UK

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Multiple people have died after a collision involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on a major road in northern England.

The incident occurred at about 3:39am on Saturday along the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough in Teesside, according to reports by the BBC.

Cleveland Police said its vehicle was involved in the crash, while the North East Ambulance Service confirmed that three vehicles were involved in the incident.

A police spokesman said: “Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. We are working to identify the victims and contact their families.”

The police said the A66 remained closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane. The closure was expected to last “for some time” as emergency personnel continued operations at the scene.

The force described the situation as “quickly evolving” and appealed to members of the public to “respectfully avoid speculation” while investigations continued.

The North East Ambulance Service said 14 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The service added: “Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene.”

It further stated: “We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”

Authorities were yet to release the identities of those who died, while investigations continued to establish the circumstances that led to the collision.

The public was advised to avoid the affected section of the road and use alternative routes as emergency services remained at the scene.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United Kingdom has praised the conduct of the Osun State governorship election and congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

The British High Commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday after the poll, noting that it had engaged various stakeholders before election day and deployed accredited observers to monitor the exercise.

The commission said its observers recorded several positive developments that were also identified by credible independent observer groups that monitored the election across the state.

“Based on their observations, and consistent with the findings of credible independent observer groups with wider deployments across the state, we welcome several encouraging signs of a positive democratic process,” the statement reads.

“This includes the opening of polls as scheduled in many locations, the commitment of security personnel to maintaining order, and the effective implementation of electoral procedures by INEC officials.

“Most of all, we were encouraged by the patience, resilience and participation demonstrated by voters throughout the day.”

Despite the positive assessment, the British High Commission said it observed reports of isolated incidents that caused tension before and during the election.

It listed some of the concerns as voter interference, vote-buying involving different political parties, inadequate access for persons with disabilities and elderly voters, as well as congestion linked to the rapid deployment and limited availability of BVAS devices for accreditation.

The commission called on relevant Nigerian institutions to examine the challenges and use the findings to improve public confidence in the electoral system.

It also urged authorities to consider recommendations from civil society organisations, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

The UK mission cautioned that some of the advantages available during an off-cycle election may be difficult to reproduce during a nationwide election.

“As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, we note that off-cycle elections benefit from the availability of additional personnel and resources that may be more difficult to replicate at nationwide scale,” the statement reads.

“We nevertheless hope that the experience of the Osun election will help inform further improvements that strengthen the integrity, inclusiveness and credibility of future electoral processes.”

The British High Commission reaffirmed the UK’s readiness to work with Nigeria’s electoral bodies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

It said such cooperation would also support efforts to strengthen the democratic institutions that underpin Nigeria’s electoral system.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

United States President Donald Trump has urged new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take immediate action against illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom.

In an interview with GB News on Wednesday, Trump said Burnham would eventually be forced to address immigration despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office.

“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster.

The US president claimed migrants were arriving from multiple regions, including Africa, South America, and parts of Asia.

“They’re invading Europe,” Trump warned, adding that “the UK is a prime suspect.”

Trump’s comments came on the same day that more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain, with people smugglers launching 11 small boats from various points along the French and Belgian coastline.

The remarks also come as Burnham’s government continues to face scrutiny over its plans for handling asylum seekers.

When asked earlier this week whether the Prime Minister wanted asylum hotels to be closed, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The work on that continues,” adding there was “no change in that work being carried out by the Home Secretary in her department.”

According to Home Office figures, 172 people crossed the Channel on the Wednesday of Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday and another 103 on Friday.

Trump reflected on his early interactions with the British leader, saying Burnham had a “big job ahead of him” on his first day in Downing Street.

Describing a recent telephone conversation between them, Trump said it was “interesting, and went very well,” adding that he wished the Prime Minister “GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.”

While the two leaders have maintained relatively stable relations during Burnham’s opening weeks, North Sea oil drilling has emerged as a potential point of disagreement.

