By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Zainab Zee Diamond, a beloved figure in Nigeria’s Hausa film industry (Kannywood), has passed away. The actress died in the early hours of today, shortly after the Fajr (dawn) prayer, following a prolonged battle with an illness.

Her family confirmed the death in an official statement, offering condolences to fans and colleagues with the heartfelt words: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return). The statement noted that she had endured a long period of medical treatment.

Tributes have begun pouring in from fellow actors, filmmakers, and fans across Nigeria, mourning the loss of the veteran star. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly by her immediate family.

By The Daily Reality

Farida Bungudu, a 2026 graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, has turned years of skepticism about her home state into a record-breaking academic run, becoming the first student from Zamfara State to finish top of the Faculty of Law with First Class Honours.

Bungudu, who emerged Overall Best Graduating Student in the LL.B Class of 2026, said the journey began as “a dream few people believed in.” Critics, she recalled, argued she was “reaching too far, too fast.”

“What they didn’t know was that this dream was never about me alone,” she said. “It was about proving that Zamfara State, too, belongs in every room, every conversation, every arena where excellence is measured.”

Record-Breaking Run at ABU

Results released on Wednesday confirmed a historic performance that placed Bungudu among the faculty’s all-time best.

Her list of achievements includes:

– Overall Best Graduating Student, LL.B Class of 2026, Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

– First Class Honours, LL.B (Civil Law) 
– Third Highest CGPA ever recorded in the Faculty’s history

– 5th Female Best Graduating Student in the Faculty’s history

– First Female from the Northwest to graduate with a First Class and as Best Graduating Student in the Faculty

– First Zamfara State student from the Faculty to graduate with a First Class and as Best Graduating Student

– First Chief Judge in the Faculty’s history to graduate as Best Graduating Student with First Class Honours.

Beyond academics, Bungudu also distinguished herself in student leadership and advocacy. She served as the Second Female Chief Judge of the ABU-SRC Court, Chief Justice of the Law Students’ Society, Chairman of the LSS Privileges Committee, Chairman of the Council of Benchers, and Chairman of the LSS Judicial Council.

Her profile also identifies her as a Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) Scholar, an award-winning National and International Moot Court Champion, Best Advocate, and Best Oralist. She also served as Assistant Chief of the Ahmadu Bello University Students Support Associates.

“We now have a seat at the table”

Speaking after the announcement, Bungudu described the achievement as more than a personal success.

“Today, I stand as a voice for every Zamfara State student who has ever felt limited, overlooked, or underestimated,” she said. “We can walk into any room now, and know we belong in the conversation. We have broken through the glass ceiling, and we now hold an undeniable seat at tables once thought unreachable.”

She described the milestone as “merely a blueprint” for younger students from Zamfara and the wider Northwest.

“I have walked the path; now it is your turn to run,” she said, adding that she will later share details of “the sacrifices that happened behind the scenes to make this possible.”

For a state whose students have long faced stereotypes about their academic capacity, Wednesday’s announcement represents a new reference point. For Farida Bungudu, the achievement was answered “not with words, but with results.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Senator Shehu Buba, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, has rejected fresh allegations that he has links with bandit groups, describing the claims and videos circulating on social media as false and part of an alleged campaign against his reputation.

Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, has faced allegations of connections with suspected bandits since 2024. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The latest controversy followed videos shared by a content creator identified as ‘D English Alhaji’, who claimed that suspected bandit leaders had visited the senator’s residence.

The controversy was further fueled by comments from a resident identified as Hassan, who accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly supporting bandits in the area.

Hassan also claimed that persons associated with the wanted bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide, were brought to Abuja for specialised training through an aide of the senator.

However, Buba rejected the claims in a statement issued on Sunday with the title, “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation.”

The senator, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry and is seeking the Bauchi governorship ticket of the Peoples Redemption Party, said he had previously chosen not to respond because of the sensitive nature of his former security-related responsibilities.

He stressed that his decision to remain silent should not be taken as an inability to defend himself.

He said, “For much of my public life, I have resisted the temptation to respond to every allegation, criticism or provocation directed at me. Citizens have a legitimate right to scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibility, and public officials must be prepared to account for their conduct.

