He entered the world with the candescence a meteor, blazing new trails and igniting enough light to show that he wanted any lingering swamps and dark alleys of the Church to be cleaned up. He wanted to reposition the Church.

We all remember that day on 13 March 2013. The world was still recovering from the sight of the white smoke and barely catching its breath from the announcement of the famous words heralding a new pope, Habemus Papuam [We have a Pope!]. Millions strained their eyes to behold who the new pope might be and then, presto, there appeared the new pope draped in his white cassock.

The world stood in shock as Pope Francis waved, but no one was prepared for the first words that came out of his mouth when he bowed and asked the world to bless him! If this was shocking, there was more to come from the new pope.

The world expected the new pope to keep up with over centuries of tradition of what has come to define the papacy at least in its modern form. First, rather than travelling in the special papal vehicle to the papal apartments, his new official residence, Pope Fancis decided to drive with his fellow Cardinals in the same bus right to the Domus Sanctae Marthae (House of St. Martha), less than a hundred meters from the Vatican Sacristy at the back of St. Peter’s Basilica. Domus Sanctae Marthae would remain his residence throughout his papacy. By Vatican standards, the facility represents the quintessence of pleasure, a kind of a local Hilton in the Vatican.

Yet, in reality, the comfort is about what you would find in a modest three-star hotel. I have stayed there several times, even having the luxury of staying in the suites. Again, the modesty of the facility will shock you. You can check online because it is open to guests.

The world had barely settled down to these shocks when it was reported that the Pope had personally called his vendor back in Argentina to cancel his subscription of the local newspaper. More and more evidence would emerge that this pope would be like no other, that he would change the way the world saw the Catholic Church and the way the Church saw itself, its role and place in the world. Of course, becoming pope meant he had to drop his real names, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. His decision to choose the name, Francis, after the famous Italian mystic and poet, the man who abandoned wealth and chose a life of poverty was symbolic.

Pope Francis went on to stun the world in the symbolic choices that he made in the course of his papacy. The world would have to get used to looking at wealth, power, weakness and the poor differently.
I had the rare honour of meeting him several times in his short papacy. On two occasions when I stayed at the Domus Sancta Martha, it was not uncommon to bump into him in the dinning room. He would smile back if you smiled at him, he would shake you if you offered him your hand. He personally went to the tables to help himself in the buffet setting. He ate openly with any guests who were around, the only exception being that his table was separated by an existing wall in the facility. Of course, often he would often have some of his staff, visiting prelates or other guests with him. In his presence, you could feel his translucent and vivacious honesty. His smiles were penetrating in their honesty and simplicity. He was vulnerably present to everyone around him, irrespective of status.

In his presence, you could choose to shake, hug or embrace him. He received whatever gift you offered him. I guess his handlers had already known that this was an official policy. I often watched as people walked up and offered him presents, some looking quite strange. From calabashes, ornaments, woven cloths, books, pictures, Pope Francis would take anything from everyone. He stood still for any photographs and was never in a hurry.

He made the world one huge blackboard on which he scripted so much by his thoughts and actions. He often quoted St. Francis who said: “preach the gospel and only if necessary, use words”. He took those words seriously and used his life as the greatest writings on the blackboard. Actions, not words. When he called the world a field hospital, he wanted the world to appreciate the quantum of wreckage created by the unbridled greed of the powerful whose footprints had turned the world into a crime scene.

In 2023, I was lucky to be asked by the President of the Bishops of West Africa to represent our Conferences during the Pope’s visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in February, that year. After the Mass, there were interactions with the holy father. When I told him I had come from Nigeria, his face lit up and even more so when I told him that the Bishops of West Africa had asked me to represent them and to welcome him. “And you came all the way from Nigeria?”, he asked. When I said “yes”, he looked at me as if I had just scored a goal at injury time as he patted a congratulatory touch and appreciation on my shoulder! Pope Francis spoke during that visit about the threats of the new colonial exploitation in Africa. In Sudan, he lamented the tragedy of the wars and sufferings of our people.

In life, Pope Francis stood with the weak and the poor. He called attention to the threats posed by the environmental exploitation of mother earth. In 2015, he published his earth breaking Encyclical, Laudato Si [On Care of our common home], calling attention to the threats posed by environmental exploitations by the powerful. He was an honest, caring, loving man who placed emphasis on our common humanity.

