Security forces on Monday violently dispersed protesters across Nigeria as the Take-It-Back Movement staged nationwide demonstrations against the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the alleged misuse of the Cyber Crime Act, and worsening economic hardship.

The crackdown, which saw police firing tear gas, deploying helicopters for aerial surveillance, and arresting activists, drew sharp condemnation from rights groups, including Amnesty International.

In Abuja, armed officers disrupted the protest early in the morning, arresting at least two demonstrators—identified as Flagboy and Abosede — while journalists and bystanders were caught in the chaos. Prominent activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore joined the rally, resisting police attempts to shut it down.

A similar confrontation unfolded in Lagos, where police, backed by soldiers and civil defense operatives, blocked protesters from delivering a petition to the state assembly. Juwon Sanyaolu, national coordinator of the movement, accused authorities of violating constitutional rights to peaceful assembly.

“They are impeding our rights to movement and protest. This is a warning action—if the government fails to listen, we will return in August with a protest that shakes the nation,” Sanyaolu declared.

Police Deny Violence, Claim Protesters Were "Miscreants"

The Rivers State Police Command denied allegations of brutality, insisting officers only dispersed “miscreants” stealing from the public. However, eyewitnesses reported security forces firing live bullets and tear gas, injuring a protester and briefly detaining journalists.

Solomon Menu, a civil society leader in Rivers, vowed that protests would continue despite the repression. “Freedom is not free. They used brute force today, but we will regroup,” he said.

Mixed Responses Across States

While protests were suppressed in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, demonstrations proceeded peacefully in Osogbo, Ibadan, and Benin, where activists condemned the Cyber Crime Act as a tool to suppress dissent.

In Jos, a low turnout was attributed to intimidation, with coordinator Jonah Onah stating, “People are scared, but even if I’m alone, I’ll protest. Our leaders have failed us.”

Police Accuse Protesters of Sabotaging "National Police Day"

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier warned against the protests, accusing organizers of deliberately undermining National Police Day — a government-designated event celebrating security forces.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, called the demonstrations “ill-timed and mischievous,” urging activists to engage in dialogue instead.

Rights Groups Condemn Crackdown

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the police response as a “serious violation of human rights.” Country Director Isa Sanusi stated, “The government is not willing to listen. Nigerians cannot tolerate this assault anymore.”

Musa Rafsanjani of the *Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre criticized the police for attacking peaceful protesters, contrasting Nigeria’s approach with global standards where security forces protect demonstrators.

Government Defends Restrictions

The Lagos State government cited a recent court order restricting protests to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park and Peace Park, warning that violators would be held liable for damages.

Despite the crackdown, activists vowed to continue mobilizing, demanding an end to emergency rule in Rivers, the repeal of the Cyber Crime Act, and accountability for human rights abuses.

"Enough is enough," declared Sanusi. "We are documenting these violations, and the world is watching."

Sixteen people were killed during a clash between local security forces and suspected Lakurawa insurgents who had raided villages in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, police and residents said on Monday.

The Islamist Lakurawa group emerged from herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border after the July 2023 coup in Niger.

Nigeria has also been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province.

Kebbi police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar said the attack occurred on Saturday evening when the gunmen attacked the villages of Tungan Taura and Tungan Ladan.

"The assailants reportedly rustled an unspecified number of cattle, and during a confrontation as they attempted to flee, 16 individuals were killed," Abubakar said in a statement.

The police have deployed additional tactical units "to track down and apprehend the perpetrators," he said.

One Kebbi resident, Abubakar Augie, said Lakurawa had raided villages in the area and stolen an unspecified number of cattle. The group opened fire at villagers who came out in large numbers to try to stop the assailants, he said.

A Nigerian federal court in January declared the Lakurawa group a terrorist organisation, a designation that allows the military to use maximum force against it.

Reuters

What to know about tensions between Iran and the US before their talks this weekend

Iran and the United States will hold talks in the sultanate of Oman on Saturday in an attempt to jump-start negotiations over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Even before the talks, however, there was a dispute over just how the negotiations would go. President Donald Trump insists they’ll be direct negotiations. However, Iran’s foreign minister said they’ll be indirect talks through a mediator.

The difference may seem small, but it matters. Indirect talks have made no progress since Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.

Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran as part of his “maximum pressure” campaign targeting the country. He has again suggested military action against Iran remained a possibility, while emphasizing he still believed a new deal could be reached by writing a letter to Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei has warned Iran would respond to any attack with an attack of its own.

