The Taliban-led government has shut down a women-run radio station in Afghanistan’s northeast for playing music during the holy month of Ramadan, Al-Jazeera reported.

The medium reported that the only women-run station became operational 10 years ago; it has eight staff where six of them are females.

Official in the Taliban-led government who is also the director for Information and Culture in Badakhshan province, Moezuddin Ahmadi, claimed that the station violated the “laws and regulations of the Islamic Emirate” several times by broadcasting songs and music during Ramadan and was shuttered because of the breach.

The station’s head, Najia Sorosh, denied that there was any violation, saying there was no need for the closure and called the action a ‘conspiracy’.

She claimed, told us that you have broadcast music. We have not broadcast any kind of music.

Reports indicated that, local Afghan journalists who refuse to comply with the Taliban’s policies have been arrested, and put behind bars with some reporting abuse and torture after their release.

According to the Afghan Independent Journalists Association, many journalists in Afghanistan have reportedly lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 and that many Media outlets have been closed over lack of funds or because their staff left the country.

The Taliban-led government has prevented women from most forms of employment and education beyond the sixth grade, including university; something which has continued to generate wider condemnation by global key players who are promoting girl child education in especially developing countries.

The latest sanction imposed by the Taliban regime on the Sadai Banowan, which means women’s voice in Dari, is viewed by many human rights activists as a deliberate attempt to muzzle the press in Afghanistan.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sympathized with former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Senate Chief Whip lost his 61-year-old wife, Ifeoma Ada.

The President also consoled the family, friends and associates, urging trust in God for comfort and care during the difficult period.

Buhari believes the testimonies of Ifeoma’s fear of God and charity should provide strength for loved ones, knowing she lived well.

The president’s statement by spokesperson Femi Adesina prayed for the repose of her soul, and fortitude for the family to bear the loss.

Kalu announced that a memorial service in honour of the deceased will be held in the United States of America.

Residents of Adunu, Kwagana and adjoining communities in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State have raised the alarm that the 56 villagers kidnapped by suspected armed Bandits are not part of those allegedly rescued by the military.

They described the claims of rescuing abductees from their communities by the military personnel as untrue

Recalled villagers of Adunu and Kwagana communities of the council area were thrown into weeping after the gruesome murder of a medical personnel, Joshua Bitrus Galadima and the abduction of at least 56 persons on March 14, ,2023 to an unknown location.

It was learnt that last week, about 20 military vehicles loaded with soldiers from Kaduna State had invaded all the gunmen’s hideouts, where they engaged in a gunbattle and secured the freedom of the victims.

The hideouts include Tshohon Kabula, Mangoro, Zagzaga, Pole wire and Kazai.

The leader of the Adunu Pressure Group, Sebastian Mai’Karfi in a chat with our Correspondent explained that the armed Bandits had allegedly demanded for ransom of N200 million to release the 56 persons in their clutches.

On reports in some sections of the media that the Nigerian Army had purportedly rescued of over 100 kidnap victims in the state including the 56 from Adunu, he described the claims as a mere elaborate hoax fabricated by mischief maker

According to him “When the news came we were happy, our community. Emissaries from the palace of the district head of Adunu were immediately sent to the 44 Military Hospital Kaduna, where they were said our people were receiving treatment by military doctors and nurses.

This turned out to be false. It was a mere elaborate hoax fabricated by mischief makers and lousy noisy liars. The 56 villagers are not among those they claimed to have rescued. This further threw our communities into confusion.

He added that all the attacks took place unchallenged and up until now, no official of the Niger state government has visited the Adunu Kwagana communities.

Also, Marcus Bahago from Adunu village urged the government to set up strong police posts in all the affected areas as well as a permanent joint task force of military and other security agencies within Adunu to check the excesses of these criminal elements.

Bahago noted that unless action is taken fast to avert further attacks on the people, communities such as Ishau, Ammale, Adunu, Kwagana, Kaffinkoro, Chimbi and kwakuti of Paikoro council may be overrun by armed bandits.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters.

EFCC made this known in a tweet .

The commission identified the suspects as, Peter Omega Awupri, Philip Okonkwo, Emeka Okonkwo and Williams Chukwu. Others including Stephen Anthony, Edobor Osas, and Adetola Sunday, were arrested in Gwarimpa, Abuja following credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.

It said three international passports, smartwatch, a Lexus, eight phones, four laptops, and Toyota cars were seized from the suspects.

The anti graft agency added that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has vowed not to stop dancing despite criticisms.

He revealed that his childhood dream was to become an entertainer.

In an interview with News Central Africa, Governor Adeleke said he couldn’t achieve his dream because his father forced him to pursue an academic career. 

He said, Music makes me feel so good. I love music. I love dancing. In fact, I was supposed to be in the entertainment business. During the time we were growing up, our father believed that you had to be a doctor or lawyer; you had to go to school.

He said while schooling in the United States, he went to dancing competitions and won dollars as prize money.

Adeleke said, I still have it [dancing] in me. I do not believe that because I am a governor or when I was a senator it should stop. When we have get-togethers, everyone would be stuck up.

He warned critics to desist from trying to control his life, adding that there is time for everything, including dancing.

He, however, clarified that dancing will not stop him from performing his duties as governor.

Fondly called ‘dancing governor’, Adeleke is the father of popular Nigerian musicians B-Red and Shina Rambo, and uncle to famous singer, Davido.

The Federal Government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya.

According to Ambassador Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, who issued a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, a total of 151 citizens were flown from Benghazi, as the government resumed its voluntary evacuation.

The evacuees, including 71 females, 54 males, 14 children and 13 infants, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, tonight.

In 2022, the IOM and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Mission in Libya, repatriated almost 4,000 Nigerians who were irregular migrants.

Musa said the March 28 evacuation was the first in 2023, adding that additional exercises will follow in the coming days and weeks.

He further hinted that several Nigerians living illegally in Libya have been subjected to very inhumane treatment, adding that voluntary repatriation offers an opportunity for those who want to return to do so safely and reunite with their families.

More Nigerians will be evacuated from Tripoli on Wednesday and while another batch has been scheduled for April 3 from Misrata.

Nigerian skit maker, Ganiyu Kehinde Morufu, professionally known as Ijoba Lande, has been announced missing by his family.

Sharing the announcement video posted on the skit maker’s Instagram page on Tuesday, popular comic actor and online comedian Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola, called people’s attention to the development.

He wrote, Ah, what is going on? Ijoba Lande is missing. What’s happening? Anyone here knows about his whereabouts, please?

Ijoba Lande’s wife, in the video posted, explained that he left the house on Sunday night, the 26th of March, without his phone and is yet to return home.

She said: “This is to inform the public that Ijoba Lande left home to an unknown destination on the 26th of March around 9:00 pm, and yet to find him.

We have reported the case at the nearest police station, and they have helped us to send a signal to the radio station. Please, if you notice anything, you can DM his account or @ijesaekun. He left his phone at home after breaking his fasting on the 26th. That was the last time we heard from him.

The House of Representatives has passed a bill seeking to convert the Dave Umahi University of Medical Sciences to a federal government-owned university.

The bill, sponsored by Chinedu Oga, was considered by the Committee of the Whole and passed.

The passage followed the adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Institutions.

Aminu Suleiman, the Chairman of the Committee, while presenting the report, noted that the members of the committee visited the school and were impressed by the facilities there.

He commended the Ebonyi State university for the project.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had during a visit to the school promised that the federal government will take over the school.

The federal government had last year taken over the school and renamed it David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu.