Pele on Nigeria: ‘Achieving ceasefire in Biafran War my proudest moment’ - Newstrends
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Pele on Nigeria: ‘Achieving ceasefire in Biafran War my proudest moment’

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The beautiful game not just changed Pele’s life but one around him as well as at one point his club Santos was in demand to play teams in Europe.

Apart from the goals and the artistry on the field, there was much more to the legend of Pele. For a boy who initially wanted to be a pilot, only for an accident to ruin it, football became Pele’s world when he saw his father cry after Brazil lost the final to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup at the Maracana. From being part of a video game to stop a war in Nigeria to being called a National Treasure, there are a lot of factors that contributed to the legend of Pele.

The boy who wanted to fly a plane

Pelé, first went to an airport to sell peanuts as a very young boy from an impoverished home. But young Edson’s dream, seen barefoot and from dirt roads, was to fly for he loved everything at Bauru’s aerodrome — planes, gliders and pilots who take off from airfields.

A glider’s accident and death jolts Edson in 1940s, as he and his group of friends go looking for the wreckage and then the mortuary in the southeast of Brazil. From a window, they watched the autopsy and the dripping blood from a severed arm put him off his pilot dreams forever.

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Compelled by circumstances to start out on a shoeshine kit, he hunkers down to bring in money. Ironically he plays shoeless when kicking about a make-do football in the streets. They can’t afford both. Dreams of football aren’t cheap.

Pelé was the ‘I’ in the Edson bulb

His mother Celeste came from a town called Três Corações, in the Minas Gerais state in the ’30s and ’40s. Like most of interior Brazil, they had no electricity, and lots of football clubs. It’s where she met his father Joao, known as Dondinho, who played for the local club while doing his military service. They married and her first child was born around the time electricity came to Três Corações.

The baby was named after Thomas Edison. He was officially nicknamed Dico, but his real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimiento. At school, he pronounced the name of the local club Vasco da Gama goalkeeper, Bile as Pile so, a classmate started calling him Pele. The man himself thought it was like babbling and didn’t like the name.

Besides the King, in Brazil he was often called “Pérola Negra” which meant Black Pearl. “I was really proud that I was named after Thomas Edison and wanted to be called Edson. I thought Pelé sounded horrible. It was a rubbish name. Edson sounded so much more serious and important,” he once told The Guardian.

When Edson decided to form a football club with his friends, they had neither gear nor shoes. But in a pre-TV world, they had football stickers, like trading cards of famous players and their trivia. Pooling stickers into complete sets they decided to swap those for some gear.

The other ingenious scheme was to whisk away peanuts out of freight trains and sell them outside stadiums, airports and theatres. The first gear came from sacks of these stolen munchies.

The ball came from the sticker stash. When a reasonably well-off parent of three playing brothers offered to buy them shoes for the Mayor’s trophy, they changed their name to Amériquinha. The nickname-that-shall-not-be-uttered resounded through the stadium as Pelé won the tournament as the top scorer. A star was born. Pelé didn’t sound all that awful after all.

The other teen of 1958 vintage

José Altafinini’s likeness got cast in ‘Pele: Birth of a legend’, as the antagonist of Italian descent — the brash bully who tormented Pele. In fact, both came from humble backgrounds and the rivalry was garden-variety inter-club friction. But Altafini ‘Mazolla’ offered a counterpoint, an alter ego, a spark for Pele to shine bright, with both becoming Brazil’s youngest debutants at the 1958 World Cup. Two years older to Pele, young Altafini, grew up in poverty, 200 km away from Bauru in Piricica, the son of a worker and a maid.

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“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

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“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

Nigerian cryptocurrency entrepreneur and social media personality, Linus Williams, has sparked fresh public debate after revealing details of his time inside the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing the facility as relatively comfortable and structured, with what he called “VIP sections” for high-profile inmates.

Blord made the comments during a recent online interview where he discussed his detention experience and reacted to comparisons involving controversial activist Martins Vincent Otse.

