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Residents Protest After Herdsmen Kill 3 in Yelwata Attack, Benue, Nigeria

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Residents Protest After Herdsmen Kill 3 in Yelwata Attack, Benue, Nigeria

YELWATA, Benue, Nigeria (BN24) — Residents of Yelwata, a rural community in Guma Local Government Area, Benue, north of Nigeria, protested Monday morning after suspected herdsmen killed three people on farmland in the latest in a series of violent attacks on the community. The assault occurred in the early hours of August 11, 2025, less than two months after a massacre in the same area left more than 100 dead.

Protesters block major highway, demand government action on escalating violence.

Local sources say that, in addition to the three fatalities, three other individuals were injured and are currently being treated at a local hospital. The victims were reportedly members of the same family that lost 19 relatives in a similar attack on June 13, 2025.

In response to the killings, protesters blocked the Makurdi-Lafia Highway, displaying the bodies of the victims as a form of protest. The blockade halted traffic for several hours, disrupting travel between the two cities. One of the protesters, Maria Ihom, said the military had failed to protect the community, prompting the residents to take action.

“Nothing has been done to secure us,” Ihom said. “We had no choice but to block the road and show the government how serious this issue is.”

Achii Mathias, the youth leader of Yelwata, confirmed that the attack took place between 7 and 7:30 a.m. He suggested the attackers may have infiltrated the community in advance, launching their assault at dawn. Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to end the violence in the region, Mathias said the community continues to face grave threats.

“The government has made promises, but nothing has changed,” Mathias said in a phone interview.

Edet, a security official in the area, said that security forces pursued the attackers into nearby forests. They discovered that several farmers had been ambushed, with three suffering serious injuries. These individuals were taken to Benue State University Teaching Hospital. Three additional people were confirmed dead.

Following the June massacre, President Tinubu ordered an increased security presence and efforts to arrest those responsible for the violence. However, despite these measures, the ongoing attacks in the area have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the government’s response to herdsmen violence.

As the protests continued, residents expressed growing frustration with both local and national authorities, demanding more decisive action to protect them from further harm.

Man Jailed for Keeping Ex-Girlfriend’s Corpse Hidden for Over Two Years in Torquay

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Man Jailed for Keeping Ex-Girlfriend’s Corpse Hidden for Over Two Years in Torquay

TORQUAY, England (BN24) — A man was sentenced to prison after concealing the body of his ex-girlfriend under a blanket in his home for more than two years. Jamie Stevens, 51, kept the remains of 36-year-old Anouska Sites hidden in his flat on Upton Road, Torquay, after she died in early 2022.

Police launched an investigation after Anouska was reported missing on April 10, 2025. Despite multiple visits, officers found no response at Stevens’ residence. The last confirmed sighting of Anouska was May 21, 2022. Stevens repeatedly lied to authorities, claiming he had not seen her for months and that she had disappeared earlier.

On May 27, 2025, police forced entry into Stevens’ flat and discovered Anouska’s body concealed under a blanket. Stevens admitted he found her dead in January 2023 following a night together but chose to hide her body instead of notifying emergency services.

During the investigation, Stevens acknowledged he knew he should have contacted authorities but could not explain why he failed to do so, admitting his explanation “didn’t sound right.”

Detective Inspector Jeanne Hellyer said, “Anouska was denied the dignity and right of a lawful burial on her death by Stevens. My thoughts remain with her family and friends, who can now lay her to rest.” Authorities confirmed Anouska’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

At Exeter Crown Court on August 11, Stevens received a 14-month prison sentence for preventing the lawful burial of a body and an eight-month concurrent sentence for perverting the course of justice.

Marine Police in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Arrest 2 Over Illegal Oil Bunkering

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Marine Police in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Arrest 2 Over Illegal Oil Bunkering

UYO, Nigeria (BN24)— The Akwa Ibom State Marine Police have arrested two men accused of illegal oil bunkering after intercepting a large wooden boat loaded with suspected stolen crude oil in Mbo Local Government Area of the riverine state in South Nigeria.

The arrests followed an August 2 operation on the Okposo waterway, launched after credible intelligence indicated petroleum was being moved toward the maritime border between Nigeria and Cameroon, police said Tuesday.