The day before Burnham succeeded former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump urged him to expand North Sea oil drilling, claiming it would transform the UK “from a poverty stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world.”

Sources in Washington have reportedly expressed concern over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his previous criticisms of Trump.

Behind the scenes, efforts to strengthen UK-US relations are continuing, while Burnham has maintained Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for what the government describes as “defensive” strikes linked to the conflict involving Iran.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A UK court has sentenced a Nigerian man, Obinwa Obichukwu, to two years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman twice at Euston railway station in London.

The British Transport Police (BTP) announced that the 45-year-old, who lives on Armstrong Close in Hertfordshire, received the sentence at the Inner London Crown Court on July 21. He had earlier been convicted on two counts of sexual assault in January.

Apart from the prison sentence, the court imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Obichukwu. It also directed that he remain on the UK sex offenders register for 10 years.

According to the BTP, the incident happened on the evening of August 20, 2023. Investigators said Obichukwu approached the woman as she walked towards Euston station. He reportedly asked what music she was listening to before placing his arm around her shoulder and inviting her to return home with him.

Police said he repeatedly grabbed the woman’s hand as she continued along Euston Road. He allegedly told her he loved her before preventing her from entering the station and sexually assaulting her at the entrance.

The victim later made her way towards the London Underground platforms. However, Obichukwu followed her and sexually assaulted her again near the ticket barriers before she managed to push him away and escape. She subsequently reported the incident to the authorities.

Officers later arrested Obichukwu at his home after tracing him through their investigation.

The police said the victim’s account, alongside CCTV footage, provided sufficient evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to approve two charges of sexual assault against him.

Reacting to the conviction, Detective Constable Daniel Burke described the convict as “a sexual predator” who deliberately targeted a woman travelling alone.

“Obinwa Obichukwu is a sexual predator who targeted a lone woman and attacked her at a busy London station.

“He claimed his assault was consensual and took his case to trial, but fortunately, the jury saw straight through his lies, and he’s now behind bars where he belongs.

“Tackling violence and intimidation against women and girls is a priority for us as a force, and we’re tireless in our efforts to bring offenders like Obichukwu to justice.

“If you experience or witness these crimes on the railway, please report them to us by texting 61016. We will always take action,” Burke said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Andy Burnham has been elected leader of the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party. His victory clears the way for him to become the country’s next prime minister.

The result was announced on Friday by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who confirmed that Burnham would succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader and assume office as prime minister on Monday.

In his first speech after the announcement, Burnham declared his readiness to lead the country.

“I am ready,” he said.

The incoming prime minister said Britain required a new political direction. He argued that leaders of his generation had failed to address a political culture and economic system that no longer served ordinary citizens.

Burnham said his administration would focus on building “a new politics” that would bring meaningful change.

“People are looking for us to deliver and we will,” he said.

He also praised his predecessor, Keir Starmer, for rebuilding the Labour Party after one of its worst electoral defeats and leading it back into government.

Burnham said Starmer had positioned Labour to improve the lives of people across Britain. He also thanked the outgoing leader for his dedication to both the country and the party.

Starmer resigned as prime minister and Labour leader on June 22 after months of increasing political pressure.

When he announced his resignation, Starmer said he had “heard the answer” from his party on whether he was the right person to lead Labour into the next general election. He added that he accepted the decision “with good grace”.

Burnham is expected to be sworn in on Monday. His inauguration will make him Britain’s seventh prime minister in the past decade, a period marked by frequent changes in the country’s political leadership.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A court in the United Kingdom has found former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, not guilty of all bribery charges brought against her after a trial that attracted significant international attention.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court in London after jurors reportedly spent more than 46 hours considering the case.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, who headed Nigeria’s petroleum ministry between 2010 and 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had faced six charges. The allegations included five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

British prosecutors had accused the former minister of receiving expensive benefits from individuals in the oil and gas industry. According to the prosecution, the benefits were allegedly provided in return for favourable treatment and influence over the award of contracts in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

During the proceedings, prosecutors claimed that Mrs Alison-Madueke enjoyed what they described as “a life of luxury” in London. They alleged that businessmen linked to Nigeria’s oil sector financed luxury purchases, property renovations and other expenses on her behalf.