He called the world’s attention towards the need to raise the bar on friendship, brotherhood, sisterhood and collaboration. He developed a friendship with the Chief Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque which led to the publication in 2020 of his most readable Encyclicals, Fratelli Tutti [All Brothers/Sisters]. He had laid down his pastoral roadmap very early in his papacy with the first encyclical titled, Evangelii Gaudium [The Joy of the Gospel] in 2013.

The world will miss a genuine leader, a very loving and caring man. Pope Francis set Jesus free from the walls erected by those Christians who sought to imprison him in cages of dogma by exploiting the message of liberation. He generated controversies with many of his views and different commentators will focus on the issues that fit their ideological persuasion, but we cannot deny that the world has lost a moral compass.

For the ideological, there are those who will see the death of the holy father as bump on the road for the radicals within the Church. In truth, the real and genuine message of Jesus rises well beyond ideology. The world awaits a new pope, and prayerfully soon.

In 2005, when Pope John Paul 11 died, a British journalist interviewed me in Abuja. He asked me if I thought the world was now ready for an African pope. He was taken aback when I told him that the Catholic Church could not elect an African Pope. But, he said, the world is anxiously waiting and it could be a Nigerian. I still insisted but when he asked why, I told him calmly: An African pope will have to be elected by Africans to govern the African Church. It is true a man of African descent can be elected a pope. He can then be only a pope from Africa, not an African pope! You would have needed to see his reaction when he realised he had framed the issues wrongly.

This idea of an African pope is still popular. However, the Catholic Church does not do, emi lokan. There is no emi lokan in the priesthood, none in the Bishopric or the papacy. The Holy Spirit has no calendar and no standing Electoral Commission. The Holy Spirit has always made the choice in faithfulness to the promises Jesus made to Peter: Upon this rock, I will build my Church [Mt. 16:18). It is not our Church, not a human institution. So only God, through the Holy Spirit will choose who will lead His Church.

** Matthew Hassan Kukah is
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto

I just saw a post to the effect that Cardinal Arinze is in the frame to be the new Pope. The poster declared that that Cardinal would, if it turns out to be true, be the first Black pope in history. And then it occurred to me that we’ve had a previous iteration of this frenzy before. Yes, that’s right- in 2005, following the passing of Pope John Paul. It came to nothing.

Two other things struck me. The first is that, in fact, a Cardinal Arinze or Cardinal Lumumba will not be the first Black Pope in history. That honour, from my findings, belongs to Pope Saint Victor I, who led the Roman Catholic Church between 189 and 199AD- more than 1800 years ago. I shall return to him in moment. The second is related to the first: when Pope Saint Victor I became the Pope more than 18 centuries ago, it appeared that it was no more extraordinary than the ascension of his predecessors. In fact, it sounded very ordinary indeed. And as I understand it, other Popes of African origins have followed after him.

Here, then, is my take on this: it is an unfortunate sign of societal regress, certainly not progress, that the prospect of a Black Pope is catching attention as something out of the ordinary. Let’s set aside the fact that majority of Catholic faithfuls today are found in Africa and Latin America. That would be a good enough reason to consider the frenzy around a prospective Black Pope absurd, rather than ordinary and routine. But I am not even looking at this from the perspective of representation and the game of numbers.

Instead, I am starring at a more serious and uncomfortable fact here: that in 1800 years, humanity has in many ways regressed on the front of racial justice and equity- so much so that an event that was probably more ordinary and more routine in AD 189 has attracted so much attention- I mean, even the mere prospect of it- 18 centuries after! The current world order rests on a matrix of domination, sustained by the twin pillars of racial superiority and racial purity-both equally nefarious, both equally toxic.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand why the prospect of a Black Pope has is generating so much frenzy. I am just saying that I don’t see it as a cause for celebration, but a jolt to the sobering reality that this is being seen as an extraordinary prospect- about two millennia after the establishment of the Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, I asked ChatGPT to say something about Pope Saint Victor I. Below is what it came up with. Happy reading:

Pope Saint Victor I: Background and Legacy

Pope Saint Victor I served as Bishop of Rome from approximately 189 to 199 AD, during a formative period in early Christian history. He holds a distinguished place in Church history as the first pope of Black African heritage, originating from the Roman province of Africa (in present-day North Africa). His elevation to the papacy in the 2nd century reflects the early Church’s diversity and the significant role African Christians played in shaping Christian doctrine and practice.

