In a shocking incident in Masvingo, an 18-year-old student has been arrested for kidnapping his 10-year-old neighbour with the intention of using him for a money ritual. 

The young boy, named Tawana, disappeared for three days, only to be found after a police investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, a Form 4 student at Vision Academy, identified as Peter.

Peter admitted during a police interrogation that he had planned to take Tawana to clients in Chipinge, who had requested the child’s head for ritual purposes. 

In a disturbing confession, Peter said; “When I took this child, they had told me to find a head and bring it.”

The confession, recorded on video, shows Tawana’s grandmother wailing in the background as the child’s mother, filled with shock and rage, confronts the suspect. She demands answers from Peter, questioning his motives.

""So, you wanted to sacrifice my child? Peter, did you really plan to do this? What did Tawana do to you? What did we do to deserve this? You have no shame!"

In the same video, Tawana’s mother also reprimands her son for ignoring warnings about befriending older individuals like Peter,"Tawana, you hear what your friend was up to? We always warned you not to play with this older guy. Look what he wanted to do—he wanted to get you killed." she said 

The video ends abruptly, but the incident has left the local community in shock, raising concerns about the safety of children and the people parents trust with their well-being.

Watch the video below…

The Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has revealed that Nigeria incurs an annual loss of $3 billion due to importing Ankara fabrics, a widely recognized wax print in West and Central Africa.

Musawa noted that fabrics such as Adire, Kente, Bogolan, and Ankara represent Africa’s pride, history, and cultural identity.

However, she regretted that despite this rich heritage, many of the continent’s favourite fabrics, including Ankara, are primarily manufactured outside Africa.

Naija News reports that Musawa made this remark in Algiers last week during the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024.

According to a statement from the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, Musawa emphasized the importance of strengthening Africa’s fashion and textile industry.

She stated, “Nearly 90 percent of the Ankara consumed on our continent is imported, leading to an annual loss of approximately $3 billion to foreign manufacturers. We must change this.

“We must reclaim our fashion narrative by strengthening local production capacities and ensuring that the benefits of this vibrant industry remain within our borders.”

Musa further stated that Africa’s fashion industry is projected to grow to $15.5 billion by 2025 and called for actions to address structural challenges hindering local production.

“Fashion is far more than a form of expression. It is an economic powerhouse. The global fashion industry is valued at approximately $2.5 trillion. In Nigeria alone, the fashion industry contributes approximately $6.1 billion to GDP, while South Africa’s textile sector employs over 140,000 people, demonstrating the sector’s capacity for job creation.

“Investments in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth. By expanding local production, we will not only add value within our borders but also position Africa as a global hub for fashion,” she stated.

Musawa stated that the ministry is actively engaged in developing manufacturing hubs and training programs in craftsmanship as part of the Design Nexus and Destination 2030 initiative throughout Africa.

She further noted that this initiative seeks to elevate Nigeria’s arts, culture, and creative economy to a leading position.

The suspended Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Auwal Sankara, is set to be arraigned in a Kano court today following allegations of infidelity.

This development was confirmed by the Director-General of the Hisbah Commission in Kano, Mr. Abba Sufi, during a press briefing on Sunday.

Sankara was reportedly apprehended by Hisbah operatives while allegedly in an uncompleted building with a married woman.

However, the commissioner has vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the reports as mischief aimed at damaging his political career.

In response to the serious nature of the allegations, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has formed a five-member committee to investigate the claims against Sankara.

The committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, and will include the Commissioners for Information, Basic Education, and the Special Adviser on Security Matters.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Malam Ibrahim emphasized the significance of the allegations, stating that they have caused considerable embarrassment to the government.

He explained that the media coverage surrounding the issue has led to a degradation of the state’s reputation, prompting the government to take decisive action.

“To ensure transparency and maintain the integrity of the state, the government is compelled to set up a committee to investigate the allegations,” Ibrahim said.

As part of the investigation process, the Jigawa State government has suspended Sankara to facilitate a thorough examination of the matter.