Here’s what to know about the letter, Iran’s nuclear program and the tensions that have stalked relations between Tehran and Washington since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Why did Trump write the letter?

Trump dispatched the letter to Khamenei on March 5, then gave a television interview the next day in which he acknowledged sending it. He said: “I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.’”

Since returning to the White House, the president has been pushing for talks while ratcheting up sanctions and suggesting a military strike by Israel or the U.S. could target Iranian nuclear sites.

A previous letter from Trump during his first term drew an angry retort from the supreme leader.

But Trump’s letters to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his first term led to face-to-face meetings, though no deals to limit Pyongyang’s atomic bombs and a missile program capable of reaching the continental U.S.

How has Iran reacted?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a Cabinet meeting. “They must prove that they can build trust.”

Khamenei seemingly reacted to comments by Trump renewing his threat of military action.

“They threaten to commit acts of mischief, but we are not entirely certain that such actions will take place,” the supreme leader said. “We do not consider it highly likely that trouble will come from the outside. However, if it does, they will undoubtedly face a strong retaliatory strike.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei went further.

“An open threat of ‘bombing’ by a Head of State against Iran is a shocking affront to the very essence of International Peace and Security,” he wrote on the social platform X. “Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace. The US can choose the course...; and concede to CONSEQUENCES.”

The state-owned Tehran Times newspaper, without citing a source, claimed that Iran had “readied missiles with the capability to strike U.S.-related positions.” That’s as the U.S. has stationed stealth B-2 bombers in Diego Garciawithin striking distance of both Iran and Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, which America has been bombing intensely since March 15.

Why does Iran’s nuclear program worry the West?

Iran has insisted for decades that its nuclear program is peaceful. However, its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon. Iran now enriches uranium to near weapons-grade levels of 60%, the only country in the world without a nuclear weapons program to do so.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s program put its stockpile at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of it to 60% purity.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.”

Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, has warned in a televised interview that his country has the capability to build nuclear weapons, but it is not pursuing it and has no problem with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspections. However, he said if the U.S. or Israel were to attack Iran over the issue, the country would have no choice but to move toward nuclear weapon development.

“If you make a mistake regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, you will force Iran to take that path, because it must defend itself,” he said.

Why are relations so bad between Iran and the U.S.?

Iran was once one of the U.S.'s top allies in the Mideast under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who purchased American military weapons and allowed CIA technicians to run secret listening posts monitoring the neighboring Soviet Union. The CIA had fomented a 1953 coup that cemented the shah’s rule.

But in January 1979, the shah, fatally ill with cancer, fled Iran as mass demonstrations swelled against his rule. The Islamic Revolution followed, led by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and created Iran’s theocratic government.

Later that year, university students overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seeking the shah’s extradition and sparking the 444-day hostage crisis that saw diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S. severed. The Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s saw the U.S. back Saddam Hussein. The “Tanker War”during that conflict saw the U.S. launch a one-day assault that crippled Iran at sea, while the U.S. later shot down an Iranian commercial airliner.

Iran and the U.S. have see-sawed between enmity and grudging diplomacy in the years since, with relations peaking when Tehran made the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. But Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, sparking tensions in the Mideast that persist today.

AP

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy confirms for first time that Ukrainian troops active in Russia's Belgorod region

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops have been active in Russia's Belgorod region as they seek to protect Ukrainian towns near the border.

Ukrainian troops remain in parts of the neighbouring Russian region of Kursk eight months after a cross-border incursion, though Russian forces have recaptured much lost territory.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had presented a report "on the front line, our presence in the Kursk region and our presence in the Belgorod region."

"We continue active operations in the enemy's border areas and this is absolutely justified. The war must return to where it came from.

"Our main objective remains the same: to protect our land and our communities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions from Russian occupiers."

He later referred to operations in the area by Ukraine's 225th Assault Regiment and congratulated the unit for its performance.

Zelenskiy repeated Kyiv's long-held contention that despite Russia's recapture of areas of Kursk in recent weeks, the operation was successful in that it drew Russian forces away from the war's main front line in Ukraine's Donetsk region.

"Due to the entire Kursk operation, we have managed to reduce pressure on other frontline sectors, particularly in Donetsk region," he said.

The president last month referred obliquely to "certain steps" undertaken by Ukraine's military in Russia "a little below the Kursk region", implicitly suggesting a presence in Belgorod region.

Russian military bloggers had reported battles in Belgorod region between Russian and Ukrainian troops.