Victor I’s papacy is especially noted for his strong leadership during theological disputes, most prominently the Quartodeciman Controversy, which concerned the appropriate date to celebrate Easter. While Christian communities in Asia Minor observed Easter on the 14th day of Nisan, aligning with the Jewish Passover, the Church in Rome celebrated it on the Sunday following Passover. Victor advocated for unifying the observance of Easter on Sunday across all Christian communities. Although his effort to enforce this practice through threats of excommunication was met with resistance by leaders such as St. Irenaeus, it was a pivotal move toward liturgical unity within the early Church.

Another important contribution of Pope Victor I was the introduction and promotion of Latin as a liturgical language in the Roman Church, replacing Greek in many official functions. This transition was instrumental in establishing Latin as the foundational language of Western Christianity, influencing centuries of Church doctrine, scholarship, and administration.

Victor was also known for his compassionate leadership and advocacy for persecuted Christians. During a time when the Roman Empire remained suspicious and, at times, openly hostile toward the Christian faith, Victor supported imprisoned and oppressed believers, reinforcing the Church’s mission of solidarity and mercy.

Though the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear, Pope Victor I is traditionally considered a martyr for the faith. He was later canonized, and his feast day is celebrated on July 28.

The legacy of Pope Victor I endures not only in his contributions to Church structure and unity but also as a powerful reminder of the deep and early presence of Black leadership in Christianity. His papacy stands as a testament to the global, inclusive, and multicultural roots of the Christian faith.

Taking statins could dramatically reduce the risk of dementia, even in those who already have low cholesterol, a major study has found.

The pill is one of the most commonly-prescribed drugs in the UK, with around seven to eight million people taking them to ward off heart attack and stroke.

Researchers now believe that the medication could reduce levels of harmful cholesterol in the brain — which they say could protect against types of dementia, including the most common, Alzheimer's.

The South Korean scientists found that those with naturally low levels of LDL cholesterol—often referred to as the 'bad' type—who weren't on medication were  less likely to develop dementia, compared to those with higher levels.

But they also discovered the risk of dementia reduced further among people who already had low levels of cholesterol and were taking statins compared to those who were not, suggesting the drugs provide 'additional protective effects'. 

It has long been thought that Alzheimer'sdisease, the most common form of dementia, is caused by the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain. 

But experts behind the new study said their findings could change the way doctors think about the disease. 

'There is clearly more to the story of Alzheimer's than we first thought,' said Dr Francesco Tamagnini, a neurophysiologist at the University of Reading.

'Alzheimer's disease appears [that it] may be a complication caused by the accumulation of LDL [cholesterol] in the brain.'

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that naturally exists in blood vessels.

However, if levels of the harmful type — called LDL — become too high, it can clog up the arteries that supply the body's tissues with blood, increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke.  

This can result from a number of reasons, including a genetic predisposition, a high fat diet and obesity. 

Another type of cholesterol, HDL, is often considered the 'good type' as it helps clear LDL away from the arteries and out of the body.

A level of HDL below 4mmol/L (millimoles per litre) is considered healthy.

The new study analysed the health records of 570,000 South Koreans, and found those who had levels of LDL cholesterol below 1.8 mmol/L were 28 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, compared to those with twice as much LDL.

Those in the low cholesterol group who took statins were even less likely to develop the disorder, reducing their risk by a further 12 per cent.

The authors said their findings 'underscore the crucial role of managing LDL in lowering dementia risk', adding that statins could be used to improve cognitive function. 

The medicine lowers cholesterol by interfering with an enzyme in the liver that's crucial for making the fatty substance.

Some experts, however, have urged caution over the findings.

Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK said: 'Dementia risk is complex and influenced by many factors.

'Without a detailed picture of what's going on in the brain, we do not know if there is a direct link between lower cholesterol and reduced dementia risk. 

'Clinical trials will be key to understand what effects statins might be having on disease processes in the brain.

'In the meantime, keeping our hearts healthy remains one of the most effective ways we can protect our brain health. 

'If you have any concerns about your cholesterol levels, you should speak to your GP.'

It is well known that high cholesterol is a risk factor for vascular dementia — a type of the disease caused by several mini strokes.

There are currently around 982,000 people with dementia in the UK. 

This number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

Alzheimer's affects around six in 10 people with dementia.

Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.

Previous studies have estimated that around 40 per cent of all dementia cases could be prevented with lifestyle changes.

This includes healthier diets, increased exercise, drinking less alcohol, preventing head injury and using hearing aids.  

Daily Mail

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.

He was 88, and had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis," Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel.

"At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father."

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many Church watchers who had seen the Argentine cleric, known for his concern for the poor, as an outsider.

