Gunmen believed to be bandits have abducted Major General Mahrazu Tsiga (retired), the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Tsiga was kidnapped along with several other residents of Tsiga village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A local resident confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Thursday, explaining that the abduction occurred on Wednesday when armed assailants with advanced weapons stormed Tsiga’s home.

As of now, neither the Katsina State Government nor the police have issued any statements regarding the kidnapping.

Eyewitnesses reported that Tsiga was among those taken by the attackers.

Sources revealed that during the brief attack, two residents were injured, and one of the bandits was accidentally shot and killed by his own colleagues.

Katsina State is one of several areas in the North-West and North-Central regions plagued by bandit groups that raid villages, kill and abduct residents, and destroy and loot homes.

These groups, which operate from large forests covering Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states, have gained infamy for their mass abductions of students in recent years.

In 2023, Katsina Governor Dikko Umar Radda established the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC), consisting of around 2,000 vigilantes, to support the military and police in combating the banditry.

When the United States, the World Health Organization’s largest donor, announced its decision to withdraw, one WHO employee started an online fundraiser to fill the financial gap—and she has already raised over $100,000.

Tania Cernuschi, 46, told AFP that the idea came to her right after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 to pull the US out of the WHO, one of his first actions upon returning to office.

The WHO’s funding shortfall is expected to increase further after Argentina also announced on Wednesday that it would leave the UN health agency.

Read Also: Why Trump’s HIV Funding Withdrawal May Raise Illness Risk – WHO

Cernuschi aims to raise $1 billion to replace US contributions, which amounted to $1.3 billion, or 16% of the WHO’s 2022-2023 budget.

“I was disturbed by the news,” said Cernuschi, an Italian development economist with 10 years at the WHO.

“I woke up one morning, thought about the campaign, and decided to move forward. No one stopped me.”

She launched the “One Dollar, One World” fundraising campaign on the WHO Foundation’s website—the part of the UN agency that links private funds to impactful health projects.

“I’m asking for one dollar from a billion people, for a total of $1 billion, but people can contribute more,” she explained, adding that all donations go directly to the foundation.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 3,000 donors from around the world had contributed, raising around $104,000. She noted that 20 donors had given more than $500 each, and a $20,000 donation was expected soon.

Launched in 2020, the WHO Foundation aims to raise private funds for the WHO, similar to other UN agencies.

“Individual donations are critical for many international organizations,” said WHO Foundation CEO Anil Soni. “For example, UNICEF raises over a billion dollars annually, and UNHCR raises $500 million per year.”

Since 2021, the WHO Foundation has raised $6 million from individuals and $26 million from companies, including a $5 million donation from Meta, the US social media company.

Cernuschi initially thought her initiative might only raise $200 and considered it more an act of solidarity than a formal fundraising effort.

“I’ve dedicated my life to working within the UN system and NGOs, and I believe in what I do,” said Cernuschi, who previously worked with UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance.

While she acknowledged that individuals and businesses shouldn’t bear the WHO’s funding burden, she stressed that the organization needs to better communicate its work, especially to people in developed countries.

“There’s a misconception that we only help poor nations—which we do—but our work also benefits citizens in wealthier countries,” she explained, highlighting that most vaccines and medicines are produced in richer states.

She also expressed frustration with UN bureaucracy.

“We all need to be more agile, flexible, impactful, and efficient,” Cernuschi said.

But she emphasized that the WHO saves thousands of lives every day in 194 countries, operating with a budget “smaller than that of a major city hospital.”

“I call that efficient,” she added.

The House of Representatives Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in order to foster lasting peace and development in the region.

At the inaugural meeting of the legislative committee in Abuja on Wednesday, the committee’s chairman, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, emphasized that addressing the security challenges in the South-East is crucial for any meaningful progress to occur.

“Given the security issues in the region, the Committee, along with other concerned Nigerians, appeals to the President to assist in the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a step toward achieving lasting peace and development in the South-East,” he said.

Read Also: Kalu Appointed Chairman Of Senate Committee On South-East Development Commission

Nkwonta further noted that while the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, 54 years after the civil war, is a significant achievement, true reconciliation goes beyond infrastructure development—it requires addressing historical injustices and ensuring justice for all.

Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, described the inauguration of the committee as a vital move to tackle the developmental challenges facing the South-East.

Abbas explained that the committee’s creation signifies a renewed commitment to ensuring the region receives the necessary investments and attention to foster its growth and prosperity.

“The formation of this committee is not just a formality,” Abbas remarked. “It marks the beginning of an effort to unlock the full potential of the South-East, a region known for its resilience, industriousness, and entrepreneurial spirit.”

He also clarified that the committee’s role includes providing legislative oversight, monitoring policy implementation, and ensuring that the commission fulfills its mandate with efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the widow of the late former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has shared that eliminating starchy foods from her diet played a significant role in her survival after being diagnosed with breast cancer 27 years ago.

Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu explained that her decision to cut out eba, amala, akpu, and pounded yam was motivated by her desire to stay alive and raise her young children.

In a social media post commemorating World Cancer Day, she described her cancer journey as a “mix of triumph and grief,” stressing how lifestyle changes, research, and medical treatment helped her survive.

She wrote, “If giving up Coke, soft drinks, and starchy foods like eba, pounded yam, amala, and akpu would extend my life—knowing that sugar and starch promote cancer growth—then that’s what I did.”

Since 2000, she has avoided sugary and starchy foods, instead choosing a diet rich in vegetables, smoothies, green tea, lemon and ginger tea, beans, moimoi, fish, chicken, snail, occasional rice, and zobo drink.

The former First Lady of Ondo State, whose husband passed away from prostate cancer on December 23, 2023, emphasized that her positive attitude was key to her survival.

She credited her decision to seek medical care at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, rather than relying on spiritual healers, as a critical step in her recovery.

She also noted that she was fortunate to have detected the cancer early, at stage 1.

As the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), she underscored the importance of Team Survivors Nigeria (TSN), a support group for breast cancer survivors.

The suspended Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rt. Hon. Samson Osagie, has denied any involvement in financial fraud or misconduct, expressing his intention to defend himself against the accusations.

In a statement he personally signed in response to his suspension, Osagie stated, “I was recently made aware of a Government announcement dated February 5, 2025, which alleged my involvement in financial infractions with the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, leading to my suspension.

Read Also: Why I Suspended Attorney-General, LG Commission Chairman – Okpebholo

“I want to make it clear that I have never been involved in any financial dealings with anyone, nor have I committed any financial misconduct. I was not made aware of these allegations by anyone before the announcement of my suspension.

“I am fully prepared and willing to defend myself, clear my name, and protect the hard-earned reputation I have worked tirelessly to build over the years.”

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has suspended the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Samson Osagie, and the chairman of the State’s Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Damian Lawani, due to alleged “serious official and financial misconduct.”

The suspension was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, and shared with the press late Wednesday evening.

Read Also: ‘You Have Serious Amnesia’ – El-Rufai Slams Ribadu For Denying Anti-Tinubu Remarks

The statement indicated that “the suspension is effective immediately.”

It further explained, “The suspension of Hon. Damian Lawani and the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is necessary to allow the Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial misconduct accusations against them.”

“They will remain suspended until the investigation is completed,” the statement noted.

The SSG also mentioned that Governor Okpebholo has instructed the formation of an Investigative Committee to look into the allegations against the two officials and provide appropriate recommendations.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticized the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accusing him of “serious amnesia” after Ribadu denied making past comments about President Bola Tinubu.

Ribadu, through his lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), demanded a public apology and retraction from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member Naja’atu Muhammad, who claimed in a viral TikTok video that Ribadu had once called Tinubu corrupt during his time as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a strong response, Ribadu denied the allegations, asserting that he never made such statements, whether publicly or privately, and described the damage caused by the video as “unquantifiable.”

Read Also: El-Rufai Accuses Kaduna Governor Of Backing Tinubu For Personal Gains

El-Rufai, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, supported Muhammad’s claims and accused Ribadu of having selective memory.

He referenced a 2006 Senate record, stating that Ribadu had made similar allegations at the time.

A Daily Trust article from February 2007 also reportedly confirms the substance of those statements.

He further pointed to conclusions from a 2006 Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, suggesting they contained evidence of Ribadu’s accusations against Tinubu and others.

El-Rufai stated that these FEC conclusions could be accessed from the Cabinet Secretariat of the SGF’s office to settle any doubts.

El-Rufai concluded by reminding those with “morally flexible” stances that, at times in the country’s history, silence is no longer acceptable.

Argentina will exit the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a statement from President Javier Milei’s office on Wednesday, following the United States’ withdrawal from the UN agency last month.

Milei’s decision stems from “significant disagreements over health management, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said spokesman Manuel Adorni.

He added that Argentina would not allow any international organization to interfere with its sovereignty.

Read Also: WHO Chief Counters Trump Criticisms Behind US Pullout

The move also allows Argentina “greater flexibility to implement locally tailored policies” while ensuring “better availability of resources,” he noted.

An outspoken “anarcho-capitalist,” Milei is a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order on his first day in office to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO, criticizing the organization’s handling of the pandemic.

The U.S. had been the largest contributor to the WHO, and its exit could leave global health initiatives underfunded.

Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has implemented severe austerity measures, aiming to achieve a zero budget deficit after years of overspending.

Although these measures have led to a rise in poverty, Argentina achieved its largest trade surplus in 2024, partly due to reduced imports and spending.

Milei was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate after Trump’s victory in the November 2020 U.S. election.