It’s a most unlikely crime scene. I travelled by road from the Benin airport to Uromi, Esanland's most significant town, for a wedding about three years ago.

The fear of kidnappers is a constant worry for road users. I was nervous for nearly four hours of the taxi ride, especially as we turned off the busy Agbor Road and veered onto narrow, lonely roads meandering through many forested small towns and villages.

I was nervous. When the driver ran into a pothole, and a loud noise suggested we might have lost a wheel or something, I insisted he should keep moving, as long as the car could still move, until we later discovered it was the wheel cover.

Entering Uromi

It was not until we passed Ubiaja, the hotspot between Biafran and Federal troops during Nigeria’s civil war and cultural capital of Esanland, and reached Igueben, the rusty town of one of Nigeria’s famous politicians, Tom Ikimi, about 20 minutes’ drive from Uromi, that I started breathing easy. It was my first visit to Uromi, a town I had known and heard about since my teenage years.

Memories from the past

My earliest memory of this town was when my mother worked as a cook at St. Theresa’s Hospital, Kirikiri Ajegunle, Lagos, owned at the time by Dr. Okoli, an Igbo man, and his wife, a nurse and an Esan from Uromi. Occasionally, when there was some social event in Uromi, the Okolis took my mum along to cook, and she returned with plenty of palm oil, large tubers of yam, and fresh fruits.

But there’s another memory of Uromi apart from my mother’s work and travels. It’s the historical significance of this town in the old Benin Empire. More contemporary references might be about the exploits of some of Uromi’s notable people, such as the three Anthonys – Enahoro, Olubunmi-Okogie and Anenih – whose footprints in politics and liberation theology cannot be easily forgotten.  

Innocence lost to rage

Yet, these notable persons were inspired by the town’s extraordinary heritage of struggle and resistance to oppression. Uromi resisted the expansionism of the Benin Empire during Oba Ozolua's reign and fought the British colonial invaders.

Though many of the town’s original settlers are believed to have come from central Nigeria, migrants from other places also settled there, highlighting its tolerance for visitors and diverse heritage as the town grew into one of Esanland's most important agricultural trading posts.

That diversity, enterprise and welcoming spirit now seem like a story from a bygone era. After the tragic killing of the 16 travellers reportedly going to Kano to observe the Eid on March 28, the town has lost its innocence. For a long time, it will be remembered not as that place my mother frequented as a cook or the homestead of Enahoro, one of Nigeria’s greatest patriots and nationalists, but as a crime scene.

Agony of bereavement

The heartbreaking story of Hauwa Bala (whose husband, Isah, was among the Uromi 16) who went into premature labour upon hearing of her husband’s tragic death or Sadiya Sa’adu, who lost a brother and a nephew will haunt the community, as will the stories of each of the dead, and indeed the unfolding horror in Uromi now under siege and a brutal crackdown. The security services are poised to forget their complicity and instead crush the town in a mocking search for justice.

Journey to anomie

How did we get here? Kidnapping and banditry have grown from a fringe business to a N2.23 trillion naira industry, and hardly any part of the country is spared this misery. In the last 10 years, clashes among rival cult gangs have been rife in Edo State, as have been reports of severe violence as a result of farmer-herder clashes. One report said in 2020, Edo was the third most affected by violence in the Niger Delta after Delta and Rivers States.

Violent clashes between farmers and herders have led to significant loss of lives. In February alone, 27 farmers in Edo were reportedly killed by herdsmen. This figure is only a tiny part of the bloody trail that often includes grotesque stories of rape, murder and wantonness wrecking many farming communities across the country as herders roam southwards for pasture.

Politicians’ fake outrage

While the affected communities writhe in anguish, official response, especially by politicians and the police, has ranged from chewing the microphone with empty promises of justice to sheer indifference and, in fact,alleged complicity in supplying weapons to the herders in some cases. We’ve seen this repeatedly across the country, from Uromi in Edo to towns in Benue and Plateau States.

When the state, expected to guarantee security and maintain law and order, abdicates its responsibility, turns a blind eye or becomes complicit, people take the law into their own hands. What happened in Uromi on March 28 is one of the tragic outcomes.

The appearance of shock and outrage amongst politicians and the security services is hypocrisy disguised as empathy. They can fool themselves all day long. Unless they begin to rebuild trust in communities and people – whether farmers or herders – can see that there are consequences for breaking the law, Uromi will not be the last tragic crime scene.

Citizens’ dilemma

Yet, while many communities are under attack, residents are on their own. The Supreme Court recently gave ajudgment upholding the death sentence on Citizen Sunday Jackson and criminalising self-defence even in the face of a clear threat to life. The judgment is an absurdity that compounds the dilemma of communities coping with security services often unwilling, unable or unavailable to protect citizens.