“My election as senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District — and particularly my responsibility as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence — reinforced the need for restraint. National security demands discretion.

“Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions.”

Buba traced the allegations against him to an incident on September 15, 2024, involving Umar Shayi, whom he said led a militia group said to be operating as hunters for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment.

He said two charcoal sellers were allegedly killed during the incident.

According to Buba, he visited the victims’ families after the incident and demanded justice. He said his intervention later became the basis for claims that he was connected to banditry.

“This campaign dates back to September 15, 2024, when Umar Shayi led a militia group purported to be hunters working for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment. The group reportedly killed two charcoal sellers who were conducting their lawful business.

“As the elected senator representing the district, I visited the families of the deceased to condole with them and called on the relevant authorities to ensure justice is served. I also vowed to pursue lawful action on behalf of both the deceased and the injured victims.

“I condemned the killings and urged the government to institute safeguards against abuses by those entrusted with protecting citizens,” he said.

The senator alleged that Abubakar Bununu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, later publicly associated him with banditry after his intervention.

He also referred to an earlier allegation that he sponsored a suspected bandit leader to attend the 2024 Hajj. Buba said he denied the claim and asked security agencies to investigate it.

The lawmaker said, “Following my intervention, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Bununu, publicly linked my name to banditry — an allegation I rejected as false and unsupported by evidence.

“Subsequently, Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu that I sponsored a ‘bandit kingpin’ to perform the 2024 Hajj through an aide named Yahaya Ibrahim.

“I categorically denied these allegations. I stated that I had no aide by the name cited and invited security agencies to investigate.”

Buba said his support for pilgrims, educational initiatives, medical assistance and empowerment programmes had been based on recommendations from community and religious leaders.

He added that he instituted a defamation case, CV/413/2024, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over the allegations.

Senator Explains Viral Videos

Buba also gave an account of how some of the photographs and videos now circulating online originated.

He said a young man named Hassan Husseini was introduced to him in 2024 as an orphan who needed educational support.

According to the senator, he enrolled Husseini in a private college and an Islamic school in Kaduna and also gave him a bicycle.

He said Husseini later abandoned his studies and asked for financial assistance to start a car dealership. Buba said he rejected the request and advised him to return to school.

“I later discovered that, while under my care, he had recorded photographs and videos of visitors to my residence. These materials later formed the basis of allegations circulated on social media,” Buba said.

He alleged that some people who circulated the materials later demanded money from him.

The senator said he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025, which resulted in the arrest and investigation of several suspects.

According to him, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 30, 2025.

“After the videos circulated and those sharing the videos and photos demanded money as extortion, I petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025. Several individuals were arrested and investigated.

“On October 30, 2025, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion.

“The matter is before a competent court, and I will refrain from comments that could prejudice the proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026,” he said.

On the latest videos, Buba said the footage had been presented falsely as proof that bandit leaders visited his residence.

He said the videos actually contained unrelated footage, including images of Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has returned to Freetown after spending more than two years in Nigeria, following the withdrawal of treason charges filed against him.

Koroma left Nigeria on Sunday morning in the company of former Nigerian Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The former Sierra Leonean president governed the country from 2007 to 2018. He faced treason charges over an unsuccessful coup attempt that occurred in November 2023.

Following the incident, an agreement was reportedly reached under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The arrangement allowed Koroma to relocate to Nigeria while proceedings against him were discontinued.

Koroma arrived in Nigeria in January 2024 and remained in the country until his return on Sunday.

The Sierra Leonean government announced in July that it had ended the criminal proceedings against the former president.

The office of the Attorney-General said the case was no longer before the court and confirmed that Koroma was free to return to Sierra Leone.

Vice-President Mohamed Jalloh also announced on Friday that Koroma would return to Sierra Leone as part of efforts to promote peace and national cohesion.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Magnus Eze, media aide to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the minister said negotiations involving ECOWAS, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders had helped resolve the issues that led to Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria.

“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

The minister expressed appreciation to President Julius Bio, Koroma and the Sierra Leonean authorities for their cooperation and commitment to peace.

