• Death toll in Congo uprising nears 3,000

Over 150 female prisoners were raped and burned to death during a jailbreak last week when fleeing male inmates set fire to a prison in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a United Nations spokesperson has said.

The death toll following a brutal storming from Rwandan-backed rebels in the Congolese city of Goma has neared 3,000 after hundreds of women were raped then burned alive during a mass jailbreak.

The atrocity saw female inmates slain in their wing in the notoriously overcrowded prison after men forced their way in and went on a rampage.   

But speaking during a UN press briefing on Wednesday, Vivian van de Perre, the deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force in Goma revealed a staggering 2,900 bodies have been retrieved so far amid the chaos.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango told CNN that most of the 165 female prisoners who were raped by escaping male inmates died in the fire.

Between nine and 13 female inmates, “all of whom had also been raped,” survived the blaze, Magango added, citing a judicial source in the DRC.

“We did not independently verify the judicial official’s report ourselves, but we do consider his account to be credible,” Magango told CNN Thursday.

The male inmates, some of whom were killed by prison guards, plotted a mass escape on January 27 as the M23 rebel alliance battled with Congolese forces in Goma over control of the city, the UN-sponsored Radio Okapi reported Monday.

More than 4,000 detainees fled the Muzenze prison that day, it added, stating that the facility was now “completely empty” and left in ruins.

DRC communications minister Patrick Muyaya confirmed the rape of the 165 women, telling CNN Wednesday that “the government condemns with the greatest energy this barbaric crime.”

The killings and mass rape mirror recurring scenes of conflict-related sexual violence that have plagued the DRC for decades.

On Friday, the UN’s Human Rights Office said it had received reports of other cases of sexual violence involving the DRC’s army and its allied forces.

“We are verifying reports that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gangrape,” said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement Friday.

UN Human Rights Van de Perre said some 2,000 dead bodies had been collected from the streets of Goma in recent days, with another 900 left in hospital morgues.

Describing the carnage, she said the figure is expected to increase in the coming days.

‘There are still many decomposing bodies in certain areas so the WHO is really worried about what kind of epidemic outbreaks that can contribute to,’ Ms Van de Perre chillingly added.

During the mass jailbreak, thousands of male criminals managed to flee, but the area reserved for women was torched to the ground.

Images taken shortly after M23 fighters reached the centre of Goma showed vast plumes of black smoke rising from the jail on January 27, as long lines of men sprinted away from the inferno. 

CNN has contacted the Congolese military for comment on the allegation.

This week, the M23 rebel group, which has claimed to have captured the city of Goma, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire after clashes with government forces left nearly 3,000 people killed.

Growing Humanitarian Crisis

As Goma residents adapt to life under M23 control, humanitarian concerns are mounting. Access to clean water has been cut off, and bodies remain in the streets, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

Stephan Goetghbuer, a regional lead from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), told the BBC, “Access to water has been cut for days, corpses have been lying in the streets, and waterborne diseases such as cholera are a real threat. Some of our cholera treatment centres are full and have been expanded.”

Meanwhile, regional peacekeeping efforts are shifting. Malawi has announced plans to withdraw its peacekeeping forces after three of its soldiers were killed. South Africa, which has lost 14 soldiers, has vowed to continue its military presence, according to BBC reports.

Press Statement

Womanifesto, a group of over 350 women’s rights organisations, advocates and practitioners today paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Lasbat Mojisola Meranda.

A delegation led by Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi congratulated the speaker for her emergence as the first female Speaker in Lagos State, recognizing this as a landmark and historical win for women’s participation in governance. Dr Akiyode-Afolabi also applauded the members of the House of Assembly for abiding by the constitutional process in the election of the new Speaker. She emphasized the need to strengthen collaborations with other state and non-state actors to contribute to the development of a Lagos where women and girls thrive.

Also speaking, Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria and Ini Etuk, Executive Director of She Forum Africa described Womanifesto’s solidarity as apolitical, solely representing the interests of Nigerian women and girls. They called on all stakeholders to support the Speaker in alliance with the agitation of women across Nigeria for gender equity and representation. Adamolekun charged the House members to focus on working for the good of Lagos in the two years left before the next election cycle.