On Sunday, Russia said its troops had seized the village of Basivka in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region -- opposite Kursk -- and were battering Ukrainian forces in different settlements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly suggested that Russian forces carve out a buffer zone along the border.

A Ukrainian military spokesperson issued a new denial on Monday that Basivka was in Russian hands.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops liberate Katerinovka community in Donetsk region over past day

Russian troops liberated the community of Katerinovka in the Donetsk region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"Battlegroup West units liberated the settlement of Katerinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 85 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 85 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Belgorod direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Miropolskoye, Prokhody, Veliky Prikol and Osoyevka in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 85 personnel, an armored combat vehicle and two motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 215 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 215 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Kondrashovka, Kupyansk and Shiykovka in the Kharkov Region, Novoye and Kirovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 215 personnel, three artillery guns and an electronic warfare station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 300 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 300 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on formations of seven mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Seversk, Minkovka, Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Artyom, Kalinovo and Tarasovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 300 personnel, two armored combat vehicles, including a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 22 motor vehicles and an electronic warfare station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two ammunition and two materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 440 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 440 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and three armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units gained better lines and positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of three mechanized and two infantry brigades, an airborne brigade, an assault brigade, an unmanned systems brigade, an assault regiment, an unmanned aircraft systems regiment of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Yelizavetovka, Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Lenina, Novosergeyevka, Kotlyarovka and Bogdanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 440 personnel, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, including a US-made MaxxPro armored vehicle and seven motor vehicles, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three field artillery guns and an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 140 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 140 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses among manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Poddubnoye, Komar, Burlatskoye and Volnoye Pole in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 140 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, two motor vehicles and three field artillery guns, including a Polish-manufactured 155mm Krab self-propelled artillery system and a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Reuters/Tass

Elon Musk was recently asked what kept him up at night. His greatest fear was the possible collapse of the United States. In Musk own worlds, "I worry generally about the strength of America. America is the central column that holds up all of Western civilization... If that column fails, it's all over. You can't run off to New Zealand or some other place. It's over. So either we strengthen that column and make sure America is strong, and we'll be strong for a long time, or that roof’s coming down."

Musk is a hard-headed, data-driven businessman, so his pessimism cannot be ignored. Is his apprehension justified?

Musk’s worry is about western civilization, and the political arrangement undergirding it. This civilization requires a liberal (classically understood) democracy where disputes are settled by the rule of law, not violence, with an open, election-based political system that guarantees such rights as freedom of speech and limited government, all the while promoting free enterprise.

Conceivably, Musk’s own experience of living in South Africa that virtually overnight was transformed from a peaceful, prosperous nation to a violent, Third World nation shapes his pessimism. It was not that the apartheid-era South Africa was an America-like paradise. Hardly -- it brutally suppressed blacks. Rather, South Africa’s collapse demonstrated that no political and economic status quo is forever.

Musk probably knows that Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Italy existed only briefly as civilized, liberal democracies during the World War 1 and World II interim. Meanwhile, our efforts to create “America-like” nations abroad illustrate the difficulty of building and then sustaining western civilization. We have sent hundreds of billions in foreign aid to countless Third World nations to help them “become more like America” with scant results. Ironically, this aid often propped up tyrants imposing socialism.

These failures reveal that while America may epitomize western civilization, our understanding of how to achieve it is limited. If we better understood its underlying mechanics, we could improve it at home and even export our “secret sauce,” and, clearly, we cannot. Musk wants to preserve something that nobody fully understands, hardly an easy task.

Public opinion data paints a bleak picture. One poll recently announced, “Americans with extreme national pride hovers near record low.” Specifically, between 2001 and 2022, the percent saying that they were “very” or “extremely” proud of being an American dropped from 54% to 41%. This decline even occurred among Republicans, who generally exhibit the most national pride.

The problem, however, may be deeper. In the context of history, American and the civilization that it embodies may run counter to human nature, and given changing circumstances, human nature may reassert itself. After all, countless sophisticated societies have vanished without a trace.

Humans have existed and evolved for eons, so it is bizarre to suggest that contemporary America is evolution’s final destination. Judged by societies worldwide, America is an outlier, not what automatically happens when humans gather to create nations. Our democratic government and civilization may only be a thin veneer. The bestselling 1954 novel Lord of the Flies fictionally recounts a group of civilized British pre-adolescent schoolboys suddenly stranded on an uninhabited island, lacking any adult guidance. Initial efforts to create a civil society failed and the group quickly deteriorates into brutal savagery.