Jonathan also issued a separate statement in which he said discussions had promoted dialogue with Sierra Leonean authorities and helped establish the conditions required for Koroma’s safe and dignified return.

The former Nigerian president said he was pleased that Koroma had returned to Freetown and expressed hope that the development would usher in a period of renewed hope and reconciliation in Sierra Leone.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, has promised to reduce the prices of petrol, cooking gas and aviation fuel to N200 per litre if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

Adebayo made the pledge on Sunday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said his proposed pricing policy would take effect within 12 months of assuming office.

According to him, his administration would focus on reviving the country’s existing refineries while also supporting modular refineries to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

He argued that the age of Nigeria’s refineries should not prevent the government from rehabilitating them. He cited refineries in the United States that have remained operational for more than a century.

“SDP will pick cooking gas, petrol and Jet A1; those three, we will put them under a regime where the price does not go past N200,” he said.

Adebayo said his plan would include the restoration of what he described as the original subsidy arrangement, under which 450,000 barrels of crude oil are set aside for domestic consumption.

He explained that the crude would be processed locally, while the sale of other petroleum products such as naphtha, heavy fuel oil, diesel and kerosene would generate funds to sustain the proposed pricing system.

The SDP candidate said his party would collaborate with the National Assembly to create a framework that would allow revenue from other petroleum derivatives to support the scheme.

He maintained that Nigeria should concentrate on developing adequate domestic refining capacity rather than relying on imported petroleum products sold at international prices.

According to him, the country already possesses two major resources needed to achieve this goal: crude oil and existing refining infrastructure.

Adebayo also said the prolonged debate over fuel subsidy had shifted attention away from what he considered the deeper challenges affecting Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

He dismissed the argument that subsidy removal alone would solve the country’s financial difficulties, describing such a position as a “red herring”.

He further said Nigerians would not be subjected to petrol subsidy under an SDP administration, as he does not consider subsidy a government economic programme.

On transportation, Adebayo proposed a policy that would combine lower petroleum prices with improvements in public transportation and railway services.

He said workers and students would have access to public transport through their employment and student identification cards. Employers, he added, would contribute six per cent of workers’ salaries towards transportation.

He said the measures would reduce the cost of transportation and boost economic activities across the country.

The presidential candidate also proposed that housing costs should be capped at seven per cent of workers’ salaries, while education and healthcare would be provided free of charge.

“The summary of it is that transportation costs cannot go more than six percent of your salary and housing costs should not be more than seven percent of your salary, education and healthcare should be free,” he said.

Adebayo added that agriculture and food security would receive priority under his administration, with the aim of making food more affordable for Nigerians.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as more oppressive than Nigeria’s past military regimes and urging the president not to seek reelection in 2027.

In an interview on The Mic-On Podcast, Baba-Ahmed accused the Tinubu government of exercising what he termed “brute civil force” and using state institutions to suppress political opposition and dissent.

Baba-Ahmed compared Tinubu’s leadership with the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, arguing that despite being dictators, the military leaders demonstrated greater respect for constitutional principles.

“The military was so disciplined. They respected the Constitution. They had shame. They had principles. They had scruples. But now it is brute civil force. That’s what we’re experiencing in Nigeria,” he stated.

He described the concentration of political power under the current administration as unprecedented, suggesting that even past military rulers maintained what he called discipline and restraint.

Baba-Ahmed advised President Tinubu to prepare to hand over power after his current tenure rather than contest the 2027 presidential election.

“I would simply advise ‘Uncle’ to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him, because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said.

When asked whether he included Peter Obi among those he believed would not improve the country, Baba-Ahmed answered in the affirmative.

“None of that pack. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another,” he said, adding that this included Obi.

He emphasized that his position was not an endorsement of any existing politician but a call for “a whole new Nigeria,” arguing the country needs leadership beyond politicians who previously belonged to established ruling parties.

The former senator also criticized the National Assembly, alleging that the legislature has become too close to the executive and has effectively turned into an extension of the presidency.

He took particular exception to lawmakers singing political songs in support of the president, arguing such conduct undermines legislative independence.