If unarmed Jackson had known that self-defence against herdsman Boua Bururo, who stabbed him seven times on his farm, would not avail him, that if he didn’t die by his attacker’s knife, he would have still been killed by the law, he might have surrendered to his attacker. What a fate!

What kind of society gives the victims the short end of the stick? If communities cannot trust that the police can defend them and courts will not provide justice, self-help prevails. As things stand, respect for life and private property rights is endangered, and to pretend otherwise is to enable jungle justice further.

No excuses

What happened to the Uromi 16 stands condemned, but sadly, the fake outrage by politicians obscures the history behind the tragedy. It neither guarantees that a proper investigation will be done and the perpetrators brought to justice, nor does it assuage current tensions and paranoia in many communities across the country.

Open, unrestrained must stop. The Federal Government must also fast-track community/state policing, which will hopefully use modern surveillance tools and techniques to prevent and fight crime. The current security system is unfit for purpose.

Burden of kindness

I’m sorry for the truck driver who, after driving past the stranded passengers early on, turned back nearly two kilometres to pick up the Uromi 16 and other stranded passengers from the roadside. Even though he escaped the mob attack in Uromi, he now lives with the guilt of a bloody reward for his act of kindness, the tragic consequence of a society where trust and compassion have declined.

Neither the Uromi I read about in history nor the one my mother visited is the same as the present crime scene. Something is broken, and false outrage won’t fix it.

** Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book Writing for Media and Monetising It.

As an entrepreneur juggling many different responsibilities, you'll likely find that any illness will seriously set you back temporarily while you recover. But there's one that may have powerful, lasting effects on your business -- and extend far beyond a simple day or two of absence.

It's called "shiny object syndrome," and if it's plaguing you, you'll need to take action if you want your business to thrive.

"Shiny object syndrome" in action

At its core, shiny object syndrome (SOS) is a disease of distraction, and it affects entrepreneurs specifically because of the qualities that make them unique. Entrepreneurs tend to be highly motivated. They crave new technology and new developments. And they aren't afraid to start new projects and create new things.

Ordinarily, these are great characteristics, but when SOS sets in, it forces you to chase project after project, and change after change, never settling with one option.

It's called shiny object syndrome because it's the entrepreneurial equivalent of a small child chasing after shiny objects. Once they get there and see what the object is, they immediately lose interest and start chasing the next thing. For entrepreneurs, rather than literal shiny objects, SBOs may be business objectives, marketing strategies, clients or even other business ventures.

When SOS gets bad

Wanting to keep your business updated, and staying abreast of new possibilities, aren't inherently bad goals. However, when SOS becomes rampant, entrepreneurs experience some or all of these serious drawbacks:

• Inability to finish projects. When you get excited about a new project before your first one is complete, you may jump ship before you can see any meaningful results. For example, if you invest in an SEO strategy for a month or two, then switch to a different strategy altogether, you'll never get to see the long-term benefits of maintaining an SEO strategy properly.
• Poorly planning your ideas and directives. People with SOS tend to focus on the novelty of pursuing a given strategy, or making a specific change, rather than the strategy or change itself. For example, they may love the idea of creating a new product and begin work on developing it, but with no long-term game plan on how to follow through on that idea. This leads to underdeveloped executions and unrealized potential.
• Burning through cash. There are hundreds of technological tools for businesses that are impressive, effective and downright fun to use. Unfortunately, if you subscribe to all those services, or you jump from platform to platform, you'll end up burning through so much cash that these tools become incredibly cost-inefficient.
• Confusing your staff. You aren't the only one affected by your decisions and constantly alternating momentum. If you change your business's direction too frequently, your staffers won't be able to keep up. They'll see projects they're working on suddenly become irrelevant when a new detail emerges, or see their goals shift almost unpredictably. Over time, this can cause serious disruptions in employee loyalty and productivity.

How to overcome it

So, what can you do to beat SOS?

• Sit on ideas before launching them. Before you have your team begin work on that new project that's going to "change everything," take a moment. Do some more research on the idea and think about whether this is the best use of your company's resources. Not every idea should be acted upon, and giving yourself this "buffer time" can spare you from an overly hasty decision.
• Communicate with your team. When you have a new idea, talk to your team members about it. Ask them what they think, and listen to their perspectives, concerns and needs. They'll be able to help you realize when you're moving too fast, and if you do decide to go through with your decision, they'll be happier that you came to them first.
• Set both long- and short-term goals with each new project. Slow down when you start to shift gears. Set long-term goals for every project, including how long you anticipate the project will last. Set short-term goals to help you close that gap and keep the team focused.
• Abandon projects only when necessary. Once your long-term goals are in place, don't abandon the project until you get there. The only exceptions would be if your project starts costing you far more money than anticipated, or the landscape has changed significantly enough to undermine the project's effectiveness entirely.

