Headline

Drama As Two Suspected Money Ritualists Run Mad, Die In Edo

Published

4 years ago

October 5, 2021

Joseph Kanjo

Two young men suspected to have been involved in money ritual have reportedly died in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The duo, Ebafor Abiye, 25 years old from Ogbe in Akoko-Edo LGA and mechanic by profession, and 36 years old Alex Benjamin said to be from Otuo in Owan East Local Government Area of the state, and a commercial bike rider mysteriously died in the same hospital few minutes away from Igarra town where they both stay after what is suspected to be ritual activities went sour.

An eyewitness who narrated the incident on phone said Abiye was with his Aunty drinking around 9pm when he suddenly acted funny and started shouting as if he saw plenty money, adding that he was repeatedly shouting ‘Alex you’re a bad friend’ but Alex was not known to anyone so he (Abiye) was rushed to the hospital.

The eyewitness narrated that, as this drama was unfolding at Abiye’s end, it was not known to them that Alex was at the middle of incarnations of his ritual where he was said to have called his wife not to come back home after her daily sales, but it was not clear what her husband meant so she went home after sales of the day where she meant him in his drama too.

She was said to have called neighbours who immediately came to the scene and rushed him to the hospital but fortunately he was rushed to same hospital where his name was repeatedly mentioned by Abiye.

“Ebafo was with his Aunty on Monday night drinking between 9 and 10 pm when he suddenly started shouting as if he see money, plenty money, Alex you are bad friend, bad friend’ and he started behaving hysterically, so they were trying to calm him down but he started vomiting blood and that is how he was rushed to the hospital. They got to the hospital at about 10pm and as the Doctor was doing preliminary checks, he started shouting Alex name in the hospital again so they were wondering whether it was the Alex he was mentioning that gave him something to eat.

“On the hand, Alex was in the middle of his own incantations when he was said to have called his wife who sells fruits by Afekhai junction in Igarra and told her that when she finishes her sales for the day, she should not come home. But his wife did not understand what her husband meant by that and went home after the sales only for her to get home and saw her husband stretching and talking incoherently.

“She summoned neighbours who helped rush him, coincidentally, to the same hospital.

“The wife was crying and shouting the name Alex and then the person brought in by the other people was also shouting the name Alex. The two of them started behaving the same way and in less than five minutes, the two of them were dead,” eyewitness narrated.

It was gathered that it was when his wife went home to bring cloth to cover him that she saw fire and a coffin in the floor of their room and when the people who brought Emafe went to his room, they were also said to have discovered several charms scattered in the floor of his room.

As at the time of filing this report, the police are said to have evacuated the corpses but that the Igarra community insisted that they remove the charms discovered in their houses.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of Edo State Police Command, Bello Kontongs said he was yet to get a full briefing of the incident.

Headline

Russia, China Afraid Of US Under My Administration — Trump

Published

14 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has said Russia and China fear the United States because of the strength of his administration, arguing that American global influence is driven primarily by its military power and leadership.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated that rival powers would not take NATO seriously without the United States, claiming the alliance lacks deterrent force in the absence of American involvement.

He expressed doubts about whether NATO members would come to the aid of the US in a real crisis, despite Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance.

The president credited his leadership with rebuilding the US military during his first term and sustaining its strength, describing this as the key reason adversaries show respect and caution toward the country.

He maintained that America’s military dominance has played a central role in preserving global stability and saving lives.

Trump also argued that his administration forced NATO members to increase defence spending, saying many allies had previously failed to meet financial commitments while relying heavily on the US.

He added that his actions helped prevent further escalation in Eastern Europe and contributed to the resolution of multiple conflicts.

According to Trump, the United States remains the only nation that commands genuine fear and respect from both Russia and China, a position he attributed to his administration’s approach to defence, diplomacy, and global leadership.

“He wrote partly, “The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.”

Headline

Trump To Withdraw US From 66 UN, International Organisations

Published

14 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to withdraw the US from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including key global bodies focused on climate change, peace and democracy.

The decision was disclosed in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday evening, following a review of which “organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States.”

According to Trump, the move will see the US end its participation in the affected organisations and cut all related funding.

A list shared by the White House showed that 35 of the organisations are non-UN bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Although listed as a non-UN body by the White House, the IPCC is a United Nations organisation that brings together leading scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide periodic reports to guide political leaders.

The memorandum also announced the US withdrawal from 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.

Several of the targeted UN bodies are involved in protecting vulnerable groups during armed conflicts, including the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Reacting to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a note to correspondents on Wednesday evening that the organisation expected to issue a response by Thursday morning.

Despite repeatedly stating his desire to limit US involvement in UN forums, Trump has continued to exert influence on international decision-making.

In October last year, he threatened to impose sanctions on diplomats who formally adopted a levy on polluting shipping fuels that had already been agreed to at an earlier meeting, a move that stalled the deal for 12 months.

The Trump administration also sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese after she released a report detailing the role of international and US companies in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

During his first term in 2017, Trump similarly threatened to cut aid to countries that supported a draft UN resolution condemning the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US wields significant influence at the United Nations, including veto power, which it has repeatedly used to block efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza before later mediating a ceasefire.

(Aljazeera)

Headline

UK Supported US Mission To Seize Russian-flagged Oil Tanker – Defense Ministry

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that it provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

US seized the tanker, which was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

According to Britain, its armed forces gave pre-planned operational support, including basing following a US request for assistance.

The UK also said a military vessel provided support for the US forces pursuing the tanker, and the Royal Air Force provided surveillance support from the air.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the operation targeted a vessel with a nefarious history linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion networks.

“This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” he said in a statement.

According to him, the US was Britain’s closest defence and security partner.

“The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice,” he added.

The British government said that the Bella-1 tanker, now renamed Marinera, is sanctioned by the US under its counter-Iran sanctions,

The MoD statement said the support was provided in full compliance with international law.