The committee is expected to submit its findings within two weeks, as the state seeks to address the concerns raised by the allegations and restore public trust.

In a statement on Saturday, Ibrahim, said “The decision comes in light of recent claims that necessitate a thorough examination to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the State Administration.

“The suspension is a precautionary measure intended to facilitate a fair investigation. We take all allegations seriously and are dedicated to upholding the trust of Jigawa citizens in the government.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered more than ₦200 billion and secured around 3,000 convictions in just one year under the leadership of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

Naija News reports that President Bola Tinubu appointed Olukoyede to head the anti-corruption agency in October 2023.

Since then, the EFCC has made significant strides in the fight against corruption, according to the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show The Morning Brief on Monday, Uwujaren highlighted the impressive recovery figures and conviction rates achieved within Olukoyede’s first year in office.

“In terms of naira recovery, we have recovered over ₦200bn in one year of Ola Olukoyede’s administration. That is not to talk about the dollar and the euro components of the recoveries.

“The figures are actually humongous. In terms of the conviction returns, we have over 3,000 convictions in one year of his administration. That for us is interesting,” Uwujaren said.

Despite these achievements, Uwujaren emphasized that the EFCC’s primary focus is on preventing crime rather than merely securing convictions.

He noted that a large percentage of the convictions—about 70%—were related to cybercrime, with young people representing the majority of those convicted.

“But we are not emphasising records of convictions per se because our focus, for now, is to prevent corruption.

“Of those conviction figures I have just given, 70 per cent of those convictions pertain to cybercrime cases.

“The style of this leadership of the EFCC is that there is a major emphasis on the prevention of corruption,” he said.

The EFCC has implemented various initiatives, including sensitization campaigns, to raise awareness among young Nigerians about the dangers of fraud, particularly cybercrime.

In addition to cybercrime, Uwujaren identified corruption in the public sector as a major challenge, especially concerning contract and procurement processes.

He stressed the EFCC’s commitment to addressing these issues before they escalate into larger fraud cases.

“You will agree with me that the major source of corruption especially in the public sector largely pertains to contract and procurement processes and the commission is determined to ensure that these practices are checked before they occur.

“The popular maxim is that prevention is better than cure and once you are able to prevent procurement fraud before they happen, we would be able to save a lot of resources for this country,” the agency’s spokesman added.

A married man from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Moses Remayi, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after violently assaulting his girlfriend, leading to her death. The attack, triggered by Remayi’s suspicion of infidelity over a missed phone call, left the victim suffering for days before she succumbed to her injuries.

The tragic incident unfolded when Remayi became enraged after his girlfriend refused to answer a call from an unknown number. He believed the call was from another man, sparking an argument that quickly turned violent. Testifying in court, Remayi admitted his anger intensified when he dialed the number and a man answered.

"I dialled the number using my phone, and a man answered. This made me angry, as I suspected she was cheating on me,” Remayi told the court.

Remayi's brutal assault on his girlfriend included beating her with a steel chair, fists, and feet. According to witnesses, he locked the door and continued the attack for nearly an hour. A co-tenant, Evidence Denhere, testified that despite hearing the victim’s screams and attempting to intervene, Remayi refused to stop.

"No one could stop him as he had locked the door," Denhere said.

After the attack, a neighbor, Cynthia Chaleka, found the woman severely injured and half-naked. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the victim succumbed to her injuries days later.

Remayi was arrested by the police, who recovered the iron bar used in the attack. In his defense, Remayi claimed that the violence began after his girlfriend bit him during their argument. However, the court rejected his explanation, finding him guilty of murder.

Appearing before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Evangelista Kabasa, Remayi was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime, despite pleading not guilty.

The senseless killing has shocked the local community, with many expressing outrage over the brutality of the attack. Remayi now faces nearly two decades in prison for his actions.

Between Friday, October 18, and Sunday, October 20, no fewer than four vessels carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, arrived at seaports in Nigeria.

These vessels delivered approximately 123.4 million litres of PMS, according to a document obtained from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Sunday.