He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his "psychological health".

He inherited a Church that was under attack over a child sex abuse scandal and torn by infighting in the Vatican bureaucracy, and was elected with a clear mandate to restore order.

But as his papacy progressed, he faced fierce criticism from conservatives, who accused him of trashing cherished traditions. He also drew the ire of progressives, who felt he should have done much more to reshape the 2,000-year-old Church.

While he struggled with internal dissent, Francis became a global superstar, drawing huge crowds on his many foreign travels as he tirelessly promoted interfaith dialogue and peace, taking the side of the marginalised, such as migrants.

Unique in modern times, there were two men wearing white in the Vatican for much of Francis' rule, with his predecessor Benedict opting to continue to live in the Holy See after his shock resignation in 2013 had opened the way for a new pontiff.

Benedict, a hero of the conservative cause, died in December 2022, finally leaving Francis alone on the papal stage.

Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope correct as of February 2025, increasing the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies, despite the strong pushback from traditionalists.

Reuters

In a powerful and moving Easter message delivered on Holy Saturday, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, issued a passionate plea to President Bola Tinubu to rescue Nigerians from the deepening crises plaguing the country. Drawing on the Christian metaphor of the cross, Kukah painted a sobering picture of a nation bleeding under the weight of insecurity, poverty, and disillusionment.

Titled “Mr. President: Please Bring Us Down from This Cross,” the message likened the suffering of Nigerians to the crucifixion of Christ, asserting that while Tinubu did not create the crises, he now bears the moral responsibility to end them.

“Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long,” Kukah said. “Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue.”

He described the present state of the nation as one marked by a “culture of brutality and savagery,” with rampant kidnappings, insecurity, hunger, and hopelessness affecting nearly every community across the country.

Kukah did not spare the political class, referring to past admissions by officials who brought in violent actors as tools of political advantage, only to now find those forces spiraling out of control.

“This cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity,” Kukah warned. “Kidnapping is now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure and foundation of our country.”

Despite the gravity of his message, the Bishop offered a glimmer of hope, invoking Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as the Year of Hope. He called on Nigerians to remain anchored in faith, even in the face of despair, and urged the President to channel national resources and goodwill toward genuine security, food access, and human dignity.

He emphasized that while the removal of fuel subsidies may have been a necessary economic step, it cannot be followed by mere palliatives. Kukah called instead for long-term structural solutions to food insecurity and poverty.

“Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens.”

In a final challenge, the Bishop questioned whether the prolonged insecurity signaled a lack of military capacity or, more disturbingly, the profiteering of those who benefit from chaos.

“Are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god?” he asked.

Kukah’s Easter message, rich in scriptural references and moral urgency, concluded on a note of resilience, reminding Nigerians that the resurrection of Christ is a call to face adversity with courage and conviction.

“We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill… Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator.”

As the nation marks Easter, Kukah’s words stand as both a lament and a rallying cry—an appeal for decisive leadership and a collective return to the values of justice, dignity, and peace.

In a fiery Easter Sunday state-of-the-nation address delivered in Lagos, Tunde Bakare, the serving overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, delivered a stinging rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, accusing him of fostering a dangerous form of politics that threatens Nigeria’s democratic fabric.

Bakare, a former presidential aspirant and one-time running mate to Muhammadu Buhari, warned Tinubu against the perils of absolute power, urging him to “stop playing God” and lead with humility and empathy in a time of national crisis.

A Nation on the Brink

Addressing congregants and the wider nation, Bakare painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s political and economic state under Tinubu’s administration. He decried the descent into what he described as “a mafia state,” driven by legislative rascality, institutional decay, and unchecked executive authority.

“The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature,” Bakare said, citing the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as signs of overreach and systemic rot.

He also lambasted the Senate’s dismissal of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The conduct of Onyekachi Nwebonyi during the hearings, particularly his verbal assault on former minister Oby Ezekwesili, was described by Bakare as “street-level vitriol,” further reinforcing his concern over the degeneration of political decorum.

Economic Hardship and Human Suffering

Turning to the economy, Bakare highlighted the severe hardship Nigerians are facing under Tinubu’s reforms. He pointed to soaring food prices, a 430% increase in fuel costs, and widespread poverty as evidence of policy failure. Citing data from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, he noted that the country now ranks among those with the highest misery indexes globally.

Bakare recalled the tragic stampede deaths during food distribution efforts in late 2024, especially the horrific reports of parents throwing their children over fences in desperation. “These scenes,” he said, “are haunting reminders of a nation in distress, and eerily reminiscent of biblical famines.”

