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Again, gunmen abduct Catholic priest along Enugu road

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Gunmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest in Enugu State, Nigeria’s south-east.

The victim, Gerald Ohaeri, was kidnapped on Saturday evening along Ugwogo Nike-Opi Express Road in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.

The Secretary, Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Province of Nigeria in the South-east, Vitalis Anusionwu, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a religious body of male clerics in the Catholic Church.

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Members of the body are often referred to as Holy Ghost fathers.

The kidnap

Mr Anusionwu, also a Catholic priest, said the cleric was kidnapped on his way back from Isienu after a function held in Enugu metropolis.

“We solicit your fervent prayers and supplications to God that he may be released as soon as possible and come back to us safe and sound,” he said.

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The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls seeking his comment.

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, was yet to respond to a WhatsApp message as of the time of this report.

Increased kidnap attacks

Like other parts of Enugu, cases of kidnap-for-ransom along the Opi-Nsukka- Ugwogo-Nike Road have increased in recent times.

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Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the area.

The latest incident occurred two months after gunmen kidnapped a Nigerian professor, Oguejiofor Ujam along the Opi-Nsukka- Ugwogo-Nike Road.

Mr Ujam later escaped from captivity after security operatives engaged his abductors in a shootout in late October.

The kidnap of the professor occurred hours after gunmen kidnapped an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Emeason Chima, along the same road.

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He was yet to be freed as of the time of this report.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnap of the Catholic priest although a separatist group IPOB has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the region.

IPOB is seeking the secession of the south-east and some parts of south-south from Nigeria

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15 huts razed, one injured in renewed Jukun-Tiv violence

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A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between the Jukun and Tiv communities has erupted in Taraba State, with suspected Jukun militias launching an early-morning attack on Dekeh Village along the Wukari–Kente Road.
According to security sources available to Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

About six armed assailants stormed the village, opening fire indiscriminately and setting 15 huts ablaze. The attack forced residents to flee in panic, leaving behind food items, including yam seedlings, which were destroyed in the blaze.

One resident identified as Mdue Saaondo, sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. He was rescued by a joint team of police and military personnel and transported to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari for medical treatment.

The Taraba State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have also scheduled a security meeting with the Wukari Local Government Traditional Council as part of efforts to restore peace and encourage dialogue between the Tiv and Jukun communities, who have long-standing disputes over land and territorial claims.

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“Patrol and surveillance operations are ongoing to forestall further violence and ensure stability in the area,” police authorities stated.

The incident adds to the growing list of violent clashes that have plagued southern Taraba in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the communal tensions.

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2025 U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles zoom into quarter-final after draw with Kenya

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked a place in the quarter-final at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after playing out a 2-2 draw against Kenya.

Aliyu Zubairu’s side finished second in Group B with five points from three games.

The Atlas Cub of Morocco top the group with seven points after beating Tunisia 3-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.

Kenya started the game strongly, and deservedly took the lead after six minutes.

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Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu handled the ball inside the box, and after initially awarding a free kick to Kenya, the centre referee pointed to the spot following consultation with VAR.

Captain Kevin Wangaya Colly slotted the ball past Ebenezer Harcourt to give the Rising Stars the lead.

The Flying Eagles fought back seven minutes later with Lillestrøm striker Kparobo Arierhi netting after he was put on through on goal by Simon Cletus.

Nigeria dominated the game in the second half but failed to test the Kenyan goalkeeper.

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Kenya took the lead for the second time in the game through substitute William Nwangi on 68 minutes.

Nwangi lashed home Humphrey Kegengo’s free kick from inside the box.

Daniel Bameyi, however, converted from the spot to hand the Flying Eagles a share of the spoils.

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Trump announces judicial nominees, accuses US court of obstruction

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United States President Donald Trump has announced a fresh slate of judicial nominees in a series of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday.

The president, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over what he sees as judicial obstruction, followed up on Wednesday with a post criticising the judiciary for allegedly preventing him from carrying out the mandate of the American people.

The Republican leader, whose second-term agenda has encountered multiple judicial roadblocks, wrote: “Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do.

“Activist judges must let the [Donald] Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”

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Trump named Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, as a nominee for a judgeship on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot” in a post on Tuesday.

The 78-year-old also nominated Judge Cristian Stevens to serve on the same court, describing him in another post as “a Great Patriot.”

The announcements came a day after a federal appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to revoke temporary legal status from hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans living in the United States.

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