A really heartbreaking video has emerged online, showing a teenage Nigerian boy who is living a very hard life at the time.

The video showed the boy from the Barnawa community in Kaduna State, who is forced to gather grass meant for livestock as food for his family due to extreme poverty.

The boy, who is estimated to be between 12 and 16 years old, is seen carrying a sack of grass from a farm. In his testimony, he reveals how his family has resorted to consuming grass due to unbearable hardship, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by his household.

The boy who spoke in Hausa language explained, “We prepare the grass with Maggi (seasoning cube) and groundnut cake (known as Kulikuli). It can be eaten alone or with these ingredients.” 

The teenage boy shared that his family has been forced to rely on grass as a substitute for food because they can no longer afford staple meals like spaghetti or rice.

In a poignant plea, he urged the government to intervene, saying, “We need palliative measures to help us and others survive Nigeria’s harsh economy.”

His words highlight the devastating impact of poverty on vulnerable families and the need for urgent support.

On Wednesday, July 24, the Delta State Police Command, paraded four suspects arrested for working with kidnappers to collect ransom from kidnap victims.

Parading the suspects at the state police command in Asaba, the state capital, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the arrested suspects sent their account details to kidnappers and after the victims paid the ransom, the suspects deducted between 15% and 40% as their share and then sent the balance to the kidnappers.

The suspects are Chimerije Joshua Nwakpa, from Ebonyi State; Eze Levy Onyekachi, from Enugu State; Ezemma Maxwell Nnadozie, from Enugu State and Emmanuel Otubo, from Ebonyi State.

Interrogated by Edafe, Nwakpa said he was contacted by Nnadozie who communicated with the kidnappers to provide his account details and that ransoms were paid for three kidnap victims.

According to Nwakpa, the first ransom paid to his account was N3.6 million; second ransom was N4.3 million while the third ransom was N200,000.

He said that his share from the N3.6 million ransom was N530,000 which is 15% of the total amount.

He said after deducting his percentage, “I sent the balance to Maxwell who then sent it to them,” adding that he had known Nnadozie for about two years.

Asked if Maxwell told him that the money being sent to his account were ransoms from kidnap victims, Nwakpa said yes.

He said they used their shares of the ransoms to build a cryptocurrency website that they wished to use for internet fraud.

Asked how he got to know the kidnappers he worked with, Nnadozie said, “Ifesi (one of the kidnappers) and I were living in the same street at Oduke in Onitsha (Anambra State) when we're small.

“Now, I don't know where he is living but he contacted me in April to send him an account number where the ransom would be paid.”

He said that after deducting their own share, he would withdraw cash through POS and give it to the kidnappers.

The police spokesperson called on residents of Delta State to be bold to report any crime or suspicious activities in their areas to the police, whether before, during or after it has happened.

Veteran Nigerian actors Binta Ayo Mogaji and Ajibola Dabo used to be lovers, and they share a son together.

In an interview that has made its way to social media, Ayo Mogaji recounted how she had the mindset of adopting a child if she didn’t give birth by age 40.

The movie star who later gave birth to her only child and son 6weeks before she clocked 40 and with one fallopian tube said she was in an unstable romantic relationship with Jibola Dabo.

They dated intermittently while he was in the country and after he left they kept in touch for a while.

When Jibola got back to Nigeria, the duo stayed in touch, rekindled their relationship at some point and started living together, which led to the pregnancy and birth of her only child.

Binta maintained that Jibola Dabo never wanted to be married, which he made clear from the onset of their relationship.

Ayo Mogaji further stated that they lived together until their child was two but had their differences, so they had to part ways.

On Thursday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) announced the tragic loss of three construction workers who perished in a building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in Maryland, Lagos.

According to LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the fatal incident occurred at a building located at no 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos.

The incident was confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the three males that were recovered dead at the building were site workers.

“The agency received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at the above address at about 3.49 a.m.

“This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3.58 a.m.

“It was discovered that a set of three terraces under construction had collapsed.

One of the rescued was receiving treatment on-site.

“Search and rescue operations began immediately, and three adult males were recovered dead, two male adults were rescued alive, and one adult male trapped under the rubble was rescued,” he said.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has directed its 104 affiliated youth organizations to remain on standby consultation ahead of the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.

Frustrated Nigerians, who are dissatisfied with the state of the economy and the hardship in the land, have vowed to hit the streets in protest.