“De-evolution” likewise occurs among domesticated animals who escape into the wild. This transformation is particularly noticeable for pigs where the absence of human-provided food and shelter activates “stealth genes” helping them to function autonomously. Now, armed with longer and sharper tusks and coarser hair, these wild boars aggressively forage for food, defend themselves against predators, kill other animals, and otherwise live a totally different life than those raised on farms.

Americans are hardly immune to “de-evolution.” Recall the hundreds of urban riots of the 1960sand, more recently, the widespread 2020 “George Floyd” riots. This re-emergence of primitive instincts is hardly unexpected. Such barbaric behavior was normal for over 95% + of our existence and remains in our genome despite today’s more civil society.

Musk’s South African background may make him especially sensitive to the early warning signs of an impending collapse. Unfortunately, such tremors -- to use the language from earthquakes -- now abound. While few are explicit -- no organization exists named “Down with western civilization.” there are myriad groups and individuals who want, perhaps unconsciously, this destruction. Consider the following subversive trends:

The fracturing of American public education and its transformation into a radical ideological crusade. Beginning in the late 19th century American public education was a unifying forcein response to massive immigration. It included daily flag salutes, holidays honoring national heroes and otherwise stressed “Americanism.” Today, by contrast, education is increasingly fractured along ethnic lines with entire school curriculums (e.g. 1619 Project) built on celebrating ethnic separatism, not national unity. Meanwhile millions of families are abandoning the common school experience via private schools, publicly funded charters, and home schooling. Our shared political culture is dissolving.

At the same time higher education often forsakes transmitting knowledge in favor of propagating a multitude of grievances and contempt for the status quo. This is especially common in fields such as Gender Studies, the social sciences, and the humanities but has now spread to the hard sciences. The upshot is an anti-American elite that often abhors its own society despite its privileged position. Today’s undergraduates are thus easy prey for anti-Americanism. Who would have predicted violent demonstrations at Ivy League schools supporting Muslim terrorism?

Much of higher education also demonizes merit in favor of group politics. The very idea of “truth” is under attack while “merit” is condemned as unearned privilege. White males are especially demonized. Many Americans now tacitly celebrate incompetence.

Then there’s the weaponization of law to destroy one’s political opponents -- think the prosecution of Donald Trump. Less obvious is selective law enforcement law to punish entire classes of people. Examples include tolerating black-on-white crime (but not the reverse) under the guise of promoting anti-white “racial justice.” Politics thus become a never-ending low-level civil war.

The law is also used for “de-civilizing” society by permitting anti-social behavior, for example, public intoxication, drug dealing, and vandalism. This “tolerance” creates cities like today’s slum-ridden Detroit, a city once admired as the “Paris of the Midwest.” Rome was ransacked by barbarians; in today’s San Francisco, the culprits are shoplifters and drug dealers.

The “memory holing” of our national history. Here leftists rename schools and streets while delegitimizing once honored symbols like the Constitution. Traditional patriotic history instruction is replaced by commemorating obscure figures only notable for their race and gender, not their contribution of American life. National identity declines.

Add importing millions from Third World nations who are unlikely to assimilate while critics are intimidated into silence regarding Europe’s experience with these immigrants. With this influx has come a decline of English as the great unifier.

Finally, there is the decline of “civil” language and appearances. Vulgar, once socially forbidden, language is now mainstreamed in popular entertainment and ordinary conversations. Virtually every sexual preference, no matter how dangerous, has become “normal, if not celebrated. College students now adorn themselves with tattoos, piercings, and bizarre hairstyles once limited to primitive tribes. Flouting cultural norms has become “cool.”

No wonder Musk has a hard time sleeping.

American Thinker

Antibiotic resistance, a mounting crisis in global health, emerges when bacteria evolve to survive treatments meant to eliminate them. This makes once-manageable infections difficult — and sometimes impossible — to treat. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture have accelerated this evolution, allowing resistant strains to thrive, spread, and share their survival traits with other bacteria.

According to the World Health Organization, resistant pathogens like Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa — which cause severe infections in vulnerable patients — are now among the most dangerous. In 2019 alone, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) claimed 1.27 million lives, with nearly 5 million deaths associated with drug-resistant infections.

"In exciting work led by our team, we've identified a novel antimicrobial — saccharin," Ronan McCarthy, lead researcher at Brunel University of London's Antimicrobial Innovations Center, told phys.org. "Saccharin breaks the walls of bacterial pathogens, causing them to distort and eventually burst, killing the bacteria. Crucially, this damage lets antibiotics slip inside, overwhelming their resistance systems."