The vessels docked at the Apapa port in Lagos and the Calabar port in Cross River State. This marks a significant boost to the nation’s fuel supply, especially given ongoing concerns about meeting domestic demand.

This latest delivery corroborates an earlier report by The PUNCH, which revealed that oil marketers planned to import PMS to supplement supplies from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Marketers had expressed concerns that the refinery, located in Lekki, was producing around 10 million litres of petrol daily, far short of the 25 million litres it had originally promised. This shortfall prompted the decision to import fuel, despite the opening of the $20bn refinery.

In September, the platform reported that approximately 141 million litres of PMS were imported, following price increases in petrol from the Dangote Refinery.

These imports were made possible due to the fair market conditions created by the full deregulation of the downstream oil sector by the government, allowing oil marketers to bring in fuel when local production is insufficient.

The vessels that arrived between October 18 and 20 were distributed as follows: the first vessel, with 35,000 metric tonnes of PMS, berthed at the ASPM jetty at 10:13 a.m. on October 18, followed by another carrying 37,000 metric tonnes at 3:37 p.m. The third vessel, carrying 10,000 metric tonnes, arrived later that afternoon at 3:59 p.m. A fourth vessel carrying another 10,000 metric tonnes docked at the Eco Marine terminal in Calabar on Sunday morning.

When combined, the four vessels delivered a total of 92,000 metric tonnes, which, when converted using a standard rate of 1,341 litres per metric tonne, amounts to about 123.4 million litres of petrol.

In a previous interview, George Ene-Ita, spokesperson for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, confirmed that licensed marketers are permitted to import PMS, provided that the products undergo stringent quality testing.

“The products must be subjected to our testing protocols at the ports. The products must conform to stipulated standards before we authorise them to offload to their terminals.

“Also, before the smaller vessels bring it further inland to Nigeria, our people will fly to the place to see the product and carry out some tests to ensure the right specification is upheld.

“Tests are also done at the products’ origins. And when the products come in before they are released to the market, further tests would be conducted to ensure that they meet the specifications,” he stated.

Naija News reports that despite the importation of PMS, marketers are still engaging in talks with Dangote Refinery on plans to purchase its locally refined fuel.

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has called upon the youth to remain steadfast and not lose hope in Nigeria despite the current challenges.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party spoke on Sunday during the Social Media Fest (SMFest) held in Owerri, Imo State.

Naija News reports that SMFest serves as a platform designed to educate participants on how to harness the potential of technology, social media, and innovation to enhance their businesses, brands, and initiatives, offering valuable ideas, exposure, and insights that enable individuals and organizations to capitalize on the benefits of digitalization fully.

In his address, Obi acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing Nigeria but urged the youth to exercise patience and resilience, emphasizing that success is achieved by those who persevere, even in difficult times.

“Yes, Nigeria is challenging right now, but those of us who are older are finding strength in the passion of the younger generation.

“And we say don’t give up! Whether it’s in business, skills development, education, or politics, don’t give up!

“Life will throw obstacles your way, but stand firm. If you need to, step back, rethink your strategy, evolve, and come back stronger,” Obi shared via his official X handle on Sunday.

•Customs agents hint at confusion among implementation agencies
•Inflation, exchange rate defeat policy objectives – Analysts
•Policy not optimal – Afrinvest

Hopes of many low-income Nigerians for lower food prices may be dashed as the zero import duty policy on essential food staples appears to have hit fresh hitches.

Stakeholders cite citing lack of coordination, unclear directives, and underlying agronomic and infrastructural challenges as major obstacles.

This comes against the backdrop of renewed inflationary pressure on the purchasing power of vulnerable citizens, the main reason for the measure with the objective of moderating the prices of essential food items.

Nigeria’s inflation has consistently maintained an upswing since the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023 with a May 2024 figure at 33.95%, up massively from the 22.4% he inherited in May 2023.
Amidst the inflationary pressures President Tinubu, marking his one year in office, announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities to ensure a reduction in food inflation in Nigeria.