State police spokesperson DSP Timfon John reported that two gunboats were deployed to intercept the vessel, which was found carrying crude oil believed to have been siphoned from an oil pipeline’s weir head.

“The quick and effective response by the Marine Police led to the successful arrest of the two suspects and the recovery of the boat and its stolen contents,” John said, adding that investigations are underway to determine the source of the petroleum and the scale of the operation.

Authorities say the case underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat oil theft and the environmental damage caused by unauthorized bunkering in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.

Soccer Legend John Barnes Faces New Bankruptcy Threat After Accumulating £1.5 Million in Debts

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Soccer Legend John Barnes Faces New Bankruptcy Threat After Accumulating £1.5 Million in Debts

London, August 11 (BN24)— Former England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes is facing a fresh bankruptcy threat after accumulating debts exceeding £1.5 million. The 61-year-old football legend, who enjoyed a successful career with Liverpool and the national team, is under pressure from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which filed a petition for bankruptcy at the High Court following unpaid debts linked to his media company.

Barnes’s media firm, John Barnes Media Limited, was found to owe nearly £800,000 to HMRC, and investigations have uncovered a series of financial mismanagement issues. The company, which Barnes set up after retiring from professional football in 2012, reportedly failed to pay substantial tax obligations, leading to its cessation in January 2020.

As of now, Barnes’s media company owes HMRC a total of £776,878 in unpaid VAT, National Insurance, and PAYE, along with a further £461,849 owed to unsecured creditors. Additionally, the company has a £226,000 director’s loan and £56,535 in liquidator’s fees. According to reports, while there is a “small distribution” anticipated for HMRC, there will be “no funds” available for other creditors.

Mike Smith, the chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, emphasized the significance of unpaid taxes, stating, “Individuals and businesses not paying the tax they should deprives the Government of the funding it needs to provide vital public services and investment in areas such as schools, hospitals, and roads.” Smith continued, “John Barnes had a legal duty to ensure his company paid the correct amount of corporation tax and VAT. Instead, it paid no tax whatsoever between November 2018 and October 2020, despite receiving earnings of well over £400,000.”

Barnes’s financial troubles date back several years. The former winger, who earned 79 caps for England, was banned from serving as a company director for three and a half years in 2024, after the Insolvency Service found that his company had failed to pay £78,000 in corporation tax between August 2018 and January 2020. Further investigations revealed that Barnes’s company had also neglected to pay £115,272 in VAT between February 2019 and 2020.

The latest bankruptcy petition is part of a long history of financial struggles for Barnes. In 2023, he narrowly avoided bankruptcy after settling a personal tax bill of more than £200,000. That case, along with another bankruptcy petition filed later that year, was dismissed after the debts were repaid. However, with the latest debts mounting, Barnes’s financial situation remains precarious.

In a 2009 interview, Barnes candidly admitted his dislike for handling financial matters. “I don’t like dealing with taxes of course. I just hate not having enough money. Apart from that, I don’t like dealing with bills and never have done. I let my wife Andrea deal with them. I don’t even like opening them,” he confessed.

To date, Barnes has repaid £60,000 of the director’s loan and is paying the remainder in installments. Despite these efforts, the fresh bankruptcy petition represents another chapter in his ongoing financial difficulties.

Israeli Rabbi Warns Macron to ‘Prepare His Coffin’ Over Palestinian State Recognition

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Israeli Rabbi Warns Macron to ‘Prepare His Coffin’ Over Palestinian State Recognition

PARIS (BN24) — French prosecutors have opened an investigation after an Israeli rabbi told President Emmanuel Macron to “prepare his coffin” in response to France’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

In a July 24 YouTube sermon, Rabbi Daniel David Cohen described Macron’s decision as not only an attack on the Jewish people but a “declaration of war on God,” asserting divine ownership over the land of Israel.

“This French president, we must let him know, he has every interest in preparing his coffin,” Cohen said, comparing Macron to Roman Emperor Titus, who according to rabbinic tradition died from divine retribution. He also predicted France would collapse like Iran and urged Jews to flee before its downfall.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he referred Cohen’s comments to prosecutors and moved to block the video’s circulation. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it has launched an inquiry.

Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia called the remarks “intolerable,” stressing that Cohen has never held a rabbinical role in France and was neither trained nor certified by its rabbinical school. Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), also condemned the threats as “hateful and unacceptable,” adding they had “no connection” to official Jewish institutions in the country.

Jewish educational platform Torah-Box, which had previously featured Cohen’s teachings, said it had never published the video in question and removed him from its list of contributors over the weekend.

According to a 2023 profile on Rav Dori Connection, Cohen was born in Algeria, moved to France after the end of French colonial rule in North Africa, and emigrated to Israel in 1976.

Father Beats Son to Death for Failing Police Recruitment Test

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Father Beats Son to Death for Failing Police Recruitment Test

HARARE, Zimbabwe (BN24)— A 41-year-old man from Waterfalls has been arrested on suspicion of torturing and killing his teenage son after the boy failed to qualify for the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Police identified the suspect as Gibson Munyoro, a security officer, who allegedly assaulted his 19-year-old son, Ngonidzashe Munyoro, on Aug. 11, 2025. According to authorities, the father had placed high hopes on his son’s recruitment into the police force.

Ngonidzashe attended interviews at Mkushi Academy, formerly Morris Depot, on July 29 but was dismissed on Aug. 2 after being deemed unfit for service. Witnesses told H-Metro that Gibson reacted violently, tying his son’s hands and legs, placing an iron bar between them, suspending him between two tables, and beating him with a baton stick. Neighbours said the father warned them not to interfere.

The victim’s mother, Ruvimbo Masunga, rushed to the scene after being alerted and, with help from neighbours, managed to pull her son away. However, Ngonidzashe died at home before medical help could arrive.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the arrest, saying the case is being treated as murder and remains under investigation.

British Woman Who Stole £80,000 From NHS for Online Nigerian Boyfriend Spared Jail

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British Woman Who Stole £80,000 From NHS for Online Nigerian Boyfriend Spared Jail

LONDON(BN24) — A 63-year-old former NHS employee has avoided prison after stealing £80,000 from the health service and sending it to a man in Nigeria she claimed was her online boyfriend.

According to the Telegraph, the theft occurred between June 2021 and January 2023, when the woman, identified as Blair, withdrew the funds from the NHS trust’s accounts. Prosecutors said she sent the money to Michael Okafor, a man in Nigeria with whom she had developed an online relationship. Blair told the court she felt pressured to send the money and described herself as “helpless.”

At Reading Crown Court, Judge Lynn Tayton KC sentenced Blair to two years in prison, suspended for two years, after she admitted to fraud by abuse of position.

“The funds were intended for public services, and your theft caused distress among colleagues,” Tayton said. “Incidents like this undermine confidence in the council’s systems, and the consequences will be felt for a long time.”

Blair initially told probation officers she had “no idea” why she took the money but later said she believed she was in a relationship with Okafor, who demanded the funds. The judge found the dishonesty was sustained and not solely explained by pressure or mental health issues.

The court heard Blair suffers from depression, is unemployed, and currently receives universal credit. Tayton suspended the sentence due to Blair’s lack of previous convictions and positive character references.

Under the order, Blair must complete 250 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activities, and six months of mental health treatment.

“You are fortunate,” Tayton warned. “Be very clear — if you come back before this court, you will go to prison.”

Indonesia Court sentences two men to 80 lashes of Public flogging over gay acts

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Indonesia Court sentences two men to 80 lashes of Public flogging over gay acts

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (BN24)— An Islamic court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has sentenced two college students to 80 public lashes for engaging in same-sex acts, officials announced Monday.

Chief Judge Rokhmadi, center, reads his verdict during the sentencing hearing for two men accused of having gay sex, at the Sharia Court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Reza Saifullah)

The Banda Aceh Sharia Court found the men, aged 20 and 21, guilty of violating Islamic law after religious police detained them in April for kissing and hugging in a public park bathroom. The trial was held behind closed doors, with the verdict delivered publicly on Aug. 11.

Chief Judge Rokhmadi M. Hum said the defendants were “legally and convincingly” proven to have committed acts leading to homosexual relations. Their identities were not disclosed.