Fortunately, SOS isn't a diagnosable affliction. It's a problem with how you think about your business, and how you choose to develop it. Accordingly, once you realize you have these tendencies, you can start to correct them and compensate for them, ultimately forging a more consistent, reliable path forward for your business.

Entrepreneur

In yet another move critics see as part of a broader campaign against dissent, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned the protest song “Tell Your Papa” by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem from being aired on radio and television.

The directive, contained in an April 9, 2025 memo signed by Susan Obi, the NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, cites Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits content considered “inappropriate, offensive, or in breach of public decency.” The Commission labeled the song “objectionable” and declared it “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB), urging stations nationwide to refrain from airing it “to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”

The track, which has gone viral on social media, directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, criticizing the worsening economic and security situation in the country. Abdulkareem urges Seyi to confront his father about the country’s hardships, rapping lines like: “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die… this one don pass jagajaga.”

The censorship of Abdulkareem’s song marks another flashpoint in what many observers describe as a growing pattern of authoritarianism under Tinubu’s administration. Last August, nationwide protests over fuel subsidy removal and rising inflation were met with mass arrests and heavy police presence. In a widely condemned move, minors were arraigned for treason in Abuja after participating in a peaceful demonstration.

Human rights activists have also increasingly found themselves targeted under the guise of the Cybercrime Act, with online critics and whistleblowers routinely harassed, detained, or dragged to court.

Analysts warn that the ban on “Tell Your Papa”—a protest anthem echoing the frustrations of millions—reflects a deepening intolerance for criticism in a country grappling with mounting insecurity, economic hardship, and shrinking civic space.

“This is not just about a song,” one media rights advocate noted. “It’s about a government that wants to silence every voice that dares to speak truth to power—whether it’s on the streets, in the courts, or on the airwaves.”

Watch the video below:

Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang has described the recent wave of violence across the state as a “sponsored genocide” aimed at wiping out entire communities, alleging that armed bandits have seized control of at least 64 villages.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Muftwang expressed deep concern over the sustained attacks that have claimed over 50 lives and displaced thousands in the Bokkos Local Government Area and beyond.

“I can tell you in all honesty that I cannot find any explanation other than genocide sponsored by terrorists,” the governor said. “The question is, who are the persons behind the organisers of this terrorism? This is what the security agencies must help us to unravel.”

He emphasized the need for cohesive action among security agencies to identify and dismantle the networks behind the violence. “This is being sponsored from somewhere, and I am sure that in the coming days, the security agencies will work together — not at cross purposes but in unison — to be able to bring out the requisite intelligence that will help us to put this matter behind us,” he added.

The Plateau governor’s remarks come amid a renewed surge of deadly attacks in Plateau State, particularly in Bokkos LGA, where several communities have been razed in what locals and authorities are calling targeted assaults.

Muftwang also disclosed that armed groups have forcibly taken over and renamed dozens of communities, with residents displaced and unable to return to their ancestral lands.

“As I am talking to you, there are not less than 64 communities that have been taken over by bandits on the Plateau between Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom local government areas,” he said. “They have been taken over, renamed, and people are living there conveniently on lands they pushed people away to occupy.”

Plateau State, in Nigeria’s North-Central region, has long suffered from ethno-religious and resource-based conflicts, often between farming communities and herders. However, Muftwang insisted that the scale and coordination of the recent attacks point to more sinister motives.

“These are not random acts. This is a pattern — systematic and organized,” he said.

The governor’s alarming revelations have intensified calls for urgent federal intervention, including a robust security response to reclaim the occupied territories and protect vulnerable communities.

While the Federal Government has yet to formally respond to the governor’s allegations, pressure is mounting on security agencies to not only stop the attacks but also identify and prosecute the masterminds behind them.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant balance of payments surplus of $6.83 billion for the 2024 financial year, marking a remarkable turnaround from deficits of $3.34 billion and $3.32 billion recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the CBN's Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, this improvement reflects the impact of wide-ranging macroeconomic reforms, stronger trade performance, and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria's economy.

The current and capital accounts recorded a surplus of $17.22 billion, underpinned by a goods trade surplus of $13.17 billion. On the export side, gas exports rose by 48.3% to $8.66 billion, while non-oil exports increased by 24.6% to $7.46 billion.

Import figures showed significant declines, with petroleum imports falling by 23.2% to $14.06 billion and non-oil imports decreasing by 12.6% to $25.74 billion. The decline in petroleum products imports coincided with the commencement of petrol production by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which began selling to the Nigerian market on September 20, providing oil marketers an alternative to importation.

Personal remittance inflows remained resilient, rising by 8.9% to $20.93 billion in 2024. International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) inflows surged by 43.5% to $4.73 billion, up from $3.30 billion in 2023, reflecting stronger engagement from the Nigerian diaspora. Official development assistance also increased by 6.2% to $3.37 billion.

