Parts of Chicago are seeing major changes under Donald Trump’s immigration policies, with communities retreating into the shadows amid intensified ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids.

In Little Village, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood on the city’s south side, streets that were once lively now appear deserted.

Residents say fewer people are venturing outside due to fear of being caught up in the crackdown. 

The initial focus, officials say, is on targeting migrant criminals, but there is also concern over ‘collateral arrests,’ where undocumented immigrants not initially targeted could be detained. As a result, even those with legal status are exercising caution.

One resident, Steve, shared his fears for his mother, who came from Mexico years ago without proper documentation.

“She crossed the border over here to get a better life for us when we were born, to get education and all. She’s scared to go out there, that she might get picked up,” he told Sky News.

At a local community center that provides support to migrants, staff have ramped up security measures.

A gate at the entrance now remains closed, and workers begin their day by surveying the streets for immigration officers. A notice on the front door advises migrants on what to do if ICE arrives.

Inside the center, Oliber, a Venezuelan migrant working legally in the U.S. with a valid work permit, described how fear has altered his daily life.

“I feel scared,” he said. “I go out feeling frightened. I don’t go out now like I used to. I used to go out every day until night-time, I’d work at any time, but now I can’t go out anywhere.”

He added: “There are rumours about migrants and I’m scared, that they might catch me, deport me. My family depends on me. I can’t go out like I used to, I’m scared, I’m scared.”

The impact of these enforcement actions is evident, with immigration officials reporting an increase in daily deportations compared to the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled former Minister of Interior and ex-Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, citing allegations of anti-party activities.

Aregbesola, who governed Osun State for two terms, had led a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives, later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus.

In a letter obtained by newsmen on Wednesday, the party’s leadership formally announced his expulsion. 

The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” stated that Aregbesola had violated Article 21 of the APC constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members.

The letter read in part: “After a thorough investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) reviewed the Disciplinary Committee’s findings and recommendations. The SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC.

“This decision was based on clear evidence of actions that undermined the unity and integrity of the party. Consequently, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from representing or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”

Aregbesola’s expulsion came shortly after a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by him. The caucus announced its decision to leave the APC, citing the party’s declining influence in Osun State.

Chief Bisi Akande, former interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that although he occasionally visits Abuja, he may not always meet President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking in an interview with journalist Edmund Obilo, monitored on the interviewer’s YouTube channel, Akande recounted his relationship with Tinubu, expressing his satisfaction at the Yoruba leader’s ascension to the presidency.

“My goal originally was for a Yoruba man to become president, and my choice was Tinubu. After he won, I was happy and returned to my village in Ila, Osun State,” Akande said.

“When he came back, I met him, and he said, ‘Baba, you asked me to run, I did, and became president, but now you (Akande) are running away.’

“It’s true! I went back to my village because I don’t want to be a minister or take any other thing” he explained.

On whether he advises the president, Akande dismissed the notion, saying, “How and where would I do that? Would I take the place of his wife in his bedroom? He is already in office; I won’t go there to interfere.”

He, however, acknowledged that the presidency is a very busy office and said he understands the demands of the role.

He clarified that he is merely observing how the administration is being run and believes Tinubu is steering the country in the right direction.

Addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, Akande noted that the country had been struggling under the weight of debt inherited from previous administrations but assured that stability was gradually returning.

“Nigeria was almost gone with the rate at which the past government was borrowing. But peace is coming, and the economy is becoming more stable,” he said.

When questioned about the prevalent hunger in the country, Akande dismissed concerns, arguing that hard work could alleviate hardship.

“Come to my compound, and I will give you plenty of tomatoes. If you’re lazy in Nigeria, you’ll be hungry. Just plant a seed of corn, and in three months, you’ll harvest a thousand,” he remarked.

His comments have sparked mixed reactions, with some agreeing with his stance on self-sufficiency while others criticise his dismissal of the economic hardships faced by many Nigerians.

A 16-yr-old secondary school student in Lagos has allegedly ran mad after confessing that he was sexually molested by a popular Lagos hotelier at Bucknor, Isheri Oshun area of the state.

The incident, which rattled his parents reportedly started before last Christmas when the student confided in his mother that he had a confession to make before the New Year.

