PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Foreign National Arrested at SACE Head Office for Submitting Fake Documentation A foreign applicant was apprehended at the South African Council for Educators (SACE) head office for submitting a fraudulent letter from the Department of Home Affairs. The individual attempted to use the bogus document to apply for SACE certification. Staff at the SACE office discovered the forgery and promptly notified the authorities. The woman was detained while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement. More photos below. 

Gruesome Incident in Abu Al-Joud Village, Luxor, Egypt A shocking and disturbing incident has occurred in Abu Al-Joud Village, Luxor, Egypt, where a man allegedly beheaded his neighbour, consumed the flesh, drank the blood, and wrote on the wall with the victim's blood.  The details of this horrific crime are still emerging, and an investigation is likely underway. Sorry I can't share the video. 

 Four Lesotho nationals, Mosweu Letsie (32), Tumisang Khoachone (21), Tshidiso Mohloboli (18), and Itumeleng Mosweunyane (24), have been arrested and charged with the triple murder of three men aged between 25 and 38 in Kanana. The incident occurred on Saturday, 18 January 2025, at a tavern in Extension 3, Kanana, where a fight broke out between two groups of Basotho nationals. One group overpowered the other, kidnapped five victims, and took them to the nearby Schoonspruit River, where they were assaulted. One victim escaped, four were thrown into the river, and three went missing. The four suspects appeared before the Orkney Magistrates' Court on Monday, 20 January 2025, and were remanded in custody until Monday, 27 January 2025, for a formal bail application.

 PRESIDENT TINUBU INAUGURATES NEW ARMY BARRACKS, COMMITS TO TROOPS' WELFARE President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commissioned the newly constructed Nigerian Army Barracks in Asokoro, Abuja. The state-of-the-art facility, named after the President, marks a significant milestone in efforts to improve the welfare and living conditions of Nigerian Army personnel as they fulfill their constitutional duty to defend the nation. During the commissioning ceremony, President Tinubu emphasized that the project underscores the Federal Government's dedication to prioritizing the welfare of troops. He highlighted the importance of providing modern office spaces and residential accommodations to create a conducive environment for the officers and soldiers. The President reaffirmed his administration's unwavering commitment to equipping the military with the resources needed to effectively carry out their responsi...

 PRESS RELEASE FCT POLICE COMMAND CONDUCTS RAID ON ILLEGAL DRUG SPOTS ACROSS THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY On 23rd January 2025, operatives of the FCT Police Command, under the Anti-Narcotics Unit, successfully executed a series of coordinated raids targeting identified hotspots across the FCT. These locations were known to be used by criminal elements for the sale and consumption of illicit drugs and substances. The areas covered during the raids include: 1. SDP Junction, Gwagwalada. 2. Lugbe Federal Housing, by Tipper Garage. 3. Wuse Zone 5, by Access Bank. 4. AYA Roundabout. During the operation, suspects at the respective locations attempted to flee on sighting the Police operatives but were swiftly pursued. This led to the arrest of eight (8) suspects and the recovery of the following exhibits: • One hundred (100) rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition. • A large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis. • A substantial amount of encapsulated illicit drugs. These opera...

 Families of apartheid victims sue SA govt for damages Twenty-five victims' families and survivors of apartheid-era political crimes have sued South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government for what they say is its failure to properly investigate those offences and deliver justice, Reuters reported. The group is seeking about 167 million rand ($9 million) in damages, according to the case filed at the High Court in the capital Pretoria on Monday, and shared by the Foundation for Human Rights, an NGO supporting the families, on Thursday. They are also seeking an order compelling Ramaphosa to create a commission of inquiry into the "political interference that resulted in the suppression of several hundred serious crimes arising from South Africa's past," according to a statement released by the applicants. A spokesperson for Ramaphosa said his legal team would respond to the court papers accordingly and that the president had never interfered with the work ...

 OAU student murder: Adedoyin to die by hanging, Appeal Court affirms The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has affirmed the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotels, who was convicted of murdering Timothy Adegoke, a former Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State. In its judgment delivered on Thursday, the appellate court upheld the ruling of the Osun State High Court, confirming that the original judgment still stands. The judgement reads in parts: “The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part. “The Court of Appeal held that Adedoyin was properly convicted and sentenced to death. “Order of forfeiture of Hilton Hotel quashed and set aside. “Order of education scholarship to children of Timothy Adegoke by Adedoyin and others quashed and set aside.” Persecondnews recalls that in a judgment delivered in May 2023, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, pronounced Adedoy...

