A Zamfara-based CSO, ‘Zamfara Circle Community Initiative’, has lamented the situation of the stranded Zamfara students in Cyprus and called on the state government to take tentative steps to address the  problem.

The Chairman of the organisation, Dr Al-amin Tsafe, made the call at a press briefing in Gusau on Saturday.

Tsafe appealed to the state government to immediately commence the process of paying all the debts affecting the students.

He said, “We are in contact with various philanthropists and well-meaning individuals and organisations from within and outside the state who are willing to intervene and help to support the students.

“We believe the matter is the responsibility of government.

According to Tsafe, as a CSO working to promote  humanity, they cannot continue to watch while the lives of their children are in serious danger,

“Therefore, we give a 5-day ultimatum to the state government to take action before we embark on an appeal fund project to rescue the students.

“On the 17th of October 2024, we submitted a memorandum to the state government concerning the status of the state’s students stranded in Cyprus.

“That was to balance the information from the side of the government with what was obtained from other stakeholders including parents, CSOs and the students themselves, identify the gaps and advise the government where necessary.

“Till today, however, there is no response to that inquiry,” he said

Tsafe, however, said that the problem was inherited from the previous government, adding, “we believe the business of governance is a continuum.

“We noted that the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal made some moves to help the students.”

He lamented that the students still lacked proper accommodation and have to engage in menial labour to feed themselves.

Tsafe further decried that the students were under the risk of exploitation by employers due to the lack of legal documentation.

“Their visas and passports have expired, for them to live in a foreign country without legal documentation puts their lives at the risk of imprisonment and deportation.

“Already, one of the students had suffered this fate and was deported to Lagos in handcuffs and another one is still in prison.

“We urge the state government, as a matter of urgency, to provide those students with funds for upkeep and accommodation,” he appealed.

Tsafe urged that the state government should take tentative steps to renew their passports and visas so that they can live freely without fear of arrest, imprisonment or deportation.

“The state government should act urgently to save the students from  being held in prison or deported.

“Government should use the figures generated from the students’ portals as the verified debt owed the university by the state government

“We appealed to the state government to take tentative steps to mitigate further occurrence of this problem,” he added.

Report says that Lawal, in a press release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, said the state government was taking plausible measures to resolve the issue. (NAN)

The leaders of all eight of Australia’s states and territories have endorsed the prime minister’s plan to ban children younger than 16 from using social media.

Anthony Albanese announced on Friday that legislation for the world-first ban would be introduced to parliament in November after the leaders of all six states and two territories endorsed the plan.

Speaking after meeting with the state and territory leaders on Friday, Albanese said that the government of the island state of Tasmania expressed a preference to set the minimum age limit at 14.

However, they ultimately agreed with the proposed 16 to guarantee a uniform nationwide approach.

“The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority, and my government will do all that we can to protect our young Australians.

“Government will also provide support for parents and teachers who are dealing with these issues,’’ he told reporters in Canberra.

Albanese on Thursday committed to setting the minimum age limit at 16, having previously pledged to introduce a minimum age limit without specifying a cut-off age.

Under the proposal, the onus to ensure compliance with the minimum age limit will fall on social media companies, not parents, guardians or children.

The laws would be enforced by the office of the government’s eSafety commissioner.

Albanese and Michelle Rowland, the minister for communications, said on Friday that the ban would take effect at least 12 months after the legislation is passed by both houses of the federal parliament.

The passage is to give industry, governments and the eSafety commissioner time to implement systems and processes.

Rowland said that 16 was chosen as the cut-off age following extensive consultation to minimise harms experienced by young people during a critical development period. (Xinhua/NAN)

Israel has sent two planes to evacuate fans from Amsterdam after violent clashes between Israeli supporter and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of Ajax  versus Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa Cup match.

“The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,.

“The harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked’’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted on X on Friday morning.

The Israeli leader’s office called the incident horrifying and demanded that the Dutch government and security forces take vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens.

This clash was however unclear and yet to be unfolded.

The exact events remain unclear. The violent disturbances occurred around the Europa League football match between Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Ajax won 5-0.

There were clashes in several locations in the centre of the Dutch capital; though it was not specified which side started the violence.

Around 60 people were detained temporarily on Thursday evening, the police said.

Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans.

The police’s mobile units reportedly shielded the Israelis and escorted them to their hotels.

There were also clashes in the afternoon between Israeli football fans and security forces in the city centre.

According to police, about a dozen people were arrested for disturbing public order and illegal possession of fireworks.

Even before the match, there were isolated altercations near the stadium in the south-east of the city, the police said.

More than 200 demonstrators attempted to reach the venue, according to the police.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned these “unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis’’ on X and said he had since spoken with Netanyahu.

Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders called it a pogrom.

“We have become the Gaza of Europe,’’ he said, adding that Muslims with Palestinian flags were hunting down Jews.

Israel’s UN ambassador also referred to the incident on X as a pogrom.

Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel condemned the incident.

“Chasing and beating up Israeli soccer fans is not anti-war protest.

“It is criminal and intolerable and we must all stand against it. As a European I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our great cities,’’ he wrote on X.

However the Reaction from the United States (U.S.).

In New York, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), described itself as the world’s largest anti-hate organisation.

He demanded that the Dutch government ensure the safety of Israeli fans, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and apologise for the violence.

“This is exactly what ‘globalise the intifada’ looks like,’’ Greenblatt wrote on X, saying there were mobs of hate-filled people who had attacked Israelis who came to Amsterdam to enjoy a football game.

Even New York Attorney General Letitia James chimed in on X, calling the attacks against Jews in Amsterdam “deeply disturbing and horrifying.’’

New York State, particularly metropolitan New York City, has a large Jewish population.

“We must do everything in our power to protect Jews in America and across the world.

“This anti-Semitism and violence must end now,’’ she wrote. (dpa/NAN)