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Nigerian Pilgrims Stranded In Saudi Arabia, Cries Out For Help

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Some Nigerian pilgrims from Katsina State on Friday accused the State Board of abandoning them in Mina, Saudi Arabia without providing them with accommodation.

In a video seen, the pilgrims were seen in their large numbers sleeping on the floor under a canopy in their religious wear.

One of them who identified himself as Usman Bello Daura lamented that the state authorities had failed to provide them with top-notch welfare packages despite paying over N8million for the ongoing hajj exercise.

He said: “Here are my colleague and this is our condition. This is where we are sleeping. We are facing very critical situation of accommodation and I am afraid because of a day like tomorrow (the day of Arafat) because this is the day everyone needs to do well as it is the most significant day of Hajj.

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“We don’t want this kind of thing to happen tomorrow, which is the day of Arafat, because our leader didn’t do justice to us in terms of our welfare and accomodations.

“We have found ourselves in a situation that all of us are not happy about and we hope we get out of this situation before tomorrow (Arafat day).”

Another pilgrim mentioned that the situation was different from those from Borno state. He said pilgrims from Borno were well catered to by their authorities.

The pilgrim said, “I have seen the difference between pilgrims from Maiduguri and Katsina state because Maiduguri is where my father comes through and his accommodation and any other things are intact. But here the pilgrims from Katsina are abandoned and I try to find our representatives here in Saudi Arabia to complain to but I couldn’t find any of them.”

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He continued: “Today they brought us to Mina and the authorities from Katsina state have been going up and down with us without providing us with proper places of accommodation.

“Please and I am pleading whosoever is responsible for our welfare in this holy land should please come out to hear us out.”

The pilgrims therefore demanded for the immediate intervention of the state government on their situation.

One of them said, “I want to draw attention of Mr governor to this critical issue we are facing here, I want to advise him to be careful in the kind of people he entrust with the responsibility of pilgrimage going forward. We are not happy here, we don’t have accommodation and we are left abandoned.”

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Ibom Focus on Thursday reported how Nigeria lost two more pilgrims from Kwara State currently participating in the ongoing Hajj.

This was announced by the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, identifying the deceased as Salman Muhammad Alade and Ayishat Shuaib Ologele died after suffering brief illnesses.

Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and asked Allah to comfort and pardon them.

Abdulkadir had previously declared Hajia Hawawu Muhammad’s death as “an unfortunate suicidal episode from the rooftop of her apartment in Madina.” He also said that the other pilgrim who died in Madina, Saliu Mohammed, died in an intensive care unit of a public hospital after unexpectedly falling ill.

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Former Reps member, Temilola Adibi is dead

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Hon. Temilola Adibi, a former member of the House of Representatives, has died.

He was aged 64.

He represented the Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire federal constituency in Oyo State from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy party.

His death reportedly happened on Tuesday morning.

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Adibi reportedly died after going for a jog in Ilorin, Kwara State, where he had been living.

A close associate said that Adibi had been in good health prior to his sudden death.

He had spoken with people the night before and even posted on his WhatsApp status at 4 a.m. before his death.

Adibi was well-known and respected in Oyo State for his contributions to local governance and community development.

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In addition to his time in the House of Representatives, he also held important roles, such as Chairman of the Oyo State Sports Council and Director-General of the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA).

He further served as Director-General of the Bill and Signage Board during Governor Seyi Makinde’s first term.

Earlier in his career, Adibi had been the Chairman of the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area.

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Sokoto govt intensify operations against bandit, terrorists

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*Alerts residents as bandits flee military operations

By Francesca Hangeior

The Sokoto State Government has issued a warning to residents to remain vigilant as military operations against bandit terrorists intensify in the eastern part of the state and surrounding areas.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, the government highlighted the success of the ongoing joint military operations, which have left the bandits disorganised.

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The statement explained that multiple terrorist enclaves have been destroyed, dozens of bandits neutralised, and hundreds of kidnapped victims rescued.

The statement urged residents to be cautious and report any suspicious activities in their communities.

“As security forces increase pressure on the bandits, some of them are fleeing to other areas with injured members. We are raising awareness to ensure our people remain alert, as these bandits may attempt to hide in villages or seek medical treatment at local clinics under disguise,” the statement read.

The government reiterated its commitment to working with security agencies to restore peace and stability in the state, adding that residents were encouraged to play an active role by reporting unusual activities to the authorities to support the ongoing efforts to secure the region.

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“This proactive measure aligns with the governor’s nine-point agenda to create a safer and more economically viable Sokoto State.

“The government remains determined to work collaboratively with security operatives to protect citizens and maintain peace in the state,” the statement concluded.

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Families weigh risk of sending kids to school over Trump immigration crackdown

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By Francesca Hangeior

As President Donald Trump cracks down on immigrants in the U.S. illegally, some families are wondering if it is safe to send their children to school.

In many districts, educators have sought to reassure immigrant parents that schools are safe places for their kids, despite the president’s campaign pledge to carry out mass deportations. But fears intensified for some when the Trump administration announced Tuesday it would allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches and hospitals, ending a decades-old policy.

“Oh, dear God! I can’t imagine why they would do that,” said Carmen, an immigrant from Mexico, after hearing that the Trump administration had rescinded the policy against arrests in “sensitive locations.”

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She plans to take her two grandchildren, ages 6 and 4, to their school Wednesday in the San Francisco Bay Area unless she hears from school officials it is not safe.

“What has helped calm my nerves is knowing that the school stands with us and promised to inform us if it’s not safe at school,” said Carmen, who spoke on condition that only her first name be used, out of fear she could be targeted by immigration officials.

Immigrants across the country have been anxious about Trump’s pledge to deport millions of people. While fears of raids did not come to pass on the administration’s first day, rapid changes on immigration policy have left many confused and uncertain about their future.

At a time when many migrant families — even those in the country legally — are assessing whether and how to go about in public, many school systems are watching for effects on student attendance. Several schools said they were fielding calls from worried parents about rumors that immigration agents would try to enter schools, but it was too early to tell whether large numbers of families are keeping their children home.

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Missing school can deprive students of more than learning. For students from low-income families, including many immigrants, schools are a primary way to access food, mental health services and other support.

Tuesday’s move to clear the way for arrests at schools reverses guidance that restricted two federal agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection from carrying out enforcement in sensitive locations. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said: “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

Daniela Anello, who heads D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School in the nation’s capital, said she was shocked by the announcement.

“It’s horrific,” Anello said. “There’s no such thing as hiding anyone. It doesn’t happen, hasn’t happened. … It’s ridiculous.”

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An estimated 733,000 school-aged children are in the U.S. illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Many more have U.S. citizenship but have parents who are in the country illegally.

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