 A Louisville, Kentucky Wendys was the scene of a wild west style shootout after a customer pulled a gun over....... cold fries. A Wendy's employee is in the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound and a suspect is behind bars after a dispute turned violent over cold fries. The incident took place at the Wendy's on Dixie Highway, January 6th. 25-year-old Monjah James-Wooten became upset at the drive though window after allegedly receiving cold french fries. An argument broke out at the window that led to James-Wooten entering the store and firing a shot at an employee. The Wendy's employee then began to return gunfire and a full scale shoutout ensued.  Unfortunately one of James-Wooten's rounds struck a female employee sending her to the hospital with non-life threatening wounds. A female who was with James-Wooten was also struck, however there is no report on the severity of her injuries. Monjah James-Wooten fled the scene at the time of the shooting but was identified...

 NSCDC cautions Nigerians against scooping petrol from overturned trucks By Juliana Nwachukwu  The State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, Mr. Olatunde Maku has cautioned members of the public to refrain from scooping Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly referred to as fuel from overturned petrol tanker trucks.  This was contained in a press release by the Head, Media and Tactical Ops NSCDC State Command, SC Okadigbo Edwin. According to him, Commandant Maku hinted on this on Sunday, January 19 during a tactical digest meeting with supervisory officers at the State Command Headquarters, Awka. ``This warning comes on the heels of a tragic tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State that claimed several lives and left many others injured. ``He described the incident as devastating, noting that most of the casualties recorded were individuals attempting to collect Premium Moto...

 Bill To Establish Anambra State Bursary And Scholarship Fund Management Agency Passes Second Reading By Chizoba Okeke  A bill seeking to establish the Anambra State Bursary and Scholarship Fund Management Agency has passed its second reading at Anambra State House of Assembly. The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Tony Muobike, who represents Aguata Constituency Two, explained that the proposed legislation aims to create a management framework for bursary and scholarship funds in the state.  According to him, the bill seeks to support educational development by assisting indigent students, rewarding academic excellence, leadership, and extracurricular achievements and encouraging research. Muobike noted that the bill would also motivate students to pursue disciplines critical to the state and nation's development, foster diversity in the education system, and promote research through funding. In their contributions, the Minority Leader, Hon. Johnbosco Akaegbobi, his Ihiala Const...

 Saudi Crown Prince Pledges $600 Billion in Trade, Investment to US Under Trump Administration Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged a $600 billion boost in trade and investments with the United States during a phone call with Donald Trump following his return to the White House, state media reported on Thursday. The crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, expressed the kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its economic partnership with the U.S. over the next four years. “The crown prince affirmed the kingdom’s intention to expand its investments and trade with the U.S., amounting to $600 billion or more,” according to the Saudi Press Agency. However, details on the source of the funds or their intended allocation were not disclosed. Prince Mohammed also conveyed congratulations from King Salman and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s readiness to deepen bilateral ties. Trump, who forged close relations with Riyadh during his first term, joked about a potential repeat of ...

 IDF eliminates gunmen behind deadly West Bank terror attack in major Jenin raid Israeli forces, on Wednesday near Jenin, night killed two Palestinian gunmen who were involved in a terror attack earlier this month that left three Israelis dead, the IDF and Shin Bet security service confirmed Thursday. The gunmen, identified as Qutaiba al-Shalabi and Mohammed Nazal, were killed during a counter terrorism operation in the Wadi Burqin area of Jenin. Hamas claimed responsibility for the January 6 shooting attack in the village of al-Funduq, which claimed the lives of off-duty police officer Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, 35, and civilians Rachel Cohen, 73, and Aliza Raiz, 70. The operation, part of a large-scale raid in the Jenin refugee camp, involved IDF Duvdevan commandos, Shin Bet agents, and other forces. Troops used a “pressure cooker” tactic, escalating fire on a building where the suspects were barricaded. After a four-hour gunfight, the two gunmen were killed. One IDF so...

 Trevor Noah to Host 2025 Grammy Awards for Fifth Straight Year Renowned South African comedian and producer Trevor Noah has been announced as the host of the 67th Grammy Awards, marking his fifth consecutive year in the role since 2021. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, with Nigerian Afrobeats stars making significant waves in the African Song Performance categories. Burna Boy secured a nomination for his hit single "Higher," while Asake earned a nod for his collaboration with Wizkid on "MMS." Tems stands out as the only African artist with three nominations across global music categories. Other notable Nigerian artists on the nominees' list include Davido, Yemi Alade, and Lojay.

  Judiciary Workers Threaten Strike Over Poor Working Conditions, NICN Severely Affected A crisis is brewing within the federal judiciary as workers, particularly those at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), threaten to go on strike due to poor working conditions and unfulfilled welfare promises. Workers have issued a warning to the federal government, citing several unresolved issues, including the non-implementation of salary increases and other welfare packages. Two letters, seen in Benin City, were addressed to the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) at the Customary Court of Appeal. These letters highlight the workers' grievances, including the non-payment of a 25-35% salary increase, a N35,000 wage award, and the N70,000 minimum wage at NICN. At the NICN in Benin City, the situation is particularly dire. Workers have not received the promised wage increases or the minimum wage, with many lamenting re...

 FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE 23rd January, 2025     Disclaimer                                                                                                  Federal Civil Service Commission Is Not Recruiting Right Now                                                                                                                          The attention of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has been ...

 Anambra State Women Protest Death Of  Woman Burnt To Death By Husband  Women from the 179 communities in Anambra State have embarked on a peaceful demonstration to mourn Late Mrs Blessing Nwaka, the woman who was burnt to death by her husband in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.  The women led their protest to the office of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Center Awka.  The protesters were made up of reputable women from different women associations including Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU led by the National President of ASATU Women Wing, Mrs Ify Okaro.  Mrs Okaro warned their male counterparts to handle their spouses with care and love and avoid situations that will lead to violence.  Also, the representative of the Women Leaders of communities, Mrs Josine Unachukwu, promised to raze down houses of anyone that will kill their spouses again in the state.  R...

 Court Jails Man for Land Racketeering, Arraigns another for Internet Fraud in Maiduguri Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Thursday, January 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Kolo Ngwari to one year imprisonment for cheating. Nwari was re-arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one count amended charge for the offence of cheating to the tune of N1,650,000.00 (One Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). The count reads: “That you Kolo Ngwari, sometime in August, 2018 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, at Pompomari bye pass layout, Maiduguri, Borno State dishonestly induced Alfred Buba Mbaya to deliver to you the sum of N1, 650,000.00 (One Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) under the guise that the said amount represents payment for a plot of land with grant No. BO/707, at Pompomari bye Pass, Maiduguri, Borno State and thereb...

 $6bn Mambilla Project Alleged Fraud: Court Grants EFCC`s Move to Amend Charges against Agunloye Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court,   FCT sitting in  Apo, Abuja on Thursday, January 23, 2025 granted the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to amend charges brought against  a former  Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye and make him take his plea.   Agunloye is standing trial by the  EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars).   Earlier on July 1 2024, Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, drew the attention of the court to the amended charge, urging the court to accept same and cause the defendant to take his plea, relying on the provision of Section 216 and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. However, defense counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN objected t...

 Gabon sets date for presidential election after coup Gabon's transitional government said Thursday that presidential elections would be held on April 12, a key step to re-establish civilian rule after a coup ended the Bongo dynasty's decades-long reign, AFP reported. "Voting will start at 7:00 am and end at 6:00 pm in line with current laws," government spokesman Seraphin Akure Davain announced after a cabinet meeting. The oil-rich central African country, which had been under the rule of the Bongo family for 55 years, adopted a new constitution in a November referendum. It provided for a maximum of two seven-year presidential terms, no prime minister and no dynastic transfer of power. On Monday, a new law allowed military officials to stand in elections, subject to certain conditions. Transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema, who swiftly took over as leader after an August 2023 coup, has made no secret of his ambitions to remain in power. Ali Bongo ruled f...

 Lagos Seals Construction for Blocking Drainage The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources sealed a building under construction at No. 109 Alakoro Street, Lagos Island, for stacking materials that obstructed drainage flow.  Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab emphasized the government's commitment to clearing encroachments, enforcing environmental laws, and regenerating Lagos Island’s infrastructure. Advocacy programs will also promote awareness of environmental conservation.

 Thailand Becomes Largest Asian Nation to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage as Hundreds Celebrate Thailand has officially legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the largest country in Asia to do so. On January 23, 2025, hundreds of same-sex and transgender couples, including notable gay actors, celebrated by registering their marriages in Bangkok. The law, which uses gender-neutral terms, grants equal rights for adoption and inheritance to all married couples. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra marked the occasion by highlighting the nation’s progress toward equality. Couples expressed overwhelming joy, describing the milestone as a victory for dignity and equal rights. While Thailand has long been known for its LGBTQ tolerance, activists continue to push for further gender identity recognition to achieve true equality. More photos below. 

 CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS WELFARE BOARD SET TO AIRLIFT SECOND BATCH OF 2024 INTENDING PILGRIMS The Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (CPWB) has announced that the second batch of the year 2024 intending pilgrims are set to be airlifted to the Holy Lands of Israel and Jordan on February 7, 2025. The announcement was made during the medical and administrative screening exercise for the 2nd batch of the 2024 intending pilgrims. According to the Board Secretary, Mrs. Florence Yetunde Gbafe, 150 intending pilgrims have been screened and are ready for the concluding part of the year 2024 pilgrimage exercise. Gbafe urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves as good ambassadors of Christ and the State, emphasising the importance of being physically and spiritually fit for the demanding journey. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Christian Religious Matters, Very Revd Bukola Adeleke, also stressed the importance of intending pilgrims being medically and physically fit and having nece...