that would have warranted their continued detention.

He assured the court that the accountant-general had reasonable sureties to stand for him and produce him whenever required by the court.

However, the EFCC’s lawyer, Abba Muhammed, opposed Mr Uche’s application.

Mr Muhammed, who said the commission filed a counter affidavit to the bail applications, said Mr Abubakar (first defendant) had earlier jumped administrative bail.

He said the accountant-general was equally granted administrative bail but failed to meet the bail conditions. He urged the court to ignore their plea.

In his ruling, the judge held that bail is a constitutional right which must be exercised by the court judicially and judiciously. He subsequently granted bail of N200 million each, with two sureties also posting the same bail.

The judge said the sureties must be residents in Abuja, and one of the sureties must hold the position of a director with a federal government agency.

The judge directed the defendants to deposit their passports with the court and must get the permission of the court whenever they needed to travel out of the country.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered Mr Jaja to be released to the attorney general and commissioner of Bauchi pending the perfection of his bail within a given time.

The judge, however, ordered that if they failed to perfect their bail conditions within the period, they should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

He adjourned the matter until June 17 for the commencement of the trial.

Mr Abubajar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, and Mr Jaja were listed as the first to third defendants.

The EFCC alleged that Mr Abubakar, Jasfad Resources Enterprise, Ibrahim Kashim (former secretary to the Bauchi government, now at large), Danjuma Garba (at large), Kabiru Yahaya (at large), Saleh U. Mohammed (at large), and Balarabe Abdullahi (at large) between July 10, 2024 and November 25, 2024 allegedly transferred and converted N1,805,435,053.75 of public funds belonging to the Bauchi government.

It alleged that the fund was transferred from Bauchi’s expenditure account domiciled in Polaris Bank into the bank accounts of Jasfad Resources Enterprise.

The offence is contrary to and punishable under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended several types of visas for citizens of Nigeria and 13 other countries, as part of measures to curb unauthorized pilgrimages ahead of the annual Hajj.

The affected countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.

According to Saudi authorities, the suspension aims to prevent unregistered individuals from attempting the pilgrimage without official permits, which poses safety and logistical challenges.

While Umrah visa holders will still be allowed entry until April 13, the broader visa suspension is expected to remain in place until mid-June, when Hajj concludes.

Under Saudi Arabia’s quota system, each country is allocated a limited number of Hajj permits, typically distributed via a lottery. However, due to the high cost of official packages, many resort to unauthorized travel arrangements.

Such unregistered pilgrims often lack access to essential amenities such as air-conditioned tents, healthcare services, and emergency medical care—making the physically demanding journey even riskier.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the visa restrictions are intended to streamline travel procedures and enhance safety during the Hajj.

It also warned that individuals found residing illegally in the Kingdom could face a five-year entry ban.

During the 2024 Hajj season, at least 1,301 pilgrims died – most from heat-related causes. The majority of the deceased did not hold official Hajj permits.

Saudi officials reported that around 400,000 unregistered pilgrims participated in the pilgrimage, with a significant number coming from Egypt.

In recent years, many pilgrims have overstayed their visas to join Hajj without official permits, contributing to overcrowding and raising safety concerns.

Authorities also cited concerns over individuals entering the country on business or family visas and then working illegally, a violation that disrupts the labour market and breaches visa conditions.

A mysterious thunder on Sunday struck the Ori-Ohin community in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing no fewer than eight cows.

A video of the fresh incident was released on social media on Monday, with the people and leaders of the agrarian community suggesting that the disaster was due to the desecration of sacred farmland by the Fulani herders.

Peoples Gazette gathered that the farmland in the Ori-hin community was ceded to some Ebira-speaking indigenes from Kogi State for farming, but the farmers had not been enjoying their produce following constant destruction from cows.

A resident of the community, Joshua Ogunmola, confirmed the incident and said the herders had been flouting the open grazing laws by leaving their cows to graze on farmlands and destroying crops.

Mr Ogunmola said the farmers, angered by the activities of the herders after reporting to the security agencies with less attention, decided to go spiritual to scare the herders away from their farm.

“The cows had earlier destroyed farmland in the community, and it appeared the sacrifice made by the owners of the farmlands caused the thunder to strike,” he told The Gazette in a chat.

A spokesperson for the traditional ruler in the community, who spoke in confidence, said the mysterious incident occurred because the herders trespassed into the farmlands of the Ebira farmers.

He stressed that the herders had repeatedly been warned to stay off farmlands despite the government prohibiting open grazing and livestock movement.

“We woke up this morning only to be told that thunder or lightning killed eight cows in Ori-Ohin. The news filtered in when we were about to pray. It’s unfortunate, but these people keep flouting the state livestock rearing and grazing regulation and ranches establishment law 2021,” he said.

