At least 15 people have been killed in an attack by Lakurawas, a new terrorist group, on Mera village in Augie LGA of Kebbi state.

In a phone interview with TheCable on Saturday, Nafiu Abubakar, spokesperson for the Kebbi state police command, said the attack occurred around 2 p.m. on Friday.

“The terrorists attacked the village around 2 p.m. on Friday,” Abubakar said, adding that a significant number of cows were also rustled during the assault.

He said Bello Sanni, Kebbi state police commissioner, has mobilised a team of officers to the area “in an attempt to apprehend the perpetrators”.

“Investigations are still ongoing and the findings will be made public,” he added.

The 15 victims were buried on Saturday in a funeral attended by several prominent figures, including Abubakar Tafida, the deputy governor of Kebbi state; Samaila Mera, the Emir of Argungu; and the state’s police commissioner.

The government of Canada has announced the cancellation of the 10-year multiple-entry visa for Nigerians and citizens of other countries.

The authorities said that the cancellation of 10-year multiple-entry visa is part of the government’s efforts to curb immigration after experiencing a post-COVID population surge. 

While the multiple-entry visa previously allowed holders to enter and leave Canada freely, a government update said that the 10-year multiple-entry visa is no longer viewed as the “standard document.”

The update by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) added, “Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document.”

The IRCC further stated that immigration officers now have the discretion to decide between issuing single-entry or multiple-entry visas and to determine their validity periods.

Recall that in October this year, the IRCC announced a revised target for permanent residents, reducing the goal for 2025 from 500,000 to 395,000. 

The target for 2026 will drop from 500,000 to 380,000, and in 2027, Canada plans to admit 365,000 permanent residents.

Banky W, the famous Nigerian music executive, has said that Wizkid started his career as a studio rat.

Banky W stated this while reflecting on Wizkid’s early struggles before fame.

In a viral video on social media, Banky W, who was pivotal in launching Wizkid’s career through his record label, Empire Mates Entertainment, EME, disclosed that Wizkid spent hours hanging around various studios because he couldn’t afford studio time.

The music executive who described the afrobeat star as a studio rat, acknowledged the singer’s commitment and skill.

“Wizkid for a long time in his life was not fortunate enough to afford studio time.

“So he was a studio rat as he will go to any studio where they will let him hang out and he will hang out all day waiting, hoping and praying that engineers and producers to just pity him and say oya, come and record for 15 or 30 mins because he could not pay for his session.

“So, all day long, he would be working on hooks and melodies and just coming up with things in case he was given the opportunity to jump on the mic for five minutes.

“He didn’t have time to think about what to write at the moment, so that became his process.

“And now he is one of the fastest songwriters that I have ever encountered in my life, he will just sit, listen, and start freestyling a melody that would become a song that the whole world would want to sing. That is where the name Wiz started from,” he said.

Wife of the sacked Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, ANIF, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been caught in extra-marital affairs.

Video footage emerged of Engonga’s wife having an intimacy with another man.

This was disclosed by popular social critic, Martins Ortse aka VeryDarkMan via an Instagram post on Saturday.

Sharing pictures of the Engonga’s wife from the video footage, VeryDarkMan said: “Just when I thought it was all over about this Equatorial Guinea man, the whole thing is getting more interesting. l just saw a video of his wife and another man, if you watch this video; it’s crazy. If you see how another man was na*cking his wife.”

Engonga was recently caught with about 400 sex tapes with several women during an investigation into a fraud case.

The leaked videos have continued to generate controversy via the social media space.

Reacting, First Lady Constancia Mangue Obiang expressed outrage over the scandal during a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue.

Mrs Obiang called for immediate government intervention to uphold the dignity of Equatoguinean women and protect their privacy in the digital age.

Following the discovery, Engonga was relieved of his duty and subsequently arrested.

Aliyu Yaro, a 19-year-old boy in Adamawa State has allegedly killed a child born to his girlfriend.

The incident occurred in the northern Adamawa town of Mubi, where the teenage father, Aliyu Yaro, reportedly went to the house of his girlfriend, who had previously expressed frustration with the infant, urging him to take responsibility for the child.

According to police investigations, Aliyu claimed that after receiving repeated calls from his girlfriend to take the baby, he went to her house at night. After sending her on an errand, he took the three-day-old infant from her home.

Aliyu admitted that he brought the baby to his own house, where he fed the infant with sour milk, leading to the baby’s death by the following day.

He said he then buried the baby’s body around 9:00 p.m. in the Girpata area of Mubi.