The delegation offered Womanifesto’s technical support to the Speaker, towards ensuring her successful tenure in Lagos.

The delegation was received by the Speaker as well as prominent members of the House including the Deputy Chief Whip Hon Sani Ganiu Okanlawon and Hon Ajayi Oladele. Speaking on behalf of the House members, Hon Okanlawon re-emphasized the vote of confidence in Rt Hon Meranda, and noted the need to support the Speaker’s successful tenure.

In her response, the Speaker, Rt Hon Lasbat Mojisola Meranda respectively thanked Womanifesto for the solidarity, and the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for the confidence reposed in her. She highlighted the low representation of women in the legislature, with 4 female and 36 male lawmakers in the House. She promised to work for the good of Lagos and uphold the highest standards of excellence as a representative of Nigerian women.

A Magistrates’ Court in the Federal Capital Territory has granted bail to one-time Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, in the sum of N1 million after his arraignment on allegations of false marriage, adultery, and other related offences.

Last year, an Upper Area Court sitting at Kado in the FCT granted an order restraining the Nigeria Police from accepting any complaint or carrying out any investigation relating to a paternity wrangle and an allegation of sexual impropriety levelled against a by Ms Hadiza Musa Bafta who reportedly had a child for him outside wedlock.

Turaki, who was arraigned on Thursday, February 6, pleaded not guilty when the First Information Report was read to him in court.

The investigation was based on a petition dated August 9, 2024, and was prosecuted by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Abuja.

According to the prosecutor, Turaki is accused of deceitfully inducing a belief in a lawful marriage, adultery by a man, and criminal intimidation — offences contrary to Sections 383, 387, and 389 of the Penal Code.

The FIR stated: “You, Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), between December 2014 and August 2016, deceitfully cohabited with Ms Hadiza Musa Bafta at a hotel called Han’s Place.

“You also cohabited with her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro, between August 2016 and November 2021. You rented an apartment for her at No. 12 Clement Akpagbo Close, Guzape, in November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her. You continuously had sexual relations with her, which resulted in the birth of a baby girl.

“You abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa and her child, denying paternity. You also threatened to use your influence and position to harm the mother and child.

“You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences.”

The prosecuting counsel, Chijioke Okorie, requested a trial date after the ex-minister entered his plea.

The defendant’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, did not oppose the prosecution’s request but applied for bail, assuring the court that his client would be available whenever required.

Magistrate Abubakar Jega granted Turaki bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.

He ruled that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide proof of residence.

The case was adjourned until 11 March for trial.

Background

The Upper Area Court at Kado while

Granting Turaki’s prayers following an ex-parte motion moved by his counsel on 2 September 2024, Hon. Shehu Ahmadu of Upper Area Court sitting at Kado in his ruling directed the Inspector-General of Police and his officers not to accept any complaint from Musa Baffa, Uwani Arabi and their daughter, Hadiza Baffa, in relation to the matter as an action was already before the Court.

“Respondents are hereby restrained, especially 4th to 10th respondents from accepting any complaint from the 1st to 3rd respondents (parents and daughter) especially the 2nd respondent (Hadiza) or carrying any investigation relating to the applicant as the matter is already before a competent court of law, the Upper Area Court Kado FCT, in CV/35/2024 until the determination of the motion on notice before this court.

“This order Is given under the hand and seal of the honourable judge.”

Turaki had in the motion, number: M/26/2024, sued Musa Baffa (father), Hadiza Baffa (daughter), Uwani Arabi (mother) and Nigeria Police Force as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

Others listed in the application include the I-G, DIG Sylvester Alabi (DIG Force CID), AIG Muhammad Dan Kwara (Force CID), CP Musbahu Ajani (CP Admin, Force CID), CSP Mohammed Gashua and SP Ibrahim Shugaba as 5th to 10th respondents.

In the substantive suit, marked: CV/35/2024, filed before the court, Turaki sued Musa, Hadiza and Uwani as 1st to 3rd defendants.

