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Nine abducted ABU students regain freedom
Nine students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria kidnapped last Sunday have regained their freedom.
The students were going to Lagos for an immersion programme at the Nigerian French Language Village in Badagry when they came under attack by kidnappers along the Kaduna-Abuja road.
Kaduna State Government confirmed two persons died during the incident and nine others rescued by security personnel.
Director of Public Affairs at the ABU, Malam Auwal Umar, confirmed the release of the students on Sunday.
He said, “I can confirm to you that the students have been released. They were released yesterday (Saturday) night and most of them have already been reunited with their families.”
The students were reportedly released midnight Saturday after the parents had paid between N500,000 and N4 million as ransom.
One of the parents, who confirmed the release of his daughter, said, “After series of bargaining, they said I should pay N1 million, but I told them that I could not afford to raise that amount. I told them I have over N500,000 and they asked me to bring it.
“I sold my goats, pigs and other belongings to pay the money.”
Another parent said she among the team of four parents that went to deliver the ransom to the bandits, adding that they were directed to come to Abuja Junction.
The parent said, “They called me yesterday (Saturday), and said if I am not able to pay N1 million, they would kill the girls or marry them or use them as sex slave.
“On arriving in Kaduna, we were told that security personnel were monitoring the bandits in the bush. But surprisingly, the bandits called us and told us to come and wait at Abuja junction.
“They sent us a telephone number to call. We called the number and the person came to take us to a car. Unknown to me, the owner of the car is also a victim. His daughter was among those abducted. We drove along the Kaduna-Abuja road. That was around 11pm to deliver the ransom and other things they demanded.”
He said the bandits also demanded some crates of Malta drink and cartons of milk from each parent.
“When we got to Dutse, we stopped at a junction leading to the bush. We met soldiers there and they stopped us and made the four of us in the vehicle to sit on the ground.
“The soldiers noticed that all of us were carrying nylon bags and the items and they asked what was in the nylon bags.
“We told them that we were carrying money to go and pay ransom for the students that were kidnapped. The soldiers wished us safe journey to the bush and we parked the car at the junction.
“We trekked far inside the bush from Dutse and handed over the money to them and they released the girls to us. He said the owner of the car is one of the parents given directives by the bandits.
“The bandits are very clever. They planned everything very well. We came back and picked the vehicle where we parked by the main road and returned with the girls to Kaduna around 1am.
“Some parents paid N1 million; some paid over N1 million; some paid N2 million; some paid over N500,000, depending on how each parent bargained with the hoodlums because they spoke separately with the parents.”
News
Chicago priest blesses same-sex ‘spouses,’ says Fiducia Supplicans allows it
Chicago priest blesses same-sex ‘spouses,’ says Fiducia Supplicans allows it
A priest in Chicago last month blessed a same-sex couple, saying that the Vatican’s recent document Fiducia Supplicans authorized such blessings.
Father Joseph Williams, the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish near downtown Chicago, is seen in an April 22 video shared on Instagram by Kelli Knight, a Methodist minister and self-identified “queer” community organizer.
In the video, Williams is seen in the parish with Kelli and Myah Knight. “Myah always wanted to get married at the chapel of her alma mater, so I surprised her with a blessing of our marriage!” Kelli wrote in the post. The parish is affiliated with the Catholic DePaul University in Chicago.
In the video, Williams can be seen asking the couple: “Kelli and Myah, do you freely recommit yourselves to love each other as holy spouses and to live in peace and harmony together forever?” The two women respond, “I do.”
“Loving God, increase and consecrate the love which Kelly and Myah have for one another,” the pastor then says. “The rings that they have exchanged are the sign of their fidelity and commitment.”
“May they continue to prosper in your grace and blessing,” he added.
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“May God’s blessing be yours, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen,” the priest finished.
Neither the priest nor the Archdiocese of Chicago immediately responded to requests for comment from CNA on Friday morning.