Call to Action: From Prayers to Pragmatism

While acknowledging some gains—such as a $5 billion rise in reserves—Bakare stressed that prayer alone can no longer carry the weight of national recovery. “People of faith have prayed to the point of weariness,” he said. “Any call for prayer now appears to be a mere religious ritual. What we need is action.”

He urged Tinubu to heed wise counsel and adopt a “coordinated programme” to rescue Nigeria. This includes emergency survival interventions, economic stabilisation, debt reengineering, structural reforms, and industrialisation.

Central to his proposed recovery strategy is the creation of a “Consolidated Value Investment and Development Fund”—a reimagined version of the COVID Fund he advocated during the pandemic. This fund, he said, should be decoupled from oil dependency and geared toward inclusive, sustainable growth.

A Personal History, A Longstanding Rift

Bakare’s sharp critique also carries a personal edge. Once close political allies, there is no love lost between him and Tinubu. Bakare has long questioned Tinubu’s political morality, dating back to his tenure as Lagos governor. On the eve of Tinubu’s 2023 inauguration, Bakare declared he would not call him “my president,” citing alleged electoral malpractice.

Though he has been accused of staying silent during Buhari’s controversial administration—perhaps due to their past alliance—Bakare insists his advocacy for good governance remains steadfast.

Conclusion: A Nation at a Crossroads

In his closing remarks, Bakare appealed to the conscience of the nation and its leaders: “No man is wise enough nor good enough to be trusted with unlimited power. Mr President, please stop playing God.”

He called for psychological evaluations for political aspirants and stressed that only responsible leadership, rooted in humility, honesty, and vision, can bring Nigeria back from the brink. “With courageous, empathetic, and visionary leadership,” he said, “Nigeria can live again.”

Suspected gunmen have abducted four travellers heading to Offa in Kwara state from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving behind three children.

The incident occurred near Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The victims who were said to be travelling in a Sienna bus belonging to Olumoh Express, a transport company based in Offa, were reportedly waylaid midway and whisked into the bush to an unknown destination amid gunshots.

Secretary of the transport company, Mikhail Ayobami Oyelade, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Sunday adding that they were alerted by fellow transporters who saw the abandoned vehicle on the road around 4pm on Saturday.

“Although we don’t know the exact time it happened, I just came back from Osi police station where we went to report the case.

“We have also reported to the vigilantes in the area who had since stormed the bush since Saturday trailing the kidnappers and their victims and we fervently pray that they will be rescued.

“The bus left the park with five passengers, but the oldest of the children that were left behind told us that two more people later joined them on the way.

“They shot two tires of the vehicle and matched the victims including the driver of the bus into the bush but abandoned the three children who have been reunited with their relatives”, the secretary added.

Confirming the incident, Spokeswoman of the state police command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said about eighth hoodlums carried out the attack adding that the children were between the ages of two and 12 years old.

“The Kwara Command has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering and sustained bush combing to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.

“The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo assures the public that the command remains fully committed to the safety and protection of all residents and urged anyone with useful information to report through the established channels of the kwara police command”, she said.

Daily Trust

Israel's military finds 'professional failures' in killings of Gaza medics

The Israeli military on Sunday said a review into last month's killing of emergency responders in Gaza found there had been "several professional failures" and that a commander would be dismissed over the incident.

The 15 paramedics and other rescue workers were shot dead on March 23in three separate shootings at the same location near the southern Gazacity of Rafah. They were buried in a shallow grave where their bodies were found a week later by officials from the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

In a statement on Sunday, the military said a commanding officer is to be reprimanded. A deputy commander, a reservist who was the field commander, will be dismissed from his position for providing an incomplete and inaccurate report, it said.

"The examination identified several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident," the military said.

"The fire in the first two incidents resulted from an operational misunderstanding by the troops, who believed they faced a tangible threat from enemy forces. The third incident involved a breach of orders during a combat setting," it said.

The military advocate general was conducting its own investigation and criminal charges could be pursued, according to the military.

A video recovered from the mobile phone of one of the dead men and published by the Palestinian Red Crescent showed uniformed emergency responders and clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks, with their lights on, being fired on by soldiers.

Major General Yoav Har-Even, who conducted the review, told reporters that soldiers, from a special forces unit, had believed they were under threat after firing on what they initially determined as a Hamas vehicle but was in fact an ambulance. Two occupants were killed and a third was detained and questioned over suspected Hamas links.

