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NEMA receives 128 stranded Nigerians from Libya

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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it had received 128 Nigerian returnees from Libya.The Director-General of the Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Habib told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the returnees were received through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Habib, represented by the Acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said the returnees left Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, on Tuesday night aboard a chartered Buraq Boeing 100-800 aircraft with registration 5A-DMG.
The director-general said that the returnees were made up of 38 females and 90 males.“The returnees were brought back to the country by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through voluntary repatriation programme for distressed persons.
“They had left the country to seek greener pasture in various European countries but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated, ” he pointed out.

Habib admonished the returnees to look beyond seeking greener pastures in foreign lands. He assured them that the Federal Government was conscious of the aspirations of the youth and was providing enabling environment where everyone would achieve his full potential.

Narrating her experience, one of the female returnees (name withheld) expressed regrets that she was misled by her mother to embark on the fruitless journey. She said her mother was approached by a “street sister“ who sweet-talked her mum to convince her to embark on the journey to Europe. The 28-year-old returnee said she obeyed her mother when the pressure became unbearable.“I left my three-month-old son behind to my mum’s care and I have not seen him since then.“He should be six years old now. My trafficker paid for my journey from Nigeria to Libya which started on Feb. 26, 2016.“Before leaving Nigeria, my trafficker had informed me that I will refund the money spent on me for the journey, though she did not tell me the amount.“I ended up paying her ₦2.2 million equivalent by engaging in prostitution throughout my six years sojourn in Libya,” she said.“After this, my initial trafficker sold me to another burga (trafficker). I paid one million to the new man, all the payments were through prostitution.“Coming to Nigeria now with only ₦200,000 that I squeezed to save, I don’t want to see my mother till I have enough,“ she said.

When asked why she was so angry to the extent of wanting to avoid meeting her son, she burst into tears, sobbing.

Another returnee, named also withheld, said she believed that her mother did her a great favour for spurring her to embark on the journey to Europe .“Which mother will not be happy when her child is about to travel to Europe, my mum bought clothes and make-over stuff for me when I was travelling.

“A popular big sister at Akungba approached my mother and convinced her that she would help me travel to Europe with the promise that I will be doing my hairdressing work or I can be doing housemaid to be able to raise money and support my mother and siblings.“My mother has not been feeling well and she needed support. My elder siblings were not supportive because of their economic status.“My journey through the desert was horrific. I was to be buried as grave had been dug and just as I was about to be thrown into it, I miraculously showed signs of life.“I came back to live. I left Nigeria on the Jan. 3, 2016 and the cold was at the extreme peak at the time. I died and resurrected, that was what I can remember.“What I experienced in the desert was a child play compared to the inhuman treatment meted out to me by my burga (trafficker) who happened to be from my town and same street,” she pointed out.

She said that in spite of her illness as a result of the harsh weather in the desert, her trafficker forced her to be deflowered on the day she entered Libya by fixing her up with a client.“To God, I used my body (prostitution) to pay my trafficker a total sum of ₦4.5 million.“The worst part of my experience was the mental challenged I found myself in due to various trauma I passed through in the hands of my trafficker.“My trafficker took nine of us out of Akungba. At present I am the only returning due to my health. I thank God that I am recuperating fast but I have to return to Nigeria in order that the health challenge would not relapse.“Any time I shout out of anxiety or angry, the mental illness will resurface.“l cannot ask my enemies to embark on any journey out of Nigeria to seek for any non-existing job at all.“Our people are our enemies, they deceive us to leave Nigeria, she stated. (NAN)

Foreign News

CAF Sanctions Kenya Again over Crowd Trouble

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned African Nations Championship (CHAN) co-host, Kenya, for the second time in as many weeks over security breaches.

In a statement made available on Monday evening, the continental governing body said that it has limited entry to the 48,000-seat Moi International Sports Centre.

It also said that, known as Kasarani Stadium, can accommodate 27,000 fans for Sunday’s Group A match between Kenya and Zambia.

CAF said only electronic ticket holders would be allowed into the stadium, with thermal tickets prohibited.

The governing body warned that Kenya’s matches could be relocated from Kasarani Stadium if organisers fail to prevent further breaches.

“We trust these measures will be applied swiftly to protect competition’s integrity, ensure fan safety, and uphold confidence in Kenya’s commitment to the tournament,” CAF said.

The sanctions follow incidents on Aug. 10 when Kenya defeated two-time winner Morocco 1-0 in spite of playing the entire second half with 10 men.

The win put Kenya top of Group A with seven points.

The debutants would reach the quarterfinals with at least a draw against winless Zambia.

Last week, Kenya’s football federation was fined nearly 20,000 U.S. dollars for security lapses during the team’s 1-0 win over DR Congo in the tournament opener on Aug. 3.

In the latest case, CAF cited major lapses, including stadium gates and restricted service areas being overrun by ticketless spectators and holders of government-distributed physical tickets.

It also accused security personnel of losing control at exit points and allowing breaches of the perimeter fence that enabled thousands of ticketless fans to enter.

CAF had expressed alarm over the use of tear gas and flash grenades, reports of live ammunition fired near spectators and staff, and violent incidents such as stone-throwing at security personnel.

It also cited unsafe vehicle movement in spectator areas, inadequate police response, and the lack of medical incident reports in spite of injuries being reported.

Organisers were further criticised for insufficient communication tools and the absence of CCTV coverage at critical entry points.

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Madonna Urges Pope Leo to Visit Gaza

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Pop icon Madonna has made an appeal to Pope Leo XIV, urging him to visit the blockaded Gaza Strip amid a starvation crisis that has sparked international outrage.

“You are the only one of us that cannot be denied entry,” the U.S. singer wrote on social media platform X late on Monday.

“We need the humanitarian gates to be fully opened to save these innocent children.

“There is no more time,” she added.

Marking the 25th birthday of her son Rocco Ritchie on Monday, Madonna also announced plans to donate to humanitarian organisations working in Gaza.

“I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the crossfire in Gaza,” she wrote.

A United Nations (UN) agency said late last week that “acute malnutrition among children in Gaza has reached the highest levels.”

In July alone, nearly 12,000 children lower than five in age were identified as acutely malnourished, with another 2,500 found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this is the most life-threatening form.

Israel controls access roads to Gaza and has sealed off the coastal area.

Very little aid got into Gaza from March through May, when Israel began allowing in deliveries using a controversial private system that bypasses traditional UN agencies.

Under pressure from allies, Israel recently began permitting larger convoys into the territory, as aid airdrops take place overhead.

On Sunday, Irish rock band U2 issued a stinging critique of the Israeli government’s actions.

“We know Hamas are using starvation as a weapon in the war, but now so too is Israel and I feel revulsion for the moral failure,” frontman Bono wrote.

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Putin Bans Foreign-made Clothing for Russian Army From 2026

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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday banning the procurement of foreign-made clothing and related gear for the country’s armed forces starting in 2026.

According to the decree, from Jan. 1, 2026, all uniforms and other clothing items for the Russian Armed Forces must be produced by Russian companies whose manufacturing facilities are located within the country.

By 2027, the requirement would extend to fabrics and knitted materials used in production, which must be domestically manufactured.

The measure aims to entirely exclude the purchase of foreign-made clothing and materials for the needs of the military, the decree said.

Military clothing and gear include uniforms, insignia, underwear, bedding, special clothing, footwear, equipment, and sanitary items.

Such supplies are procured through the Russian state defence order system.

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