The former minister consistently rejected the accusations. She told the court that she neither accepted bribes nor had direct authority over the award of government contracts.

During one of the hearings, she stated: “I can state categorically that at no point did I ask for, take or receive a bribe of any sort… and did not abuse my office.”

Mrs Alison-Madueke also explained that a logistics company was established in London to coordinate official engagements because of what she described as shortcomings in the financial arrangements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the time. She further maintained that official expenses incurred on her behalf were reimbursed by the corporation.

The acquittal marks the end of a case that began after British authorities launched corruption investigations into her activities more than a decade ago. The former minister was formally charged in 2023.

Mrs Alison-Madueke, 65, was among the most prominent figures in Nigeria’s oil industry during her time in office. She also served as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) between 2014 and 2015.

Although she has now been cleared of the charges in the UK, she still faces several corruption-related cases in Nigeria. Nigerian courts have previously ordered the forfeiture of assets worth billions of naira linked to her.

The London trial also involved oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, who was accused of bribery-related offences connected to the former minister.

The ruling represents a significant development in one of the most closely watched international corruption cases involving a former Nigerian public official.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United Kingdom government has announced plans to prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, citing concerns about online safety and the impact of digital content on young people.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the proposal on Monday. He argued that social media platforms are harming children’s wellbeing and exposing them to inappropriate material.

According to Starmer, the government “will ban access to social media for all children under the age of 16”. He also warned that these platforms are “exposing them to content that is dangerous” and “designed to be addictive”.

The proposed restriction will cover platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Messaging services, including WhatsApp, will not be affected.

Starmer said he expects the legislation to be approved by the end of December, with implementation scheduled for the spring of next year.

The British leader also disclosed that the government intends to take “world-leading action on gaming services and live streaming platforms”. Officials are considering additional measures, including overnight restrictions and limits on endless scrolling features for users under 18. More details are expected in July.

The proposal follows a government consultation that allowed British teenagers to test social media restrictions and app time limits. Authorities said the initiative drew about 116,000 responses, making it one of the largest consultations ever conducted by the government.

The plan was influenced by Australia’s decision to ban social media use for people under 16. Australia became the first country to adopt such a policy in December.

Not everyone supports the move. A YouTube spokesperson cautioned that a blanket ban could push children toward “less safe services”.

Starmer also addressed concerns about gaming and live-streaming platforms that allow contact between children and strangers.

“Is there a situation in the offline world where you would just let your child pair up with a stranger? An adult that you don’t know about? No. So we’re taking action on that,” he said.

The UK announcement comes shortly after the government directed major technology firms, including Apple and Google, to introduce safety tools that prevent children from creating, sending or receiving nude images on mobile devices.

Authorities warned that legislation would be introduced if the companies fail to implement the required protections within three months.

The Labour government stated that technology firms have a “moral responsibility” to “protect children from coercion, abuse and sextortion”.

Meanwhile, several countries have introduced or proposed similar measures. Canada recently proposed legislation that would prevent children under 16 from opening social media accounts, while Indonesia began enforcing a comparable restriction in March. A number of European governments have also indicated interest in adopting similar policies.

According to figures cited by the UK government from the Internet Watch Foundation, 91 percent of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 involved self-generated content created by children.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United Kingdom has introduced new immigration regulations that may stop universities from recruiting foreign students if they fail to meet stricter compliance standards.

The Home Office announced the policy on Thursday. The new measures focus on reducing rising asylum claims linked to study, work, and tourist visas. Officials said foreign students make up the largest share of such claims.

Under the new framework, any university where more than five percent of student visa applications are refused risks losing its licence to recruit international students. The earlier threshold stood at 10 percent.

The Home Office said it monitors both visa refusal rates and the institutions linked to affected applicants.