The findings, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, show saccharin halts bacterial growth, disrupts DNA replication, and prevents the formation of protective biofilms that shield bacteria from antibiotics. Researchers even developed a saccharin-infused wound dressing that outperformed top silver-based dressings used in hospitals.

"This is very exciting," McCarthy added. "Normally it takes billions of dollars and decades to develop a new antibiotic. But here we have a compound that's already widely used, and it not only kills drug-resistant bacteria but also makes existing antibiotics more effective. Artificial sweeteners are found in many diet and sugar-free foods. We discovered that the same sweeteners you have with your coffee or in a 'sugar-free' drink could make some of the world's most dangerous bacteria easier to treat."

As global health leaders warn of a looming “post-antibiotic era,” this unexpected use of a century-old sweetener could be a pivotal step toward reclaiming ground in the battle against resistant infections.

Business Today

The Christ Global Network (CGN) has officially announced the 2025 edition of its flagship revival event, the New Wine Fire Conference, during a world press conference held on Monday at Champion Peace Cathedral, Rhema Christian Church & Towers, Sango-Ota. The conference, themed “Show Me Your Glory” (Exodus 33:18-19), is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025, and is expected to draw thousands of believers from Nigeria and beyond.

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola, Founding President of Rhema Christian Church & Towers and Apostolic Presbyter of CGN, addressed members of the press, highlighting both the spiritual significance of the upcoming conference and the urgent socio-political challenges confronting the nation.

A Call to Spiritual Renewal

According to Akinola, the New Wine Fire Conference—which debuted in 2019 at the National Stadium in Lagos—has grown into a transformative spiritual convocation. This year’s edition will feature renowned gospel ministers including Bishop Mrs. Ireti Akinola, Bishop Joshua Nissi, and Rev. Dr. G.M. Ibeh, among others.

“At a time when global darkness threatens hope and stability, only the glory of God can illuminate our path forward,” Akinola said, urging Christian leaders, believers, and seekers to attend. Free transportation will be provided across Ogun State to encourage broad participation.

Addressing National Issues: Rivers State, Sharia Panels, and Political Division

Beyond the spiritual, Archbishop Akinola used the occasion to offer a faith-based critique of Nigeria’s pressing national concerns.

On the State of Emergency in Rivers State, declared by President Bola Tinubu in March, Akinola described the decision as “a necessary evil,” citing the breakdown of governance and rising security threats. He emphasized the need for peace through “dialogue, negotiation, and genuine reconciliation.”

He also condemned the renewed calls for nationwide Sharia panels, warning that such efforts “violate the Constitution” and could ignite dangerous sectarian divides. “Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, not only to a sectarian group,” he said, categorically rejecting any attempt to Islamize the country.

Call for National Unity and Responsible Governance

Akinola decried the increasing trend of regional threats and ethnic profiling, referencing the aftermath of the Uromi killings. “Issuing ultimatums and threats against fellow Nigerians will serve no good,” he cautioned, calling on the government to act decisively against such provocations.

On the controversy surrounding Senators Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Godswill Akpabio, Akinola urged restraint and due process. He emphasized the danger of unverified sexual harassment allegations, cautioning against media trials and politically motivated narratives.

“We must protect victims, but we must also demand evidence before condemnation,” he stated. “True justice requires facts and fairness—not emotionalism or sensationalism.”

Warning Against Political Falsehoods and Divisive Propaganda

The cleric warned against emerging efforts to distort national narratives for political gain. “These propagandists aim to disrupt governance and plunge the country into confusion. Nigerians must be discerning and reject lies,” he said, affirming that CGN remains a non-partisan but deeply invested stakeholder in Nigeria’s future.

A Call to Speak Life Over the Nation

In his concluding remarks, Akinola urged Nigerians to “speak hope and righteousness over the nation,” reminding the press and the public of the power of words in shaping national destiny. “Righteousness exalts a nation,” he declared. “Let us pray for our leaders and live with integrity.”

He thanked the media for their role in nation-building and appealed for balanced, accurate coverage, especially in these trying times.

As Nigeria navigates complex political, social, and spiritual crossroads, the New Wine Fire Conference 2025 is positioned not just as a spiritual gathering, but also a rallying point for national healing and divine direction.

Oil prices slid more than 3% on Monday, deepening last week's losses, as escalating trade tensions between the United States and China stoked fears of a recession that would reduce demand for crude.

Brent futures declined $2.28, or 3.5%, to $63.30 a barrel at 0049 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost $2.20, or 3.6%, to $59.79. At the session low, both benchmarks hit their lowest since April 2021.