The mother obliged her son of confidentiality only to raise alarm after the boy told her that the owner of a popular hotel in the area lured him and four of his fellow students to his hotel and sodomised them and warned them that if they disclose it to anybody, they would die.

The shocked mother of the estranged teenager said few minutes after her son opened up to her, he started misbehaving by talking to himself like a mad person.

According to father of the boy, a spare parts dealer at Ladipo auto spare parts market in Lagos, Edozie Christian, 44, “My son started behaving like a mad person after the confession.

“We rushed him to a prayer house and after some days when he became a bit sober, we took him to Isheri Osun police station where he made statement and narrated his ugly encounter with the hotelier.

“Shockingly, after he disclosed the names of his fellow students that took him to meet the Chief Executive Officer of the hotel, he relapsed and started behaving like a mad person. The police went to invite the students he mentioned but succeeded in getting only one of them who boldly came with a laptop and gave detailed accounts of how the hotelier sodomised them.

“He told detectives that they went to the hotel to partake in a Tik Tok programme only for the owner of the hotel, usually addressed as CEO, to lure them inside one of the rooms and promised to pay them N5,000 after sodomising them.

“The student said from all indications, he has been doing it to many other students who he usually pay and after using them, he will clean himself with white handkerchief and threaten them never to discuss the encounter with anybody and if they do, they will die.

“After they made statements to the police at Isheri Osun station, the condition of my son worsened and I had to take him to Mirabel Centre at the General hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he was examined by doctors.

“The doctors later told us that there were signs of sodomisation but it did not affect his brain. They advised that we take him to Psychiatric hospital for further examination, stating that he may be suffering from trauma of the abuse.

“When we got to the Psychiatric hospital, they also examined him and advised that we should take him to another hospital meant for teenagers which we did. After that, they gave us tablets and advised that we keep close checks on him, assuring that he will be okay after some time.

“However, we have been giving him the medications but he is getting worse daily. On the part of the police, initially, they told us that all the efforts they made to invite the owner of the hotel failed but he later sent his lawyer to talk with them.

“Another shock that befell us was that few days later, the police invited me that the owner of the hotel had transferred the case to Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, without even reporting to their station. At this stage, they continued pressurizing me to report to their station, that they will take me to Zone 2 and all efforts I made to know the unit handling the case at the zone were rebuffed by the police.

“I then decided to personally report myself to the AIG at Zone 2, who swiftly directed his men to arrest the owner of the hotel for explanations. Unfortunately, a team of crack and armed policemen that stormed the hotel later could not arrest him but succeeded in arresting some of his staff.”

According to police sources, the suspected owner of the hotel was arrested and interrogated by detectives. Meanwhile, the suspect is still in detention pending when detectives will conclude investigations.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade confirmed the incident, stating that investigation was still ongoing

The Headies, Nigeria’s biggest music award, is set to return home with the hosting of two separate editions of the annual show in 2025, its organisers have said.

In a video shared on Headie’s X page, Ayo Animashuan, founder of The Headies, said the 17th edition of the award would take place on April 5, focusing on the music of 2024.

He also revealed that the nominations list for this 17th edition will be released on February 12,and the 18th edition would take place in December, celebrating music from 2024 and 2025 respectively. 

He said: “This awards that is happening in April was meant to happen last year, but for some reasons, it didn’t happen last year.

“We did not want to miss a calendar year… So the next is going to happen in December. It is going to be a part of the Detty December trend.”

The Headies is a prestigious music awards show established in 2006 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry.

The first edition, hosted by Darry Art Alade, was held at the Shell Hall of the MUSON center on Onikan, Lagos.

Some artistes who were on the honour’s roll at the maiden edition of the Headies include Don Jazzy, P-Square, Jude Okoye, Mode 9,DJ Jimmy Jatt, Keke Ogungbe and Dayo.

However the organisers took the 16th Headies Awards to the United States, hosting at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia on September 3, 2023.

The biggest winners of the night were Rema and Burna Boy, who took home three awards each. Other winners included Wizkid, Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake and Omah Lay.

The event was also marked by the induction of Angelique Kidjo into the Headies Hall of Fame.

