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UK, Brighter Futures Takes Campaign Against Cultism To Edo State

Published

2 years ago

April 5, 2023

Cancel Cults’, a campaign launched by the Brighter Futures Programme and supported by the Unite Kingdom government is set to curb the menace of cultism in Edo State which has claimed thousands of lives.

Cultism and other forms of serious organised crime have been a significant challenge in Nigeria, particularly in Edo State.

According to Exams Ethic Marshall International (EEMI), no fewer than 10,000 people have been killed in cult-related violence within and outside school campuses between 1996 and 2019.

To address the problem, the “Cancel Cults” campaign in Edo State, supported by the UK government aims to reduce cultism and other forms of serious organized crime in Nigeria.

The campaign’s primary focus is to reach vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cultism and provide alternative pathways to build sustainable livelihoods.

The management team in a statement explained that the Cancel Cults campaign adopts various strategies to reach vulnerable youths in Edo State, including radio talk shows, awareness events, engagements in schools and communities, and social media influencers.

The campaign will also introduce school mentorship programs and sports to sensitize vulnerable youths to the dangers of cybercrime in their communities, the team stated.

The campaign will also enlighten young people in Edo State to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities through legitimate means.

Speaking about the campaign in Edo State, Mr. Odili Adams, a member from one of the target communities of the Cancel Cults campaign stated, “For too long, we have feared that one day our children and young adults would fall victim to the lies of cultists and end up wasting their lives, after all, there is a limit to how much we parents can monitor our children, however, this CANCEL CULTS campaign will augment the efforts made to protect our youths from cultist’s narratives and build their resilience to become valuable members of the community.”

“The campaign is working with the government and other Civil Society Organizations to create an environment where youths can thrive through legitimate means. The campaign encourages young people to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them and avoid the trap of cultism and other criminal activities,” the statement read.

The launch of the Cancel Cults campaign in Edo State has been described as a step in the right direction towards curbing cultism and other forms of serious organized crime in Nigeria.

Brighter Futures Campaign, therefore called on all stakeholders to support the vital initiative and create a brighter future for Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

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Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

3 hours 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

3 hours 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.

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US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

3 hours 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.”