Headline

Nigerian Asylum Seeker Stabbed To Death In Dublin

Published

6 months ago

February 22, 2025

A Nigerian asylum seeker, Quham Babatunde, 34, was tragically killed in a brutal stabbing near Dublin’s main shopping district, raising growing concerns over knife-related violence in the Irish capital.

Mr. Babatunde reportedly attended an Afroswing event at a nightclub before the attack took place in the early hours of February 15 on South Anne Street. Emergency responders treated him at the scene for multiple stab wounds, including one to the heart, according to The Irish Independent.

He was rushed to St James’s Hospital, where medical staff fought to save his life, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

A second man sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including a suspected fractured cheekbone, and was also treated at St James’s Hospital.

Authorities have launched a murder investigation and arrested two men who are currently being questioned in connection with the incident.

Babatunde had been living at the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre in Ballyogan, south Dublin, according to reports from RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster.

Disturbing footage circulating on social media shows a masked individual wielding a large knife amid a chaotic altercation on South Anne Street, near Grafton Street—one of Europe’s busiest shopping areas. The video appears to capture the moment Babatunde was attacked, followed by scenes of paramedics attending to him on the ground.

The suspects fled the scene before emergency services arrived.

The area, known for its bars and restaurants, remained busy with pedestrians at the time of the attack. Gardaí believe both the victim and suspects had attended the same Afroswing event at a nearby club before the violent incident occurred. Investigators are examining whether the stabbing followed a clash between two groups after the event at Twenty Two Dublin nightclub.

Following the tragedy, management at the Ballyogan IPAS centre issued a message of condolence, highlighting that Babatunde head one of the centre’s earliest residents.

“In light of this sad event, anyone who has been affected, IPAS has put in place support for both residents and staff to be able to get through this difficult time.

“Our sincere condolences go out to his friends and family and anyone who knew him in Ballyogan,” the statement read.

Former asylum seeker and activist Lucky Khambule told The Irish Mirror that residents at the Ballyogan centre were devastated by the loss. Friends described Babatunde as a cheerful person, known for his ever-present smile.

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”