Pope Francis has died at the age of 88.

The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff passed away on Easter Monday at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta within Vatican City.

Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber,
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta on Monday morning.

Farrel said the Pope died at exactly 7.35am.

His death comes hours after he greeted Catholic faithful who were at the Vatican on Sunday for the Easter mass.

The announcement by Cardinal Farrel read, “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.

“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

It would be recalled that Pope has been undergoing recovery after he was discharged from the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

The Pope was admitted on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.
Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.

In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass, which has yet to be announced.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.

The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

Several governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are increasingly drifting from the party’s expected trajectory ahead of the 2027 presidential election, raising concerns of a repeat of the internal divisions that undermined the party’s chances in the 2023 polls.

While some governors are believed to be forging quiet alliances with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has openly declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.

Speaking during the flag-off of the Akwa Ibom–Cross River segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Governor Eno stated:

“Let me end by assuring our people-loving president, who will complete eight years because we are going to stand by him. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Somebody else may not finish it.”

Doubling down at a subsequent state function, Eno criticized those who, in his words, “speak from both sides of the mouth,” declaring:

“I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. When the time comes, I’ll tell you why… For now, no need to lie to ourselves.”

He added that while his position may be politically strategic, it does not negate his PDP membership.

“I’m entitled to my opinion,” he said, adding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured him of support for a second term in 2027.

Eno is not alone in his apparent political realignment. In Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—successor to Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa—has also shown signs of gravitating towards the APC.

At a recent event tagged the “Uzere Declaration for Tinubu and Oborevwori,” Oborevwori’s Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, called on the Isoko people to support both Tinubu and the governor, pledging 70,000 votes for them in 2027.

Oborevwori’s attendance at a separate event alongside First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, where traditional rulers in Delta pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election, has further fueled defection rumours.

Meanwhile, in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke has not openly declared support for Tinubu. However, campaign billboards featuring Tinubu and Adeleke in Iwo Local Government Area have stirred political tension.

The APC accused the PDP of leveraging Tinubu’s image to boost Adeleke’s appeal, an allegation Adeleke’s camp denied but did not refute entirely.

Adeleke had earlier praised President Tinubu for “upholding the rule of law” following the 2025 local government elections in Osun, describing him as a “true democrat.”

Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have also commended President Tinubu, particularly for his perceived non-interference in judicial proceedings.

Observers say the ongoing defiance within the PDP echoes the behavior of the G-5 governors in 2023, led by then-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

The group—which also included Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)—openly opposed Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy and none faced disciplinary consequences.

In fact, APC won three of the five G-5 states in the 2023 presidential election. Today, Wike remains a key political figure and is currently serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

He has repeatedly expressed support for Tinubu and praised fellow PDP governors who back the president.

Wike, like others, insists that support for Tinubu does not equate to APC membership, citing “national interest.”

Many political pundits have asserted that the decision and activities of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, in recent times are provocative and deviating from his primary duty of restoring peace in the oil-rich state.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly for a period of six months.

Tinubu claimed that the decision was made to bring peace back to the state, which has been experiencing political unrest due to a dispute between the governor and the legislature.

However, Tinubu was being economical with the truth, as he failed to point out Fubara’s issue with his predecessor cum Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Despite the outrage over the declaration of a state of emergency, Tinubu swore in Ibas as the Rivers State Sole Administrator on Wednesday, March 19, at Aso Rock, alongside his Attorney General and Minister of Justice,  Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other aides.

Dismantling Fubara’s Structure

Since Ibas’ appointment, he has been systematically and diligently dismantling all the institutions of governance Fubara created in the state.

To consolidate power, the sole administrator appointed a serving Naval Officer, Commodore Aminu Shehu, as his Chief of Staff.

Ibas sacked all political appointees, suspended the heads of all MDAs in the state and approved the reconstitution of boards for various agencies, commissions, and parastatals.

Rather than allow the most senior officials to administer the councils in the interim, Iba also appointed sole administrators to take charge of the 23 local government areas and reconstituted the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) with Michael Odey as Chairman, which violates a Federal High Court order, which restrained him from appointing administrators for the LGAs.

Recall that in July 2024, when the Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, suspended all the elected LG chairmen, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, declared it illegal and unconstitutional.

