Rampaging hippopotamus caught and butchered for meat by locals in Adamawa community (photos)

One of the rampaging hippopotamuses that recently invaded communities in Adamawa State has been caught and butchered for meat by the locals.

 

 

Happiness Blog reported that one person was k!lled following the invasion of displaced hippopotamuses in the Guyuk and Shelleng Local Government Areas of the state last week. 

The Chairman of Guyuk Local Government, Mr Shalom Kassa, who confirmed the incident on Monday, July 28, 2025, said that a young man was reportedly k!lled by one of the animals during the attack.

Kassa said the hippopotamuses, displaced by flooding around the Kiri Dam in Shelleng, were now within communities, farmlands, and riverbanks, causing fear among residents.

"This is a serious threat to human lives and means of livelihoods; the animals are destroying farmlands, invading flooded homes, and endangering residents and livestock,” he said. 

It was gathered that the hippopotamus was caught on Tuesday, July 29.

 

 

 

 

Nigeria crumbling under poverty, insecurity, elite failure — Pat Utomi

 

A political coalition known as The Big Tent has warned that Nigeria is collapsing under the weight of poverty, insecurity, institutional decay, and elite failure.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition at a media briefing, Convener Professor Pat Utomi described the situation as an "existential crisis requiring urgent civic action and responsible leadership."

“We envision Nigeria as a beacon of African progress, leading a flock of nations toward prosperity much like the Asian Tigers,” Utomi said. “But to achieve this, we must confront hard truths. We must wake up to the suffering around us.”

He identified poverty as the most visible evidence of leadership failure, noting that 75% of rural Nigerians now live in chronic poverty. “Hunger is ravaging the land,” he said. “The rural economy has collapsed. Farmers can’t farm, yet our political elite are obsessed with convoys, private jets, and luxury SUVs. It’s morally bankrupt.”

Utomi warned of an unfolding food crisis, stating that over 30 million Nigerians are at risk of severe food insecurity during the June–August lean season. He added that the government ignored earlier warnings raised by agricultural experts within the coalition.

To address the crisis, he proposed structural reforms including an overhaul of land tenure laws, empowering universities to provide agricultural extension services, and establishing agro-processing clusters.

 “Just as land-grant universities transformed U.S. agriculture, we must re-engage our academic institutions to drive innovation and support in farming,” he said.

On insecurity, Utomi emphasized the connection between poverty and rising violence: “Poverty makes people easy recruits for terrorists and criminals. We need decentralised policing—local governments and states must be allowed to manage their security.”

He also called for regionally driven economic development: “From cocoa in the South-West to lithium in the North-Central, each region has untapped potential. But growth must be led by the private sector, with government acting as a smart enabler.”

Man slumps and d!es while separating couple fighting in FCT

A middle aged man identified as Joseph Ayuba, slumped and d!ed while separating a couple fighting in the Dogon-Ruwa community in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

Barnabas Yakubu, a native of the community, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 stated that the couple, who were neighbours to the deceased, were engaged in a physical altercation following a misunderstanding, and Ayuba rushed out of his room to separate them.

According to Yakubu, the deceased had just returned from his farm last week Tuesday around 5.23pm. and was preparing to bathe when he heard his neighbour beating the wife.

He said Ayuba abandoned his sponge and bucket of water and rushed to intervene but slumped in the process.

Ayuba, who was believed to be hale and hearty before the incident, was rushed to a clinic in Gawu town, where doctors on duty confirmed him d3ad. 

The chief of the community, upon learning of the incident, alerted some vigilantes and ordered the arrest of the couple, who were later handed over to security operatives in Gawu. 

Ibrahim, one of the vigilantes, confirmed the incident, saying, “We learned that it was just a small misunderstanding that led to the fight between the deceased’s neighbour and his wife.”

He added that the remains of the deceased had been taken to his Paiko village in Niger State for burial. 

Police at Gawu division confirmed the incident, stating that the matter is still under investigation. 

Flood: One k!lled as displaced hippopotamuses invade communities in Adamawa

One person was k!lled following the invasion of displaced hippopotamuses in the Guyuk and Shelleng Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

The Chairman of Guyuk Local Government, Mr Shalom Kassa, who confirmed the incident on Monday, July 28, 2025 in the Banjiram community, said that a young man was reportedly k!lled by one of the animals during the attack.