In February 2024, the award organisers, disclosed that the 17th award event would return to Nigeria after hosting the 2022 and 2023 editions in the United States.(NAN) 

Nigerian comic actor Bayo Bankole, popularly known as Boy Alinco has opened up about his difficult journey to obtaining United States citizenship.

Bankole, widely known for his role in the sitcom Papa Ajasco, shared his experience during a recent appearance on The Teju Babyface Show.

The 56-year-old actor revealed that he left his family in Nigeria in 2015 to pursue US citizenship through marriage. 

Just seven months after meeting his partner, he tied the knot.

However, the first two years of the marriage proved to be challenging, marked by financial struggles and hardship.

Reflecting on that period, Bankole said he had to take on menial jobs to support both his family in the US and his loved ones back in Nigeria.

He attributed some of the difficulties to his joint financial arrangements with his wife and a lack of proper guidance in navigating the immigration process.

“My case was unfortunate because I had no one to advise me on the citizenship process,” he said.

Despite the hardships, the actor expressed gratitude that his life has since improved and that he now has his children from Nigeria with him in the US. He also emphasized that he harbors no resentment toward his wife and is focused on moving forward.

“I have had the opportunity of traveling way back in 1999 and 2000 frequently. But I came to the US for the first time in April 2015,” he recalled. “Then I met a lady. When I came back in October 2015, I got settled and decided to get married. But it was a bitter experience for me. Eventually, I had to stay back. Two years of an experience that I will not want to recall. It was just like what I wrote when I eventually got my green card that truly I am an Asunkungbade—one who fights to earn his crown. At the end of the day, all glory be to God.”

The actor spoke about the challenges immigrants face when seeking legal residency in the US, highlighting the various routes available and the difficulties that come with them.

“There are processes to citizenship. There are processes to getting a green card. Do you want to go through asylum? The process of immigration does not come easy. Some guys are fortunate. They get it so easily. But not all of us. If you bring 10 guys out, eight will have a nasty experience,” he said.

“You have situations that if you go through marriage, if you are fortunate to have a good woman, thank your star for it. And if you do not have a good woman, please endure and enjoy it. The situation becomes so difficult when you have your loved ones back at home who depend on you. You are struggling with their survival here and at home.”

As the ‘ganusi’ controversy between Muslim clerics and Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde continues to get Nigerians talking, his rival in the industry, Abass Akande (Obesere) enjoys public approval as he marked his 60th birthday with heartwarming donations.

Born on January 28, 1965, Akande, also known as Omorapala, commemorated his birthday by building a mosque for his former secondary school in Lagos. 

The Fuji artiste also donated essential learning materials, including books and school bags, to students.

Sharing a video of the mosque on Instagram, Obesere said he won’t stop his philanthropic gestures.

“To God Be The Glory! Today, we commissioned the newly built mosque at my alma mater and also donated learning materials to the pupils. This will continue and won’t stop for a bit,” the singer said.

Obesere’s birthday celebration and donations came amid a lingering controversy that followed the burial of his counterpart Wasiu Ayinde’s mother, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate. 

Recall that K1 became a subject of conversation on social media following his controversial remarks about Muslim clerics and his refusal to apologise to them.

Ahead of his late mother’s 8-day Fidau prayer, K1 was seen in a viral clip conversing with a man. In their discussion, he used the words ‘ganu si’ in reference to the clerics who visited his residence after his mother had been buried.

“Alfas will not go to my father’s house; it’s my house they will, “Ganu si,” he said in Yoruba.

Many Muslim clerics found the word ‘ganu si’ insulting as many interpreted it to mean the clerics attended social events uninvited primarily for pecuniary reasons.

During the 8-day Fidau prayer, which took place on Friday, January 24, a respected and popular cleric, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa — who delivered a sermon at the event — urged K1 to apologise for his purported disparaging comment about the cleric, but the musician refused.

He said he didn’t do anything wrong, adding that tendering an apology would amount to admittance of guilt.

His refusal to apologise sparked reactions among the Muslim community as some supported him while others criticised him for allegedly belittling the clerics

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday February 4, 2025, in protest of the 50 per cent telecom tariff increase recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to a communique signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, the decision was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC) on Wednesday.

