News

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Tensions erupted at the Bariki Market in Enugu State when a group of Igbo butchers reportedly confronted and attacked their Hausa counterparts over a disagreement tied to meat prices.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident began when Hausa butchers allegedly sold their meat at lower prices, a move that some Igbo traders viewed as undercutting the market. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in injuries and disruption of business activities in the area.

Observers have noted that Igbo traders operate freely across markets in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria, with no reports of similar incidents. Some commentators expressed concern that the Enugu clash had not received widespread media attention, suggesting that the coverage might have been more prominent had the situation been reversed. However, a video clip of the clashes has been widely shared on social media in Northern Nigeria.

There are also concerns that, in other contexts, such disputes risk being misrepresented as ethnic or communal violence, further heightening tensions.

Market authorities and local security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

By: Abdulhameed Ridwanullah

On July 22, 2015, the then-spouse of Nigerian Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage, Tunji “Tee Billz” Balogun, announced the birth of their son, Jamil, on social media with an image of the father and son’s hands. This, no doubt, was an intimate moment. But beneath that act was the normalization of what researchers described as “sharenting”. Sharenting is a pervasive practice of documenting every stage of a child’s life online. From the baby shower, scan pictures, delivery room and other “first” images in the life of the baby documented for public gaze, sharenting has become normalized to an extent that those calling for caution are regarded as old-school.

Sharenting is now recognized globally as a growing digital privacy concern because it exposes children to long-term data risks they cannot consent to. But in Nigeria, the consequences are amplified by our unique digital ecosystem.
What makes sharenting particularly risky in Nigeria is not only what online platforms do, but what we (users) do. On the users’ part, Nigerians’ platform usage has shown a pattern of resistance that outsmarts platforms’ regulations. In my research on platform resistance, I argued that Nigerians have developed what I call a digital okada culture: creative, evasive practices that bypass platform safeguards the same way commercial motorcycle riders bypass formal road rules. Screenshots, screen recording, parallel WhatsApp accounts, anonymous repost pages and third-party aggregators routinely move supposedly “private” content into the open, uncontrolled publics.

We have seen photos of the naming ceremonies privately shared on WhatsApp status, making their way anonymously to Instagram gossip pages like Instablog9ja and other similar gossip blogs. Simply put, a controlled WhatsApp status update can end up on strangers’ phones instantaneously. Our digital culture in Nigeria is a highly porous ecosystem where content easily escapes parents’ control, which complicates sharenting.
It is instinctive for proud parents to want to celebrate their joy with friends and family. Culturally and religiously speaking, giving birth is not a small feat. It is one of the memorable achievements in one’s life.

The magnitude and social significance of it alone are good reasons to celebrate and post children online. For diaspora families, social media posts also help them connect with grandchildren and relatives not seen physically. On the surface, this looks like a harmless practice. But once it is placed inside a digital okada culture, the comfort of “I only shared it with my contacts” becomes an illusion.

Even mainstream financial institutions have begun to warn that oversharing children’s information online can create future vulnerabilities. A 2018 BBC news report indicated that Barclays Bank forecasted that by 2030, sharenting could result in £670 million in online fraud. The bank added that parents might be “lulled into a false sense of security” without grasping the long-term implications of oversharing online. That warning is not just about money; it is about the long tail of our children’s data.

But financial fraud is only a small fragment of the risk. The bigger problem is how children’s data feeds an entire economic system. As I have written previously, the “paradox of social media is that a digital footprint is both transient and permanent”. It is transient because our post quickly disappears from most feeds, but the metadata is stored permanently in corporate databases. This is what Harvard professor Shoshana Zuboff calls surveillance capitalism.

Sharenting allows surveillance capitalism to thrive because parents voluntarily funnel massive intimate behavioural data about their children into algorithms. This behavioural data could be monetised by building a detailed, lifelong predictive profile of the children. According to privacy researchers, children’s photos that people share online are being used to train facial recognition algorithms and AI systems.

Think about that! Our children’s faces are being used to teach machines without our or their consent. Parents’ excitement often leads to the surrender of children’s data to platforms without their consent. Even celebrities who build careers on social media visibility, like Rihanna and Cardi B, are choosing to obscure their children’s faces to mitigate risk. Drake famously raps in the Emotionless track that “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world; I was hiding the world from my kid”.

Many Nigerian parents take comfort in the illusion of privacy of End-to-End Encrypted messaging platforms. They assume that posting baby photos on WhatsApp Status, especially to a restricted contact list, is safer than throwing them on Instagram. Messages on WhatsApp are encrypted, no doubt; however, that alone does not mean data extraction isn’t taking place.

Metadata about what we share (e.g., baby photos), who we talk to, when, location, duration, and frequency are extractable and shareable data that the platforms can use to build a behavioural pattern.
In other words, even when images disappear, their informational shadows remain.

