Insecurity: Catholic leaders lament over “endless ocean of blood” in Nigeria

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By Oladipupo Mojeed 

Nearly 200 Christians were brutally killed in Nigeria within a week, sparking outrage among Catholic leaders who are now calling for urgent action to stop what they describe as an “endless ocean of blood.”

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto, a leading voice in Nigeria’s Catholic community, condemned the latest wave of violence after the Palm Sunday massacre in Zikke village, Plateau State, where at least 56 Christians were murdered by armed Fulani militants.

Kukah said: “This is another tributary of blood. Flowing into an invisible ocean of blood that now threatens to swallow the Plateau.”

The massacre in Zikke was just one in a series of coordinated attacks.

According to reports, five other predominantly Christian villages near Jos were also attacked, with over 50 additional lives lost.

Victims, including women and children, were burned in their homes. Survivors described harrowing scenes of destruction, the air still thick with the smell of smoke and death.

“This is Nigeria — no amount of blood is ever enough to make us pause,” Kukah added.

Catholic leaders argue that the Nigerian government’s response to terrorism and armed herdsmen has been grossly inadequate.

They cite growing impunity, ethnic bias, and an unwillingness to classify Fulani militias as terrorist groups.

Over the past decade, more than 20,000 Christians have reportedly been killed, primarily in the country’s Middle Belt and southeast.

Critics accuse the government of allowing these armed groups to operate freely, even as Christian communities are denied the right to self-defence.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja echoed the call for communities to defend themselves in the absence of state protection.

He said: “You can’t just sit there while somebody comes to kill your family. You must rise up and protect your communities against these bloodthirsty criminals.”

Catholic leaders are now urging the international community—including the United States and the European Union—to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern and to classify the Fulani extremist groups as terrorist organizations.

“This is no longer just a Nigerian problem. It is a moral crisis the world can no longer afford to ignore,” Kukah warned.

POLITICS NIGERIA

Australian PM basks in win, promises ‘orderly’ government

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Australia’s left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese basked Sunday in his landslide election win, promising a “disciplined, orderly” government to confront cost-of-living pain and tariff turmoil.

Residents clapped as the 62-year-old and his fiancee Jodie Haydon visited his old inner Sydney haunt, Cafe Italia, surrounded by a crowd of jostling photographers and TV journalists.

Albanese’s Labor Party is on course to win at least 83 seats in the 150-member parliament, partial results showed.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s conservative Liberal-National coalition had just 38 seats, and other parties 12. Another 17 seats were still in doubt.

“We will be a disciplined, orderly government in our second term,” Albanese said, after scooping ice cream for journalists in a cafe he used to visit with his late mother.

“We’ll work hard each and every day,” he promised, but took a quick break first for a Sunday afternoon visit to a craft brewery, Willie the Boatman, that serves “Albo Pale Ale”.

Dutton, a hard-nosed former policeman, who critics tagged “Trump-lite” for policies that included slashing the civil service, endured the rare humiliation of losing his own seat.

US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, and the chaos they unleashed, may not have been the biggest factor in the Labor Party victory, but analysts said they helped.

“If we want to understand why a good chunk of the electorate has changed across the election campaign over the last couple of months, I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Henry Maher, a politics lecturer at the University of Sydney.

“In times of instability, we expect people to go back to a kind of steady incumbent.”

The scale of Albanese’s win took his own party by surprise.

“It’s still sinking in,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

“This was beyond even our most optimistic expectations. It was a history-making night. It was one for the ages,” Chalmers told national broadcaster ABC.

But the win came with “healthy helpings of humility”, he said, because under-pressure Australians want “stability in uncertain times”.

Albanese has promised to embrace renewable energy, cut taxes, tackle a worsening housing crisis, and pour money into a creaking healthcare system.

Dutton wanted to slash immigration, crack down on crime and ditch a longstanding ban on nuclear power.

Before the first vote was even counted, speculation was mounting over whether the 54-year-old opposition leader could survive an election loss.