The man was released the next day after further questioning.

The military says Hamas often conceals its activities amongst civilians and that there had been cases in the past where the militant group used ambulances to carry out operations. Still, it says soldiers are told to distinguish between genuine emergency vehicles and those used by Hamas.

Military spokesman Effie Defrin told reporters the incident took place in a "complex combat zone" but was clearly a mistake by the soldiers and there had been no attempt to cover up the incident, which was reported immediately.

In addition to the two killed in the first incident, Har-Even said 12 people were killed in the second shooting and another person was killed in the third incident.

INJURIES

Red Crescent and U.N. officials have said 17 paramedics and emergency workers from the Red Crescent, the Civil Emergency service and the U.N. had been dispatched to respond to reports of injuries from Israeli air strikes.

The military said in its statement that in the second shooting the deputy commander did not initially recognise the vehicles as ambulances due to what they said was "poor night visibility" and ordered troops to open fire on a group of individuals who emerged from a fire truck and ambulances.

In a briefing with reporters, the military presented drone footage of the incident which showed the unit of about 20 soldiers opening fire on a fire truck and ambulances from a distance of around 30 metres.

Har-Even said the soldiers had believed they were firing on a group of Hamas fighters and only realized they had shot paramedics when they conducted a scan of the site after the engagement.

Paramedic Munther Abed, who was detained by the military and later released, has said soldiers opened fire on clearly marked emergency response vehicles.

The Red Cross said on April 13 another Palestinian emergency responder was being held by Israeli authorities. The military said on Sunday that he is still in Israeli custody.

The military has said, without providing evidence, that six of the 15 emergency responders killed were later identified as "Hamas terrorists". Hamas has rejected the accusation.

About 15 minutes after the soldiers opened fire on the group of emergency responders, the military said that soldiers fired at a Palestinian UN vehicle. The military blamed "operational errors in breach of regulation" for the incident.

"At dawn, it was decided to gather and cover the bodies to prevent further harm and clear the vehicles from the route in preparation for civilian evacuation," the military said, adding that removing the bodies was reasonable "under the circumstances" but that crushing the vehicles was "wrong".

"In general, there was no attempt to conceal the event, which was discussed with international organizations and the UN, including coordination for the removal of bodies," it said.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of countless violations of one-day Easter ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of thousands of attacks that violated the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin saying there was no order to extend the pause in frontline fighting.

Washington said it would welcome an extension of the truce, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reiterated several times Ukraine's willingness to pause strikes for 30 days in the war.

But Putin, who sent thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and who ordered on Saturday the halt in all military activity along the front line until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) on Sunday, did not give orders to extend it.

"There were no other commands," Russia's TASS state news agency cited Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying when asked whether the ceasefire could be prolonged.

While there were no air raid alerts in Ukraine on Sunday, soon after midnight on Monday the Ukrainian air force issued alerts for east and southeast regions of the country, warning of missile and drone strikes.

Ukrainian forces reported nearly 3,000 violations of Russia's own ceasefire vow, Zelenskiy said early on Monday, adding that Kyiv forces were instructed to mirror Russian army's actions.

"We will respond to silence with silence, our strikes will be to protect against Russian strikes," Zelenskiy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

The largest number of Russian shelling and assault operations took place along the frontline part near the embattled eastern town of Pokrovsk, Zelenskiy said.

Late on Sunday, Zelenskiy said the absence of air raid alerts suggested a "format of ceasefire that has been achieved," and he proposed that Russia abandon drone and missile strikes on civilian targets for at least 30 days.

If Russia does not agree, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things that destroy human lives and prolong the war, Zelenskiy added.

In a separate Easter video message, Zelenskiy urged Ukrainians not to give up hope that peace will one day return.

"We know what we are defending," said Zelenskiy, wearing a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt and standing in front of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv. "We know what we are fighting for."

Russia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine had broken the ceasefire more than 1,000 times, damaging infrastructure and causing civilian deaths.

The ministry said Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times and said it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks, including on Crimea and the Russian border areas of the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions.

"As a result, there are deaths and injuries among the civilian population, as well as damage to civilian facilities," the ministry said.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the battlefield reports.

The apparent failure to observe even an Easter ceasefire shows how hard it will be for U.S. President Donald Trump to clinch a lasting peace deal. The president still struck an optimistic note Sunday, saying that "hopefully" the two sides would make a deal "this week" to end the conflict.