Universities also face sanctions if a large number of students withdraw or fail to complete their programmes.

The updated policy requires foreign students to record at least a 95 percent enrolment rate and a 90 percent completion rate. These figures previously stood at 90 percent and 85 percent.

The Home Office explained its concern over poor compliance in the sector. It stated:

“High drop-out rates can indicate students have entered the illegal working economy rather than studied whilst high visa rejection rates or low enrolment figures suggest some institutions have not done enough due diligence on applicants,” the Home Office said.

The changes come about three months after the UK introduced an “emergency brake” on study visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. The restriction followed a rise in asylum claims that officials described as an “unsustainable threat”.

According to the Home Office, asylum claims from students have dropped by 30 percent over the past year due to stricter enforcement.

The ministry also said it had contacted 306,000 students whose visas are due to expire. It warned that it will reject unfounded asylum claims quickly and that individuals without the right to remain must leave the country or face removal.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A 24-year-old Nigerian national, Gift Oladele, has been handed a 17-year prison sentence in the United Kingdom after a court found him guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in Wrexham.

The incident occurred in the early hours of September 7 last year. Oladele, who previously lived in the Manchester area and had no fixed address at the time, carried out the attack after encountering the victim in Wrexham city centre.

North Wales Police said the young woman had been returning home after spending time with friends when she met Oladele. He approached her and her friend, introduced himself, and insisted on walking her home, claiming he was going the same way.

As they moved along Mold Road, Oladele diverted her onto a secluded footpath where he attacked her.

Following the incident, he threatened the victim and warned her against reporting the matter. The case was, however, reported to the police, leading to his arrest within hours. Authorities later charged him and kept him in custody pending trial.

During proceedings at Mold Crown Court in March, Oladele denied the allegations and claimed the encounter was consensual. The jury dismissed his claim and convicted him of rape and sexual assault.

At Caernarfon Crown Court on April 30, the judge imposed a total sentence of 25 years. This includes 17 years in prison and an additional eight years on extended licence.

The court also issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a lifetime restraining order to safeguard the victim.

Reacting to the judgment, Wrexham Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst described Oladele as a “dangerous predator” who subjected the victim to a “disturbing and terrifying attack.”

“He demonstrated no remorse for his crimes after forcing her to relive the traumatic experience through a trial.

“I would like to praise the dignity and courage she has shown throughout the investigation, and for her bravery in reporting this incident to us.

“Thankfully, today’s sentence has removed Oladele from the streets, preventing any further harm to anyone else. I hope it reassures the public that North Wales Police is committed to eradicating all incidents of violence against women and girls and is working tirelessly to bring perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice.

“I would urge any victim of sexual assault to get in touch with us. You will be listened to, your report will be taken seriously and fully investigated. We are here to support you,” she added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Police Force has transferred a wanted suspect, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom over alleged links to murder and drug trafficking offences.

Authorities disclosed that the extradition followed a request from the United Kingdom in September 2024. The request asked Nigerian authorities to locate, arrest, and hand over the suspect. The process was handled through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placide, explained in a statement on Thursday that Adebiyi had been declared wanted in connection with the killing of Joshua Boadu on June 18, 2018. He said the suspect allegedly fled to Nigeria after the incident to avoid arrest.

Placide also stated that the suspect faced accusations of supplying crack cocaine, described as a Class-A controlled drug, within the UK between October 2017 and March 2018.

He said, “The suspect was arrested on 23rd January 2025 by operatives of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja, following which extradition proceedings were initiated at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/416/2025.”

The police noted that the Federal High Court in Lagos approved the extradition request on February 16, 2026, in line with existing legal provisions.

The statement added, “Pursuant to the court order and the execution of a surrender warrant by the relevant Nigerian authorities, the fugitive was formally handed over to United Kingdom law enforcement officials on 14th April 2026 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for diligent prosecution.”

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to cooperation with international partners. He stressed that the country would not provide refuge for individuals evading justice.