Blord claimed that Kuje Correctional Centre has designated VIP sections reserved for influential or high-profile inmates, insisting that conditions in those areas differ from standard cells. According to him, the facility is more organised than commonly assumed, and certain inmates benefit from improved arrangements depending on their status.

He further compared the environment to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, saying parts of the facility felt structured and manageable. He maintained that his placement in what he described as a VIP section shaped his overall experience of detention.

Blord also described his time in custody as unexpectedly comfortable, stating that he had access to basic conveniences and regular meals. He went further to claim that he even had access to personal services, which made his stay feel more relaxed than punitive.

He added that inmates inside the facility engaged in recreational activities such as football and organised games, noting that he interacted freely with other detainees during his stay.

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The businessman suggested that treatment in correctional centres may vary depending on the influence or profile of inmates, drawing comparisons with VeryDarkMan, though he did not provide specific details about the activist’s own detention experience.

The comments have reignited debate over alleged inequality within Nigeria’s correctional system, particularly claims of VIP treatment in Nigerian prisons and whether influential detainees receive preferential conditions compared to ordinary inmates.

The Kuje Correctional Centre, operated by the Nigerian Correctional Service, remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent detention facilities, housing a mix of politicians, fraud suspects, and other high-profile inmates.

The facility gained global attention in 2022 after armed attackers stormed the prison and freed several inmates, raising concerns about security and operational integrity within Nigeria’s correctional system.

Since that incident, authorities have repeatedly stated that security measures have been strengthened across federal correctional facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Correctional Service nor VeryDarkMan had issued any official response to Blord’s remarks.

“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

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‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

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Mutfwang Bans Night Mining, Grazing After Deadly Plateau Attacks
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang

‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

Residents and youths in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Wednesday staged a massive protest over the persistent lack of potable water in the community, warning that they may boycott future elections if the crisis is not urgently addressed.

The demonstrators, made up mostly of young people and women, marched through major roads in the town wearing T-shirts branded with the inscription “No Water, No Vote,” while chanting solidarity songs and demanding immediate government intervention.

Many of the protesters carried placards with messages such as “Water Is Life,” “Mabudi Needs Water Now,” “Stop Neglecting Rural Communities,” and “No More Empty Promises,” accusing politicians of repeatedly abandoning the community after elections.

The protest has drawn renewed attention to the growing water scarcity in Plateau State, particularly in rural communities struggling with poor infrastructure, prolonged dry seasons and inadequate government intervention.

Speaking during the protest, youth leader Nanlir Gambo said the demonstration was intended to alert both the state government and elected representatives to the worsening humanitarian situation in Mabudi.

“This protest is just a sign that we are serious about our demands. We won’t allow any politician to come here and deceive us again, using our needs only to abscond after the election,” he said.

Gambo lamented that residents have been forced to rely on unsafe streams and stagnant ponds shared with animals, exposing families to diseases linked to contaminated water.

According to him, women and children now travel long distances daily in search of water for cooking, drinking and household use, a development he described as “deplorable and unacceptable.”

The situation in Mabudi reflects the broader Nigeria water crisis, which continues to affect millions of people, especially those in underserved rural communities.

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Recent reports from communities in Langtang South and neighbouring areas of Plateau State revealed that residents have resorted to digging dry riverbeds and competing with livestock for water as the dry season intensifies.

Reacting to the protest, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Langtang South Local Government Area, Butko Iliya, said the council had already begun temporary interventions to cushion the effects of the shortage.

According to him, the council chairman, Nanfa Nbin, has been supplying water to affected communities through tanker services since the start of the dry season, with at least one tanker reportedly delivered daily to each settlement.

Iliya also disclosed that the Plateau State Government had directed the council to intensify efforts aimed at addressing the crisis while broader and more sustainable interventions are being developed.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy has commenced emergency and long-term plans to tackle the problem.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Lohnan V. Gambo, recently led a high-level delegation to Mabudi following a petition submitted by the council chairman to Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

During the visit, the ministry confirmed that geophysical surveys had already commenced in Mabudi and nearby communities as part of plans to establish sustainable water projects.