On Friday, Trump and his secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the U.S. would walk away from peace efforts unless there are clear signs of progress soon.

TRUMP'S PEACE PUSH

Last month, after Ukraine accepted Trump's proposal for a 30-day truce, Putin said crucial issues of verification had not been sorted out. Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to a moratorium on attacks on energy targets and at sea, which each accuses the other of breaking.

Trump has pitched any end to the fighting as a precursor to both countries doing "BIG BUSINESS" with the United States, he said Sunday, saying that such deals would earn both nations "a fortune."

Washington and Kyiv are currently negotiating a minerals deal that is expected to be finalized in the next week, Ukrainian officials have said, while American officials are looking at ways to ease sanctions on Russia's energy sector if Moscow agrees to end the war, Reuters has previously reported.

Announcing the ceasefire before heading to an Orthodox Easter service, Putin said the truce would show whether or not Ukraine was ready or able to implement peace. Easter fell on the same day this year for Orthodox and Western churches

Ukraine's military said that despite the ceasefire violations, activity on the front line had decreased. Some Russian military bloggers also said frontline activity had declined substantially.

But there was little such optimism from Ukrainian soldiers who spoke to Reuters on Sunday.

"There is no indication of a ceasefire," said Dmytro, 24, from 93rd Kholodnyi Yar separate mechanised brigade.

Serhii, 22, a soldier from the same brigade, said the ceasefire "was announced only to show to the world as if they are making some steps, concessions for us. But in reality, as we can see at the front line, nothing has changed. I think it is blatant lie as it always was."

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Moscow and Kiev hold major prisoner swap – Russian MOD

Moscow and Kiev have held a major prisoner of war swap, with each side returning 246 captives, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.

Russia has given Ukraine an additional 31 gravely wounded servicemen, receiving some 15 wounded soldiers in return, the military said. The exchange has been mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the Defense Ministry noted.

The freed Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving all the necessary medical treatment and psychological support, the military said. The former prisoners will be transferred to Russia shortly for treatment and rehabilitation.

The Russian Defense Ministry has released a short video showing the freed servicemen boarding buses in an undisclosed location, apparently as they set off for the transfer home.

The announcement comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary pause in fighting with Ukraine. The Easter truce is set to run from 6:00pm Moscow time on Saturday until midnight on April 21.

The Russian president has expressed hopes Kiev will agree to the truce, stating that its attitude toward the pause in fighting will demonstrate whether it is genuinely interested in resolving hostilities through diplomacy. At the same time, Putin instructed the country’s troops to stay on high alert and be ready to respond to potential violations of the ceasefire.

Reuters/RT

On the evening of 5 April 2012, the prime-time bulletin on the television news of the Malawi Broacasting Corporation (MBC), announced to the country that the president, Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika, “had…taken ill and had been flown to South Africa for specialist treatment.” At another end of the capital city, Lilongwe, a presidential convoy was on its way to the Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), where an air ambulance awaited with instructions to fly a president who was supposedly alive but unwell to South Africa.

Earlier in the day, around 11:00 in the morning, Ngwazi Bingu had collapsed while receiving in audience the Member of Parliament representing the south-east constituency of the capital city, Lilongwe, Agnes Penemulungu. The judicial commission of inquiry which later investigated what transpired thereafter, received evidence which showed quite clearly that the presidential court had not prepared nor practiced for the possibility of a life-and-death emergency involving the president. Elton Singini, a senior judge, chaired the inquiry.

The commission of inquiry established as a fact that the president died earlier in the day inside the ambulance en route to Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital city. According to the inquiry report, “the President was brought in dead (BID) at Kamuzu Central Hospital [KCH] at around 11.25 in the morning” of 5 April.

At the time of the news bulletin announcing that he was to be flown to South Africa later on the same day, Bingu had been dead for over eight hours. Despite being aware of this, the presidential retinue instructed staff at the hospital to apply cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the presidential remains for over two hours. In the process, they crushed his rib-cage.

More was to follow. At the airport, the air ambulance pilots from South Africa declined to board the body, citing the fact that their permission was to fly with a patient not a dead body. High level conversations ensued between Lilongwe and Pretoria. It may have helped and was certainly relevant that Malawi’s Foreign Minister at the time was Peter Mutharika, Bingu’s younger brother who was also intent on stepping into the shoes of his just deceased brother. Peter needed time to set the wheels in motion to leap-frog Vice-President Joyce Banda in the succession stakes.