The NLC said the rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only ₦70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.

It directed its affiliates and state councils to begin full mobilization in preparation for the nationwide protest rally, calling on willing civil society allies to also join the preparation.

The Congress as well, called on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against what it termed unjust policy.

The NLC said that its NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50% Telecom Tariff Hike which it considers as too harsh for citizens.

“It therefore strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase in telecommunications tariffs.

“This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by Policies of government which was no fault of theirs,” the union said.

The NLC demanded an immediate suspension of the 50% tariff hike.

It called on the Federal Government, the NCC and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.

The Congress added that if this is not heeded, it will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies.

“We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people. Nigerian workers and citizens must unite and take action to prevent further economic oppression.

“We must resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the people,” the union added.

On January 20, the NCC announced its approval for a 50% tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country.

In a statement, a spokesman for the regulator Reuben Muoka said the price adjustment though lower than the “over 100% requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability”.

The regulator said the increase was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

“These adjustments will remain within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost Study, and requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as is the Commission’s standard practice for tariff reviews. It will be implemented in strict adherence to the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024,” the statement read.

Nigeria has secured a $1.1 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the provision of electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy), President Bola Tinubu made this known in a speech presented by Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, at the just concluded two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Tinubu also stated that the AfDB’s $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.

“I (Tinubu) acknowledged AfDB’s $1.1 billion, expected to provide electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026, while its $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.

“This is an ambitious goal, but we can achieve it together,” Tinubu said. “As Nigeria’s President, I am committed to making energy access a top priority.”

Meanwhile, the president of Nigeria is also expecting to get the planned $1.2 billion AfDB investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System.

“We also look forward to the AfDB’s planned $700 million investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and its planned $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide electricity for an additional two million people,” Tinubu said.

“We have equally begun making plans to ensure the effectiveness of the World Bank’s $750 million support for expanding Nigeria’s distributed energy access via mini-grids and standalone solar systems that will provide access to power to 16.2 million people,” he added.

President Tinubu thanked Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Akinwunmi Adesina of AfDB for their transformative vision, which he said “will light up and power Africa.”

He also applauded the contributions of the UN Sustainable Energy For All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for Development.

“As we all know, Africa is rich in energy resources, yet millions of our citizens still lack access to reliable and affordable energy.

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the death of his elder brother, Sunday Makinde

Sunday died in the early hours of Friday during a brief illness at the age of 65.

The Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed, led his colleagues on the condolence visit to Makinde in his private residence at Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

The Bauchi State Governor described Makinde’s brother as a man who lived a fulfilled life and expressed the forum’s heartfelt sympathy to his Oyo colleague.

He assured Makinde of the forum’s solidarity during this difficult period.

“We are here on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum to commiserate with you over the loss of your senior brother. Though we have spoken on the phone, we have to come to see you directly to show solidarity,” Mohammed said.

“We know this loss is huge and we know you to be a strong character. We know we are all here temporarily and would all go back to our creator.

“You should be consoled that this man came and contributed his own quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which has even been testified to by your emergence as a governor.

“You have personally worked hard without going through the problem of godfatherism and you have become an indefatigable governor, who is in the PDP and has been doing very well.

“So, on behalf of my colleagues, we condole with you and the family and we pray that God will grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

In his response, Makinde acknowledged the emotional and moral encouragement provided by his colleagues, thanking them for their prayers and support.

“I want to, on behalf of the entire Makinde family, thank you for this visit. Thank you all for identifying with us at this very hour of need,” he said.

“We thought our eldest brother was just about to start life, because he was just 65. We thought after going all over the world, this is the time for him to settle down, but we cannot question God. We have to accept what has happened, because God giveth and taketh without needing any form of validation from anybody.

“It is also painful for us because it was quite sudden. This visit means a lot to us, especially the presence of my brother, Governor Sim Fubara, because we have been on different sides of the spectrum politically. But politics was put aside.

“I want to also, on behalf of the people and government of Oyo State, say thank you for the visit. Our prayer is that we won’t use this kind of visit as a payback.

“We pray that in our various families, people will grow old before they are called to the world beyond. So, thank you.