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UN Probe: US Strikes That Killed Children in Iran May Amount to War Crimes

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A United Nations-backed fact-finding mission has found “reasonable grounds to believe” that the United States committed war crimes in two airstrikes in Iran that killed at least 178 civilians, including a large number of children.

The findings centre on a February 28, 2026, missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, southern Iran, and a separate attack on a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd on the same day.

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said the Minab attack killed more than 150 people, with investigators citing credible information that approximately 123 children under the age of 13 were among the dead. Iranian state media have reported a higher toll of 168 people killed in the school strike.

According to the mission, the school was a clearly identifiable civilian facility. Investigators said photographs and videos taken before the attack showed child-oriented murals, school signs and playgrounds that should have made its civilian character apparent.

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The strike was carried out using Tomahawk missiles.

“The Mission concluded that when identifying and directing its attack against the primary school in Minab, whose civilian nature is apparent, the US failed in its obligation to do everything feasible to verify that it was a military objective,” the report said.

The investigators further said satellite imagery appeared to show children gathered in the school’s courtyard before the strike.

Images and videos from the aftermath showed extensive destruction, including damaged classrooms, bloodied school materials and parents searching for or holding the remains of their children.

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The mission said several families lost more than one child, describing the impact as devastating for both the affected families and the wider community.

US President Donald Trump previously rejected the suggestion that American forces had deliberately targeted a girls’ school. In June, he said “nobody” had intentionally attacked a girls’ school in Iran and referred to an investigation into the incident. The Pentagon has not publicly released the findings of that investigation.

Second strike in Lamerd

The UN-backed investigators also examined a February 28 strike in Lamerd, where precision-guided missiles hit a sports complex and nearby residential areas.

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The mission said the attack killed 22 civilian men and women. It found that the sports centre was “visibly separate” from an adjacent compound belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The missiles reportedly dispersed tungsten pellets over the area, causing casualties and damage beyond the immediate point of impact. Independent analysis by Airwars and weapons experts has also examined the wide blast and fragmentation pattern associated with the strike.

However, the United States has denied responsibility for the Lamerd attack. US Central Command said in March that American forces had not carried out strikes in the city on the day in question.

UN also accuses Iran of crimes against humanity

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The report did not focus solely on US military actions.

The fact-finding mission also accused Iranian authorities of serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity during a crackdown on nationwide protests that began in late December 2025 and continued into early 2026.

The investigators cited allegations including unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention and other abuses against protesters and civilians.

The report is expected to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

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The findings come amid continued disputes over responsibility for civilian deaths during the Iran conflict, with Washington rejecting criticism from UN human rights bodies while Iranian authorities face separate allegations over their treatment of protesters.

The UN mission’s conclusions are investigative findings rather than a criminal conviction by an international court. Any eventual legal determination of individ

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2027: OK Movement Unveils 59-Member Campaign Council for Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket

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The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, has unveiled a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The movement, which supports the proposed presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), announced the composition of the council in a statement issued on Thursday.

The new campaign structure brings together zonal and state coordinators, alongside directors responsible for key areas including grassroots mobilisation, women affairs, strategy and planning, security, legal affairs, information technology, administration and public engagement.

John Ughulu, the movement’s Director-General, will serve as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, while National Secretary Saadatu Sani will also play a central role in the campaign leadership.

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The structure covers Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with coordinators designated for the 36 states.

Zonal coordinators

The movement named Suleiman Abubakar as North-Central Coordinator, Hashimu Dungurawa for the North-West and Amadu Gwambe for the North-East.

Others are Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye for the South-West, Christopher Ighodaro for the South-South and El-Shaddai Ikeh for the South-East.

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The council also includes state coordinators across the six geopolitical zones and the FCT.

Among the other appointments are Rev. Mike Agbon, Director of Inter-Ethnic Group in Northern Nigeria; Sabo Gashua, Director of Grassroots Mobilisation; Glory Adayi, Director of Women Affairs; Kabir Yahaya, Director of Contact and Engagement; and Abdumumini Tijjani, Director of Mobilisation.

Yusuf Mani was named Director of Special Duties, while Peace Daful will oversee Procurement. Sunmisola Adebayo was appointed Director of Information Technology and Kingdom Okere will head Legal Affairs.

Other appointments include Prof. Charles Nwekeaku as Director of South-Eastern Town Hall, Abiodun Dabiri as Director of Strategy and Planning, retired CSP Richard Enemona as Director of Security and Intelligence, and Aisha Abdulrahaman as Director of Administration.

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Sani charges council with grassroots mobilisation

In her message to the newly appointed members, Sani described their appointments as a call to service and urged them to take the movement’s message beyond major cities to local communities across the country.

She said the council members would be expected to communicate the movement’s programme and the positions of its principals across states, local government areas, wards and communities.

“Your selection is not merely an appointment; it is a call to duty, sacrifice, leadership and service to Nigeria,” Sani said.

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She added that the task ahead would require strategic planning, effective communication, teamwork and grassroots mobilisation.

According to her, the movement intends to build a nationwide organisational structure capable of reaching communities across the federation as the 2027 election approaches.

The OK Movement said its campaign activities would operate across the 36 states and the FCT, with the newly constituted council expected to coordinate mobilisation and engagement efforts.

Ameh resigns as OK Movement DG

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The unveiling of the campaign council comes about a month after High Chief Peter Ameh resigned as Director-General of the OK Movement.

Ameh announced his resignation with immediate effect in August, saying he needed to devote more time to his campaign for the Kogi East Senatorial District seat in the 2027 election on the NDC platform.