While the former Minister denied being responsible for Hadiza’s pregnancy, which resulted in a baby girl, insisting that Hadiza had a boyfriend who he said was responsible for the pregnancy, Hadiza’s mother, Uwani Arabi (2nd defendant) in the defendants’ statement of defence alleged that Turaki opted to serve as her daughter’s guardian but took advantage of her and got her pregnant.

Further stating she never knew the Senior Advocate had ulterior motives when he offered to help with her daughter’s education, Uwani in the defendants’ joint statement of defence pointed out that Turaki told them he was taking her under his wings as his own daughter but turned round to initiate sexual relations with her.

Refuting Turaki, SAN’s criminal allegations against them, the trio, Musa Bashir Baffa ( 1st Defeandant and Hadiza’s father), Hadiza Musa Baffa (2nd Defendant) and Uwani Arabi (3rd Defendant and Hadiza’s mother) in their joint statement of defence maintained that the ex-minister exploited and used them only to run to court after the Human Rights Radio (Brekete) invited him for intervention following his refusal to take care of his little daughter whose antenatal and birth he took care of at Nizamiyye Hospital in Abuja.

Hadiza and Uwani averred that it was the ex-Minister who reached out 3rd defendant (Uwani) and offered to help her daughter “by enrolling her into Baze University in Abuja, bear the cost of her education and accommodation; and serve as her guardian”.

They said Hadiza’s registration fees when she gained admission in 2014 was N950,000 and that the ex-minister gave her $2,000 for the fees.

Uwani, who said she never influenced the Senior Advocate’s decision added that she did not suspect Turaki had sinister motives towards her daughter. She also said contrary to Turaki’s claim that she begged him to give her daughter a car, she never had any such discussion with the ex-minister.

Hadiza on her part averred that she never suspected that Turaki’s benevolence towards her was to take her advantage.

According to her, it was the plaintiff who called her to pick up the Toyota Almera from his office at T. Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja and she was surprised to see that the car particulars carried her name as: “Hadiza Turaki.”

On her part, Hadiza alleged that it was Turaki who had changed her name to “Hadiza Turaki” by putting same on the vehicle papers he bought for her and persuaded her to use the same name on her Guaranty Trust Bank account number through which he sent monies to her severally through his account officer.

Hadiza alleged that she “had challenges with her education, and faced physical and emotional trauma when the Plaintiff exploited her under the guise of being her guardian and frequently visiting her in the apartments he got for her and severally lured her into having an illicit sexual relationship with him.

She added that the “ Plaintiff severally threatened her not to let her parents know that he was taking advantage of her thus, she was scared and  traumatised trauma affected her and her studies.”

She alleged that he frequently visited her in the apartment he rented for her and severely pressured her to have sexual intercourse with him. That on many such occasions, the Plaintiff would threaten to cut off the financial support he was offering her.  

That “under such threat and coercion she gave into his sinister moves. Further  to  the  above,  the Plaintiff also threatened the  2nd  Defendant never to allow the 3rd Defendant,   her mother  to know about his sexual exploitation of her and  as a result she was scared of letting her know until after a long time.”

According to her, when the plaintiff realised that she was going through psychological and physical trauma, he kept promising to marry her and began to build romantic phone and WhatsApp conversations with her.

Hadiza alleged that when she discovered that she was pregnant for Turaki, she informed him and he took several steps, including phone calls made to her, trying to compel and pushing her to abort the pregnancy.

She said she decided to keep the pregnancy against all odds when she was advised against terminating it and the risk involved.

She alleged that Turaki became wild against her when she refused to listen to him.

Hadiza said she delivered the baby girl on April 3, 2023 “And when the plaintiff later saw the baby, he acknowledged that she was his daughter as a result of the striking resemblance with him.”

She further alleged that the ex-minister even paid monies for the antenatal, delivery and post-natal services of the baby girl at Nizamiyye Hospital, Abuja.

The ex-Minister had  alleged that sometime in 2016, Uwani, who was a person known to him in Kano before her marriage to Musa, called him on the phone and sought his advice on her plans to relocate her daughter, Hadiza, “who was then schooling, according to her, at University of Maiduguri, because of the activities of Boko Haram.”

He said he advised Uwani to secure admission for her daughter at Bayero University, Kano; Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; or the University of Ilorin.