Oil plunged 7% on Friday as China ramped up tariffs on U.S. goods, escalating a trade war that has led investors to price in a higher probability of recession. Over the past week, Brent lost 10.9%, while WTI dropped 10.6%.

"The primary driver of the decline is concern that tariffs will weaken the global economy," said Satoru Yoshida, a commodity analyst with Rakuten Securities.

"Additionally, a planned production increase by OPEC+ is also contributing to the selling pressure," he said, adding that retaliatory tariffs from countries beyond China will be a key factor to watch.

Yoshida predicted that WTI could fall to $55 or even $50 if stock market declines persist.

Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, China on Friday said it would impose additional levies of 34% on American goods, confirming investor fears that a full-blown global trade war is under way and that the global economy may be at risk of a recession.

Imports of oil, gas and refined products were given exemptions from Trump's sweeping new tariffs, but the policies could stoke inflation, slow economic growth and intensify trade disputes, weighing on oil prices.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Friday that Trump's new tariffs are "larger than expected," and the economic fallout including higher inflation and slower growth likely will be as well.

Over the weekend, top OPEC+ ministers stressed the need for full compliance with oil output targets and called for overproducers to submit plans by April 15 to compensate for pumping too much.

Reuters

Trading on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) saw a dramatic 93% decline over a three-day period in early April, according to the latest market report.

Investors traded just 1.18 billion shares valued at N28.87 billion across 42,397 deals between April 2 and April 4. This represents a significant drop from the previous week's activity, which saw 7.5 billion shares worth N398.95 billion changing hands in 61,312 deals.

The sharp decline coincides with the shortened trading week following the federal government's declaration of March 31 and April 1 as public holidays for the 2025 Eid el Fitr celebration.

Financial Services Sector Dominates Trading

The financial services industry maintained its position as market leader, accounting for:

- 76.6% of total equity turnover volume

- 65.56% of total value

- 906.59 million shares traded worth N18.926 billion across 22,876 deals

The consumer goods industry ranked second with 71.059 million shares valued at N2.224 billion in 3,394 deals, while the services industry took third place with 47.305 million shares worth N396.897 million across 2,132 deals.

Three equities—Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Universal Insurance Plc—were the most actively traded stocks, contributing 22.36% of volume and 20.55% of value to total equity turnover.

Market Movers: Top Gainers and Decliners

Top Gainers

- VFD Group Plc: Gained N9.8 kobo to close at N57 per share

- Nigeria Exchange Group: Rose by N3.45 kobo to N32.45 kobo

- Africa Prudential Plc: Increased by N2.05 kobo to N15.1 kobo

- Union Dicon Salt Plc: Added N0.95 kobo to reach N5.8 kobo

- UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust: Appreciated by N0.6 kobo to N6.1 kobo

Top Decliners

- UACN Plc: Lost N6.5 kobo to settle at N29

- Oando Plc: Fell by N6.35 kobo to N42 per share

- Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc: Declined by N0.89 kobo to N5.76 kobo

- Consolidated Hallmark Holdings: Dropped 12.85% to N3.12 kobo

- Universal Insurance Plc: Decreased by 13.33% to N0.52 kobo

The trading slowdown highlights the impact of public holidays on market activity, with overall performance indicating cautious investor sentiment following the Eid celebration.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked Izge village, Gwoza local government area of Borno state, killing soldiers and losing many of their fighters.

Daily Trust gathered that the attack happened around 1am on Sunday when the Izge military formation was invaded by the terrorists.

“A Captain and a Corporal were among those that paid the supreme price, but many insurgents were killed during the encounter,” a security source revealed.

Chairman of Gwoza LGA, Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the incident, but said he was yet to get the casualties on both sides.

“But scores of the terrorists were killed during the clash,” he said.

Narrating the incident, local sources told our correspondent that a large number of attackers riding motorcycles invaded the military location, after shooting a Rocket Propelled Granite (RPG) on them.

“They overpowered the military but hunters and vigilantes in the town re-enforced the military and subdued the attackers.

“It was a fierce battle but the troops of Izge platoon formation ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ were very resilient, the terrorists were overpowered and many of them dropped dead and others abandoned their motorcycles,” he said.

He revealed that the troops, hunters and resilient residents of the town were on hot chase of the fleeing terrorists in the Sambisa forest.

Two weeks ago, the terrorists carried out similar attacks on two military formations at Wajirko and Wulgo in Damboa and Gamboru Ngala LGAs of Borno state.

Daily Trust