NEWS
Brave taxi driver rams into bandits blockade, kills three in Niger
Some bandits terrorizing communities in Niger State have met their death, as a brave taxi driver rammed into their blockade killing three and zooming off on the ever-busy Minna Gwada highway on Sunday
The courageous driver had no other option but to use the high speed as a defense against the heavily armed men suspected to be bandits killing three of them on the spot.
The bandits were said to have invaded the highway to wreak havoc on motorists when the brave commercial driver who was on top speed ran into them
It was gathered that the bandits had earlier carried out their offensive attacks on some communities in Mutndaya, Shiroro local government where they rustled some cattles and kidnapped dozens of persons among their victims were three pregnant women from the local government
It was gathered that the bandits were armed with sophisticated weapons such as Ak47, and Ak49 among other dangerous weapons with which they had earlier laid siege on the highway waiting for vehicles to attack.
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It was further gathered that the hoodlums extended their operation to some communities in Kafi Koro in Paikoro local government and engaged the local vigilante corps and the military in a gun duel where two of the bandits were gunned down while another two were arrested by the joint operatives of the vigilante and the military.
Having been overwhelmed some of the bandits took to their heels escaping into the bush with gunshot wounds as they abandoned their motorcycles.
Already the locals in their large numbers have deserted their homes as a result of the invasion of the gunmen that held them, hostage, for over 8 hours unchallenged.
Among the communities invaded by the gunmen, are Mutundaya, Gwada, Sikiti, Ishau, and Adunu in Shiroro and Paikoro local governments?
A visit to the affected Communities by our correspondent indicated that women and children were seen in their numbers trekking to the nearby village to take refuge.
However, our reporter was told that some heavily armed military personnel have been drafted to both communities who have been able to repel the terrorists killing two and recovering the rustled animals.
It was also gathered during the gun duel with the soldiers who came into the communities in sixteen Hilux vans, some motorcycles abandoned were recovered as some of the fleeing terrorists escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
The Commissioner for local government and internal security in Niger State, Mr. Emmanuel Umar could not be reached for his comments as a series of calls to his cellphone were not responded to.
However, the state commandant of Niger State vigilante corps (NSVC) Yarima Nasir Manta while confirming the report explained that his men and soldiers are already on the trail of the fleeing bandits
Three of the communities are now ghosted towns having been deserted by the locals to take refuge in nearby internally displaced person camps (IDP) in Gwada and a primary school in Chimbi community in Paikoro local government.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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