The youth body stated it would, in the next four days, consult widely with various stakeholders, including government officials, security agencies, civil society organizations, and the media, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues.

However, the federal government has warned that there would be dire consequences for the stability of the country if the nationwide protest being planned by some Nigerians goes ahead.

In a communiqué issued on Thursday following an emergency meeting of its National Executive, 36 State Chairmen, and other stakeholders held via Zoom from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday, the NYCN expressed concern over the severe socio-economic challenges and widespread hardship faced by citizens, especially the youth.

The communiqué, signed by its President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, stated that the youth body would hold a world press conference on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, to address the nation on current issues and its stance on the upcoming protest.

The communiqué reads: “On July 24, 2024, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) convened a crucial meeting with its National Executive, 36 State Chairmen, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the state of the nation and the looming nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024.

“The meeting was held via Zoom and lasted for several hours, addressing the urgent concerns of Nigerian youths and the overall socio-economic and political climate of the country.

“NYCN leaders acknowledged that the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria, including rising inflation, insecurity, unemployment, and the general hardship experienced by citizens, particularly the youth, have reached alarming levels.

“After extensive deliberations, the following resolutions were adopted: The NYCN commits to, in the next four days, consult widely with various stakeholders, including government officials, security agencies, civil society organizations, and the media, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues.”

NYCN reaffirmed its commitment to representing the interests of Nigerian youths and advocating for positive change in the nation.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Thursday, cautioned President Bola Tinubu not to stop the upcoming August 1 protest against hardship in the country.

Primate Ayodele said Nigerians are very bitter and have formed hatred toward the present government due to the hardship in the country.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele said the protest will hold but the government should work on mitigating the effects by reducing the prices of essential commodities like food, fuel, electricity, etc.

The clergy explained that the current hardship is affecting the poor and rich because many didn’t expect it to get to this level even though he warned them before voting in another APC government.

He urged the president to discard those deceiving him that the economic situation of the country is getting better.

According to Ayodele, ‘’People are very bitter and they have hatred towards this government. Some states will participate and some will not but definitely there will be protests. The government needs all it needs to do; crash the price of food, electricity, petroleum, find solutions to insecurity, regulate prices and others to mitigate the effect of the protest.

‘’People are in serious hardship but the government doesn’t understand, they need to do something fast because it will be more than an ordinary protest. Nigeria doesn’t need this protest now because there is ‘protest inside protest’ due to pains, hardship, and hunger.

‘’This government is just assumption-based; it is not a realistic one so it’s difficult to connect with people or understand their pains. The government must adjust, it’s very simple to stop this protest by doing all that is needed. It will be a protest of hunger, pains and reward.

‘’The government is affecting the rich and poor, there is hardship everywhere but people didn’t expect this. People who surround the government are deceiving him. They want the government to collapse. The government has not done anything so they should expect the protest, it will stand. ‘’

‘’Nigeria deserves better welfare despite the increment in minimum wage, it’s not an achievement but let this government go after a better achievement that the people will be grateful for.’’

The Bauchi State Government has warned any individual or group planning to organise any protest, saying there would be no protest taking place in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, while speaking against the backdrop of the planned nationwide protest, dismissed any speculation of protests occurring within the state’s borders.

“On the part of the government, we completely dissociate ourselves from any protest. We are not aware, we are not welcoming any protest, and it’s not going to happen in Bauchi State,” Kashim said.

While highlighting the state’s reputation for peace and tranquility, Kashim emphasized that the government is resolute in maintaining the atmosphere, cautioning the organizers to stage the protest elsewhere and not in Bauchi State.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will begin their quest for a podium finish at the 2024 Olympic Games when they confront Brazil in their opening Group C fixture on Thursday (today).

The encounter is slated for the Matmut Atlantique Stadium, Bordeaux. It will kick-off at 6pm.

The Super Falcons are back to the Olympics after a 16-year absence.

Tonight’s encounter will be the third meeting between Nigeria and Brazil.

Brazil won their first meeting 4-3 at the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The South Americans also claimed a 3-1 victory the last time both countries met at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Brazil will be led by the legendary Marta, who has scored 118 goals in 183 appearances for the Samba Girls.

The Super Falcons will also face current world champions Spain and former world champions Japan in the same group.

Randy Waldrum’s side lost 1-0 to Canada in their only friendly before the Olympics.