Beyond the momentary applause and privacy concern, what happens when these children grow up and do not appreciate their lives being displayed online and their privacy being taken away? Teenagers are already suing their parents in Europe for unconsented exposure. It is only a matter of time before a similar conflict emerges in Nigeria. I am not a technological Luddite. Far from it. I am just a concerned technology researcher who cares about the use and misuse of social media.

In a country shaped by digital okada culture, parents cannot assume that what they post about their children will stay where they intended. Sharenting is not just about cute photos; it is about handing our children’s futures to platforms, algorithms and a porous digital public they did not choose.

Nigeria needs greater digital literacy around children’s rights. There is also a need for more public awareness campaigns and discussion about consent beginning at home. Parents must think beyond the moment of joy and consider the digital futures they are constructing for their children.

Abdulhameed Ridwanullah is a researcher at Media for Empowerment and Impact Lab, Northeastern University, Boston, USA. He can be reached at olaitanrido@yahoo.com

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Rector Cares Foundation’s documentary “Dying for Water” has won the Award of Excellence for Best Film on Climate Change at the Africa Film for Impact Festival (AFFIF) 2025, earning widespread recognition for its powerful portrayal of water poverty in rural Nigeria. 

Screened at the festival’s 4th edition, held from October 29–31 at Silverbird Cinemas, Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the film tells the story of Fatsuma, a mother grieving the loss of her child who drowned in an unsafe community well, and highlights the daily struggles faced by women and children relying on hazardous water sources. 

Founder and executive producer Onyedikachi Erete described the honour as a validation of the Foundation’s mission. “This victory validates our mission to ignite conversations about water poverty and the crucial role of WASH in fostering sustainable development,” he said. 

Directed by Omoregie Osakpolor and co-produced by Stephanie Ohumu, the documentary forms part of Rector Cares Foundation’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of climate-driven water crises and strengthen collaborations with organisations working in water provision and technology. 

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has condemned what it describes as the “sectarian and deeply troubling” conduct of a recent United States congressional delegation to Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC faulted the visit of Congressman Riley Moore, who publicly emphasised meetings with Christian and traditional leaders during the trip, including bishops in Benue State and a Tiv traditional ruler. Moore, a vocal proponent of the claim of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, said on his X account that he came “in the name of the Lord” and held discussions on alleged Fulani-led attacks.

MPAC argued that the delegation’s failure to engage the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim community—particularly the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)—was a deliberate snub rather than a scheduling issue. It accused the U.S. team of avoiding Muslim victims and communities affected by violence and warned that such selective engagement risked reinforcing “extreme voices and anti-Muslim narratives” within U.S. policy circles.

The organisation said the pattern of “selective listening, selective engagement, and selective outrage” threatens Nigeria’s delicate interfaith balance. It called on international partners, especially the United States, to demonstrate neutrality and ensure that foreign policy on Nigeria is not shaped by religious lobbies or sectarian biases.

MPAC reaffirmed its commitment to justice and peaceful coexistence, urging Nigerians to question why key Muslim institutions and victims were excluded from the delegation’s itinerary.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and confirmed his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fubara made the declaration during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.While addressing attendees, the governor explained that his new political direction was tied to his relationship with the presidency.

“We can’t support President (Tinubu) if we don’t fully identify with him, not just backyard support.

“Our decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC,” Fubara said as he confirmed his defection.

His announcement comes at a time of heightened political tension in Rivers State, where disagreements within the PDP continue to raise concerns.

The move also follows a private meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governor on Monday.

Reports show that both men met behind closed doors at the State House in Abuja.

The discussion took place amid increasing uncertainty over Fubara’s future in the PDP and growing friction within the state’s political structure.

Fubara’s switch to the APC marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the oil-rich state, which has been grappling with internal disputes and power struggles in recent months.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has officially announced that he will contest the 2026 governorship election under the Accord Party.

The declaration took place on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Osogbo.

National and state leaders of the party were present at the event.

Adeleke disclosed that he joined the Accord Party on November 6, 2025, after holding extensive consultations with political stakeholders and community leaders across the state.

A statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, noted that the governor had explained to stakeholders why the political shift became necessary.

According to Adeleke, he chose the Accord Party because its ideology reflects the priorities of his administration.

“We opted for the Accord Party because its mission of welfarism aligns with our passionate focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare,” he said.

The governor welcomed party figures to the Government House and called for unity as political activities ahead of the 2026 election continue to build momentum.

“We are united in progress and good intentions for the good people of Osun State and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

Adeleke encouraged party members to remain focused and work together for success, stressing the importance of leadership that carries all groups along.

He added that his experience in the party so far has strengthened his belief in its values.

“The focus on people’s welfare should always be at the heart of public leadership. The primary essence of government is the welfare and well-being of the people,” he noted.

