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he Tinubu/Kashim Elders Mobilisation Circle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has called on the Federal Government to urgently address Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis. The group, in a statement on Monday, expressed concerns over the skyrocketing cost of living, rising inflation, and deteriorating conditions in sectors like security, education, and healthcare.

Speaking to journalists, the group’s secretary, Isah Marafa, highlighted the severe impact of fuel price hikes on transportation, goods, and services, describing the economic challenges as “untenable.” He emphasized the urgency for decisive government action to stabilize the economy and provide immediate relief, especially to vulnerable Nigerians.

Marafa urged Bauchi State leaders to implement local measures to alleviate hardships, such as subsidies and support for businesses, while also calling for divine intervention to guide the nation through its crisis.

The statement reflects growing frustration among Nigerians as inflation continues to rise, with citizens demanding swift and effective solutions to ease their burdens.

At least 56 people are feared dead following a stampede triggered by a violent fan clash during a football match in Guinea, on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred during the final of a local tournament, where tensions erupted over a controversial penalty decision by the referee.

The unrest began when enraged supporters stormed the pitch in protest, escalating the situation. Police deployed teargas to control the crowd, but the resulting panic led to a deadly stampede.

In a statement released on Monday, the local government confirmed the fatalities and extended condolences to the families of the victims. Authorities pledged to provide necessary medical care for the injured, with hospitals receiving additional support.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy in a social media message, urging calm to facilitate medical services. “The regional authorities are working to restore calm and serenity among the population,” Bah wrote. He also called on local moral authorities to assist in promoting peace and tranquility in the aftermath of the incident.

The government has launched an investigation to determine the individuals responsible for the violence and ensure accountability.

The incident has reignited concerns over fan violence at African football matches, highlighting the need for stricter crowd management and enforcement measures to prevent similar tragedies.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the arrest of 113 foreign nationals involved in cybercrime operations during a coordinated effort by officers from Zone 7 Command and the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Police spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), the operation was conducted on November 3, 2024, in the Jahi area of Abuja. Substantial evidence linking the suspects to sophisticated cybercrime activities, including internet fraud and marketing scams, was uncovered during the raid.

Items recovered during the operation included:

A Toyota Tundra vehicle, Multiple laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
High-capacity servers, routers, and drones, specialized equipment for cyber and game consoles, identity cards, passports, and travel documents.
The suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on serious charges, including computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration.

The NPF’s statement noted that the arrests followed extensive investigations that exposed the suspects’ involvement in a network of cybercrime, immigration offenses, and human trafficking.

“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has compiled credible evidence against the suspects to ensure their prosecution under Nigerian law,” the statement read.

The NPF emphasized its commitment to collaborating with international law enforcement agencies and embassies to combat cybercrime and other transnational criminal activities. It vowed to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure justice is served.

President Joe Biden has issued an unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who earlier this year became the first child of a sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

In June, Hunter was convicted on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and drug offenses, as federal law prohibits drug addicts from owning firearms. In September, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges.

Hunter Biden, 54, previously worked as a lawyer and lobbyist abroad, including in China and Ukraine. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine.

In a statement accompanying the pardon, President Biden described his son as the victim of political persecution. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said.

The president criticized the collapse of a plea deal negotiated between Hunter’s legal team and the Department of Justice, blaming political interference. “A carefully negotiated plea deal unraveled in the courtroom, with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for applying political pressure on the process,” Biden stated.

The president defended his decision, saying he refrained from interfering in the Justice Department’s decisions. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” he said.

Biden also praised his son’s resilience, highlighting his sobriety. “There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me,” the president said.

The pardon is not without precedent. In 2001, President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for a cocaine-related offense committed in 1985. In 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, who was convicted on charges of tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions.

Biden acknowledged the political ramifications of the pardon but expressed confidence in his decision. “There was no sense in delaying it further,” he said. “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”

The Jigawa State government, under the leadership of Governor Umar Namadi, spent N1.5 billion in three months on constructing and renovating mosques and other religious structures, according to the state’s budget performance report obtained on the state’s website.

The report, titled Jigawa State Third Quarter (July – September) 2024 Budget Performance, was published on the state government’s website. It revealed that N1,040,000,000 was allocated to the construction of mosques and religious structures in 2024, while an additional N458,470,310 was spent on completing ongoing projects in the same category.

Meanwhile, Jigawa State faces a significant educational crisis. Ranked fifth in Nigeria for the highest number of out-of-school children, the state has over 820,000 children aged 3 to 18 not enrolled in school, according to a survey conducted by the Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN).

During a recent meeting with the Jigawa State House of Assembly in Kaduna, Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, revealed that only 16.8% of children in the state are enrolled in school. He further disclosed that 44% of primary school-age children and 52% of secondary school-age children are out of school.

Farah emphasized the dire need to address these gaps, noting the low levels of foundational literacy and numeracy among the state’s children. He urged lawmakers to implement significant reforms before the next Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), scheduled for 2026/2027, to improve the state’s educational system and secure the fundamental right to basic education for its children.

A coordinated effort by 62 countries has led to the largest drug bust in history, intercepting 1,400 tonnes of narcotics valued at $8.5 billion during a six-week international operation codenamed Operation Orion.

Authorities discovered a new drug trafficking route and seized six semi-submersible vessels, commonly referred to as “narco-subs,” used to smuggle illicit substances. The operation also resulted in over 400 arrests.

The coalition, which included nations such as Colombia, Australia, the United States, and several European countries, collaborated by sharing intelligence and deploying warships and aircraft to combat the narcotics trade.

The intercepted haul included over 1,000 tonnes of marijuana and 225 tonnes of cocaine, setting a world record for a single anti-narcotics operation.