No more negotiation, ransom payment to terrorists — Defence Minister, Gen. Musa

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has declared that there should be no negotiation or ransom payment to terrorists, insisting that such practices only strengthen criminal groups and prolong insecurity.

During his ministerial screening at the Senate, Musa warned that paying ransoms allows terrorists to regroup, re-arm and launch new attacks. He said communities that previously negotiated with criminals still suffered attacks afterward. According to him, Nigeria’s banking system has the capacity to trace suspicious financial flows if the right tools are fully activated.

Musa emphasised that military action alone cannot defeat insecurity, noting that kinetic operations contribute only about 25–30 percent of the overall effort. He identified poverty, illiteracy, weak governance and ineffective local government structures as factors feeding criminal networks. He called on state and local administrators to take responsibility for intelligence gathering and early intervention, stressing that security agencies cannot carry the entire burden alone.

He expressed concern about Nigeria’s slow judicial process, especially in terrorism and kidnapping cases that drag on for years. Musa recommended urgent legal reforms, including special courts for terrorism, stricter penalties and accelerated hearings to strengthen national security efforts.

The new minister warned that renewed criminal activity is emerging across maritime corridors linking Akwa Ibom to Cameroon, including sea robbery, piracy and coastal kidnappings. He confirmed that Operation Delta Safe is expanding into areas that were previously calm but now show signs of infiltration.

Musa also demanded a total ban on illegal mining, describing it as a major funding source for armed groups operating within forest regions.

He announced plans to reduce routine military checkpoints nationwide, allowing more troops to return to field operations in forests and ungoverned spaces. Restoring safe access to farmlands, he said, remains a top priority because food security is a key element of national stability.

“A hungry man is an angry man. Protecting farmers means protecting the nation,” he stated.

Musa revealed that more than 70,000 Nigerians apply for military recruitment yearly, but many resist deployment to conflict zones. He stressed that a unified national database would help verify identities, eliminate recruitment fraud and improve the tracking of criminals across states.

He described Nigeria’s fragmented data systems as a serious obstacle, noting that separate databases held by immigration, quarantine and other agencies create loopholes exploited by terrorists, kidnappers, cybercriminals and illegal miners. He urged the creation of a single national database to streamline tracking, disable bank accounts linked to crime and boost intelligence work across agencies.

The House of Representatives adopted extensive national security reform resolutions following a special three-day debate. Members called for open and transparent prosecution of all terrorism-related cases, saying this would help reduce violent crimes and restore public trust.

Two men arrested for allegedly gang-r3ping 15-year-old hawker in FCT

Vigilantes have arrested two men, Rabiu Bala and Nasiru Shehu, for allegedly gang-r3ping a 15-year-old hawker in the Kusaki community of the Kuje Area Council in the FCT.

Samaila Yakubu, a vigilante member from the area, who confirmed the incident to daily trust said the suspects were apprehended on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 following a report from the victim’s parents.

He stated that the victim’s mother and her son brought the girl to the vigilante office to report the incident.

He explained that the girl returned home crying, which made her mother suspicious.

Yakubu said the parents later discovered that the victim, who hawks a local rice delicacy known as Garau-Garau, was allegedly r3ped by the two suspects at an apartment in the area.

According to Yakubu, the victim went to demand payment from the suspects who had bought the Garau-Garau from her on credit, adding that during the interaction, one of the suspects lured her into an apartment and allegedly raped her.

“On getting to where the suspects, who are commercial motorcyclists, reside, one of them picked up his bike and zoomed off but was flagged down,” he said. 

He confirmed that both men confessed to the crime during interrogation. They were immediately arrested and handed over to the police in Kuje.

He added that vigilantes later joined the police at a hospital where doctors confirmed that the girl had been penetrated.

A police source at the Kuje division, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident but said the matter is still under investigation. 

Tenant bags jail sentence for k!lling landlord for trying to evict him over unpaid rent

A tenant in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fatally stabbing his landlord during a violent eviction attempt over unpaid rent. The High Court in Bulawayo found Victor Moyo guilty of killing his landlord, Prayer Banda, during a midnight confrontation on 5 July 2021.