Adeleke reaffirmed that his government will continue to design programmes that improve the lives of residents and place citizens’ welfare at the centre of governance.

He described the Accord Party as the platform that will drive the state’s political direction ahead of next year’s election.

He also urged residents across Osun West, Osun East and Osun Central to support the party.

“From Igbomina to Ijeshaland, Ifeland, Osogbo, Iwoland, Modakeke, Gbongan, Igbajo, Ikire, Ikirun, Ede and beyond, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year,” he declared.

Adeleke ended his remarks by formally announcing his decision.“In accordance with the will of our stakeholders and in deep respect for the wishes of Osun people, I hereby declare for the Accord Party,” he announced.

By Anwar Usman

The Kogi State Government has said security operatives have intercepted a group of underage children trafficked into the state in what is suspected to be a covert recruitment attempt for banditry training.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo.

“At about 1500hrs on December 5, 2025, eagle-eyed security operatives of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Yagba Area Command, in collaboration with other security agencies in Isanlu, acting on credible intelligence from community hunters, intercepted a truck conveying 21 children aged between six and 17 years into Kogi State,” the commissioner stated.

The commissioner stated that investigations revealed that the children were trafficked from different northern states suspiciously by adults who could not provide legitimate justification for their movement.

“Several suspects linked to the trafficking operation have been arrested, including individuals who claimed they were transporting the children to establish an informal ‘Islamic school’ within Yagba East,” the statement further revealed.

Fanwo also added that, further arrests were carried out as security operatives intensified effort and surveillance in the area, uncovering additional persons allegedly connected to the movement of the minors.

“Some of the suspects were also found with items raising significant security concerns,” he said, adding that the rescued children had been transferred to the NSCDC State Command in Lokoja for detailed investigation and proper profiling of all persons involved.

He also assured that “upon completion of profiling and verification, the children will be handed over to their respective state governments for further investigation and eventual reintegration with their families.”

The commissioner, however, said all individuals found guilty in the trafficking operation would be prosecuted in accordance with Kogi State’s child trafficking and child rights protection laws.

By Maryam Ahmed

Florida is poised to carry out its 18th execution of the year on Tuesday, marking the state’s deadliest year on record, after death row inmate Mark Geralds declined to challenge his death warrant.

Geralds, convicted of the 1989 murder of a woman in Panama City, spent more than three decades on death row before Governor Ron DeSantis signed his execution order last month. In a rare move, Geralds informed officials that he would not pursue the final round of appeals typically filed by inmates facing imminent execution.

His execution by lethal injection will also contribute to a national surge in capital punishment, pushing the United States toward its highest annual total in nearly twenty years. Florida, which has significantly accelerated its use of the death penalty in recent years, now accounts for a large share of the country’s executions in 2025.

The spike has intensified debate among legal experts, civil-liberties groups, and faith leaders, many of whom warn that the growing pace leaves less room to identify wrongful convictions or address longstanding concerns about racial bias, mental health, and sentencing disparities.

State officials, however, argue that the system provides ample opportunity for review and that carrying out sentences brings long-delayed closure to victims’ families. Geralds’ execution, they say, follows decades of litigation, during which multiple courts upheld his conviction and sentence.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has ignited fresh debate over media bias in football after highlighting what he sees as unequal treatment between himself and fellow striker Harry Kane. 

Speaking in a recent interview, Salah recalled a past spell when Kane went 10 matches without scoring, yet continued to receive strong backing from commentators.

According to Salah, the tone was markedly different when he experienced similar difficulties. “The media were like: ‘Oh, Harry will score for sure.’ When it comes to Mo, everyone is like: ‘He needs to be on the bench,’” he said. The Egyptian forward stressed that his point was not a personal jab at Kane, adding humorously, “I am sorry, Harry!”

Salah’s comments quickly circulated on social media, garnering millions of views and sparking widespread discussion. Analysts and supporters have since weighed in, with many arguing that the incident reflects broader inconsistencies in how players from different backgrounds are portrayed in mainstream football coverage.

The episode has added a new layer to ongoing conversations about fairness, perception, and representation in global sport, especially in Europe.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release of 100 students kidnapped from the Papiri Catholic School in Niger State, while ordering security agencies to swiftly secure the freedom of 115 students and their teachers still held captive.

The President commended security forces for their “steadfast work” in returning the first group of students to their families following the abduction on November 21.

In a statement, President Tinubu directed that the rescue of all remaining abducted Nigerians nationwide remains an absolute priority. “We must account for all the victims,” he said.

He assured parents that federal and Niger State authorities are collaborating closely to reunite all hostages with their families. Governor Umar Bago was also praised for his efforts.

Looking forward, the President issued a stern mandate to prevent further attacks on schools.

“Our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings,” Tinubu stated. “Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma.”

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with all states to secure schools and ensure a safer, more conducive learning environment.