“We didn’t do well enough during this campaign. That much is obvious tonight and I accept full responsibility,” Dutton told supporters in a concession speech.

Economic concerns have dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol.

“The cost of living, it’s extremely high at the moment… Petrol prices, all the basic stuff,” human resources manager Robyn Knox told AFP in Brisbane.

The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were moments of unscripted levity.

Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

Leaders around the world congratulated Albanese on his triumph.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hoped to “promote freedom and stability in the Indo-Pacific” with Australia, a “valued ally, partner, and friend of the United States”.

An unnamed Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing was “ready to work” with Australia’s government.

Albanese said he had spoken with the prime ministers of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, and received “some good text messages” from leaders in Britain, France, “and a range of others”.

The premier said he planned to speak with the leaders of Indonesia and Ukraine, promising to back Kyiv against Russia’s invasion: “That’s my government’s position. It was yesterday. It still is.”

AFP

Discovery: Scientists ‘switch off’ autism symptoms using $3 epilepsy drug

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By Adriana Diaz

Scientists are reporting a breakthrough discovery: A $3-per-pill epilepsy drug may be used to “switch off” autism symptoms in mice, according to a new peer-reviewed study published Tuesday in Molecular Psychiatry journal.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental condition that impacts how an estimated 5.4 million (2.2% of) adults — and one in 44 children — in the United States perceives and socializes with others. It is often accompanied by abnormalities such as epilepsy or hyperactivity, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

A team of experts at Germany’s Hector Institute for Translational Brain Researchfound that the medication lamotrigine — an anti-seizure drug first approved for use in the US in 1994 — was able to curb behavioral and social problems linked to the disorder.

Now, their findings are being hyped as the closest thing yet to a potential cure for humans.

“Apparently, drug treatment in adulthood can alleviate brain cell dysfunction and thus counteract the behavioral abnormalities typical of autism,” lead researcher and cellular biologist Moritz Mall said in a statement. “[This occurs] even after the absence of MYT1L has already impaired brain development during the developmental phase of the organism.”

Lamotrigine, which is sold under the brand name Lamictal, among others, is a medication used to treat epilepsy and stabilize mood in those who suffer from bipolar disorder.

The drug, which typically sells for just under $3 per pill, works by reversing changes to brain cells caused by a genetic mutation.

Scientists have spent years searching forthe molecular abnormalities that contribute to ASD and have identified MYT1L protein as one that plays a role in various neuronal diseases. 

The protein is a so-called transcription factor produced by almost all the nerve cells in the body that decides which genes are or are not active in the cell. It also “protects the identity of nerve cells by suppressing other developmental pathways that program a cell towards muscle or connective tissue.”

Mutations of the protein have previously been linked to other neurological diseases and brain malformations. 

To test impact of the protein on autism symptoms, researchers at HITBR genetically “switched off” MYT1L in mice and human nerve cells. They found that this led to electrophysiological hyperactivation in the mouse and human neurons impairing nerve function. 

The mice lacking MYT1L suffered from brain abnormalities and showed several behavioral changes typical to ASD, such as social deficits or hyperactivity.

Researchers noted that the most “striking” reaction was the discovery that the MYT1L-deficient neurons produced extra sodium channels that are typically restricted to cells in the heart muscle. 

These proteins are critical for electrical conductivity and cell function as they allow sodium ions to travel through the cell membrane. Nerve cells that overproduce these sodium channels can result in electrophysiological hyperactivation — a common symptom of autism.

“When MYT1L-deficient nerve cells were treated with lamotrigine, their electrophysiological activity returned to normal. In mice, the drug was even able to curb ASD-associated behaviors such as hyperactivity,” the statement continued.

These promising results come as autism rates have skyrocketed in the NYC metro area. Autism diagnoses have tripled in the New York-New Jersey metro area: from 1% of the population in 2000 to 3% in 2016. 