South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, who had retired for the day had to be woken up to personally authorise the flight. Shortly after midnight on 6 April 2012, the air ambulance took off for South Africa. In Malawi, the people were told their president was headed to South Africa for medical attention. In South Africa, the authorities knew that the air ambulance on its way from Lilongwe would arrive with the dead body of Malawi’s president. Shortly after 02:30 a.m. on 6 April, the aircraft landed at South Africa’s National Defence Force (SANDF) Waterkloof Airbase on the outskirts of Pretoria. From there, the dead body was transferred to a mortuary.

The authors of all this malign chicanery designed to deceive the people of Malawi, however forgot to also notify the processes of bio-chemistry. By the time the body arrived the morgue in South Africa, it had been “in the open without refrigeration for about 18 hours after death.” As a result, the very important and high profile invitees to the state funeral of Bingu, which took place on 23 April, 2012, had to endure the uncomfortable company of flies, as well as the majestic fragrance of human putrefaction. As the report of the Elton Singini Commission of Inquiry recorded, “the body had started decomposing as evidenced by the smell and a few flies hovering around.”

Four years earlier, in August 2008, Levy Mwanawasa, the president of neighbouring Zambia, died in a military hospital near Paris in France. While attending the summit of the African Union in Cairo, Egypt, on 29 June 2008, Mwanawasa had collapsed following what was later understood to be an aneurysm (stroke). He was stabilised there before being transferred to France, where he died two months later. At his death, it came out that two years earlier, during his first term as president in 2006, Mwanawasa had suffered an earlier stroke. For that, he received extended treatment in the United Kingdom. No one told Zambians.

The year after the death of Mwanawasa, in June 2009, Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon for 41 years, died in a hospital in Spain. When he left Libreville at the beginning of the previous month, his compatriots believed that their president, the doyen and favourite of France Afrique, was away on a working visit – a phrase all too familiar to Nigerians – to his favourite haunts in Europe. At his death, it emerged that more than one month before his death, President Bongo had been hospitalised for cancer treatment in Spain.

President Bongo was not the last long-serving African president to die in Spain. On 8 July 2022, former Angolan president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, died also there after prolonged cancer treatment. Following his death, a family crisis broke out over his funeral, which delayed the repatriation of his remains to Luanda for more than one month. Six weeks after his death, in the third week of August 2022, a judge in Spain finally authorised the return of the body of dos Santos to Angola for burial.

When he departed Nigeria on 2 April, the presidency in Abuja issued a statement claiming that Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, was off to France on a “short working visit”, during which he would “retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.” They barely stopped short of telling Nigerians that their president was headed to Lourdes for the grace of its historic apparitions. Tinubu is a Muslim; it was in the middle of the Christian season of Lent and no one had apparently bothered to advise him or his image makers that it is usually Christians who undertake two week-long retreats in the middle of this season.

The day after the end of the initially announced 14 days, the same presidential retinue disclosed that the president had relocated from France to the United Kingdom, from where he was doing an excellent job as Nigeria’s president in Europe.

The evidence seems inescapable that Tinubu has significant health challenges and needs regular medical attention from doctors overseas. For this, his destination of choice is clearly France. In 22 months as president, Tinubu has made at least eight trips to the country under different guises, for a cumulative period of over 60 days.

While he’s been away this time, hundreds – if not more – have been killed in massacres in different parts of Nigeria. As president, Tinubu is also the commander-in-chief of Nigeria’s armed and security forces. Yet, from Europe, he is reported to be passing the buck to state governors to do that which only he has the tools to accomplish under Nigeria’s constitution.

Excluding the five years and three months of the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, from February 2010 to May 2015, Nigeria has had a presidency in near-permanent occupancy of sanatoriums overseas for 15 years. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which Tinubu led, was aggressively voluble in asking for candour on the health status of a terminally ill President Umaru Yar’Adua. After going into marriage with Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to create All Progressives Congress (APC), it made a virtue of unlooking when Buhari took up residence in foreign hospitals for much of his presidency.

It should be no news that a man of Tinubu’s age is unwell. Those invested in concealing that reality from Nigerians are more interested in protecting their present perquisites than in the wellbeing of their principal or of the country.

The presidency is more than just an office. For those around the occupant of the office, it also means money, power, and privilege. To preserve it, most people in and around the presidency take liberties, sometimes, even with the wellbeing of their principal or with accountability to the people in whose name he holds office. For the country and even for the president, the wages of this interminable subterfuge are prohibitive.

** Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a professor of law, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..