Year: 2025

Suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed at least 50 farmers in a brutal attack on Malam Karanti village, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The massacre reportedly occurred on Thursday after rival Boko Haram fighters ambushed the area, which had been under ISWAP control. The farmers had previously secured protection through a levy agreement with an ISWAP commander, Amir Akilu. However, in his absence, they were accused of espionage and siding with enemy factions. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants rounded up the farmers—who were harvesting beans—and issued a deadly warning against escape. Survivors said over 50 were slaughtered on the spot, while others were abducted. “They gathered us and warned anyone trying to flee would be killed. Many tried, and most were slaughtered,” one survivor told reporters. The terrorists reportedly extended their assault to Dawashi community on Friday, though casualty details from that location remain unconfirmed. As of press time, there has been no official response from Nigerian security agencies or government authorities. This attack comes just five months after a similar massacre claimed the lives of 40 farmers in Dumba, also in the Baga axis. The latest violence underscores the persistent insecurity in Borno State, where farming communities remain vulnerable despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace to the northeast.

A Mexican navy ship has crashed into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, leaving two crew members dead and at least 17 other people injured. The Mexican navy said in a post on X that the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel with 277 people on board, was damaged in the collision. Video posted online showed the ship, which was flying a large Mexican flag, travelling in reverse and hitting the underside of the bridge. It sheared the top of its masts and drifted towards the Brooklyn side of the East River as onlookers scrambled away from shore. Naval cadets dressed in white uniforms could be seen dangling from the ship’s crossbeams after the crash. New York City mayor Eric Adams said two people had died and 17 others were injured, including two who were in a critical condition. Witnesses said they saw two people removed from the ship on stretchers. No one is thought to have fallen into the water. The 147ft (45m) masts were too tall to clear the arched bridge and toppled when the vessel, named after the last Aztec emperor, sailed in reverse underneath. The Cuauhtemoc, a Mexican navy training ship, struck the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday evening It was unclear what caused the ship to veer off course. New York police chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship had just left a Manhattan pier and was supposed to have been headed out to sea, not towards the bridge. He said an initial report suggested the vessel lost power due to a mechanical problem. Police commissioner Jessica Tisch said the National Transportation Safety Board would be taking over the investigation. Mr Adams said a “unified effort” was under way to “make sure that we look after all of those who were on the ship”. The bridge, which is a main conduit between Manhattan and Brooklyn, has since reopened with no major damage. The Cuauhtemoc is about 297ft (90m) long and 40ft (12m) wide, according to the Mexican navy. It was built in Spain and sailed for the first time in 1982. Each year, it sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets’ training. It left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on 6 April with 277 people onboard, the navy said at the time.

Nigeria’s sprint star, Favour Chukwuka Ofili, has made athletics history after smashing the women’s 150m world record in Atlanta, USA. The 22-year-old, fondly called “Star Girl,” clocked an astonishing time of 15.85 seconds on the long track at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, obliterating the previous mark of 16.23 seconds set by Bahamian Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018. Ofili, who competes in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, became the first woman ever to run the 150m in under 16 seconds. Tamari Davis finished second in the race, also surpassing the old world record with a time of 16.14 seconds. Though the 150m is not a standard event at the Olympics or World Championships, Ofili’s performance has been hailed globally as one of the fastest sprints ever recorded by a female athlete.

The North West zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027, declaring unwavering support for his leadership and policies. The endorsement was announced following a high-profile stakeholders’ meeting held in Kaduna on Saturday. The meeting was attended by an influential delegation of APC figures, including all governors from the North West, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy Senate President, former governors, the APC National Chairman, state party chairmen, federal lawmakers, ministers, and other top government officials. Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Kaduna State Governor and APC North West Coordinating Governor, Senator Uba Sani, read a communiqué that emphasized the zone’s full backing of Tinubu’s administration. He commended the President’s “purposeful leadership, bold reforms, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress,” particularly highlighting gains in the North West. According to Sani, Tinubu’s efforts have led to marked improvements in security, with farmers returning to their fields and displaced communities beginning to experience peace once again. The stakeholders further applauded what they described as unprecedented federal inclusion for the North West under Tinubu’s administration. They cited the appointment of 12 ministers from the region, strategic roles in the National Assembly, and key positions in the security architecture as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to equitable representation. In addition, major infrastructure projects currently underway across the zone were seen as a transformative step toward development, fueling optimism about long-term regional growth. Concluding the meeting, the APC leaders expressed confidence that the party is growing stronger nationally, attributing its momentum to the public’s increasing trust in Tinubu’s governance and the effective performance of APC governors. They affirmed that the North West will remain a critical pillar of support for the President as he seeks a second term, positioning the zone as a key battleground for consolidating APC’s power in the 2027 elections.