On the financial account side, Nigeria posted a net acquisition of financial assets amounting to $12.12 billion. Portfolio investment inflows more than doubled, rising by 106.5% to $13.35 billion, while resident foreign currency holdings grew by $5.41 billion, indicating stronger confidence in domestic economic stability. However, foreign direct investment declined by 42.3% to $1.08 billion.

The country's external reserves grew by $6 billion to $40.19 billion by the end of 2024, strengthening Nigeria's foreign exchange buffer. Additionally, data quality showed marked improvement, with net errors and omissions declining by 79.5% to negative $5.10 billion in 2024, down from $24.90 billion in 2023, which the CBN attributed to improved data capture, transparency, and reporting integrity.

Commenting on the figures, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso stated, "The positive turnaround in our external finances is evidence of effective policy implementation and our unwavering commitment to macroeconomic stability. This surplus marks an important step forward for Nigeria's economy, benefiting investors, businesses, and everyday Nigerians alike."

The CBN further attributed the improved external position to policy reforms, including the liberalization and unification of the foreign exchange market, a disciplined monetary policy stance, and coordinated fiscal and monetary interventions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has discontinued manual luggage screening at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following the installation of cutting-edge Rapiscan security systems.

The newly deployed Orion 928DX scanners—among the most advanced in global aviation—now handle baggage checks, significantly reducing passenger processing times while enhancing detection capabilities. Four high-capacity machines have been installed at MMIA, capable of identifying narcotics, explosives, concealed currency, and other prohibited items with high accuracy.

Physical searches will now only occur when the scanners flag suspicious items. Additionally, surveillance monitors have been set up for border control agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Customs (NCS), NDLEA, and NAQS, all linked to a central control system for improved transparency.

Key Features of the New System

- AI-Powered Threat Detection: The Orion 928DX uses real-time scanning with dual-mode auto-set functions to detect explosives, drugs, organic materials, and undeclared cash simultaneously.

- Enhanced Imaging: Security personnel can isolate specific pixels to trace suspicious items within luggage.

- Reduced Manual Checks: A secondary search is only conducted when necessary, with a private screening cubicle available for discreet inspections.

Juliet Chima-Ogechukwu, FAAN’s ICT head at MMIA, confirmed that staff have been trained on the new systems. “The scanner highlights threats in real time, eliminating the need for random bag searches,” she said.

E-Gates and Inter-Agency Collaboration

Albert Afegbai, FAAN’s Director of Aviation Security, emphasized that the new e-gates—currently on a test run—will further streamline passenger movement by allowing boarding pass scans for access, reducing touting and unauthorized entry.

The manual search table at the terminal entrance will be removed this week to improve passenger flow. Similar upgrades are underway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and other major airports.

Hamas quietly cuts Gaza death count, reveals most killed were combat-age men

Hamas has revised its casualty figures from the Gaza war, removing hundreds of names from its official list of war fatalities, and revealing that 72% of those killed between ages 13 and 55 were males – a demographic largely composed of combatants. The updated figures contradict Hamas'earlier claims that most casualties were women and children.

Salo Aizenberg, from the U.S.-based nonprofit HonestReporting, uncovered the changes through a detailed analysis of Hamas’ casualty lists. The investigation revealed that 3,400 names, including over 1,080 children, were removed from the group’s March 2025 report after being listed in 2024.

Aizenberg pointed out that the original reports, published by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health, were widely cited by major international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC). "These ‘deaths’ never happened. The numbers were falsified – again," he wrote.

The United Nations did not respond to a Fox News Digital request asking if the world body regretted disseminating those numbers in light of the revised figures.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Israel for war crimes, told Fox News Digital, "We cannot provide comments on matters related to ongoing investigations. This approach is essential to protect the integrity of investigations, and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses, and all those with whom the Office interacts." 

"David Adesnik, vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who has also been tracking the figures, reached a similar conclusion. According to his analysis, "72% of the fatalities between the ages of 13 and 55 are male."

"Even at age 13, there's a major excess of male over female deaths, and the disparity grows with age," Adesnik told Fox News Digital. "If you calculate from age 13 to 59, there’s a little more than 15,000 excess men. That gives you an idea of how many are actually fighters."

His analysis showed a striking gender imbalance: at age 13, there are 588 male casualties compared to 385 females; by age 19, the gap widens to 800 males versus 285 females. This trend continues throughout the age spectrum, suggesting a disproportionately high number of male combatant deaths.

Adesnik also highlighted issues with how deaths were recorded. "Significant numbers of names disappear from the list over time. It’s like 2,000 names are removed and new ones added," he said.

"He explained that during the first months of the war, Hamas divided deaths into two basic categories: those confirmed by hospitals and those reported by so-called ‘reliable media sources.’ "The Hamas-controlled ministry never identified these sources, and now denies it ever relied on them," Adesnik said. Later, the Hamas-controlled began to replace the deaths reported by media sources with those reported by families, "replacing one set of data with another to cover up their original manipulation," he added."