A police spokesperson in the state, Alayande Olushola Adeyinka, when contacted, confirmed the incident, describing it as a “natural phenomenon.”

“I can confirm that eight cows were killed by a thunder strike yesterday (Sunday) in the community. It’s a natural phenomenon, and we can’t hold anyone responsible for that act,” Mr Adeyinka told The Gazette.

He, however, said the police had deployed security operations to the community in the past few weeks following complaints over the activities of herders and bandits.

“So, we did not foresee any possible breakdown of law and order. Our men have been in the town for two weeks, carrying out soft operations to avoid any security breaches and clashes,” the police spokesperson said.

A similar incident occurred in 2019 at the ‘sacred’ Oke-Owa hill in Ijare, Ifedore Local Government Area, where 36 cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen were struck dead by lightning.

The villagers where the past incident occurred had linked it to the “anger of the gods” in the local community.

Another incident occurred a month later at Oyinmo quarters in Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State, where a mysterious thunder also killed eight cows on a mountain.

The cattle owned by some Fulani herdsmen were struck dead while grazing on top of the mountain. The herders immediately fled the scene after the incident.

The Police in Lagos State have detained a man for allegedly beating his 27-year-old daughter to death.

The spokesman of the command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

He said that the incident happened on March 26 at Ojo area of the state.

“On April 3, at 8:00 a.m, a distress call was received at Okokomaiko Division concerning the crime that was committed on March 26.

“The suspect after beating his daughter to death, also buried her in a shallow grave within his compound,” he said.

Hundeyin said that the police had stormed the scene and apprehended the suspect.

“Following the report, a team comprising homicide and scene of crime detectives visited the address.

“The shallow grave was located, and the corpse was exhumed, photographed, and taken to a public morgue for autopsy,” he said.

According to Hundeyin, the suspect is currently in police custody.

Four popular Nigerian gospel ministers, including Evangelist Ayodeji David, popularly known as Kekere Jesu, lost their lives in a fatal motor accident along the Ikorodu–Sagamu Road in Ogun State.

The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Ogun State Commander and Public Information Officer, Florence Okupe on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Evangelist Ayodeji Kekerejesu, Evangelist Iyanu Joseph, Monjolajesu Oluwapamilerin, and Opeyemi Adesina.

According to the FRSC, the crash occurred when the vehicle conveying the gospel singers collided with another, resulting in a high-impact accident that killed all four occupants instantly.

The accident reportedly involved multiple vehicles and claimed over 24 lives in total.

Preliminary investigations attribute the crash to overspeeding and poor visibility on the highway.

Evangelist Kekere Jesu was known for his dynamic street evangelism, passionate preaching, and strong presence on social media.

He was reportedly en route to a ministry assignment at the time of the incident.

Following the announcement of his death, tributes have poured in on social media from followers, church members, and colleagues, many of whom described him as a dedicated servant of God with a deep passion for reaching the youth and rural communities with the gospel.

The founder of Christ Apostolic Church, Grace of Mercy Prayer Mountain International Ministry, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, in a statement on his Facebook page on Sunday, said, “UNQUESTIONABLE GOD!! Hmmmmnnn…..This is indeed a Rude Shock today. But Who are we to question God.. For His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are Higher than our ways…

“Rest in Peace my beloved brother @ Evangelist Ayodeji David’s [ Kekere Jesu].”

Another Facebook user, Kenny John wrote, “Condolence Message: The accident that occurred on Saturday, April 5th, along the Shagamu–Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of 22 people. Out of those, four were personally known to me: Prophet Ayodeji, also known as Kekere Jesu, Evangelist Iyanu Joseph, Prophet Ayodeji Kekere Jesu’s fiancée, The wife of Prophet Ayodeji Kekere Jesu’s elder brother.

“It still feels like a dream. May their souls rest in perfect peace.

“Lord, we bring before You the souls of these beloved ones who have departed so suddenly. We ask for Your mercy and grace to receive them into Your eternal rest. Comfort every heart that mourns, and strengthen the families they left behind. May their memories bring light and hope, even in this season of sorrow in Jesus’ name.

The death toll from the earthquake in Myanmar has reached 3,600, the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday, citing the Myanmar authorities.

The earthquake also left 5,017 people injured and 160 missing, the report said.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, and tremors were felt in Bangladesh, India, Laos, China, and Thailand.

The quake damaged underground oil pipelines; local authorities said the next day that power lines had also been cut, and oil tankers were arriving on the country’s shores to ease fuel shortages.

Several countries, including Russia and Belarus, have been assisting Myanmar with relief efforts, including sending rescue teams.