Kassa said the hippopotamuses, displaced by flooding around the Kiri Dam in Shelleng, were now within communities, farmlands, and riverbanks, causing fear among residents.

"This is a serious threat to human lives and means of livelihoods; the animals are destroying farmlands, invading flooded homes, and endangering residents and livestock,” he said. 

Kassa alongside the Chairman of Shelleng Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Abba, and traditional rulers, including Kwandi Nunguraya of Guyuk, Kuruhaye, had visited the seat of government in Yola for help.

Kassa explained that persistent flooding across several parts of the state, especially in Guyuk and Shelleng, had forced the animals out of their natural habitat and into populated areas. 

He added that residents were unable to defend themselves as existing laws prohibited the killing or harming of wildlife, including hippopotamuses.

"We are appealing to the state Ministry of Environment, wildlife officials, and relevant agencies to urgently intervene before more lives are lost,” he said.

Kassa also extended his condolences to the victims of recent flooding in Yola town, where five persons reportedly died and 55 others were hospitalised.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr Awwal Tukur, who received the delegation, assured them that the government would address the situation. 

 

Two top Israeli human rights groups accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza

Two of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations have accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—marking the first time Israeli groups have made such a claim.

In a detailed 79-page report released Monday, July 28, B’Tselem concluded that Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide. The group cited Israel’s policies, the scale of destruction, and public statements from senior political and military figures as the basis for its conclusion.

“Nothing prepares you for the realization that you are part of a society committing genocide. This is a deeply painful moment,” said Yuli Novak, Executive Director of B’Tselem. “As Israelis and Palestinians who live here and witness the reality every day, we have a duty to speak the truth as clearly as possible: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. Our genocide has context.”

Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) joined B’Tselem in its accusation, publishing its own analysis documenting what it described as the “deliberate and systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza and other essential services vital to civilian survival.”

PHRI argued the destruction goes beyond collateral damage: “This is not about unintended consequences of war, but a deliberate policy aimed at harming the Palestinian population as a group.”

The Israeli government swiftly rejected the accusations. “We have free speech in this country, but we strongly reject this claim,” said government spokesperson David Mencer, adding that Israel has facilitated aid deliveries into Gaza.

Israel maintains that its actions in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks, are lawful acts of self-defense. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others to Gaza.

B’Tselem’s report accuses Israeli forces of mass killings, large-scale destruction of infrastructure, forced displacement, and efforts to dismantle Gaza’s social fabric. It also highlights what it describes as “genocidal intent” in statements made by Israeli officials since the war began.

The organization said its findings are based on data collected over 20 months, including thousands of incidents across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel. The report includes information from both B’Tselem’s own fieldwork and other vetted sources.

B’Tselem also directed criticism at the international community, particularly the U.S. and European governments, for “enabling genocide” through continued political and military support.

“Many state leaders have not only refrained from effective action to stop the genocide but enabled it—through statements affirming Israel’s ‘right to self-defense’ or the continued shipment of weapons and ammunition,” the report said.

 It noted that such support continued even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found a “plausible risk” that Israel’s actions in Gaza could constitute genocidal acts.

The report comes amid growing international and domestic pressure on the Israeli government over conditions in Gaza. Images of malnourished children and warnings of famine have sparked global outrage. Governments including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany recently described the crisis as “man-made and avoidable.”

Domestically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting protests calling for an end to the war and the release of hostages, while members of his far-right coalition threaten to collapse the government if military operations cease.

On Monday, the presidents of five leading Israeli universities published an open letter to Netanyahu expressing deep concern. “We observe with shock the harrowing scenes emerging daily from Gaza, where hunger and disease continue to claim the lives of the most vulnerable,” they wrote. The letter also condemned “appalling” statements by Israeli politicians advocating for the destruction of Gaza and forced displacement of its population.

While B’Tselem is the first Israeli group to accuse the government of genocide, similar allegations have previously been made by international organizations and governments.

Last year, the UN Special Committee reported that Israel’s conduct in Gaza was “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.” Human Rights Watch accused Israel of “acts of genocide” in December 2024, and Amnesty International stated that there was “sufficient evidence” to suggest genocide was occurring.

In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the ICJ, alleging genocide. Ireland later joined the case. In response, the UN’s top court ordered Israel to take “all measures” to prevent genocide in Gaza while it continues to examine the full merits of the case—a process that could take years.