It is believed that part of the drastic increase of these diagnoses is due to the growing number of diagnoses of children without intellectual disabilities, which are therefore less likely to have been identified previously.

But earlier, more accurate diagnoses don’t completely explain the upward trend, which was based on estimates from the CDC. Experts have warned that the growing trend of women giving birth later in life may be partly responsible for the rise. 

Meanwhile, clinical human trials studying lamotrigine’s impact on MYT1L are being planned — and while the research is currently limited to mice, the results are promising, researchers stressed.

SOURCE:  NYP

Islam As A Mask For Arab Imperialism, Neo-Colonialism And Racism In Africa

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Gaddafi Assassination - Former US Lawmaker’s Explosive Interview With Tucker Carlson

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The Africa News Network (TANN)

Francics Ngannou, a mixed martial artist and professional boxer, reportedly involved in fatal motorcycle accident

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Former UFC heavyweight champion and boxing star Francis Ngannou was reportedly “involved in a fatal motorbike accident in Cameroon” on Sunday, April 27, 2025, according to multiple news outlets in the country, including Camer.be, Lebledparle, and ActuCameroun.

The publications state that Ngannou, 38, was riding a motorcycle in the Omnisports district of Yaounde when he “was in a collision with a 17-year-old girl.”

Local press have identified the victim as Ntsama Brigitte Manuella. Reports indicate that she sustained severe injuries to her arm and leg in the collision.

According to these sources, Ngannou “rushed her to hospital himself” to the Yaounde General Hospital, where she later died.

Ngannou is reportedly “devastated” by the tragic incident. It is also reported that he “paid her medical expenses.”

Cameroonian authorities are expected to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of the crash, which occurred over the Easter weekend.

The initial report of the incident came from Cameroon-Online, which presented conflicting accounts. One account claimed Ngannou was in a vehicle that struck the victim on a motorbike, while another stated she was a pedestrian, and he was riding the bike at the time of the collision.

A month prior to the reported accident, Ngannou posted photos of himself on what appeared to be an off-road motorcycle in the Cameroonian countryside. However, it remains unknown if this was the same motorcycle involved in the fatal crash.

This news follows a period of significant personal tragedy for Ngannou, whose 15-month-old son, Kobe, passed away suddenly in April of last year.

Ngannou last competed in October of last year, where he knocked out Renan Ferreira to win the PFL heavyweight title upon his return to MMA. Before that, he had transitioned to boxing after leaving the UFC as a free agent, participating in high-profile fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, both of which he lost.

GUARDIAN

Bolt introduces electric tricycles in Lagos

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By Royal Ibeh

Bolt, the leading ride-hailing platform in Africa has introduced electric tricycles in Lagos, with a bold target of deploying 1,000 units by the end of 2025.

The initiative is part of the company’s broader vision to enhance urban mobility, empower drivers, and promote environmental sustainability in Nigeria’s most populous city.

The launch, which took place in Lagos, underscores Bolt’s commitment to offering transport solutions that reflect the economic and infrastructural realities of African cities. By targeting fuel cost reduction and long-term vehicle ownership for drivers, the company hopes to ease the burden of rising operational expenses in the country.

Central to the initiative is a “Lease-to-Own” model developed in partnership with SGX. Through this model, drivers can acquire brand-new electric tricycles without any upfront payment and own them outright after 24 months of consistent service. This model not only supports financial inclusion but also gives drivers more control over their livelihoods.

Drivers under the scheme will operate exclusively within SGX-managed fleets on the Bolt platform and will enjoy flexible lease terms, which vary based on weekly performance.

The electric tricycles also open up a lower-cost category for commuters, making transport more accessible in high-density and underserved areas of Lagos.

Bolt’s regional director of Rides Operations, Africa and International Markets, Caroline Wanjihia, at the launch event in Lagos, on Wednesday, said this initiative will transform how mobility works for the people who power Bolt’s platform, by giving them tools to reduce fuel spending, avoid upfront vehicle costs, and eventually own their tricycles.