Turaki said after some weeks of the previous discussion, Uwani called and told him that she was coming to Abuja together with Hadiza and begged him to arrange accommodation for them.

He said he obliged by securing an accommodation at Ideal Guest House, Garki, which Is a furnished apartment let out for short or long stays.

He said Uwani secured admission for Hadiza at Baze University in Abuja and he supported her with N1 million out of the N3 million for registration.

He alleged that Uwani pleaded with him to serve as Guardian for her daughter, Hadiza.

The ex-Minister, who averred that he took responsibility for Hadiza’s upkeep, said he was surprised to discover that Hadiza connived with her mother to change her surname to Turaki without his knowledge and consent.

He alleged that when Hadiza’s criminal acts became so intense, he drove her away and directed his staff not to allow her close to her office anymore.

He alleged that after walking out on the daughter and the mother for a month or so, Uwani called him on the phone and requested to see him.

He said during the meeting, Uwani told him that her daughter was pregnant and she said he was responsible.

Turaki averred that he outrightly denied the allegation, describing it as a blackmail.

An aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing after two swans smashed into the jet while it took off from Gatwick Airport.

The Tui flight was 1000ft in the air when it was struck by the birds as pilots issued a distress call following the 185mph collision.

After landing the Boeing plane which was bound for Cape Verde, the pilots needed an escort from the runway as the pilots weren’t able to see out of the windscreen.

Pictures shows that the birds dented the plane and left blood smeared over the cracked windscreen in the collision which also damaged the electronic systems.

A source told the Sun: ‘It is believed at least two giant swans careered into the jet as it reached high speed. The sheer size of the birds, and the double strike, penetrated the jet’s forward fuselage.

‘The strike breached the pressure bulkhead so the pilots couldn’t pressurise the plane.

‘It was carnage and the safety of the plane was in doubt. The pilots did a terrific job in the most testing of circumstances.’ 

The runway was closed as emergency services were called and later checked for debris.

It is believed that the passengers on the plane would have felt the impact. 

The damage is understood to cost at £1million to fix while the plane is set to grounded for several weeks for repairs.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, there were more than 1,400 reported bird strikes with around 100 affecting flights.

Last December, 179 people died after a plane skidded off a runway as it landed and smashed into a wall following a bird strike in South Korea.

Daily Mail

Shocking images captured the moment a train carrying 350 passengers burst into flames, sparking mass evacuations en route to Delaware.

The six-car SEPTA train was travelling from Philadelphia when flames tore through a carriage near Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania about 6.15 pm on Thursday.

Pictures of the incident show thick, grey plumes of smoke billowing from the train, which is lit up with orange flames within.

Passenger Dnasia Buckner told Fox News that she began smelling smoke about 15 minutes into the journey.

‘We had to get up and relocate to another car and then we had to get up and relocate again and that’s when I started to see smoke coming from the side of the train,’ she said. 

‘As people were walking by, they said the train’s on fire, but the conductors aren’t saying anything.’

Eventually, conductors opened the train doors and instructed all passengers to disembark, a process which Buckner said took about 15 minutes itself.

Pictures of the incident show thick, grey plumes of smoke billowing from the train, which is lit up with orange flames within.

Extraordinary images captured the moment a train carrying 350 passengers burst into flames, sparking mass evacuations en route to Delaware

The six-car SEPTA train was travelling from Philadelphia when flames tore through a carriage near Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania

Service to Wilmington has been halted and Amtrak service along the Northeast Corridor is also impacted.

Firefighters were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze. 

Service to Wilmington has been halted and Amtrak service along the Northeast Corridor is also impacted.

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch credited quick-thinking staff for keeping passengers safe.

‘Very quick action by our crews that that helped allow this to be a safe outcome,’ he said. 

‘We don’t know where this started, just that it was in the area underneath the train and then obviously engulfed the train in flames.’ 

Some officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have reportedly beaten up a policeman, who was said to have shot their colleague.

According to a post shared on X by Serah Ibrahim, the officers seized the gun, after he shot at their colleague who is now fighting for his life.

Channels Television had earlier reported that a man in a police uniform shot and wounded a yet-to-identified official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos. 