However, Nigeria’s inflation rate which peaked at 34.19% in June 2024 before declining for two
consecutive months of July at 33.4% and 32.15% in August, reversed the progress in September, rising to 32.7%, according to data released last week by the National Bureau of Statistics. This indicates that the hardship is far from moderate.

Amidst this development, Financial Vanguard findings show that the softening measures through the zero-duty food imports are not going to happen any time soon as the government agencies involved have been tied down by role conflicts in the process of the implementation.

The initial setback, Vanguard learnt, was the need for the Ministry of Finance to issue relevant directives for commencement, a situation which led to an initial two-month delay.

Also, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that the federal government would forgo N188.4 billion in revenue over the five-month window for the duty waiver and this may have unsettled both the Finance Ministry and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

On August 15, 2024, Customs announced that the program was ready to commence following a letter of implementation from the Finance Ministry to this effect dated August 08, 2024.

But two and half months after the letter, Vanguard learnt that the programme had been further bogged down by bureaucracy and major disagreements amongst the implementing agencies.

Vanguard further learnt that the government agencies are now evasive in responding to inquiries from stakeholders due to obvious ambiguity surrounding the implementation.

Customs agents hint at confusion

Giving further insight into the controversies, a key stakeholder in the policy implementation value chain, Lucky Amiwero, who is the President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), expressed frustration over the unclear status of the zero import duty implementation.

Amiwero, speaking to Vanguard cited lack of coordination among the government agencies as the primary cause of the logjam.

He stated: “After our last petition seeking clarification on the implementation date, the government hasn’t responded. We only received feedback from the Federal Inland Revenue Service; there has been no clarification from any other government agency. We cannot waste money writing to a government that came up with a policy they cannot implement.”

Expressing frustration with the situation Amiwero said, “Look at the economy now, the economy is in comatose. So we are doing all these things to intervene to see how the government can reduce costs, but look at the policy they came up with, we cannot find the policy. We don’t know what is going on’’.

According to him, ‘‘the implications of this delay in implementation are severe, with many companies facing potential closure due to escalating energy costs, exchange rates, and oil prices. There’s no capital flow in the country, and the import system is dwindling because of the government’s inability to intervene and reduce costs.”

Policy not optimal

Meanwhile, Afrinvest Research, an arm of Afrinvest West Africa, a Lagos-based investment house, has questioned the policy’s effectiveness, suggesting that the protectionist approach may not yield optimal results due to Nigeria’s agronomic and infrastructural challenges.

The analysts at the investment house, in a report titled, ‘Suspension of Import Duties on Food Staples, Silver Bullet to Inflation Crises?’ stated: “The 150-day suspension period may need to be extended for more impactful results.

“However, adopting this stance without addressing gaps in the domestic agriculture value chain might deliver a weak outcome.

“Although the exact commencement date of the tax-free importation window is yet to be announced, the near-term objective policy is to paper cover cracks in domestic supply gaps induced by persistent conflict along the food belt, adverse weather conditions, as well as poor quality and high cost of agriculture inputs’’.

Inflation, exchange rates defeat policy objectives

Also pointing to the implications of the delay in the implementation of the zero-duty program on prices of the food items, the analysts at Afrinvest noted that both inflation and exchange rate have already overtaken the expected price moderation on those commodities targeted by the measure.

‘‘We note that the renewed pressure on the headline inflation rate was mainly fueled by the food inflation sub-basket.

‘‘Precisely, the food inflation rate rose by 25 bases points year-on-year and 27 bps month-on-month to 37.8% and 2.6% sequentially, reflecting the negative pass-through effect of energy price surge and transportation cost MoM, and the devastating impact of flood in key agrarian communities during the period.

‘‘A similar trend was observed on imported food inflation surging by 3.1 percentage points to 39.5%.’’
In addition, the analysts noted that the exchange rate has also moved against the policy objects while the delay lasted, stating that Naira has depreciated by more than 5.5% in the official market and nearly 10 per cent in the parallel market since the policy was announced, a development which has ultimately increased the prices of those commodities.