NEWS
Group Demands End to Killings of Christians in Nigeria
By David Torough, Abuja
The Future Platform USA, a Nigeria based organization in the United state, express her deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation of the escalating violence and killings of Christians across various communities and regions of Nigeria.
The platform cited recent incidents in Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Jigawa, Anambra and Kaduna states etc where Christian villages have been attacked, worship centers burnt, and families displaced.
Despite repeated appeals, many victims say justice remains elusive and many are calling for a state of emergency on insecurity in Nigeria.The recent attacks in these states have resulted in significant loss of life, displacement, and trauma for the affected communities.
It’s heartbreaking to hear about the innocent villagers, Christians, and others caught in the crossfire.In a statement signed by the President, Mr. Austine Dafe, strongly condemn these senseless killings and urge the Nigerian government to take decisive action to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety and security of all citizens.
” The government must prioritize the protection of human life and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions”
“It’s crucial that we raise awareness about the situation in Nigeria and push for concrete actions to address the crisis. We must stand in solidarity with the victims and their families, and demand justice and accountability from those responsible.”
“These acts of violence are not only a violation of human rights and religious freedom, but a stain on the conscience of our nation, the condemnation of the senseless killings in Nigeria has gathered international attention, with voices from the American government, Senate and Canada also joining the call for action meaning that it’s a matter of urgent attention”.
The group insisted that; Every Nigerians, regardless of their faith, deserves the right to live in peace, worship freely, and feel safe in their communities. The targeted attacks on Christian communities, churches, and worshippers are unacceptable and must be met with swift justice and national outrage”.
They call on the Federal and State Governments, Religious and community leaders to speak out boldly against hate, and to take a decisive action to protect all citizens, investigate these crimes, and bring perpetrators to justice.
According to them “this is not a time for silence or to play politics with the lives of our beloved citizens. This is a time for moral clarity and courageous leadership. We mourn the lives lost, stand with the grieving families, and reaffirm our commitment to a Nigeria where every faith is respected and protected and for leaders to foster unity, peace and love.
“Enough is enough. The bloodshed must end”.
Armed assailants killed 73 people at a gold mine in South Sudan, government officials said on Monday, in violence linked to a dispute over gold extraction.
The attacks occurred on Saturday near Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria state in the south of the country, Vice President James Wani Igga said.
At least 25 others were injured and some fled the scene.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as the search for missing people continues.
It remained unclear which group was responsible for the attack.
The vice president said an official investigation would be launched and security measures at mining sites and commercial centres would be strengthened.
Charles Madut, the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state in the country’s north-west, condemned the attack, describing the violence against innocent civilians as unacceptable and said that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks to complete a mandatory cybersecurity self-assessment within three weeks, as part of efforts to strengthen resilience across the financial system.
In a letter dated March 30, 2026, and published on its website on Tuesday, the apex bank said, “Institutions are required to submit their completed CSAT within the following timelines: i.
Three (3) weeks – Deposit Money Banks (DMBs); ii. Five (5) weeks – All other regulated institutions.”The directive, addressed to banks, selected other financial institutions, and payment service providers, introduced a Cybersecurity Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate the cyber risk exposure of regulated entities.
The CBN stated that the move was in line with its statutory mandate under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020 and its broader commitment to improving cybersecurity standards in the sector.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria, in furtherance of its statutory mandate under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and consistent with its commitment to strengthening cybersecurity resilience across the financial sector, hereby notifies all Deposit Money Banks, Payment Service Banks, Microfinance Banks, Payment Service Providers, Finance Companies, and Development Finance Institutions of the deployment of its Cybersecurity Self-Assessment Tool,” the letter read.
According to the regulator, the CSAT is designed as a supervisory instrument to provide a comprehensive view of financial institutions’ cybersecurity posture.
It explained that the tool would assess critical areas, including governance structures, risk management frameworks, technology systems, third-party risk exposure, incident response capacity, and overall operational resilience.
“The CSAT is a structured supervisory instrument designed to obtain comprehensive information on the cybersecurity posture of regulated institutions,” the CBN said.
The bank added that insights generated from the exercise would support risk-based supervision and enhance regulatory oversight of cybersecurity threats within Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
To ensure compliance, the apex bank said all affected institutions must complete and submit the assessment through a dedicated portal, with access credentials to be communicated to their Chief Information Security Officers and other relevant officials.
“All submissions must be fully completed and accompanied by relevant supporting documentation, where applicable,” it stated, noting that the data to be provided must reflect institutions’ positions as of December 31, 2025.
The CBN also issued a warning against false or incomplete disclosures, stressing that accuracy and transparency would be strictly enforced.
“Supervised institutions are reminded that all information submitted to the CBN must be accurate, complete, and verifiable. Submission of false, misleading, or inaccurate information constitutes a regulatory breach and will attract appropriate sanctions,” the letter added.
It also disclosed plans to validate submissions through off-site reviews and supervisory engagements to confirm the data’s reliability.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has said that the Africa Cup of Nations could be expanded from 24 to 28 teams.
Motsepe made the remarks at a press conference following a CAF executive committee meeting, but did not specify how the tournament structure would change or when the expansion might take effect.
The Africa Cup of Nations was expanded from 16 to 24 teams in 2019.
Motsepe also confirmed that the 2027 tournament will go ahead as planned in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
After an additional edition in 2028, the competition is expected to move to a four-year cycle.
He added that CAF plans to launch a new national league competition in 2029, to be played annually, with a 16-team finals tournament staged every two years.
“The adjustments reflect CAF’s commitment to developing world-class football with the best African players from all over the world returning to compete on the continent,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe, who was elected CAF president in 2021 and re-elected in 2025, is the first South African to lead the continental soccer governing body.
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