News

China, Cambodia hail Trump’s decision to defund US-funded media

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

By Francesca Hangeior

Beijing on Tuesday said media outlets facing the axe by US President Donald Trump had a “notorious” history of reporting on China, as Cambodia’s autocratic former leader hailed the move for “combating fake news”.

Trump signed an order last week freezing Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and other outlets as part of his sweeping cuts to Federal Government spending.

RFA was created to provide reporting to China, North Korea and other countries in the region with heavily restricted press.

It has reported extensively in recent years on issues highly sensitive to Beijing authorities and other autocratic leaders in Asia.

Asked about Trump’s decision during a daily news briefing, China’s foreign ministry said it did not comment on domestic policies of the US government.

But, said spokeswoman Mao Ning: “I think it is no secret that some of the US media you mentioned have a notorious track record in reporting on China.”

In an editorial, state-backed nationalist tabloid Global Times went further — describing Voice of America as a “lie factory”.

“The so-called beacon of freedom, VOA, has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag,” it said.

“The demonising narratives propagated by VOA will ultimately become a laughingstock of the times,” it added.

China has frequently criticised Western media reporting on the country as “biased” and it heavily restricts the operations of domestic news outlets.

Thorny topics covered by RFA and its fellow outlets included China’s alleged large-scale human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in the regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the crackdown on democratic activists in Hong Kong.

Notably, Radio Free Asia’s reporting is published in a wide range of languages spoken in China, including Tibetan and Uyghur as well as Mandarin and Cantonese.

Related news stories are heavily censored in China’s domestic media environment — and foreign reports on the subjects are blocked online.

The outlets had also long been critical of the influential former leader of Cambodia Hun Sen.

He welcomed the move to cut their funding, praising Trump for “his courage to lead the world in combating fake news, starting with news outlets funded by the US government”.

Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for nearly four decades and shut down multiple independent media outlets, has been the subject of critical reporting by VOA and Radio Free Asia.

In 2020, Beijing ordered several US media outlets — including VOA — to declare in writing their staff, finances, operations and real estate in China.

The decree was part of a media row between Washington and Beijing that saw more than a dozen journalists working for US media expelled from China.

News

Police arrest six suspected kidnappers in Edo, recover arms

Published

31 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

Naijablitznews

By Francesca Hangeior

The Edo State Police Command has arrested six suspected kidnappers with cash suspected to be proceeds from kidnapping activities.

The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Tuesday, said arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects in the last 48 hours.

Yamu disclosed that the arrests and recoveries were made in several places in Edo North which has experienced kidnappings and killings in the last three weeks.

The statement read, “On 16/03/2024 at about 04:30hrs, operatives of the Agbede Police Division alongside vigilante personnel, while on stop and search in Aviele along Abumere by power line, intercepted and arrested three suspects Jamilu Idris (20 years) Usman Shuaibu (24 years) and Yahuza Usman (20 years).

“One English-made Beretta pistol, one dagger, and an Infinix phone were recovered from the suspects after they were searched.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for kidnaping and armed robbery, including snatching of motorcycles in that axis of the state. Investigation continues with a view to arrest other members of the syndicate.

“On 16/03/2025 at about 22:10hrs, operatives of the Auchi Division, in collaboration with the vigilante on routine stop and search at UBA junction Auchi, intercepted two young men. The young men who took to their heels on sighting the police were given a hot chase, and one Adamu Usman of Hausa Quarters was arrested while his accomplice escaped.

“The on-the-spot search led to the recovery of N1,345,100 believed to be proceeds of kidnapping. Also recovered were five micro sim cards, one machete, one dagger, two phones and a pack of cigarettes.

“During preliminary investigation, two additional suspects, Iliyasu Abubakar (19 years) and Safiyanu Mohammed (20 years) were arrested, while one of the sim cards was discovered to belong to one Ajibola Sunday of Igbirra camp in Auchi. When Ajibola Sunday was contacted and invited to the station, he identified the suspect as being part of the eight-man gang that kidnapped him and his mother-in-law on 11/03/2025 and their relations had to part with the sum of N10 million to secure their release.”

Yamu said that the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, assured the public of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He assured all that perpetrators would be brought to justice.

News

Reps Move to Investigate Killings In Igbatoro Community

Published

32 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has condemned in its entirety the massacre and kidnapping at Igbatoro Famnilugba Community by armed herdsmen.

The House therefore called on the Federal Government to establish a Military Post in Igbatoro Community in Akure North Local Government of Ondo State to stop further killing and kidnapping of harmless farmers in that area;

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of the criminal act, and ensure that those kidnapped should be released as urgent as possible.

This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a matter of urgent public importance on the “Need for the Federal Government to Intervene In the Massive Massacre and Kidnapping at Igbatoro Familugba Community in Akure North by the Armed Herdsmen”, by Rep. Abiodun Derin Adesida on Tuesday at plenary.

Debating the motion, Rep. Adesida noted that gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, in the early hours of Saturday, attacked four communities in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving scores of people living in the communities were killed in the midnight attack.

He said: “The recent massacre and kidnapping at Igbatoro Familugba Community 1% of March, 2025 by a group of Armed herdsmen who massacre and kidnapped one of the farmers, who was later rescued with a ransom of 1, 200, 000 (one million, two hundred thousand, Naira, only;

“The people of Igbatoro Familugba, Ajegunle, Bolorunduro, Egbeta, OjuMola, Ago—Ada, Obatedo, Asaboro, Ago~Alhaji, Araromi Camp, Sunday Camp, Power line Camp, Ago—Dada and Ala Elefosan in Akure North Local Government of Ondo State are predominantly farmers producing Agricultural Produce in large commercial quantity.

“Alarmed that on 6 of March, 2025 herdsmen attacked some villages in Igbatoro Familugba Community on Sunday and Alhajido Camps, killing nine helpless persons in the middle of the night, machete those trying to escape and burnt down their houses.

“Disturbed that the attack started last Monday, but the most severe assault happened On Fridayfight wheré the bandits struck while people were asleep, opening firé–indiscriminately, many ran into the bush, while some were not so lucky”.

He stated that the attack by the armed herdsmen has caused immense suffering, trauma and devastation to the affected families and the community at large; even as he expressed worries that perpetrators of this atrocity have shown no regard for human life, dignity, or the rule of law.

“Also aware that Section of 14 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 provides that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens;

“Cognizant of the need to take measures to prevent future occurrences of such violence and ensure the safety and security of all citizens”, he added.

The House observe a minute silence In honour of those that lost their lives, and directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to affected victims.

The House further mandated its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate massive massacre and kidnapping at Igbatoro Familugba Community by Fulani Herdsmen and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

The House also mandated the National Emergence Disaster Preparedness to ensure compliance.

News

Just in: Senate moves to make Facebook, others have offices in Nigeria

Published

48 minutes ago

March 18, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Bill seeking to make it necessary for social media platforms to have physical offices within Nigeria, on Tuesday witnessed a significant progress.

The Bill promoted by Senator Ned Nwoko was read the second time in the Senate chamber.

The proposed law titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to make it mandatory for social media platforms to have physical offices within Nigeria and for other related matters 2025’, passed the second reading after receiving an overwhelming support from the lawmakers.

Details shortly….