Prominent individuals, including genocide scholar Omer Bartov, have echoed these accusations. In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Bartov wrote that the “inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”

US to deny visa to pregnant women travelling to give birth so their children can become American citizens

The United States government has warned that using a tourist visa with the intention of giving birth in the country is not permitted and could result in visa denial. 

The move is part of the U.S. government’s broader effort to curb birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to the United States on temporary visas with the primary intention of giving birth, so their child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship. 

This was disclosed in a statement on the official social media accounts of the US Mission in Nigeria on Monday, July 28. 

“Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” the statement read in part. 

The U.S. emphasized that visa applicants must be honest about their travel purpose and cautioned that misrepresentation of intent may carry long-term immigration consequences. 

According to the U.S. Department of State, consular officers have been directed to deny visa applications where there is credible evidence that the applicant’s main reason for travel is to give birth on American soil to secure citizenship for their child.

Charly Boy reacts to renaming of Lagos bus stop after rapper, Olamide

Veteran entertainer Charly Boy has dismissed the recent renaming of a bus stop in Lagos that used to bear his name.

In honour of rapper Olamide, the Bariga LVDA renamed the well-known Charly Boy bus stop to the Olamide Baddo Bus Stop last Friday, July 25.

There were reactions to the change, with some people saying it had a political undertone due to Charly Boy's criticism of the current government.

In an apparent response to the shift, Charly Boy posted the image above along with the caption,

‘’Bus Stop or no bus stop,

Fada no dey finish.

Go verify.

 

Dia Father's left Nyash.''

Reps propose conducting all elections in one day in 2027

 

The House of Representatives has proposed that all five major elections in 2027 be conducted on a single day, in a sweeping reform outlined in the proposed Electoral Act 2025. If passed, the amendment would empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship and House of Assembly elections simultaneously.

The bill, sponsored by Bayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, passed second reading in the House and seeks to repeal the Electoral Act No 13 of 2022. Among other key changes, the proposed law mandates a N50 million administrative fee for political associations applying for registration as political parties. It also sets spending limits for candidates, including N10 billion for presidential candidates and N3 billion for governorship aspirants.

Further provisions include the conduct of elections not earlier than 210 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the current officeholder’s term. Petitions arising from elections must be resolved within 90 days of filing. The bill also seeks to curb the frequent conduct of by-elections by allowing political parties to nominate replacements when lawmakers resign or die, provided the replacement is submitted to INEC within 60 days.

The proposed legislation outlines new rules for campaign financing, prohibiting donations exceeding N500 million from any individual or entity. It also criminalises false affidavits and misrepresentations by candidates, with penalties including fines up to N10 million or imprisonment.

The bill sets strict timelines for pre-election and election petition matters. Petitions must be filed within 21 days of result declaration, and pre-election suits within 14 days of the contested action. Appeals must be concluded within 60 days. The proposed law also bars courts from halting elections pending the resolution of legal disputes.

On the use of technology, the bill retains the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for accrediting voters but is silent on the mandatory use of permanent voter cards. Voters will be allowed to present either a downloadable voter identification with a QR code or other recognised forms of ID.

Election results must be transmitted both electronically and manually from polling units to collation centres. Officers who violate this provision risk fines of at least N500,000 or six months imprisonment. Collation officers must also verify and confirm that the number of accredited voters and recorded votes match the data transmitted from polling units. Disputes during collation will be resolved using original results and accreditation records.

The bill also addresses internal party democracy and discipline, mandating the submission of party registers at least 30 days before primaries and barring the use of any register not submitted to INEC. Political appointees are prohibited from serving as delegates or being voted for in party conventions.

Candidates can challenge the submission of false information in affidavits by opponents. If a court determines that constitutional requirements were not met, the candidate and the sponsoring party will be disqualified.

To discourage baseless legal challenges, penalties of up to N10 million may be imposed on petitioners and their legal counsel if their suit falls outside the recognised grounds for contesting an election.

The bill emphasises that courts cannot declare as winner any candidate who did not fully participate in all stages of the election. It also exempts periods of national emergencies, disasters or war from the computation of legal timelines under the Act.

INEC will be required to issue certificates of return to nominated replacements without conducting by-elections, provided parties comply with the replacement procedure. Special voting arrangements will be introduced for security personnel, INEC officials, observers, journalists and ad-hoc staff who will vote on designated dates prior to the main election.

The proposed Electoral Act 2025 represents one of the most comprehensive electoral reforms in recent history, with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political and electoral landscape.