Plateau: Outrage grows over killings, Gov Mutfwang apologises (Vanguard)
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State yesterday apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties, as condemnations trailed the killings.
This is as a survivor of the attack lamented that his sister wouldn’t have died if she had not, out of fear, run out of her hiding.
The governor’s apology came on a day former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ex-governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and the northern chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, condemned the killings and tasked government to punish the perpetrators. Read more
Suspected herdsmen attack Benue community, kill 7 (Channels)
Suspected herdsmen on Tuesday evening attacked the Otobi community in the Akpa district of the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Seven persons were confirmed killed by the marauders while unspecified persons were wounded with many houses burnt.
An eyewitness, who joined a security response team to the community confirmed that the suspected herdsmen killed seven of the residents, adding that the response team continued to comb the community in search of those wounded. Read more
Nigeria’s inflation rises to 24.23% in March (Guardian)
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on Tuesday, said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23 percent in March.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report by the NBS said the figure was a 1.05 percent increase from the 23.18 percent recorded in February.
“Looking at the movement, the March 2025 Headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.05% compared to the February 2025 Headline inflation rate. Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in March 2025 was 3.90%, which was 1.85% higher than the rate recorded in February 2025 (2.04%),” the report said. Read more
Interpol joins EFCC in N1.3t CBEX probe (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched an investigation into the alleged N1.3tn frauds perpetrated through a digital investment platform, CryptoBank Exchange.
CBEX, operated by a group of foreign nationals in collaboration with their Nigerian partners, reportedly collapsed on Monday, leaving thousands of investors stranded and unable to access their funds.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed to The PUNCH on Tuesday that the commission would collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organisation to investigate the incident. Read more
Lions Club holds medical outreach (Nation)
Lagos Achievers Lions Club in Obalende area of Lagos State has held a medical outreach for members of the community and people living in the neighbourhood.
President of the club, Imeobong Oluyemi, said the programme was targeted at 1,000 beneficiaries, adding that it was inspired by the outcome of needs assessment exercise carried out in the community.
“A lot of them told us they had medical issues, but were not able to find time to see a doctor, or get medications; so we decided as a club to come over and give them free medical attention.” Read more
World Bank urges Nigeria to maintain momentum on economic reforms (ThisDay)
The World Bank has stressed the need for Nigeria to maintain the momentum on its economic reforms in order to achieve inclusive, job-creating growth.
World Bank highlighted the country’s position as its largest portfolio in Africa, with commitments totalling around $17 billion.
The bank’s advice came as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed a total sum of N1.578 trillion, as March 2025 Federation Account Revenue to the federal, state and local governments across the country. Read more
Nigeria’s digital future: Why investing in the digital economy is a must (Tribune)
Over the years, the facilitation of digital trade and the expansion of e-commerce have remained huge hurdles to the successful realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest trade agreement. As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has a unique opportunity to leverage the benefits of AfCFTA by investing in its digital economy and overcoming these challenges.
In its 2025 Economic Report on Africa (ERA), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) stressed that the successful implementation of the AfCFTA agreement requires comprehensive reforms at all levels. As part of these measures, the ECA urged governments to integrate digital technologies such as blockchain and electronic data processing to reduce trade costs and improve efficiency. Also, the commission underscored the necessity of substantial investment in digital infrastructure, including broadband networks, data centers, and internet exchange points. Read more
People filmed trans woman drowning in ravine and told others ‘don’t help her’ (Metro)
‘Sara Millerey González should still be alive.’
This is from Amnesty International on the murder of Sara, who was raped, had her arms and legs broken before being thrown into Colombian river.
On April 4, a trans woman was found in the La García ravine that winds through the Playa Rica neighbourhood of Bella.
Officials believe she was beaten by locals, possibly with ties to criminal gangs. Read more
Amanda Bynes joins OnlyFans — with one major caveat (PageSix)
Amanda Bynes is the latest Hollywood star to join OnlyFans — but she won’t be posting any “sleazy content.”
The “What I Like About You” alum announced she made an account on the subscription service platform via her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, telling her followers that she’s “excited” to be connect with her fans through the new business venture.
“I’m on OnlyFans now!” she said. Read more
Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood as ‘Day Drinker’ Starts Filming (Variety)
Lionsgate has started production on “Day Drinker,” sharing a first-look image at Johnny Depp as he makes his return to Hollywood following high-profile legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard.
The film from “500 Days of Summer” and “Snow White” director Marc Webb re-teams Depp and Penélope Cruz for a fourth time after previous collaborations on “Blow,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” Madelyn Cline also stars in the film. Manu Ríos, Arón Piper, Juan Diego Botto and Anika Boyle round out the cast.
“Day Drinker” tells the story of a private-yacht bartender (Cline) who encounters a mysterious, onboard guest (Depp). They soon find themselves entangled with a criminal figure (Cruz) and connected in ways no one saw coming. Read more
William Levy arrested in Florida for trespassing, disorderly intoxication (Hindustartimes)
Levy was arrested in Weston in the Miami metro area by the Broward Sheriff’s office. He was booked into Broward County Main Jail for causing a disturbance and disorderly intoxication in a public place. As of Tuesday, the Cuban-American actor remained behind bars. As Levy remains in prison, “no expected release date or projected sentence has been listed in the jail system as of Tuesday,” per CBS News.