The head of the statistics team at Gaza’s health ministry, Zaher Al Wahidi, told Sky News that names submitted via the form had been removed as a precautionary measure pending a judicial investigation into each one. "We realized that a lot of people [submitted via the form] died a natural death," Wahidi said. Some families submitting false claims, Wahidi said, may have been motivated by the promise of government financial assistance.

Adesnik referenced Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu’s previous comments about Gaza war casualties. "He said 30,000 dead – 14,000 fighters, 16,000 civilians – while Hamas claimed 70% were women and children. This data gives us a clearer picture of the demographic breakdown and supports the IDF's claim that it is targeting combatants," he said.

The broader debate over casualty accuracy intensified after an Israeli strike on March 23 killed 15 humanitarian workers, including a paramedic, according to the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The incident sparked outrage. However, the Israeli military stated that "the aid workers were mistakenly identified as terrorists".

According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred during a covert IDF operation. Roughly two hours earlier, Israeli forces had engaged in a firefight with terrorists in the same area. Later, feeling threatened, an IDF official told Fox News Digital, the troops opened fire on suspicious vehicles. The incident is still under investigation by the IDF.

In a related development, the IDF announced this week that Mohammed Saleh Mohammed Al-Bardawil, a senior Hamas terror leader, was killed in a targeted operation. Although referred to as a journalist in Gaza, the IDF said Bardawil was involved in producing propaganda videos, including footage of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

"The IDF and ISA will continue to target and dismantle Hamas' infrastructure to mitigate the threat it poses to Israeli civilians," the military said. In a separate statement, it emphasized: "The IDF makes great efforts to estimate and consider potential civilian collateral damage. The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target children."

Fox News

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine’s top general demands 30,000 conscripts a month

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, has said Kiev must mobilize 30,000 soldiers every month to sustain resistance against the Russian army. He also highlighted the growing disparity between the military capabilities of the two countries.

In an interview published on Wednesday by the Ukrainian outlet lb.ua, Syrsky claimed that Russia can mobilize up to 5 million trained and experienced troops, with a total potential force of 20 million. He emphasized this gap to underscore the urgency of continued mobilization by Ukraine amid the mounting battlefield pressure.

According to Syrsky, Russian forces have increased fivefold since the conflict escalated in 2022 and now number approximately 623,000. “Every month, they increase it by 8,000-9,000; in a year, it’s 120,000-130,000,” he said.

Russia has avoided a full nationwide draft. Following its partial mobilization in fall 2022, the Kremlin has largely relied on contract soldiers and financial incentives to recruit volunteers. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in December that in 2024 more that 1,000 volunteers were signing contracts each day to go to the front.

The Ukrainian general claimed that in some frontline areas Russian troops outnumber the Ukrainians by a ratio of ten to one, illustrating the growing strain on Ukraine’s manpower.

Following the escalation of the conflict, Ukraine declared a general mobilization, barring most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. However, the campaign has been marred by corruption and draft dodging. In response, Kiev lowered the conscription age to 25 and introduced stricter penalties for draft evasion and desertion last year.

In light of the severe troop shortages and mounting casualties, Ukraine also launched a new voluntary military contract program in February targeting men aged 18–24, aiming to boost recruitment while addressing Western pressure to lower the conscription age. The program offers one-year contracts with a 1 million hryvnia ($24,000) payout – four times the standard rate – plus monthly combat bonuses starting at 120,000 hryvnia ($2,880), along with other benefits.

To address the recruitment shortfalls, Ukrainian enlistment officers have adopted increasingly draconian methods to fill the ranks. In recent months, numerous videos circulating on social media have shown officers detaining men in public, often using physical force, and transporting them in minibuses to enlistment centers. There have also been reports of injuries and even deaths involving individuals who resisted mobilization efforts.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy says at least 155 Chinese nationals fighting on Russia's side

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Ukrainian intelligence had information about 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader was speaking to reporters after the capture of two Chinese nationals in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops have been advancing. He said he hoped the United States would speak to Moscow about the battlefield deployment of Chinese citizens.

Zelenskiy said Russia was recruiting Chinese citizens via social media, that Chinese officials were aware of it and that Ukraine's security service had compiled lists of names, birth dates and the Russian military units where they were assigned.

Ukraine was trying to assess whether the recruits were receiving instructions from Beijing, he said.

"The Chinese issue is serious," Zelenskiy said. "There are 155 people with names and passport details - 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine. We are collecting information and believe that there are more, many more."

Zelenskiy said Ukraine was prepared to exchange the captured Chinese nationals for Ukrainian servicemen now in detention.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

China, which has declared a "no-limits" partnership with Russia, has tried to position itself as an actor in attempts to negotiate an end to the war. It has refrained from criticising Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry dismissed as "groundless" Zelenskiy's remarks that more Chinese nationals were on the front line alongside Russians.