“We are putting more control and earning potential directly into their hands. Nigeria, with its vast and dynamic population, is key to our strategy of making mobility economically viable and accessible for everyone,” Wanjihia averred.

The General Manager, Bolt Nigeria, Osi Oguah, added that the launch will address two critical challenges in Nigeria’s transport sector – driver income and commuter access.

“By introducing electric tricycles with flexible, lease-to-own options, we’re helping drivers save money, own their vehicles, and build sustainable livelihoods. At the same time, we’re offering commuters, especially in underserved areas, a more affordable and accessible way to move around their city. We have an ambitious target of having 1,000 electric tricycles by the end of 2025,” Oguah said.

Designed for maneuverability and affordability, the tricycles fill a critical mobility gap in parts of Lagos that are underserved by existing transport infrastructure.

This initiative aligns with Bolt’s goal to ensure inclusive mobility where access to affordable, reliable transport is not limited by location or income level.

LEADERSHIP

Elon Musk, other billionaires lose $300bn in Trump’s First 100 days

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The latest Forbes report has highlighted how Tech giants such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and America’s wealthiest individuals collectively lost more than $300 billion in the first 100 days of President Donald J. Trump’s second term.

Since January 20, Musk’s fortune has shrunk by more than $45 billion, the largest individual decline among U.S. billionaires.

The report said the U.S. stock market posted its worst start to a presidential term in 50 years.

S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were down nearly 8% each amid a trade war fueled by President Trump’s renewed focus on tariffs.

Tesla, owned by Musk, has fallen 33% amid investor concerns about supply chain disruptions and his increasingly contentious political alignments.

The entrepreneur, who had once championed Trump’s initiative to streamline government operations, has since distanced himself from the administration, trading public barbs with senior trade adviser Peter Navarro on social media.

Among the top ten hardest hit are Amazon’s Jeff Bezos (down $34.8 billion), Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page (down $25.6 billion and $27.4 billion, respectively), and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg (down $21.5 billion).

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a vocal Trump supporter and participant in a proposed $500 billion AI infrastructure plan, has seen his wealth tumble by $28.2 billion. Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, who reversed his initial decision to stay out of Trump’s 2024 campaign, is now nearly $11 billion poorer.

Despite the downturn, Warren Buffett, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has emerged as the biggest winner of Trump’s early presidency.

With a record of $334 billion in cash and cash equivalents, Buffett’s holdings have weathered market turmoil, with his company’s shares up 13% and his fortune swelling by $19.6 billion.

Peter Thiel and Palantir CEO Alexander Karp have also gained, buoyed by lucrative federal contracts. The Walton heirs, Rob, Jim, and Alice, have each added over $3 billion as Walmart profits from inflation-driven consumer demand.

President Trump was also not spared, as his net worth dropped by $1.5 billion, largely due to a 35% plunge in the stock price of Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social.

FORBES

CAPTAIN IBRAHIM TRAORÉ - AN ENVISIONED SERVANT AND COURAGEOUS LEADER

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By Yahaya Balogun

In a recent speech to Burkina Faso youths, Captain Ibrahim Traoré said to write an informative article on agriculture, science, and technology on social media. It will have fewer than one hundred likes, but posting women's nudity, disinformation, and misinformation stuff will garner over a million likes. Captain Ibrahim Traoré's statement cannot be farfetched in today's netizens' African social media dilemmas. 

Captain Ibrahim Traoré was born March 14, 1988. He is a military officer from Burkina Faso who has served as the country's interim leader since the coup d'état in September 2022. This putsch removed the previous interim president, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. At 36, Traoré is recognized as the second youngest current head of state globally, following Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir. He is also the youngest president currently in office.

Ibrahim Traoré emerges as one of the youngest political figures on the international scene today. Since seizing control via a military coup, he has introduced a novel perspective to African governance, effecting a significant shift in the concept of participatory leadership within two years. His leadership has led to notable advancements in various sectors, including agriculture, oil, healthcare, private enterprise, and public administration, coupled with a renewal of military discipline and national identity. Captain Traoré is poised to confront Africa's governance challenges by promoting the continent's decolonization. As a symbol of optimism for Burkina Faso, this vibrant young leader seems determined to reveal and honor Africa's rich socio-cultural legacy.