In his resignation letter, Ameh said stepping down would enable him to concentrate on his senatorial ambition.

He, however, maintained that his resignation did not amount to a withdrawal of support for Obi or the political project associated with the movement.

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Ameh also said he was prepared to support whoever Obi appointed to succeed him as Director-General.

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Abuja industrial area to enjoy 24-hour electricity with 50MW mini-grid – Minister, Tegbe

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The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said the Idu Industrial Area in Abuja will soon enjoy a 24-hour electricity supply through the Federal Government’s 50-megawatt electrification initiative.

Tegbe made this disclosure on Thursday at an event in Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Government is conducting comprehensive technical audits across major industrial corridors nationwide, prioritising the Lagos industrial axis, the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, and the Enugu-Onitsha axis.

He noted that the first phase of the Idu industrial electrification project is expected to deliver 10MW by December 2026, while the remaining 40MW will be rolled out through 2027.

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Tegbe added that the Lagos industrial corridor accounts for approximately 40 percent of national electricity demand, adding that government interventions in the zone aim to create or secure around 180,000 jobs over the next six months.

“Our target is that within six months we will fix the issues in the Lagos/Sagamu corridor regarding infrastructure and then move on to Abuja and then the Enugu-Onitsha axis,” Tegbe declared.

“We need to ensure the transmission happens. And then even distribution. I am sure Abuja Disco is represented here, because if you want to effectively distribute to the industrial end users, there must be a handshake.”

On his part, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, emphasised that the government’s broader industrial strategy centres on promoting local production, value addition, economic diversification, and the integration of Nigerian industries into global markets.

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“When you produce locally, you contribute to job creation and provide our abundant youth with a pathway for employment,” he stated.

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2027: ADC Guber Candidate Zakari Mohammed Warns Kwarans Against Trading Futures For Money, Rice

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Ahead of the 2027 general election, Kwara State ADC gubernatorial candidate, Hon Zakari Mohammed has urged voters in the State of Harmony and across the country not to trade their moral judgment, values and civic duties for momentary financial gains or gifts from the politicians.

Speaking during a high-stakes meeting with party stakeholders from Oyun and Offa local governments in Ijagbo, on Thursday, Hon Zakari Mohammed warned that accepting bribes at the ballot box yields only short-term relief while producing a bad leadership that will cripple the nation for years.

The citizens, he added, should prioritize experience and competence when electing the country’s next crop of leaders.

Launching a sharp critique against the federal government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, which has according to him inflicted severe financial hardship on ordinary Nigerians, Hon Zakari Mohammed condemned the President Bola Tinubu administration’s reliance on palliatives, arguing that the government has systematically reduced Nigeria to a welfare state centered around a single commodity.

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‘If there is any calamity anywhere, they distribute rice. If people complain of economic hardship, they will distribute rice. If anything happens anywhere, they distribute rice. During elections, they will distribute rice, sadly, we have been turned into a ‘rice country’, Mohammed lamented.

While urging voters to reject political manipulation, he also offered a pragmatic take on the hand-outs that usually surface on Election Day saying ;‘reject their money and vote for our party. But if you want to collect it, you can do so, it is a transaction with no receipts. We actually need to show them that we can determine and take decisions on who should emerge as our leaders’.

Focusing on regional representation, Hon Zakari Mohammed urged the people of Ibolo axis to cast their votes solidly for the ADC pointing out that the party has demonstrated its deep respect for the Ibolo people by choosing their kinsmen as House of Representatives candidate and deputy gubernatorial candidate.

He further assured the electorate that his administration would reject the traditional sidelining of ‘secondary leaders’ promising that his running mate will not function as a ‘spare tyre’ but would be a fully empowered deputy governor capable of driving governance and delivering tangible results.

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Hon Zakari Mohammed also called for absolute determination and commitment from Kwarans, emphasizing that the real change will only come when citizens collectively resolve to vote for a better future.

The ADC guber candidate also urged Kwarans and other Nigerians not to feel intimidated or fear the much-talked-about ‘federal might,’ saying the people’s will must prevail.

Hon Zakari Mohammed asserted that he is the most experienced among the guber candidates, having served in the legislative and executive arms of government for 16 years. This, he noted, will make him hit the ground running as he will not need to be tutored.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed, who was accompanied by the Kwara South ADC senate candidate, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo; the state Deputy Chairman; former Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Abubakar Idris; and other party bigwigs, had earlier in the day appeared as a guest on TNT’s Oro Ilu programme.

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TNT is a private radio station located in Ijagbo, Oyun local government.

The ADC gubernatorial candidate also stopped over in Ajase-Ipo to meet with party stalwarts in the axis including the Ward Chairman, Mr. Tayese Tajudeen, and Alhaji Ganiyu Folorunso.

Addressing party members at both locations, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo emphasized the need for the people of the state to prioritize electing an educated, competent governor who understands how to deliver good governance while urging the electorate to ensure a straight-ticket voting in the upcoming general election in order to truly enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Noting that this is the first time he and Hon. Zakari Mohammed will belong to the same political entity, he added that well-meaning people from various political organizations left their former parties to join the ADC to bring about positive change in the country.

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He also said anyone who votes for the APC or PDP in the state during the upcoming elections does not want freedom for Kwarans, saying; ‘Let us work together for victory and enjoy it’.

Party members Opeyemi Okikiola and Oguntokun Foluke, alongside the ADC chairman in Offa local government, Hon. Abdulrauf Idowu, also spoke at the event and in their separate speeches, they noted that Hon. Zakari Mohammed is the only candidate from a major political party without a political godfather, while urging everyone to support his candidacy-

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