According to The Herald, the altercation occurred at House Number 1953 in Mbizo when Banda stormed into Moyo’s room demanding that he pay his outstanding rent and vacate the property immediately. Eyewitnesses said Banda was shouting and threatening to remove Moyo by force if he failed to pay. The confrontation escalated into a scuffle, during which Moyo drew a knife and stabbed Banda once in the chest, killing him instantly.

Moyo denied intentionally killing his landlord, claiming he acted in confusion. He told the court, “I thought he was an intruder. I did not know it was my landlord. I only pushed an unknown man out of my room.”

Justice Lucy Mungwaru dismissed Moyo’s defence, calling it a fabrication. She said his testimony was riddled with contradictions and lacked sincerity. “The court observed the offender engaging in a sequence of performances, preaching to the gallery, playing the victim, and then displaying rebelliousness, all aimed at avoiding responsibility,” she stated.

The judge also noted that Moyo showed no remorse during the trial. The deceased’s sister, Grace Banda, delivered a moving victim impact statement, describing the pain the family continues to endure following her brother’s death.

Two cousins shot d3ad by unknown gunmen

 

Two young women were found m8rdered in Mamelodi East, Tshwane, South Africa. 

 

The victims, both cousins, Tshiamo Moramaga (22) and Baleseng Moramaga (21), were discovered with gunshot wounds to their heads on Sompisi Street, Extension 17, on Sunday morning, October 26, 2025. 

 

Both women were dressed similarly, wearing white skirts and black shirts, suggesting they were together shortly before the attack.

 

According to police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk, officers from SAPS Mamelodi East responded to the scene at approximately 6h15 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the bodies of the two women, and a double m8rder investigation was initiated.

 

The motive for the k!llings remains unknown, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

 

Family members are devastated by the loss. 

 

Itumeleng Moramaga, mother of Tshiamo, expressed her heartbreak.

 

“I’m so hurt. I’m shattered because she was the only daughter I had. I’m now left with two sons,” she said. 

 

She added that neighbors reported hearing arguments and gunshots around 4 a.m. on the night of the incident.

 

A message found on Baleseng’s phone indicated that the two had been communicating shortly before the shooting, but Tshiamo’s phone was missing, possibly stolen .

 

The South African Police Service is appealing to the public for any information that may assist in the investigation.

 

Donald Trump refuses to rule out third term as President

President Donald Trump has refused to rule out running for a third term, despite the U.S. Constitution clearly barring anyone from serving more than two terms as president.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday, October 27, while en route to Tokyo, Trump was asked about recent comments from his ally Steve Bannon, who claimed last week that Trump would be president again in 2028. When asked if he would challenge the two-term limit in court, Trump responded, “I haven’t really thought about it. We have some very good people as you know, but I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had.”

Pressed further on who he meant by “good people,” Trump mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before adding, “I’m not sure if anybody would run again. I think if they have a form to grip it would be unstoppable, I do. I really believe that. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.”

The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits anyone from being elected president more than twice. However, Trump appeared to entertain the possibility, suggesting that his leadership record warranted consideration. “I mean, I just solved eight wars and a ninth is coming. I believe Russia-Ukraine will happen,” he said. “I mean it’s millions of people we saved. I saved the lives of millions of people. That’s what’s important.”

When asked directly if he was ruling out a third term, Trump replied, “Am I not ruling it out? I mean, you’ll have to tell me.” He continued, “All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they don’t,” seemingly referring to Democrats.

Last week, Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, told The Economist that Trump would “get a third term,” claiming there was already “a plan” to make it happen despite constitutional restrictions. When pressed on how that would be possible under the 22nd Amendment, Bannon said, “There’s many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is, but there is a plan, and Trump will be the president in ‘28.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has floated the idea. Shortly after winning the 2024 election, he told House Republicans, “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we got to figure something else out.’”

W!cked set of people - Nigerian cleric, Bishop David Abioye, slams Nigerians claiming no genocide of Christians in Nigeria

Popular Nigerian cleric, Bishop David Abioye, has slammed Nigerians and some government officials who have come out publicly who deny claims that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria.