It is thought-provoking and needless for Ibas to sack democratic institutions in the state and create a parallel political structure.

Govt At A Standstill

It is absurd that Ibas asserted that the Supreme Court’s ruling and the lack of an appropriation law necessitated the cancellation of all pending procurements, directing that all affected MDAs refund the tender fees paid by contractors during the period in question.

Having been given all the money accruing to the state government, which was hitherto seized, Ibas is proposing a new budget, a proposition that has alarmed the House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, had last week reminded Ibas that, by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he must report to the National Assembly in running the affairs of the oil-rich state.

The Sole Administrator may be acting at the behest of President Tinubu, but at the expense of the citizens, who yearn for the dividends of democracy.

Amidst the current happenings, 11 governors elected under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have gone to court to challenge Ibas’ appointment.

Does Ibas Have An Agenda In Rivers?

Although Ibas’ responsibility was the restoration of peace, there has not been a serious breach of the peace as such since his appointment.

Niger Delta human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, in an interview with Channels Television, accused Ibas of pouring petrol to the fire President Tinubu sent him to quench in the state.

She said Ibas’s actions in the state were contrary to what the president sent him to do.

Similarly, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asked Tinubu to remove Ibas for breaching the presidential order.

The senior advocate argued that the retired naval chief contravened the orders contained in the Official Gazette dated March 18, 2025, and titled, ‘State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025.

Sustainable Way Forward

In an interview with Naija News, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, stated that political elites should pursue peace between Fubara and Wike, rather than mere talks.

He said, “All that was needed to solve the contrived political crisis would have been for Tinubu to tell his minister to steer clear of Rivers State and allow Fubara to exercise the mandate given to him by the electorate since he has a full-time job in Abuja.

“Nevertheless, I believe Tinubu, who appointed Ibas is watching to see how he is carrying out his responsibilities. What is happening in Rivers state is a case of a fight between two brothers, Nyesom Wike and Sim Fubara. My counsel remains that all political stakeholders should work very hard to reconcile them. Political elites should be concerned about the reconciliation and not putting fire to already tense states by taking sides.

“There is nothing between Fubara and Wike that cannot be resolved. Those who are close to them should advise them to ignore the hurts and come together as brothers, they are both Rivers, and nobody should be more Rivers than the other man or loving of Rivers State than the other.

“I believe the solution to Rivers is embedding an accommodating brotherhood repair between both of them. Any other thing people are saying without gearing towards peace are mere talks. Tinubu has declared a state of emergency, and he is the only one who has the power to remove it.”

While Tinubu blamed Fubara for all the crisis, Wike, the real villain, is having a ball and boasting he wanted the Governor’s removal but the President saved him.

As the days pass, the responsibility lies with Tinubu to caution Ibas and provide him with a framework for exercising his powers and responsibilities in restoring peace in Rivers State.

A political clash between Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, intensified on Friday during Vice President Kashim Shettima’s visit to the state, resulting in a reported altercation between Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau and Tuggar.

The incident occurred inside a coaster bus transporting dignitaries, including the Vice President, from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to the Emir’s Palace for the turbaning ceremony of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as the Makama Babba I of the Bauchi Emirate.

According to reports, the confrontation began when Tuggar allegedly made disparaging remarks about Governor Bala’s administration. Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that Jatau, visibly angered by the remarks, confronted the minister, with some alleging that Jatau slapped Tuggar. While the deputy governor later denied these claims, the altercation highlights the intense political rivalry between the two men.

The tension between Jatau and Tuggar is seen as part of a larger power struggle, with both men positioning themselves as key contenders for the 2027 Bauchi governorship election. Jatau, often seen as a loyal ally of Governor Bala, reportedly took action to defend the governor’s administration. Tuggar, on the other hand, has consistently criticized the PDP-led government in Bauchi and is seen as positioning himself to secure the APC governorship ticket with President Tinubu’s support.

The exchange, which occurred in the presence of several high-profile dignitaries, has raised concerns about the impact of such behavior on Bauchi’s political landscape. Political analysts, such as Comrade Sabo Muhammad, have criticized the altercation, warning that it could inflame tensions among supporters and destabilize the political environment.