"Ukraine should correctly view China's efforts and constructive role in seeking a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference.

China was verifying the situation with Ukraine, he said, adding that its government had always required its citizens to avoid areas of armed conflict and "especially to avoid participating in the military operations of any party."

NORTH KOREANS, CHINESE

Zelenskiy decried the deployment of Chinese nationals as Russia's "second mistake" in the war, after what Ukraine and Western countries have described as the dispatch of more than 11,000 North Korean troops to Russia's Kursk region.

"America is clearly seeing today the actions undertaken by Russia," he said. "I do not understand why America is not reacting forcefully towards Russia. There is nothing in terms of diplomacy or statements."

Russia has made no public comment on Zelenskiy's statements about Chinese fighters and has never explicitly confirmed deploying North Korean troops in its Kursk region.

The head of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, Admiral Samuel Paparo, confirmed at a congressional hearing on Wednesday that Ukraine had captured two Chinese nationals and said any Russian success offensively in Europe would embolden China in its own offensive ambitions.

In other comments, Zelenskiy said he believed U.S. President Donald Trump was irritated by the Kremlin's failure to make good on pledges, referring to Russia's rejection of a U.S. proposal last month to declare a full-fledged ceasefire and continuing strikes on Ukrainian targets.

"I believe Trump is annoyed that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is not following through on what he promised," Zelenskiy said. "We don't know everything they talked about, but we know a lot. And we really expect there to be a reaction."

Zelenskiy also said a meeting scheduled for this week in the United States to discuss a deal on exploiting minerals and rare earths would focus on technical aspects and foundations of a future agreement.

Zelenskiy said the deal should be profitable for both sides and could be structured in a way to help modernize Ukraine.

RT/Reuters

The Lagos State Government has initiated a probe into the tragic maternal death of Mrs Kemi Folajimi, the pregnant woman who supposedly died because a private healthcare facility denied her crucial emergency care when her husband could not deposit N500,000 for her treatment. We have been Nigerians for long enough to know how the probe will go: embarrassed government officials will make the right noises, but very little structural change will be achieved by the end of the day. Mrs Folajimi did not die because of money; she died because Lagos is a disorganised city with a lack of infrastructure for emergency services.

Many commenters, including some respected television anchors, think the issue was solely about money. They unrealistically drew up how much money a man should have saved before having children. In a state where 93 per cent of workers reportedly earn less than N200,000, they think a man should have N500,000 tucked aside before he can be a father. Let me break this to you: in a chaotic society where facilities for primary healthcare and emergency services are absent, anyone can die like a dog even while their pockets bulge with money. People have so quickly forgotten that just weeks ago, a tech entrepreneur, Adetunji Opayele, also died in Lagos following a road accident where the bystanders were the ones transporting him from one hospital to the other in a public vehicle.

What killed Mrs Folajimi is a systemic issue that would not have been resolved by individual responsibility. Read the husband’s interview, and you will understand that the poverty that killed her was that of policy—a direct consequence of what is called “multi-dimensional” poverty. For their community to rely on midwives, it must mean that grassroots healthcare facilities are lacking. Now, before some clown pops out to remind us that even Western societies still use the services of midwives, please know they are not only highly regulated but also get to summon prompt emergency services when things go wrong. In Mrs Folajimi’s case, there was no such provision. From the private hospital in Lakowe that reportedly rejected her to the public hospital in Epe, where they referred her, was a journey of 40 minutes. That was a lot of time for a woman who needed emergency care.

According to Mr Folajimi, when they encountered a traffic jam on the way, he had to appeal to the traffic officers to negotiate a path for their vehicle, given the woman’s dire situation. Look at how much crucial time was lost doing all that! Money or no money, anyone could have died under such circumstances. In an organised society, she would have been transferred to another hospital in a siren-blowing ambulance while being attended to by medical professionals. Yet, Nigeria is a place where the only people who get to use sirens to shove us off the road are narcissistic public officials who serve no useful purpose to society. The major reason Oyinbo invented those devices has long been subverted by these highly placed miscreants running empty errands.

Yes, Lagos has initiated a probe, but you can bet the answer they will return would be some tame proclamations on what hospitals should do during emergencies. They are unlikely to indict their own failure to organise society to manage emergencies.

Beyond the shortcomings of Lagos on this matter is also the reality of multidimensional poverty. Over the weekend, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, got on television to downplay the reality of its impact. He said something to the effect that we (our society, I presume) do not know the meaning of the term, and it is one big jargon to bedazzle us and sensationalise poverty. He said, “They think multi-dimensional poverty is worse than food poverty. What multi-dimensional means is that maybe the school your children attend is too far from you or the hospital, and they categorise you as multi-dimensional.” But what exactly was his point? Is that multi-dimensional poverty’s denial of ready access to life-enhancing facilities any more or less desirable than food poverty? Either way, the point made no sense. Mrs Folajimi’s case is an illustrative instance of the distance (literal and otherwise) between death and life, and she is by no means unique. Life in Nigeria gets abridged daily due to multidimensional poverty.