Prosecutors had sought 85 strokes, but the three-judge panel reduced the sentence, citing the men’s cooperation, good conduct during proceedings, lack of prior convictions, and status as “outstanding students.” Four lashes will be deducted from the total to account for four months they have spent in detention.

Chief Judge Rokhmadi, center, reads his verdict during the sentencing hearing for two men accused of having gay sex, at the Sharia Court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Reza Saifullah)

Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia permitted to enforce Sharia law under a 2006 peace agreement that ended a separatist insurgency. Its Islamic code allows up to 100 lashes for moral offenses such as same-sex relations, adultery, gambling, alcohol consumption, and certain dress code violations.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Aceh’s public caning punishments as violations of international human rights conventions ratified by Indonesia. The country’s national criminal code does not criminalize homosexuality.

Monday’s ruling marks the fifth public flogging for homosexuality in Aceh since the province’s Islamic law came into effect in 2015.

Russia to Ban Foreign-Made Military Uniforms Starting in 2026

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Russia to Ban Foreign-Made Military Uniforms Starting in 2026

MOSCOW(BN24) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning foreign-made military uniforms for the Russian Armed Forces beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and requiring all fabrics and materials to be produced domestically by 2027.

The order, dated Aug. 11, directs the government, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to ensure that Russian companies within the country manufacture all military clothing and equipment. By the following year, the materials used in production must also come from Russian sources.

The decree leaves unanswered whether the ban will apply to close allies such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, which share membership in a free trade bloc with Russia. Moscow has not disclosed the countries currently supplying its military uniforms.

In 2022, Radio Free Asia reported that North Korea had produced uniforms for Russia using materials supplied by Moscow, with manufacturing in Pyongyang and delivery by rail. The two nations signed a mutual defense treaty in 2024, strengthening military and trade cooperation. Under the pact, Pyongyang has provided troops, weapons and ammunition for Russia’s war in Ukraine in exchange for resources and technology.

It is unclear if North Korea has continued uniform shipments since 2022 or whether the new regulations will disrupt the trade.

3 Teenagers Arrested for Allegedly Beating Man to Death with Rocks in Kent

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3 Teenagers Arrested for Allegedly Beating Man to Death with Rocks in Kent

Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, Kent (BN24) — Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was reportedly beaten to death with rocks on a beach in Leysdown-on-Sea, a seaside resort on the Isle of Sheppey. The tragic incident took place on Sunday evening, and the victim, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of emergency responders.

Kent Police were alerted to the altercation around 7 p.m. on August 10, after reports of a disturbance involving a small group of individuals. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the victim suffering from severe injuries. Witnesses said that the man had been struck multiple times with stones and rocks. Paramedics were unable to revive him, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Shortly after the incident, police arrested a 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 14 and 15, on suspicion of murder. The teenagers were taken into custody as investigations into the brutal attack continue.

Anthony West, the site manager at Jimmy G’s Amusements, which is located near the beach, recalled seeing the teenagers being detained by police. He described the chaotic scene, saying, “I was working in the ice cream shop across the road when I heard a commotion and came outside to see what was happening. There were four police cars parked out front, and one of the boys was in handcuffs inside a car.” West noted that police called for backup, and up to 15 patrol cars were seen at the scene as the situation unfolded.

Local convenience store manager Anton Jasnu also witnessed the aftermath. He initially thought someone had suffered a heart attack. “People were trying to give him CPR, and he had tissue on the back of his head, possibly to stop the bleeding,” Jasnu said, describing the desperate attempts to save the victim’s life.

The attack occurred in a popular area of the beach, where families and holidaymakers were enjoying the Sunday evening sun. Law enforcement quickly established a large police cordon behind the beach, near a caravan park, and specialists used sniffer dogs to comb the area for evidence. Police also restricted access to parts of the scrubland behind Warden Bay Beach.

The presence of multiple ambulances, police vehicles, and an air ambulance at the scene led some witnesses to believe that the helicopter was part of a routine coastguard operation. However, it quickly became clear that the incident was far more serious.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged anyone with information or witnesses to come forward. All three suspects remain in police custody as the inquiry progresses.

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