“This kind of behavior sends the wrong message,” Muhammad told the aforementioned platform. “If political leaders encourage their followers to resort to violence, it could have dangerous consequences.”

The feud between Governor Bala and Tuggar dates back to earlier this year, when the minister publicly criticized the governor’s use of President Tinubu’s tax reforms for his perceived 2027 presidential ambitions. Tuggar’s comments have fueled suspicions that his criticisms were politically motivated, aimed at undermining the governor ahead of the next election.

This ongoing political rivalry is not the first to erupt within Bauchi’s elite political circles. In recent years, the state has witnessed high-profile feuds, including one between former Governor Abubakar and ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara, as well as a protracted conflict between Governor Bala and Senator Shehu Buba Umar.

The latest clash between Jatau and Tuggar is seen as an extension of these deeper divisions, particularly as both men eye the governorship race in 2027. Both Jatau and Tuggar hail from Bauchi North Senatorial District, which has yet to produce a governor since the return to democracy in 1999. Their rivalry, intensified by their shared regional base and contrasting party affiliations, adds a layer of complexity to the state’s political future.

Efforts to reach the Director-General of the Tuggar Foundation, Alhaji Uba Nana, for comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the deputy governor’s spokesperson, Muslim Lawal, denied the reports of the altercation, calling the allegations “baseless” and asserting that the incident had been blown out of proportion.

“As far as my principal and the Bauchi State Government are concerned, nothing like that happened,” Lawal said. He emphasized that the incident could not be verified, as it allegedly occurred inside a bus with several senior government officials, including the Vice President. He also stated that Jatau is “a peace-loving and respectable politician” who would never engage in such behavior.

Hundreds of international students are being forced to leave the United States after the Trump administration began aggressively revoking student visas.

“Do not attempt to remain in the United States. The federal government will find you,” read an email reportedly from the Department of Homeland Security, shared by immigration lawyer Nicole Micheroni.

With some students reportedly arrested without prior notice, many students say they were not given clear reasons.

Some of the students targeted never were protesters and or charged with a crime, said lawyer Dustin Baxter, who’s suing the government on behalf of more than 100 affected students.

“Not only would they revoke the person’s student visa – even if there was no conviction, if there was just an arrest, and sometimes there wasn’t even an arrest, there was just an encounter and maybe a ticket – they would revoke the student visa,” Baxter said as quoted by CNN.

Some foreign students say the first notice they received about their visa revocation was not from ICE but their school.

Meanwhile, many universities got no formal notice of their students’ visa revocations and found out only by seeing a student’s name in government records, school officials say.

After four students and two recent graduates of Stanford University in California had their student visas rescinded, the “University learned of the revocations during a routine check of the SEVIS database,” it said in a statement on April 4.

That marks a major change from the way that system historically has been used, an immigration attorney told CNN.

“Up until Trump took office, it was really up to the designated school officers to initiate that revocation in SEVIS,” said Jeff Joseph, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “What we’re seeing now is that ICE is doing it themselves.”

In one widely circulated case, Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk was handcuffed by agents days after her visa was revoked without notice.

She “shrieked in fear and confusion,” according to surveillance footage cited in court.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed visa cancellations under a clause that targets individuals whose presence poses “serious foreign policy consequences.”

The State Department has stated it has “broad authority” to revoke visas at any time and warned that monitoring continues even after issuance.

“We continuously check visa holders… and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don’t [follow the rules].”

A Nigerian based in the United States of America, Princess Adenubi Olagbegi-Apampa, whose father has 39 wives and 147 children, has said she feels proud to have come from such a large family.

She said this while speaking with newsmen at the dedication and commissioning of multi-million naira Princess Nubi Plaza Seliat Hall, Lagelu Estate, Ibadan.

According to her, if she has any chance to come over again, she will be glad to belong to the same family.

Contrary to the popular notion that that type of family will be chaotic, she explained that all the children easily blend in and relate very well with one another.

She urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to capitalize on insecurity and to stay away from their country.

Noting that prevalent social vices like insecurity and corruption are not peculiar to Nigeria alone, she emphasized that many Nigerians don’t know that the US as a country is also grappling with all these problems.