Fasua made several points in that interview that confirm the fears that I have held about the moral vision of the Tinubu administration. These people have no agenda of prosperity and plenitude, and their deficiency is why they routinely valorise poverty. I used to think hyping poverty was the defining ethos of the Muhammadu Buhari administration given how the man not only likes to pretend that he is poor, but also treats poverty—in others, not for himself or immediate family—as some sort of virtue. However, between Tinubu, who narrated a story of how his “friend” became an ẹdun arinlẹ̀ and associates who think a Nigerian can survive on N1500 daily, the APC talakawa mentality is self-evident.

According to Fasua, while $10 won’t buy anyone lunch anywhere in the US, Nigerians can eat with as little as $1. First, he is wrong about the USA. In their poorer states, you can even have breakfast and lunch for $10. Here is the fun fact which one would not have expected an economist like Fasua to have missed: what it takes to earn lunch in the US vs. Nigeria. In the US, where the minimum wage per hour ranges from $7.50 to $15, it takes one hour (or less) of work to buy lunch. Whereas in Nigeria, where the daily minimum wage comes to N2560, you will need almost half a day of work, going by Fasua’s N1500. You dare not eat twice a day on a minimum wage.

At N1,500 per meal per day, you are also not supposed to afford any indulgence, no matter how small. Let us momentarily presume that this Nigerian, being asked to survive in this way, does not have any family, immediate or extended, who depend on them for money. There is no consideration for how our hypothetical Nigerian should be able to afford other necessities like shelter, clothing, hospital bills, and even have some savings! The present government’s idea of how a Nigerian should live is to work, eat basic meals, and die.

If they properly map the geography of poverty to understand its multi-dimensional impact, they would speak to the issues beyond food. Poverty is more than food; it cannot be solved if the average person on a minimum wage eats within their constricted means. Poverty is also about the social safety net and access to life-enhancing facilities. Rather than bending logic to mask the problem of “multi-dimensional” poverty, treating it as just a bunch of words strung together by economists who want to sensationalise administrative failings, they should open their eyes to its real-life impact. The poverty that killed Mrs. Folajimi is not all about money.

There is also a great deal of incoherence in this administration’s understanding of what constitutes poverty. For instance, when they inaugurated the student loan scheme for indigent Nigerians, they pegged the income level of an eligible family at N500,000 annually (or N42,000 monthly). Yet the same government’s idea of a poor individual is a person who can eat N1,500 (N45,000 monthly) worth of food daily. Meanwhile, at N1,500 per meal daily, should a family of four not be earning a minimum of N180,000 monthly?

Even worse, this same society where the people who have the ears of the government tell us that a mere N1,500 is enough for daily survival also expects a man to have saved N500,000 to deposit for his pregnant wife’s treatment in the hospital. How many Nigerians even earn that much in a year? How many of those who do have that much saved up? The reality is far more twisted, and it is almost callous how the people blaming the Folajimis too easily overlooked the structural issues that took her life.

Punch

Jamin Brahmbhatt

I’m writing this article at 2 a.m.

Not because I suffer from insomnia, but because I just woke up to pee. Now, like so many others, I can’t fall back asleep. Instead of scrolling aimlessly through social media, I figured — why not write about my experience?

I’m in my 40s and healthy, and I generally sleep well. But lately, I’ve found myself waking up once a night to urinate. Some nights, I roll over and drift right back to sleep. Other nights, like tonight, my brain kicks into overdrive, and I start thinking about work, family or the stock market (bad idea).

Since I’m a urologist, I have experience working through this symptom for my patients. For tonight’s case, I think I know what’s causing my problem.

Recently, I started drinking a “relaxing” nighttime tea to help me wind down and sleep better. But instead of helping me sleep through the night, I’ve noticed I’m waking up more frequently to urinate. As it turns out, the tea might be acting as a natural diuretic, pushing more fluid through my system and irritating my bladder.

Why you keep waking up to pee

Most of us assume waking up to urinate is purely a bladder issue, but that’s not always true. Frequent nighttime trips could be caused by hydration habits (as with my case), hormonal shifts, medications or even an undiagnosed sleep disorder.

Chances are you’ve experienced something similar. Maybe you wake up once, twice or even more during the night. Maybe it’s occasional, or maybe it’s every single night.
Either way, it’s not just happening to you. Frequent nighttime urination, known medically as nocturia, is one of the most common sleep disruptors, affecting many of my patients and many other people. While it may seem like just an annoying part of getting older, it can sometimes signal deeper health issues.

