TREND SUN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the gruesome massacre of over 200 Nigerians, including children, in Benue State, describing it as another horrifying chapter in the history of our nation under the unresponsive All Progressives Congress (APC) government.   In a statement released by its spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, the party said it is alarmed by reports of how ‘’terrorists and bandits invaded and overran communities in series of coordinated daily bl@ody attacks, unleashing violence, m$rdering hundreds of defenseless compatriots unchallenged, while the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC government remains largely unconcerned''.   Ologunagba’s criticism comes amid mounting public outrage and grief over the spate of killings, particularly in central and northern regions of the country.   ‘’It is clear that the assailants marauding communities in various States of our country are being emboldened by President Tinubu’s lethargic approach to...

US President, Donald Trump has warned that the United States may be forced to intervene directly in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran if the current escalation continues unchecked.   Speaking in an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Trump emphasized that the U.S. is not currently involved in the conflict but did not rule out the possibility of future intervention.   “We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” Trump said, referring to the rapidly intensifying military exchanges between the two longtime enemies.   The latest violence began Friday when Israel launched a preemptive strike on Iran, targeting suspected nuclear and military assets. In response, Iran has unleashed waves of missile and drone attacks on major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, triggering days of chaos and destruction on both sides.   Despite the bloodshed, Trump expressed optimism that diplomacy could still pr...

U.S. Donald Trump is considering adding Nigeria and some African countries to a list of countries hit with a visa ban.   According to The Washington Post, an internal memo signed by Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, said 36 countries might be affected by the travel ban if Trump approves it.   The Trump administration cited a lack of government transparency and a proper database to freely vet the backgrounds of travellers from these countries as the reason for the incoming ban, amid efforts by the government in Washington to reduce immigration to the United States.   The new list includes Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.   Others are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Bhutan, Camb...

Donald Trump has urged Iran to agree to a nuclear deal with the United States “before it is too late,” warning that Israel’s recent missile strikes on the country and its nuclear facilities could escalate further. The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Friday morning following the collapse of US-Iran nuclear negotiations and a censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – its first against Iran in over two decades – for Tehran’s lack of cooperation with inspectors. Reports from Tehran confirmed that loud explosions were heard in the northeastern region of the capital in the early hours. Iran responded by suspending all flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport, the city’s main aviation hub.   Israeli officials said the airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. However, images circulating online showed significant damage in residential areas, raising concerns about civilian casualties.   Among the targets hit were major ...

Vice President J.D. Vance was met with loud boos as he took his seat at Washington’s Kennedy Center on Thursday night, following President Donald Trump’s controversial move to appoint himself as chairman of the prestigious arts institution.   In a video captured by Andrew Roth of The Guardian, Vance is seen stepping into his box alongside his wife, Usha Vance. As they settle in, the initial jeers quickly grow louder as more attendees recognize his presence. One audience member is even heard shouting, “Kill that light!” in an apparent attempt to remove him from view.   Despite the frosty reception, Vance appeared unfazed, calmly sipping his drink before waving to the crowd with a grin. The Vice President and his wife were attending a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra, which has been a fixture at the Kennedy Center since it opened in 1971.   The backlash comes after Trump’s stunning decision in February to take control of the Kennedy Center, citing ...

 President Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine. On his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump wrote: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.” He urged both Russia and Ukraine to engage in immediate negotiations, warning, “Get to the table right now, before it is too late.”   Trump has repeatedly stated his aim of serving as a “peacemaker” and “mediator” between Russia and Ukraine, the latter of which has been fending off a full-scale invasion since February 2022.   Speaking at an economic update, Trump was asked whether he still believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is committed to peace. He responded, “I think we’re doing very well with Russia. But right now, th...

U.S. President Donald Trump has paused military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, a White House official has said. The move comes after Trump upended U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow - and after an explosive confrontation with Zelenskiy at the White House on Friday in which Trump criticized him for being ungrateful for Washington's backing in the war with Russia.   "President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," said the official to Reuters on Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.   The White House had no immediate comment on the scope and amount of aid affected or how long the pause would last.  On Monday,  March 3, Trump said Zelenskiy shou...

Iran on Wednesday, February 26, condemned the latest round of U.S. sanctions as a “clear sign of hostility” after Washington blacklisted more than 30 individuals and vessels linked to its oil trade.   The sanctions, announced on Monday, February 24, targeted the head of Iran’s national oil company and others accused of brokering oil sales. This marks the second wave of sanctions in less than a month since U.S. President Donald Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran.   Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the measures as an act of aggression, stating they reflect the hostility of American policymakers toward the “welfare, development, and happiness” of the Iranian people. In a statement, he described the sanctions as a “wrongful, unjustified, illegitimate act” that violates human rights and held Washington responsible for their impact. During Trump’s first term, which ended in 2021, the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, which had imposed...

Trump speaking on News host, Bret Baier, said he wasn’t yet ready to endorse Vance for a 2028 presidential run of his own.  But he added “No, but he’s very capable.”  When asked in an interview with the Daily Mail about Trump’s remarks, Vance laughed it off.  “I think he said exactly what he should have said, which is: “It’s too early”,’ he replied.  Vance said that his only current focus is “the American people’s business” and not politics.  He added: “There will be a time to focus on politics, of course — [like] the midterms [in November 2026] — so let’s do a good job and then worry about the midterms.  “And then we’ll worry about presidential politics at the appropriate time.”

The Feminist Coalition has reacted to allegation of withdrawing N23m worth of bitcoin donated for #EndSARS protest and transferring it to another account.   The group in a statement it released on Friday March 12, said the transferred bitcoin was part of a transaction initiated on November 16, 2020. It added that the delay in confirming the transaction was due to the meagre bitcoin network fees chosen.    The Coalition also gave a breakdown of its expenses from the donation made during the #EndSARS protest.    See the statement below....  