“A legislature must never be that compromised to the level of singing for those who are members of their party. Singing ‘On your mandate we shall stand,'” Baba-Ahmed said.

He added that if he were still a member of the House of Representatives, he would have taken steps to prevent such conduct from recurring.

Baba-Ahmed revisited the 2023 presidential election, alleging that the electronic transmission and reporting of results through INEC’s IReV platform was interrupted and that constitutional provisions were breached.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding the declaration of the presidential election result and alleged that the presence of the National Security Adviser in court during proceedings concerning the election raised questions that deserved answers.

“From outside government, you had switched off IReV. From outside government, it was switched off. The Constitution was breached,” he alleged.

Baba-Ahmed has consistently maintained that the Labour Party ticket won the 2023 presidential election and that there were constitutional grounds to challenge the process leading to Tinubu’s inauguration.

Despite his criticism of the current political system, Baba-Ahmed rejected military intervention as an alternative, saying the solution to bad democracy is better democracy.

“The only option to bad democracy is good democracy,” he said.

He described “legitimate, active civil engagement” as the way forward, urging Nigerians to leave their comfort zones and participate more actively in politics.

“The good people in Nigeria must come out, sacrifice their comfort, leave their comfort zones, come out and ride out, push out the bad elements that have been destroying Nigeria,” he said.

On insecurity, Baba-Ahmed argued that corruption is at the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis, claiming that eliminating corruption could address more than half of the country’s insecurity problems.

“How do you… Once you remove corruption, you have fought more than 50% of insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

He called for greater investment in the armed forces, including military equipment, personnel welfare, and technology to monitor Nigeria’s extensive borders, suggesting that modern surveillance technology could allow Nigeria to monitor large stretches of its borders from central command facilities.

On Tinubu’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign-exchange reforms, Baba-Ahmed said policies could not succeed without addressing what he described as the underlying character and integrity of government.

He compared governance to constructing infrastructure, saying the success of policies depends on the “foundation” on which they are built.

“Those policies are supposed to rest on something. What is that thing? That is the character, content, principles, and philosophy of the leadership,” he said.

He acknowledged that some Nigerians may have benefited from the administration’s economic policies but attributed such benefits largely to what he described as the president’s friends and political associates.

His remarks come as Nigeria’s political parties and opposition groups position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with questions over the ability of opposition forces to mount a credible challenge to the ruling APC.

Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians should focus less on personalities and more on building institutions and a political system capable of producing accountable leadership.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, a British-Nigerian businessman and social media personality associated with Nigerian singer Davido, has died after suffering complications from a cosmetic procedure in Thailand.

Ubiribo, popularly known as Ego, reportedly underwent a penis enlargement procedure at an unnamed clinic in Thailand in March 2026.

According to TMZ, details of the case were presented during an inquest at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court.

The inquest heard that 43-year-old Ego had 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine injected into his penis during the procedure.

He later stayed at a Marriott hotel in Bangkok with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen. He reportedly complained of chest pain and passed out twice before he was taken to Sukhumvit Hospital.

His wife informed doctors about the filler injections. However, Ego reportedly lost consciousness before doctors could carry out a recommended CT scan.

Medical personnel later transferred him to intensive care after determining that he had suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blockage in a blood vessel within the lungs.

Doctors reportedly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for more than 100 minutes in an attempt to save his life. He died in the early hours of March 6.

A postmortem examination carried out in the United Kingdom reportedly detected cellular material in his lungs that matched the hyaluronic acid used during the procedure.

Coroner Jean Harkin subsequently concluded that Ego died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic procedure.

Ego was known for displaying his affluent lifestyle on Instagram and had connections with several prominent Nigerian celebrities.

He was later buried in London in a gold coffin reportedly valued at more than $745,000.

At his funeral, Davido spoke about the loss and said the events “don’t feel real,” while describing Ego’s death as “heavy.”

Another close associate, Cubana Chief Priest, also paid tribute to him through a video from the funeral.

He wrote: “Rest Easy Brother @ego2222. Even In Death, The Lifestyle Was Kept 700 For You.