Let’s say you stop drinking that nighttime “relaxation” tea or other beverage and you’re still getting up. It could be an early warning sign of an underlying medical condition like high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes or sleep apnea.

So before you blame your bladder entirely, let’s sort through the most common reasons for nocturia.

Are you drinking or eating too much before bed?

This may seem obvious, but what you consume and when matters. You might assume your bladder is to blame, but your evening eating and drinking habits could be sabotaging your sleep.

Let’s start with what’s in your cup. Caffeinated drinks, alcohol and even certain herbal teas can act as diuretics, increasing urine production. That late-night glass of wine or after-dinner espresso could be the reason you’re up at 3 a.m. And while many reach for a “relaxing” nighttime tea, some herbal blends, such as chamomile or valerian root, have mild diuretic effects. Sure, you might fall asleep faster, but you could also be waking up to pee more often.

It’s not just about what you drink — it’s also what you eat. Foods with high water content can contribute significantly to nighttime urination. Fruits and veggies like watermelon, cucumbers, celery, oranges and grapes can increase your fluid intake. A bowl of fruit before bed may seem healthy, but it might also send you running to the bathroom multiple times. Soup and broth-based meals, especially when eaten late, can have a similar effect, overloading your bladder overnight.

What can you do? Try cutting off fluids two hours before bedtime and be mindful of water-heavy foods at night. If you suspect your nighttime tea is the culprit, try skipping it for a few nights to see if your sleep improves. Keeping a bladder diary that tracks evening foods and drinks can help pinpoint hidden triggers.

Your hormones are changing

As we age, our bodies naturally produce less antidiuretic hormone (ADH), the hormone that signals our kidneys to retain water overnight. With lower ADH levels, our kidneys produce more urine during sleep, leading to frequent awakenings.

For women, hormonal changes after menopause also contribute to nocturia. Lower estrogen levels can reduce bladder capacity and weaken pelvic floor muscles, increasing urgency and nighttime urination.

For men, hormones influence the prostate gland. Age-related changes in testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels stimulate prostate growth, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate compresses the bladder and urethra, causing incomplete emptying, urgency, and more frequent bathroom visits, particularly at night.

Could it be a sign of a bigger problem?

Frequent nighttime urination can sometimes signal underlying health issues beyond just the bladder. Fluctuating blood pressure overnight can increase urine production, disrupting your sleep. Diabetes can also be a factor, as elevated blood sugar levels cause the body to flush excess glucose through urine, increasing frequency.

Sleep apnea also can play a major role in nocturia. Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to frequent awakenings throughout the night. Many people mistakenly attribute these wakeups to bladder issues, but it’s actually disrupted breathing patterns causing increased urine production.

If nocturia persists despite lifestyle adjustments, especially if accompanied by high blood pressure, loud snoring or daytime fatigue, it’s worth discussing with your doctor. Identifying underlying conditions can greatly improve your sleep and overall health.

Your medications could be a factor

Certain medications, especially diuretics (water pills) prescribed for high blood pressure or heart conditions, can significantly increase nighttime urination by boosting urine output. While beneficial for managing blood pressure, these medications can disrupt sleep if taken later in the day.

Other medications — including antidepressants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, diabetes medications and calcium channel blockers — can also influence bladder function or fluid balance, inadvertently worsening nocturia.

If medications seem to be contributing, ask your doctor about adjusting dosages or timing. Simply taking diuretics earlier in the day can help reduce overnight bathroom trips without compromising treatment effectiveness.

Your sleep cycles change as you age

Sometimes, it’s not really your bladder waking you up — you’re waking up anyway. As we age, we spend less time in deep rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep, resulting in lighter sleep and easier awakening. Minor disturbances, such as noise, movement or a slightly full bladder, can now easily interrupt sleep.

When younger, your body could ignore minor bladder signals and remain asleep. With age, sleep becomes fragmented, making you more likely to wake up and then register the urge to urinate. This explains why nocturia often worsens even with a healthy bladder.

Improving overall sleep hygiene by maintaining a consistent bedtime, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and avoiding screens before bed can help you to sleep more deeply. If you wake briefly, try relaxing and returning to sleep before automatically heading to the bathroom.

Don’t ignore the wake-up calls

Frequent nighttime urination isn’t just inconvenient; it’s disrupting your sleep, your mood and potentially your overall health. Let’s face it: Waking up at 2 a.m. to pee isn’t how anyone wants to spend their night.

The good news is you’re not stuck with it. If small changes such as limiting fluids before bed or adjusting medications don’t help, it’s time to look deeper. The real issue might be your hormones, prostate, heart health or sleep quality itself.

So next time you shuffle to the bathroom at night, don’t accept it as normal.
Listen to your body. It might be sending you an important message. (And make sure to install some night-lights in the bathroom to spare your toes.)

CNN