metro
Mexico recovers 31 bodies from secret graves
Mexico recovers 31 bodies from secret graves
Mexican authorities said they recovered a total of 31 bodies from pits in a southeastern state plagued by cartel violence since they began excavating the improvised graves at the weekend.
Chiapas State Governor Eduardo Ramirez at the weekend announced an operation to restore stability to Frailesca, an agricultural region near Guatemala where rival drug cartels have been involved in a turf war.
“As of today (Monday), we have found a total of 25 clandestine graves, 31 bodies found, 29 of them male and two female,” said Jorge Luis Llaven, the state prosecutor of Chiapas in a statement.
The Chiapas state government initially said it had discovered 15 bodies on Saturday. A further two were found on Sunday and 14 more on Monday.
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The prosecutor said his office and the state security secretariat will continue investigating until they find “each one of the bodies of the people who have been reported missing”.
Mexico’s cartel-related violence is concentrated along drug trafficking routes, borders and ports of entry.
Chiapas state, on Mexico’s southern border, has been described by the InSight Crime think tank as “a major smuggling hub of both drugs and migrants”.
Violence has coincided with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel incursion into areas that were once strongholds of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s biggest drug trafficking organizations, it said.
Since Mexico launched its controversial anti-drug operation in 2006, it has recorded more than 450,000 murders and tens of thousands of people have gone missing, according to official figures.
Mexico recovers 31 bodies from secret graves
metro
Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue
Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue
The Benue State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with the m8rder of an elderly woman accused of witchcraft in Egba village, Agatu Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, January 2, confirmed the suspects, Bako, 50, and Oyaje Clement, 40, were arrested for their alleged roles in the k!lling which occurred on Christmas Eve.
Anene described the incident as a troubling trend of mob justice in the state, particularly targeting elderly individuals accused of witchcraft.
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“Another worrisome situation in the state is the case of people taking the law into their own hands, particularly young people killing the elderly for alleged cases of witchcraft,” she stated.
“On December 24, 2024, around 7:00 p.m., we received information about the killing of an aged woman over allegations of witchcraft in Egba village, Agatu LGA. Following investigations, two suspects were arrested in connection to the case.”
She reiterated the police commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice and urged the public to refrain from jungle justice.
Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue
metro
Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don
Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don
Muslims have been urged to turn mosques to research centers, where people can learn many things as it is done in some foreign countries.
This was stated by Dr Saheed Timehin of the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo at the inauguration of Jama-At-Ul-Islamiyya of Nigeria Division 7 Central Mosque, Lagos Branch, Magodo and N500 million fund raising for J.I.N International Schools.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, hailed the organization for peaceful promotion of the Islamic religion in the state.
Dr Timehin said Muslims don’t take care of mosques,
“All mosques belong to God and it is a place dedicated to worshipping God no matter the name given to it. It should be a research center. A Muslim can pray anywhere he wants, but the place where Muslims gather that we call mosque must be a place to remember God.
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“It is not where you talk about yourself, it is about God. Here, in Yorubaland, we don’t have a better understanding of mosques. They think it is a place to compete with money. It is where you fear God. It is the first school, it was where Prophet Muhammed taught people,” he said.
The scholar stressed that a mosque is not just about religion, and that the first university in the world started from a mosque.
Dr Timehin said that in those days, all mosques had libraries, classrooms and that scholars lived there.
He added that it was a place for Muslims to resolve issues, adding that the first parliament in Islam started from a mosque.
“A mosque should be revered. We can do all sorts of learning in a mosque. In Iraq, all their mosques have libraries and all the Imams have offices. The Imam should have visiting hours to attend to people. We should have all these in our mosques. Mosques are known for good things generally. We don’t even get good messages in many mosques these days. An Imam should be able to talk to anybody. An Imam should know something about everything because you will be talking to a lot of people.
“In some countries, they have places for research and people see mosques as a place for social engagements. This mosque has several features and we can add others. It should not be for Jumat prayers or marriages alone. They should organise workshops and seminars there,” he said.
Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don
metro
Kidnappers demand additional N60m to release couple after family raise N10m ransom
Kidnappers demand additional N60m to release couple after family raise N10m ransom
The abductors of a retired civil servant, Mallam Yakubu Dada and his wife, have refused to release them after payment of N10m ransom.
The couple was kidnapped along Kontagora-Tegina road in Niger State in October, 2024.
According to a journalist with Daily Trust, Akote Sadeeq Abubakar, Dada’s family sold his house, car, and household items to raise the N10m they paid to the kidnappers.
However, the kidnappers demanded an additional N60m ransom and ten motorcycles which they said they cannot meet as they have sold all their valuables.
“As we celebrate the New Year in peace, let us not forget that many residents of Niger State remain in captivity, with their families losing hope of their return,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, January 2.
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“One such victim is Mallam Yakubu Dada, a retired civil servant, and his youngest wife, who were kidnapped on the Kontagora-Tegina road in October. In a desperate attempt to secure their release, his family sold everything they owned—his house, car, televisions, and furniture—to raise the N10 million initially paid to the abductors.
“However, while awaiting their freedom, the kidnappers have now demanded an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles. The family simply cannot meet these new demands.
“Furthermore, 23 women from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area have been in captivity since February 2024, along with many farmers from Kontagora and Mariga who are also being held hostage.
“The Niger State government must act immediately to intervene and ensure their safe release.”
Kidnappers demand additional N60m to release couple after family raise N10m ransom
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