Author: Opalim Lifted

The United States has deported more than 25,000 migrants to countries with which they have no known ties under secretive agreements involving 35 nations, according to an investigation published Monday. The investigation by Forbidden Stories, conducted with a consortium of international journalists, found that at least 25,447 people had been deported to third countries by August 31, 2026. The deportations have taken place since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, as Washington reached agreements with developing countries to receive migrants who cannot legally be returned to their countries of origin. According to the investigation, the US has…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded its suspended Niger State Commandant, Commandant Suberu Aniviye, alongside 23 other personnel being investigated over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody. The personnel were paraded at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, on Sunday, September 20, during a briefing by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi. According to the NSCDC, the number of personnel in custody has risen from the initial 21 to 24 after three additional officers were identified and suspended in connection with the incident. How the 37…

Illegal miners in Niger state have returned to the mining sites after 37 died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The miners, including teenagers, women and adults, said they had little or no alternative source of income and could not afford to abandon mining. On Saturday, miners were seen digging for gold with shovels, picks and other hand tools. Some scooped loose soil into sacks and pans, while others used a nearby stream to separate excavated material. Freshly dug earth and muddy soil were scattered across the mining area. The return followed NSCDC operations…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has recounted how his wife, Unoma, regained consciousness after spending six months in a coma at a hospital in Germany. Akpabio said his wife had undergone an operation that went wrong and was placed on life support in the German hospital. According to him, doctors considered her condition extremely critical, with her being “98 per cent dead”. Akpabio shared the account during a visit to the Prayer Ground of St Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, where he said he had gone to give thanks and pray for Nigeria. Akpabio recalls wife’s six-month coma The…

The Presidency has dismissed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), saying the decision will not diminish Nigeria’s role on the international stage. The Presidency announced on Sunday that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of UNGA in New York. The decision has drawn criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who questioned why Tinubu would miss the gathering for a third consecutive year. Aide defends Tinubu’s absence Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation from President Bola Tinubu over his third consecutive absence from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), questioning whether the President’s past legal history in the United States has affected Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement. The Presidency announced on Sunday that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of UNGA in New York. Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, noted that Tinubu was also absent from the 79th UNGA in 2024 and the 80th session in 2025, with Shettima representing Nigeria…

President Bola Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States. The Presidency disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President. Shettima will lead a high-level delegation comprising Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials. The UNGA General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026, under the theme, “Restoring…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Attorneys-General of Niger and Ondo states to ensure the prosecution of anyone found responsible for two separate incidents that have left at least 85 people dead. Falana made the call in a statement on Sunday, urging the Niger State Attorney-General, Nasiru Mu’azu, to ensure a speedy investigation into the deaths of 37 suspects detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over alleged illegal mining. The 37 detainees were found dead at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna, two days after more than 50 people were reportedly…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its alleged failure to disclose political contribution limits ahead of the 2027 general elections. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2114/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by SERAP’s lawyers, Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Kehinde Oyewumi, Andrew Nwankwo and Valentina Adegoke. No hearing date has been fixed. SERAP is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose whether it has exercised its powers under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on political contributions and, if so, publish the specific limits. The Electoral…

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has accepted a place on the Federal Government’s 10-member independent committee investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State. Adeyanju said he joined the panel to ensure that the victims’ interests are represented and that the circumstances surrounding their deaths are fully established. In a statement on Saturday, he thanked the government for considering him for the assignment and said he would treat the investigation as a national duty. Adeyanju rejects payment Adeyanju urged the government not to provide stipends, honoraria or other monetary benefits to members of…