The pastor told OSV News that his understanding of Fiducia Supplicans is that “same-sex couples can be blessed as long as it does not reflect a marriage situation … as long as it’s clear that it’s not a marriage.”
He reportedly told Knight when she first inquired about the blessing: “Please understand that this is not in any way a marriage, a wedding, anything like that. This is just simply a blessing of persons.”
Fiducia Supplicans has generated global controversy since it was first promulgated last December. The Vatican at the time directed that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations.
Bishops around the world in the subsequent months have been deeply divided over the declaration. Some prelates have responded warmly to the directive, while others have said they will not implement the practice.
Chicago priest blesses same-sex ‘spouses,’ says Fiducia Supplicans allows it
(Credit: Catholic News Agency)
News
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
Prominent northern leaders have cautioned against allowing the United States and French governments to relocate military bases from the Sahel region to Nigeria.
The leaders in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership urged the Federal Government to resist such pressure.
Those who signed the letter are Professor Abubakar Siddique Mohammed of the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria; Professor Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, representing the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Kaduna; Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Professor Jibrin Ibrahim from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja; Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CCISLAC) Abuja; and Y. Z. Ya’u from the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano.
The letter highlighted reports of aggressive lobbying by the American and French governments targeting Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea nations to enter new defence agreements allowing the redeployment of troops expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
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Expressing concern, they cautioned that Nigeria, strategically positioned among the Gulf of Guinea countries, might yield to such pressure, compromising its defence and internal security.
“The recent expulsion of French and American troops from Niger due to their perceived ineffective presence raises questions about the efficacy of hosting foreign military bases,” they said in the open letter.
They also argued that the primary goal of these bases, ostensibly to combat terrorism in the Sahel, has not been achieved, as terrorism has only escalated since those camps were established.
“It is important to clearly state that there are only dangers and no gains from such military operations.
“The American operations in Niger Republic, for example, were ostensibly to pre-empt and uproot terrorists from the Sahel region. The result has so far been quite unimpressive if not a complete failure.
“It is apparent that the presence of American troops and other intelligence personnel in Niger Republic is not serving any useful purpose.
“This is for the simple reason that terrorism, far from diminishing, has risen dramatically since the US began its operations in the region,” they said.
The signatories warned against compromising Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence for short-term strategic alliances, highlighting potential adverse long-term consequences.
Moreover, they highlighted the negative impact of hosting foreign troops, including increased living costs and environmental degradation, which disproportionately affect lower-income populations and indigenous communities.
As of now, the presidency or the National Assembly have not publicly responded to the open letter.
Don’t host US, French military bases in Nigeria, northern leaders warn Tinubu
News
Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
Osun kingship Tussle: Court stops coronation of Gov Adeleke-appointed king
Just weeks after a court ousted a monarch chosen by Governor Ademola Adeleke, Justice Micheal Awe has halted the planned presentation of the staff of office to the second king of Iree, Oba Muritala Oyelakin.
In a sequence of events, two kings had emerged as the Aree of Iree in the Boripe local government area of Osun state after Adeleke disapproved of the appointment of Oba Ademola Ponnle by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and instead selected Muritala Oyelakin as king.
This dual kingship sparked a crisis within the community, with kingmakers neglecting the traditional rites of Oba Oyelakin.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, May 5, the ceremony for presenting the certificate, instrument, and staff of office to Oba Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree was put on hold.
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Justice Awe, presiding over the State High Court in Ikirun, Osun State, issued a restraining order against Governor Adeleke, his administration, and four traditional chiefs, including King Oba Oyelakin, prohibiting them from proceeding with the staff of office presentation ceremony.
The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by Oba Ademola Ponnle, who sought to halt the ceremony. Justice Awe granted the request, emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo until further legal proceedings.
The court order forbids Oba Oyelakin from receiving any instruments or staff of office as the Aree of Iree or undergoing any formal installation until the matter is heard on Wednesday, May 8.
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