Gambo assured residents that the administration of Governor Mutfwang remained committed to finding a permanent solution to the lingering water shortage in Plateau communities.

The Council Secretary, Nanman Domtau, commended the state government for responding quickly to the plight of the people and pledged the council’s support for all intervention efforts.

Also speaking, the Galadima of Mabudi, Chief Ringjul Dashe, described access to clean water as a basic necessity of life and praised the government for responding to the concerns raised by residents.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria continues to face a severe clean water and sanitation crisis, with millions lacking access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities despite the country’s abundant natural water resources.

The organisation estimates that poor access to clean water and sanitation contributes significantly to waterborne diseases and child mortality across the country, with thousands of children dying yearly from diarrhoeal infections linked to unsafe water.

‘No Water, No Vote’: Plateau Community Threatens Election Boycott

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Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

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Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

At least 72 people were reportedly killed after a Nigerian military airstrike hit Tumfa weekly market in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday, in an incident that has triggered conflicting accounts from residents, human rights groups, and the military.

According to AFP, which quoted a local community leader, the actual number of casualties remains difficult to confirm due to the presence of both civilians and armed groups in the area.

“The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody, residents and bandits, goes to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” the community leader, Garba Ibrahim Mashema, was quoted as saying.

Reports indicate that Tumfa market is located in a region frequently affected by banditry and is believed by some security sources to be under the influence of armed groups, raising concerns about the complexity of identifying combatants during military operations.

Eyewitness accounts claim that many of the victims included traders, women, and young girls selling food items such as millet porridge and tofu when the airstrike occurred.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International, however, gave a higher casualty figure, saying more than 100 people may have died. The group also alleged that one nearby village buried about 80 victims in a mass burial following the attack.

Amnesty International described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of civilian harm during military operations in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northern region, calling for an urgent independent investigation.

“The authorities must investigate these deadly strikes, and put an end to reckless attacks on civilians,” the organisation said.
“These horrific deaths must not be overlooked. The devastated survivors and their families deserve truth, justice and reparations.”

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The group also alleged that injured survivors were rushed to hospitals in Zurmi, Shinkafi, and the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau for treatment.

It further stated that the market was struck without warning while it was crowded, causing panic and chaos.

“Military aircraft bombed the weekly market. At one point, it was full of people and without warning. The scene was chaotic. There were screams, blood, and bodies all over the ground,” Amnesty said.

In contrast, the Nigerian military has strongly denied allegations that civilians were deliberately targeted or that the airstrike resulted in mass civilian casualties.

Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Michael Onoja, told AFP that reports claiming civilian deaths in Zamfara were “not true,” while insisting that military operations are intelligence-driven and targeted at armed bandits.

The military also acknowledged a separate air operation in Niger State on the same day, which reportedly led to the death of 13 civilians. Officials said the incident would be investigated, although they maintained that the mission was aimed at criminal elements.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has meanwhile reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the constitution and intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats across the country.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Army Project Management Workshop at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), Makurdi, Shaibu—represented by Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara—said ongoing military reforms and welfare improvements are boosting troop morale and operational efficiency.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained support to the armed forces, noting that improved welfare packages have strengthened soldiers’ readiness in counterterrorism operations nationwide.

According to him, the army’s infrastructure drive includes rehabilitation of barracks, construction of training facilities, medical centres, and other critical installations aimed at improving personnel welfare and operational capacity.

Security analysts say the Zamfara incident highlights the persistent challenge of conducting air operations in regions where armed groups operate within civilian-populated communities, making target identification extremely difficult.

The tragedy has sparked renewed national debate over civilian protection, military intelligence accuracy, and accountability in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations, especially in the North-West where banditry remains widespread.

As investigations continue, human rights groups and affected communities are demanding transparency, compensation for victims’ families, and stricter safeguards to prevent future civilian casualties during military strikes.

Zamfara Airstrike: 72 Feared Dead as Military, Amnesty Disagree on Death Toll

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