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) has said that the money approved for purchase of weapons under the former service chiefs recently sacked by President Buhari are unaccounted for.    Munguno in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday March 12, said the newly appointed Service Chiefs who recently assumed office could not find the weapons that their predecessors ought to have purchased.    Recall that the former service chiefs; Ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff; Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Naval Staff; Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; and former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, nomination as non-career ambassadors by President Buhari was approved by the senate few days ago.    The NSA in the interview with BBC, stated that the failure of the security personnel to get adequate weapons is a setback to the fight against insecurity.   Monguno said;    “It is...

Ebele Obiano, the first lady of Anambra state has shared a video online as she received the second dose of the COVID19 vaccine.   In January, she received heat online after she shared a video of herself taking the first shot of the  vaccine  in the US. Nigerians attacked her for taking the vaccine in the US when the same hasn't been made available to residents of Anambra state.   Mrs Obiano in a statement said that she received the vaccine and shared the video to encourage everyone to take it. She also stated that she took it to dismiss claims that the vaccine is meant to kill Africans.   Watch the video of Mrs Obiano after taking the second shot below  

Suspected bandits have abducted some staff and students of the Government Science Secondary School in Kagara, headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.   The bandits invaded the school around 3 am on Wednesday, February 17, abducting the students and some of the staff. One student was reportedly killed during the attack.   The state police command is yet to comment on this incident which comes barely two months after gunmen invaded Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, kidnapping over 300 students.  

Former US President Donald Trump has blasted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, calling him "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack" in a letter just days after the Republican Senate leader voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial. After voting to aquit Trump, McConnell ripped Trump in a speech from the Senate floor. Reports from Washington say both men haven't spoken to each other since the January 6 capitol attack after working closely together during the former President's four years in office. Trump has now blasted McConnell. "Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in the statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thought...

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Rep. Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, have sued former US President Donald Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and two right-wing extremist groups, alleging they conspired to incite the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.   The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, February 16, in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Trump and Giuliani, in collaboration with the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, conspired to incite the riot to keep Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.    It claims they did so in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era statute designed to protect both formerly enslaved African Americans and lawmakers in Congress from white supremacist violence.   Reps. Hank Johnson and Bonnie Watson Coleman will join the litigation as plaintiffs in the coming days, according to a press re...

Worried by the rising insecurity in the country, the Nigerian Senate today February 17, called on President Buhari to declare a statement emergency on insecurity in the country.   The Senators made the call while reacting to the abduction of staff and students of Government Science College in Kagara, Niger state, in the early hours of today February 17.   Part of the resolution of the Senate during plenary includes ''i. Condemn in very strong terms the attack on Government Science School, Kagara, Niger State. ii. Urge the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to as a matter of urgency, declare a State of Emergency on insecurity in Nigeria iii. Urge the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to consider and implement the recommendations of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria’s security challenges dated March 17, 2020 and Senate’s resolution therefore as a holistic response to the ...

Governor Sani Bello of Niger State has ordered the immediate closure of all the boarding schools in four local government areas of the state.   This came after   students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara were abducted by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday February 17.    Governor Bello who spoke to newsmen in Minna, ordered that all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Munya and Shiroro local government areas of the state be closed until further notice.   He also commented on the viral video of bandits celebrating the abduction of the passengers of the NSTA bus that was attacked on Sunday February 14 and demanding for N500 million ransom.    The Governor further stated that the government will not pay ransom to the bandits as they will use it to buy sophisticated weapons and cause further harm.   Bello said;    “It is not in our policy as a government to pay ransom to bandits because ...

Kidnappers operating in Niger state have released a video showing 21 commuters that were abducted along the Tegina-Zungeru highway in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state on Sunday, February 14.     The victims were abducted while traveling in a bus belonging to the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA). A statement released by the state government on Tuesday, February 16, said ten of the passengers had been freed without a ransom paid.   There are reports that the terrorists are demanding a ransom of N500 million to release the remaining victims in the captive.   Watch the video the terrorists released below...  

An ambush carried out by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state has left at least 7 soldiers dead.    Premium Times reported that the affected soldiers who were attached to the 153 Task Force Battalion in Marte Local Government Council of the state, were caught by surprise during the attack which occurred by 10am on Monday February 15.    It was gathered that they put up a strong fight to defend their base and ward off the insurgents, but were overwhelmed “because they could not withstand the superior firepower of the terrorists”.    Military insiders reportedly said Monday’s attack on Marte Local Government by the extremist Boko Haram group makes it the third onslaught in the area in a month.    The terrorists had ambushed soldiers at the location on January 10 and 15. The casualty rates from those attacks are unknown.   The unit, which was totally dislodged, has now been moved to Dikwa, another local government area, a developm...

Last weekend in the city of Awka at Stanel Dome was definitely one for the history books as the most distinguished business men, world leaders and other notable dignitaries in the society converged under one roof from Friday 12th – Sunday, 14th February for the Access More with Stanel event. Undoubtedly the biggest youth empowerment event to ever happen in the South East, it is no doubt that Dr Stanley Uzochukwu; the host and convener of the event is committed to the growth and development of Nigerian youths and this was evident with the line-up of speakers and choice of panellists who addressed all participants.   From the opening address by The Executive Governor of Anambra State H.E Willie Obiano ably represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, to the keynote speeches from Barr. Allen Onyema & Dr. Cosmas Maduka followed by the speeches from Prof. Lilian Orogbu, Prof. Patrick Utomi, good will messages from Mrs Sally Mbanefo, the Honourable Commissioner for Solid Minerals & HRM...