Recently, sources reported that Captain Ibrahim Traoré turned down a proposal from Saudi Arabia's government to construct 200 mosques in Burkina Faso. The astute Traoré likely activated his keen awareness, recognizing the hidden motives behind the ambitions of the young authoritarian leader, Muhammad Bin Salman, of Saudi Arabia. Captain Ibrahim Traoré is emphatic that religious extremism should not align with the values of unity and progress that the revolutionary leader represents for the Burkinabe people. Instead, he fosters inclusivity and promotes shared ideals that strengthen his country.

In the tapestry of contemporary human history, Africa has etched a complex and distressing identity for itself—a label that has shrouded its sociopolitical terrain and cast the continent into a shadowy void of the past.

The political landscape across Africa has often fallen short of its aspirational goals, resulting in widespread disillusionment and a sense of neglect among its citizenry regarding governance. From the era of post-colonial independence to today, the lofty principles of democracy, prosperity, and equitable distribution of resources have frequently been compromised by various impediments, including corruption, authoritarianism, and ineffective leadership.

Instead of fostering an environment conducive to transparency, accountability, and meaningful citizen engagement in the political process, numerous governments have resorted to repressive tactics that suppress dissent and overlook the urgent needs of the populace. For many Africans, the aspirations for an improved quality of life—characterized by access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities—remain largely unfulfilled.

Consequently, a substantial portion of the population faces the harsh realities of poor governance, which often manifests in inadequate public services, pervasive poverty, and deficient infrastructure. The initial optimism for a brighter future has been eclipsed by disillusionment, as ruling elites tend to prioritize personal interests over the welfare of their constituents, exacerbating feelings of betrayal among the very individuals they pledged to support. In this milieu, the prospect of political transformation appears remote as citizens continue to strive for the fundamental rights and dignity they are entitled to in their everyday existence.

Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the modern embodiment of Thomas Sankara, a figure hailed as one of Africa's most remarkable leaders. Sankara's approach to leadership—marked by inclusivity and compassion—can potentially revolutionize Burkina Faso and Africa. However, the visionary life of this revolutionary figure was tragically cut short by betrayal from a friend turned foe. The young Captain Ibrahim Traoré is resolutely committed to reshaping and harnessing the timeless legacy of Thomas Sankara for the benefit of Burkina Faso.

The dawn of a new Africa seems just around the corner, thanks to the transformative vision of the bold leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. If this visionary young man continues his transformational leadership, Burkina Faso may become the new China or America of Africa. Additionally, Captain Ibrahim Traoré's spontaneous and groundbreaking oratory holds the power to spark a wave of revolutionary fervor throughout the continent. To liberate Africa from the grips of corruption and neocolonialism, we must see a surge of passionate leaders like Captain Ibrahim Traoré emerge to champion the cause of African liberation and emancipation across Africa.

Pope Francis finally laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica

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By Tina Adekorede

Pope Francis has been laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.

The late pontiff’s entombment was a private event which allowed those close to him to pay their last respects.

Thousands of people, including world leaders and monarchs witnessed Pope Francis’ funeral mass at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday.

From there, the coffin carrying the pontiff’s corpse was transported to Santa Maria Maggiore basilica where it was entombed.

Mourners queued up along the streets to witness as his corpse was moved from the Vatican to his final resting place.

The late Argentine is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

Speaking during the funeral, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, said the Catholic pontiff “touched minds and hearts” and wanted to “build bridges, not walls.”

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. In his final moment, the deceased suffered a stroke, coma, and a heart failure.

Pope Francis was admitted at Gemelli hospital in Rome on February 14 after suffering from pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican, however, claimed that the Pope was making progress in recent days that followed.