Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, paid a visit to Niger State Governor Umar Bago and stated that the police would investigate the deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps’ custody. Disu, who arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna on Friday, stated that the police would collaborate with the NSCDC and the state government to determine what caused the deaths. The IGP stated that the police had an obligation to investigate fatalities in prison, describing the episode with the 37 suspected miners as terrible. “I am here this afternoon because…

President Bola Tinubu has called for a thorough and transparent probe into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State. He gave instructions that any officials found to have played a part in the deaths should be arrested and brought to justice. In a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the reported deaths as a serious matter that demands prompt investigation and accountability. He stated that every Nigerian’s life is valuable and that no citizen should lose their life in government custody because of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment, or failure to perform one’s duty. “Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse, or negligence, contributed to…

Women of Ekurhuleni, South Africa, have expressed fear and demanded urgent police and government action following the discovery of the body of another woman in Dawn Park on Thursday morning. The discovery of the corpse of the woman, believed to be about 30 years old, brings to nine the number of female bodies found in the Ekurhuleni area in roughly two months, according to reports. The most recent victim was discovered next to a road, partly unclothed and wrapped in a bedsheet. At the time of reporting, neither her identity nor the circumstances of her death had been determined. Addressing…

La Liga giants Real Madrid are among the clubs keen to sign Manchester United academy prospect JJ Gabriel. Earlier this week, the 15-year-old formally notified United that he wants to cancel his registration with immediate effect, though the club is able to contest the request. It is understood that several major European teams, among them Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, and Bayern Munich, hold a firm interest in the forward, yet multiple sources have characterized Real’s push to sign him as strong. The Spanish club wants to bring in the teenager right away and place him in Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s recognized reserve side. In contrast to England, Castilla competes in senior football and plays in the regionalized third tier of the Spanish system.  Last season they were managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, who subsequently took charge of the senior Real side after Xabi Alonso’s dismissal and has since moved on to Fulham. Thiago Pitarch, who was 18 when last season began, turned out for Castilla in…

Twenty women being treated for breast cancer underwent unnecessary mastectomies, an NHS trust in north-east England has told the BBC. They were part of a larger group of hundreds of patients who suffered harm during care at the breast unit of the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT). This admission follows disclosures about significant failings within the unit, which the BBC reported last year. Steve Russell, who has recently stepped into the role of CDDFT’s chief executive, says he apologizes “unreservedly” for the harm the trust inflicted. “There are no words I could use to convey how personally distressed I am,” he says. “What happened was utterly unacceptable.” After we reported on serious failings at the trust’s breast cancer unit, dozens…

Two students were killed and eight others wounded at a Philippine high school by a 16-year-old gunman, who then reportedly shot himself. The local mayor told the BBC that the two victims who died were 14-year-old students at a school in Banga, located in the southern province of Mindanao. Albert Palencia stated that four of those wounded were in critical condition. In a statement, the education department said it was “deeply concerned” about the reported incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon at Banga National High School. ↻ Since June of this year, this marks the third fatal school shooting in the Philippines. “Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our learners, teachers, and school personnel,” the education department said, adding…

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with President Emmanuel Macron for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France. The dinner was disclosed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on X on Friday. Onanuga stated that the meeting reflected the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Tinubu is holidaying in France, where he is expected to step in amid the escalating standoff between All Progressives Congress governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the run-up to the 2027 elections. A senior presidential aide who is familiar with the situation and spoke exclusively to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, since he was…

The mutilated body of a yet-to-be identified woman was discovered close to a stream within the Jos Wildlife Park Forest Reserve, located in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The body was found at about 9:30am on Thursday after a distress report was made to security operatives. According to security sources who spoke with our correspondent, the woman had reportedly been reported missing by her family when she did not come home. It was gathered that the family began searching for her, and that search ultimately resulted in the discovery of her corpse beside a stream in the forest reserve. The sources added that the woman had wounds on her arm and face that looked like machete cuts. A member of staff at the park, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent stated that security operatives were alerted right away when the body was found. 33 Niger miners die…

At least 33 suspected illegal miners have died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State after being arrested during enforcement operations targeting illegal mining. The suspects were taken into custody during operations carried out on September 15 and 16 in the vicinity of the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state. The deaths came to light in the early hours of September 17, and the Niger State NSCDC Command at first attributed them to a possible outbreak of disease. The NSCDC national headquarters, however, stated that the true cause of death…

President Bola Tinubu is expected to step in amid the escalating standoff between All Progressives Congress governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the run-up to the 2027 elections. A senior presidential aide who is familiar with the situation and spoke exclusively to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity, since he was not authorized to comment on the matter, said Tinubu was expected to engage the parties in an effort to settle their differences. The source added that the intervention would likely happen abroad before the week ends. President Tinubu is presently holidaying in France. Wike, a leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party who serves as the FCT minister in the APC-led Federal Government, has been promoting the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State in support of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike, who has been…