According to the media outlet, the incident happened on Thursday while officials of the Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC were on an enforcement drive to implement the nationwide launch of the agency’s operation to combat the menace of fake number plates.

The Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, who was supervising the official launch, declined to speak about the incident.

Hamzat, however, pleaded with journalists to be patient to enable him to get to the root cause of the unfortunate occurrence.

It is unclear if the shooter is an official of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Police authorities in Lagos have not also commented on the matter as of the time of this report.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Sector Command of the FRSC has suspended the launch of its operation to combat the menace of fake number plates.

Hamzat said this while briefing journalists in Lagos on the outcome of day one of the enforcement.

A tricycle (popularly known as keke) driver recently told how he was imprisoned for nearly one year on account of an incident surrounding a pair of slippers worn by his friend. 

The young man named Wisdom Elijah, who was working in Port Harcourt with the keke which he got on hire purchase, was arrested on January 6, 2024, and regained freedom on Dec. 3, 2024. 

He explained that he had closed work for the day but friends who were having a party asked him to drop them off and he did. 

On his way back, fuel finished in his tricycle so he took a keg and asked a friend of his to accompany him to buy fuel from a woman who sells in the neighbourhood. 

After they bought fuel from the woman, his friend, whose slippers had cut, abandoned his bad slippers and wore another pair of slippers seen at the front of the woman’s house. 

The keke driver said he was not aware of what his friend had done until the woman came out and confronted his friend. 

He said he scolded his friend and they pleaded with the woman, but she refused and called them thieves. Her husband then emerged and called the police, Wisdom alleged. They were arrested when the police officers arrived. 

Wisdom claimed they were in a cell for three days and he kept thinking it was a minor issue and he would be out soon. 

However, he knew it was serious when they were charged to court. 

In court, they were granted bail and one of the conditions was that they had to pay N80,000. While waiting to fulfil their bail conditions, the court closed for the day and they were taken to prison. 

While there, his friend’s family raised the funds and bailed their son after three days. Meanwhile, he said he had no one to call to pay the N80,000 or stand as surety for him. According to him, he also could not get access to a phone in prison, so he remained in custody for months. 

He added that he was placed in the worst cell, where food and water were scarce. 

Videos of Wisdom taken after his release from prison show him looking emaciated in a hospital, while a healthcare professional takes his vitals. 

He did not reveal how he finally secured his release from jail. 

Watch the video below.

On Thursday, Hon, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, launched a campaign to combat driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The initiative, aimed at reducing road crashes caused by impaired driving, is supported by the Federal Road Safety Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, transport unions, and road safety advocacy groups.

The FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, stated this in a statement.

The campaign, which took place at the Jabi Central Motor Park, Abuja, sought to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence and promote stricter enforcement of traffic laws.

In her address at the event, Justice Dongban-Mensem stressed the severity of the issue, describing DUI as a dangerous offence that endangers lives.

She called for collective action to create a safer, more responsible driving culture and urged commuters to take responsibility for their safety on the road by speaking out when they witness unsafe driving practices.

“As a nation, we must take a collective stand against this menace and work towards creating a safer and more responsible driving culture,” she said.

The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, commended Justice Dongban-Mensem’s leadership in addressing DUI, highlighting the judiciary’s ongoing partnership with the FRSC to enhance road safety.

He called on Nigerians to educate themselves and others about the dangers of impaired driving, report reckless driving incidents, and support road safety initiatives.

“The President of the Court of Appeal’s stance against driving under the influence is a call to action for all Nigerians. We must work together to create a safer and more responsible driving culture.

“This includes educating ourselves and others about the dangers of driving under the influence, reporting incidents of reckless driving, and supporting initiatives that promote road safety,” Mohammed stated.

The representative of the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa Rtd., also spoke at the event, declaring that driving under the influence would no longer be tolerated.

He pledged the agency’s commitment to collaborating with the FRSC to enforce the law fully.

The Chairman of the Jabi Motor Park, Gabriel Okeh, expressed his support for the initiative, calling it a step in the right direction for the safety of Nigerian citizens.

“We commend her commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens and pledge our support for this initiative,” Okeh said.