“Today London Stood Still For You Tiny, We Love You, We Celebrate You and We Will Never Forget You Brother, We Lived Bro, Good Memories Na Water. RIP Big Tiny Please Watch Over Us #30BillionGeng.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of serving as an informant and collaborator for terrorists in Ngamdu, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation involved troops from the 154 Task Force Battalion, with support from Forest Guards and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Security sources said the suspect, identified as Bacha Modu Isah, was taken into custody at about 10:10pm on September 2, 2026, after security personnel received credible intelligence.

Some items were also recovered from him during the operation.

“Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect is a native of Gowo Village in Kaga LGA,” the source shared.

“During the operation, troops recovered a charm, lighter, ring and a leather item from the suspect,” it added.

The suspect remains in military custody as investigators continue efforts to establish his alleged links and activities.

The arrest forms part of security operations aimed at identifying and disrupting terrorist informants, collaborators and support networks within communities across the state.

Security agencies have continued to target individuals suspected of providing information or other forms of support to terrorist groups as part of efforts to strengthen security in affected areas of Borno State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of underage candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board said the results are available for candidates and their parents or guardians to check their performance.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

Benjamin clarified that the release of the results does not mean that all underage candidates are qualified for admission.

He explained that candidates below the age of 16 as of September 30, 2026, are regarded as underage candidates for the 2026 admission exercise.

According to him, the results are mainly for candidates and their parents or guardians to know their UTME performance. They cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidate meets the conditions for exceptional consideration.

Candidates can access their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 through the same SIM card used during UTME registration.

Benjamin said JAMB had previously made it clear that only underage candidates who record exceptional performances and satisfy all prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.

He warned candidates who fail to meet the requirements against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.

The JAMB spokesperson said the exceptional admission process involves several stages of assessment. The process is intended to identify candidates with outstanding academic ability and sufficient maturity for tertiary education.

He said candidates must obtain a minimum UTME score of 320 and achieve at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.

“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” he said.

Benjamin said the procedure would help the board separate candidates with genuine exceptional ability from those who only recorded high UTME scores.

He added that the assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates had not been completed.

The board, according to him, must also give candidates who are waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results an opportunity to submit the results for verification.

“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he said.

Benjamin said JAMB would announce the date for the final assessment once the NECO results are released.

He stressed that admission consideration would not depend solely on UTME scores. Candidates must pass the other stages of assessment and meet all the requirements set by the board.

The spokesperson also advised candidates, parents and guardians to be wary of individuals who claim they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the approved procedure.

He maintained that sitting for the UTME and obtaining a result do not automatically guarantee admission, especially for candidates who have not reached the stipulated admission age.

Benjamin assured the public that the assessment and admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would be transparent, rigorous and based on merit.

By Uzair Adam

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of downplaying the worsening insecurity in the country.

The opposition party said it was concerned by the government’s claim that the nation’s security situation had improved, arguing that developments on the ground suggested otherwise.

The APM made its position known while reacting to comments attributed to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), that insecurity had reduced under the present administration.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party described the minister’s claim as a “dangerous distortion of reality,” saying independent reports indicated that Nigeria’s insecurity ranking had deteriorated.

According to the APM, Nigeria moved from sixth position in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index to fourth in the 2026 ranking.

Yusuf said it was “deeply disappointing” for a federal minister to make such claims at a time when Nigerians were still being killed, kidnapped, displaced and terrorised in different parts of the country.

The party further accused the administration of being insensitive to the suffering of victims of killings, kidnappings, rape, ransom demands and attacks by bandits.

The APM also cited alleged data from SBM Intelligence indicating that more than N7.78 billion was paid as ransom between July 2025 and June 2026.

It further claimed that about 600 Nigerians, mostly women, children and elderly persons, were abducted from Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida communities in Niger State in the previous week and remained in captivity.

The opposition party challenged President Tinubu, the Defence Minister and other senior government officials to travel by road without armed security escorts if the security situation had indeed improved.

“It is clear that insecurity is festering under President Tinubu because he lacks the capacity to develop and operate a blueprint to tackle and contain the challenge,” the party said.

The APM maintained that the country could not afford another four years under what it described as an “incompetent administration.”

The party urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying its presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, had a blueprint capable of addressing insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.