Famous for his roles in numerous telenovelas, Levy notably appeared in Mila Jovovich-starrer Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017). His other film roles include Girls Trip (2017), Killing Sarai (2019), Addicted (2014), The Single Moms Club (2014), Resident Evil (2002), and Term Life (2016). Read more
Hamas says it has lost contact with militant group which holds 1 Israeli-American hostage (AsiaOne)
The armed wing of Hamas said on Tuesday (April 15) it had lost contact with a group of militants holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander in the Gaza Strip.
Abu Ubaida, the armed wing’s spokesperson, said on the Telegram that it lost contact after the Israeli army attacked the place where the militants were holding Alexander, who is a New Jersey native and a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.
Abu Ubaida did not say where in Gaza Alexander was purportedly held. The armed wing later released a video warning hostages families that their “children will return in black coffins with their bodies torn apart from shrapnel from your army”. Read more
50 Cent & Ja Rule trade blows over Irv Gotti disrespect & ‘nuclear’ threat (HipHopDx)
50 Cent and Ja Rule‘s long-running feud has reescalated after the latter said he was ready to “go nuclear” on his old enemy over his disrespectful comments about the late Irv Gotti.
Appearing on The Breakfast Club last week, Ja revealed that he was angry about 50 mocking the recent death of his close friend and former Murder Inc. label boss Gotti, but was talked out of responding to him by Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff.
50 fired back shortly after, posting a clip of Ja’s comments on Instagram and writing: “The Breakfast Club should be ashamed of themselves asking questions that perpetuate violence. This fool has been ready to go what he calls nuclear for 22 years. LOL.” Read more
Osimhen, Lookman top Juve summer wishlist (Punch)
Juventus are reportedly preparing a summer move for Nigerian duo Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, as the Turin club look to sharpen their attacking edge ahead of the 2025/26 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
According to Tuttosport, the Bianconeri have placed the two Super Eagles forwards high on their priority list as they consider reshaping their front line. With Dusan Vlahovic increasingly likely to exit and uncertainty surrounding Randal Kolo Muani, Juventus are targeting proven scorers capable of elevating their goal output in the final third.
Osimhen, currently at Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, is widely expected to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium at the end of the season having established himself as one of Europe’s most clinical finishers and has a €75m release clause for clubs outside Italy, which the thirty-six-time Serie A winners are monitoring closely. Triggering that clause, however, would require significant financial manoeuvring per the report. Read more
Super Eagles: Okocha warns on dangers of missing FIFA World Cup 26 (Nation)
Former Nigeria International, Austin Okocha, has implored the current senior men’s national team players to brace and do everything within their reach in the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, adding the country cannot yet miss another World Cup as it happened at Germany 2006 and as recent as Qatar 2022.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who led Nigeria during the qualifiers for the 2006 edition in Germany, said he still carries the pain of failing to qualify for the Mundial.
Despite boasting one of Africa’s strongest squads then, the Super Eagles lost their spot to Angola, falling short in a crucial qualifier in Kano which ended in a draw instead of the three points that would have been sufficient for the ticket. Read more
Anthony works his NBA magic as Orlando hammer Hawks (TheWest)
Australian superstars Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey are on the cusp of meeting in an NBA elimination clash after the Atlanta Hawks were outclassed 120-95 by Orlando Magic.
Daniels was solid for the Hawks with a team-high 12 rebounds, as well as seven assists and seven points, but he never quite reached his usual stellar heights as his side was well beaten by Orlando in the first game of the Play-In Tournament.
Cole Anthony came off the Magic bench to shine with 26 points and six assists to lead the Magic to a 25-point win in Orlando on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEST). Read more
Lewis Hamilton opens up on the biggest adjustment awaiting him at Ferrari (Kansas)
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he will have to make significant changes to his driving style to adapt to Ferrari’s SF-25 Formula One car. Having been used to Mercedes’ racecraft for 12 years, Hamilton admitted that he hadn’t used engine braking before, but his new Ferrari demands a different adaptation. Hamilton has been having a rocky start to his first season with the red team. Despite winning the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, his journey in the four races of the season so far has seen many ups and downs. Last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix saw him struggle on hard compound tires in the second half of the race, eventually leading him to finish fifth. While it is a good improvement, considering his P9 starting position, Hamilton admitted that he needs to change his driving style on his new car to churn out better performances. Speaking to the media after the race, he said: Read more
Howe will only return to Newcastle dugout when ‘100 percent’ ready (France24)
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe will only return to lead the club when he is “100 percent” ready following a diagnosis of pneumonia, his assistant Jason Tindall said on Tuesday.
The League Cup winners, who are chasing a Champions League spot, issued a statement on Monday saying the 47-year-old, who was admitted to hospital on Friday, was recovering and would miss Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
Howe, who sent his congratulations to the team after Sunday’s impressive 4-1 win over Manchester United moved them back into the top four, offered thanks for the messages of support he has received in the statement. Read more