United States Senator Ted Cruz  had recently claimed that there is an ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria and that the act is being back by the Federal government. This has since argued by the government who insist that there is no such thing as a Christian genocide and that while there are k!llings in the country, Muslims are also victims of the several heinous attacks. Some Christian leaders have also come out to deny this claim.

While speaking in church recently, Abioye described those denying the tag of ‘’Christian genocide' in Nigeria as ‘’wicked set of people'. In his words;

‘’There is a lot of distortion going on. People claiming there is no genocide of Christians in the nation. Information with facts can never be thwarted. You see people buried in hundreds and you say there is no genocide. What a wicked set of people.

Agreed there are other k!lled in other places for other reasons but this one is very clear. And gradually it is eating down to the South. South West and South East and many so-called leaders, for their personal interest, are claiming it is not true. Selling out their faith, if they have it at all''

Woman attempting to k!ll cockroach sets house ablaze k!lling neighbour

A woman in South Korea is facing criminal charges after she allegedly set fire to her apartment building while trying to k!ll a cockroach with an improvised flamethrower, leading to the de@th of her neighbour. 

According to People, which reported the incident, police in Osan, about 30 miles south of Seoul, said they have issued an arrest warrant for the woman, who is in her 20s, describing her as “a flight risk.” 

The fire reportedly broke out around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, October 20, after the woman allegedly used “a lighter and a flammable spray” to burn a cockroach inside her apartment. 

Citing South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, they intend to charge the woman with accidentally starting a fire and causing de@th by negligence. 

The BBC, which had earlier reported the case on Tuesday, Oct. 21, quoted local police as saying the woman admitted she “tried to torch the cockroach with a lighter and a flammable spray,” adding that “she had used the method before.” 

Investigators said the fire quickly spread through the building, forcing several residents to attempt escape through windows. 
 

According to Yonhap, the victim was a Chinese national in her 30s who had recently given birth to her first child two months ago. 

When smoke filled her fifth-floor apartment, she and her husband reportedly opened a window and called for help, passing their baby to a neighbour in the adjacent building. 

“The woman’s husband managed to leap across to the neighbouring building, but when the new mother tried to do the same, she fell five stories and sustained serious injuries,” People reported. She was taken to the hospital but later di£d. 

The BBC also confirmed that “one of the woman’s neighbours di£d after falling to the ground in a failed attempt to escape through a window,” while eight other residents suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation. 

Police in Osan said investigations are ongoing and that the case will be transferred to local prosecutors once completed.

Gunmen kidnap three INEC staff in Kogi

 

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kogi State.

 

The victims, all women, were abducted along Aloma Road in Kogi State on Tuesday evening, October 21, 2025. 

 

It was gathered that the victims were travelling from Abuja to Anambra State on an official assignment ahead of the forthcoming governorship election when the incident occurred. 

 

According to reports, the assailants blocked the highway, fired shots at the vehicle, and shattered its windscreen before whisking all the occupants away to an unknown destination. 

 

 

US revokes visas of six foreigners who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death online

The United States has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals who made social media posts celebrating or justifying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In a statement shared on X, the US Department of State said the country “has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.”

According to the Department, those affected are from South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, and Argentina, and have all been declared “no longer welcome in the US.”

Among the examples shared, an Argentine national allegedly wrote that Kirk “deserved to burn in hell,” while a South African mocked Americans mourning him. Others called him “a racist,” “a misogynist,” and even said he “died too late.”

Each of the six individuals has now had their US visa revoked.

The decision comes shortly after former President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, describing him as a “martyr for truth.”

Kirk’s death sparked intense reactions online, with both his critics and supporters clashing over his legacy.

Following the incident, the State Department said it will continue identifying and penalising visa holders who use their platforms to celebrate violence against Americans.

“Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed,” the statement read.

View post below…

 

 

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri resigns from PDP

Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His resignation was made known today October 15. 

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, along with 22 lawmakers, have also resigned from the opposition party.

Governor Diri’s exit from the PDP comes 24 hours after his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is believed that the governor is set to join the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.