Aliyu explained that he had impregnated his girlfriend, Safiya, and that after she gave birth, she frequently called him to take responsibility for the child.

He claimed that Safiya had threatened to harm or abandon the baby if he didn’t assume responsibility, which compelled him to go for the child.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, stated that the Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo, has ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and prosecution of both Aliyu and Safiya.

Chidinma Adetshina, Nigeria’s representative in this year’s Miss Universe contest, will be fulfilling her childhood ambition of featuring in the glamourous global show next weekend in faraway Mexico.

The journey as she noted in a social media video has been tortuous and discouraging but the quest to wear the golden crown has kept firing her on.

“My mind says I’m tired, I can’t do it anymore, but my heart is saying don’t give up.

“This journey hasn’t been easy for me mentally and emotionally. The tears, the pain, the trauma,” she said.

Indeed, the beauty queen had passed through thick and thin to get this far.

Some months back, she was nearly disgraced by the South African government, when her South African identity was queried.

In fact, her problem started when she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant only to face backlash over her eligibility due to her Mozambican and Nigerian heritage.

In her recent video on social media, she opened up about her challenging journey to the upcoming Miss Universe contest in Mexico.

“This journey hasn’t been easy for me mentally and emotionally. The tears, the pain, the trauma.

“The days I felt like giving up, the days I felt unworthy and undeserving. However I refuse to let anyone or anything dim my vision.”

Born to a Nigerian father and Mozambican mother, Adetshina’s journey to the Miss Universe competition has dominated headlines.

After that, she joined the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and was crowned the winner, representing Taraba State. She is set to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe event on November 16.

She said she has dreamt of walking the Miss Universe stage since 2017.

“Seven years later, I, Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina will be walking the Miss Universe stage. Win or not I am so proud of myself and filled with so much joy and fulfillment for I am about to accomplish what once seemed impossible. I envisioned this moment and I’m about to make it a reality.

“This achievement is not only mine but it’s for Nigeria, it’s for Africa. Your support and encouragement have been the fuel to my fire.”

As Adetshina prepares to take the stage in Mexico, she’s been sharing updates about her journey on social media, from stunning photos to day-to-day activities leading up to the final

Cross, a former Big Brother Naija contestant, has publicly made an announcement about his spiritual transformation on social media, revealing that he has been arrested by God. 

Cross expressed commitment to representing God’s glory and love, citing Joshua 24:15 NKJV: “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

He encouraged others to join him in serving God, emphasising the power of faith and redemption.

He wrote on X: “I have been arrested by GOD, moving forward I belong to JESUS CHRIST who is the Savior of the world. He has called me to do his work and build his Kingdom. A lot of revival is happening right now on earth. And he wants us as his children to join his agenda. All you need to do is call on him and truly believe that he is your Lord and Savior. And he will answer.

“My LIFE and CrossNation will represent him and his glory from today till end of time. For GOD is LOVE and LOVE is GOD (ICSO)

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NKJV.”

Aunty Ajara, the popular small-sized Nigerian actress, has opened up how she got pregnant through rape and lost the baby three days after birth.

The Nollywood actress made this known while revealing the most painful circumstances she has ever been.

Speaking in her latest interview with actress Bimpe Akintunde on ‘Wasila Coded’ podcast, Aunty Ajara explained that the rapist was a family friend of her uncle.

In a now trending video on social media, Ajara stated that the guy admitted to rapping her.

“I was raped by a guy who was a friend to my Aunty husband’s brother. I gave birth to the baby through CS, but he died on the third day.”

Watch her speak below:

Andy Boyo, the renowned movie director and patron of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), has shared how he was expelled from school because of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Fela, the legendary Nigerian artist and political advocate, passed away in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1997 at 58.

Fela is seen as the main creator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music style that mixes West African rhythms with American funk and jazz.

Boyo, however, is preparing to bring the iconic life of the Afrobeats legend to the silver screen in a much-awaited biographical film.

After three years of planning, Boyo has obtained the rights to the music and is ready to begin filming in Nigeria, the UK, and the US in 2025.

Rumours suggest the high-profile movie will have an extensive cast, including 27 actresses portraying Fela’s wives.

Boyo, recognized for his successful films such as “Untamed” and “Spirit of Assassins,” will also direct, write, and produce the biographical film.

Speaking on his love for Fela and the project he is working on, Boyo said “this project is a labour of love.”

