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India Orders Curfew After Violence Over Tomb Of 17th-century Muslim Ruler

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Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew on parts of Nagpur following violent clashes triggered by a Hindu group’s call for the removal of the tomb of a 17th-century Mughal ruler, police said on Tuesday.

The unrest, which erupted on Monday in the central Indian city, left several people injured and caused extensive damage to vehicles.

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Police confirmed that at least 15 officers were among the injured, with one reported to be in serious condition. A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the violence was sparked by growing tensions over the controversial tomb.

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Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra, the state where Nagpur is located, condemned the unrest in a video statement and urged authorities to restore calm. “I have told the police commissioner to take whatever strict steps are necessary,” Fadnavis added.

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According to a police statement, members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) burnt an effigy of Emperor Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting slogans demanding its removal from the nearby city of Aurangabad.

According to Reuters, the situation escalated further when, according to a police officer, several members of Muslim groups marched towards a police station and began pelting stones at security personnel.

READ ALSO: China, India Lead As Nigeria’s Largest Trading Partners In Q4 2024 [Top 5 List]

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A local resident told ANI news agency that the attackers, who concealed their identities with masks, carried sharp weapons and bottles.

The VHP denied involvement in any violent activities. Its general secretary, Milind Parande, said in a video message that the group is calling for the tomb to be replaced with a memorial dedicated to rulers from the local Maratha community.

Nagpur also serves as the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent organisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The VHP is affiliated with the same network of organisations.

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Modi has frequently faced criticism from political opponents who accuse him of fostering discrimination against Muslims and failing to curb attacks targeting the community. Both the prime minister and his government have consistently rejected such allegations.

 

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Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist

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An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.

Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.

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Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.

READ ALSO: Our Country A Home, Not Hotel, Badenoch Decries UK Immigration Crisis

Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.

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The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.

Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.

 

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Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu

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Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.

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Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”

However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”

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Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Hosts Gov Adeleke, Deji Adeleke, Davido In Lagos

Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.

He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.

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“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.

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From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch

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A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.

Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.

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A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.

She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.

READ ALSO: Mass Failure: UTME Candidates To Sue JAMB Over Technical Glitches

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“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”

She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.

“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.

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Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: JAMB Admits To Errors In 2025 UTME

The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.

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In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.

“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.

Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.

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She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.

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