Boyo said: “Fela has always been my passion, I was expelled from Glorious College, Ibadan, for sneaking out to watch him perform at the University of Ibadan’s ‘Havana Night.’ Fela was my mentor; I admired his personality and music. When I returned to the school, I got expelled from school.”

The movie will tell the story of Fela’s existence, battles, and victories as the ruler of Afrobeats. Thanks to Boyo’s skill and commitment, this film is set to revolutionize the world of cinema, challenging the status quo of African film.

No fewer than seven states and the Federal Capital Territory have failed to approve the minimum wage expected to commence in October this year.

This is as 25 states have commenced payment or made a pronouncement on the amount to pay as the minimum wage.

The states that have yet to approve a particular minimum wage amount are Zamfara, Sokoto, Osun, Cross River, Imo, Plateau, Taraba, and the FCT.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that paying the N70,000 minimum wage may take a long time in Zamfara, as the state just began paying the old N30,000 minimum wage.

Recall that the N30,000 minimum wage took effect in April 2019, but Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State commenced the payment to the civil servants in June this year.

The state has yet to make any statement on the N70,000 minimum wage as of the time of filing this report.

Also, Sokoto State has yet to commence payment of the minimum wage despite Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s promise that his administration would be among the first states to do so.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, had declared that his administration would pay the minimum wage, but the state has yet to approve any amount or commence payment of the minimum wage.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in the state, Bimbo Fasasi, said the state was about to finalise the implementation process.

Fasasi, a member of the Labour/Osun State Government negotiation committee on the new minimum wage, said, “We are getting there, we are at the stage of comparing tables and exchanging tables between us. I’m confident we will soon have a meeting point and we will be able to make formal announcements and implementation will most definitely follow immediately.”

Cross River State has also not approved the N70,000 minimum wage.

On May 1, 2024, Governor Bassey Otu of the state announced N40,000 as a new minimum wage for civil servants before the national minimum wage.

TUC Chairman in the state, Monday Ogbodum, said labour unions were still negotiating the new minimum wage with the state government.

The minimum wage is also yet to take effect in Imo State, though Governor Hope Uzodimma assured workers that his government was committed to its implementation.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the state government and labour were already discussing the minimum wage.

The Vice Chairman of TUC in the state, Charles Amaru, disclosed that there was no agreement on payment by the state government yet.

He said, “The organised labour is still discussing with the state government on the template for payment. The discussion is prone to having fruitful outcomes and the government has said that everyone will be comfortable with the amount that will be paid.”

There has been grave silence on the minimum wage in Plateau State, just as the Taraba State Government has yet to commence the payment of the N70,000.

On September 5, 2024, Governor Agbu Kefas of the state said he was prepared to pay the new national minimum wage, adding that the Head of Service and the labour were already discussing the implementation.

The FCT has yet to speak on the minimum wage implementation as of the time of filing this report.

However, workers across the country have continued to lament the lingering economic hardship, noting that N70,000 is no longer enough for them.

The workers who spoke randomly with Saturday PUNCH said the fuel and electricity tariff hikes, inflation, and high cost of living have seriously reduced the value of the N70,000.

A staff member of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja, who pleaded anonymity stated that the labour leaders made a mistake by accepting the N70,000 minimum wage without considering the economic reality.

“We were not expecting our leaders to accept the N70,000 as minimum wage because the price of foodstuffs, fuel, electricity tariffs, and fuels continue to go up.

“The amount is not enough for us at all. The living standard in Abuja is high and it is a reality that we cannot survive on N70,000 every month.”

Also, a civil servant at Ayedire Local Government, Osun State, said the N70,000 was not proportionate to the economic hardship, adding that the minimum wage couldn’t feed a family for two weeks.

He queried, “What is the quality and quantity of the foodstuffs to buy with N70,000? How long will it take to exhaust the minimum wage in the face of fuel hikes and inflation? Life is not easy for us.”

Recall that the organised labour said they accepted the N70,000 minimum wage because of President Bola Tinubu’s promise not to increase fuel prices.

But the fuel price was increased in September and has continued to increase since then, a development that made the Nigeria Labour Congress declare that the president betrayed the labour unions.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, on September 20, said Tinubu betrayed the organised labour, using fuel as bait.

Ajaero noted that the cost of petrol has undermined the benefits of the N70,000 national minimum wage, urging the government to urgently address the pressing issues of hunger, poverty, and frustration affecting Nigerians.

Ajaero recounted discussions with Tinubu before the acceptance of the N70,000 minimum wage, stating that during negotiations, the president offered the option of accepting the N70,000 wage without further increase in fuel prices.