“You know how important my father was. He had 39 wives and 147 children. We blend and eat together. We do everything together. Even, where I live in New Jersey, I did one drawing, it was one of my brothers who did it for me and another who is an engineer supervised the construction for me.”

“So, if they ask me is it good for a man to have two or more wives, I can’t say no. If I have the chance to come over again, I will to still come from where I come from. From my mother’s side who comes from the popular Adetula. He had 25 wives, 71 children. So, if you ask me is it good to come from a multi-family, I will say yes.”

She passionately asked Nigerians living in the diaspora to reconsider coming back home to help rebuild the country.

She said, “I’ve been appealing to all Nigerians abroad. Staying abroad is not the best. There is no place like home. Nigerians should come back home and do something tangible.

She stressed that insecurity in Nigeria shouldn’t be an excuse for Nigerians not to return home, adding that insecurity is not only limited to Nigeria alone but an issue that cuts across the world.

“We have triple what is happening in Nigeria in the US. Do you even know we have more beggars in the United States than here? Anytime I’m going to my offices, I’ll see 20 or 30 on the streets; they’re begging for money.”

“So it’s not only here, it’s everywhere. So we just have to learn. The only thing I can tell you, even when we talk of the most corrupted nations, it’s in the US, but they don’t do it openly the way we’re doing it openly here in Nigeria.”

“I think what we should do is to just encourage one another to come back home and do something. We need to know that fingers are not equal, because that’s one thing I’ve seen in Nigeria.”

“We should all wait for our time, and I’ve been telling everybody that when God gives you money if you cannot share it with your neighbor if you cannot share it for community work, then it’s of no use.

“And I tell people, if I have to give you my track record, you can Google it, in the state of New Jersey, I’ve trained thousands of people. You can imagine, if I’m here, in my own father’s land, how many would I be able to train. If I’m in a foreign country, and God granted me what I was able to do, and now I’m here, I believe I will do better. So, that’s one thing Nigerians need to encourage themselves,” she noted.

As part of her contribution to the country’s development, she said there’s a pharmacy at the back of the hall where drugs will be distributed free to people without particular attention to any ethnic group.

For travelers, especially Nigerians who want to travel to some countries, not having to deal with the hassle of a visa can be a huge relief.

For Nigerian passport holders, the Caribbean region—renowned for its magnificent beaches, lively culture, and kind people—offers a number of visa-free travel options.

These Caribbean nations welcome Nigerian visitors with open arms, requiring only a valid passport and a passion for adventure, whether you’re looking for a short-term getaway, a leisurely vacation, or cultural immersion. 

This article will discuss 5 stunning Caribbean countries that Nigerians can go to without a visa, emphasizing their attractions and things to consider before traveling:

1. Barbados

Barbados is a vibrant Caribbean island known for its beautiful beaches, British colonial history, and warm hospitality. It boasts a mix of Afro-Caribbean culture and modern tourism.

2. Dominica

Dominica, known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” is famous for its lush rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes. It’s a paradise for eco-tourists and adventurers.

3. Haiti

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and has a rich blend of French, African, and Caribbean influences. It’s known for its art, culture, and historical significance

4. Montserrat

Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory, known for its volcanic history and untouched natural beauty. It has a small population and is ideal for quiet, scenic getaways.

5. St. Kitts and Nevis

This twin-island nation offers scenic beaches, luxury resorts, and a quiet atmosphere. It’s also popular for its citizenship-by-investment program.

A man identified as Akinyele tragically slumped and died on Saturday during his wife’s 60th birthday celebration at an event centre in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.

A viral video seen by our correspondent on Sunday captured the heartbreaking moment.

In the footage, Akinyele was speaking on stage when he suddenly collapsed.

Moments before the incident, he called his wife over and whispered a request for water.

When she didn’t respond immediately, he gestured again, signalling his need for water. Seconds later, he slumped.

He was said to have been quickly rushed to a nearby hospital after attempts to revive him at the venue failed.

He was reportedly pronounced dead upon arrival.

There is tension in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State as four children were reportedly abducted on Sunday allegedly by child traffickers.

PUNCH Metro gathered that two of the children, identified as Ebube and Miracle, are of the same parents.

The incident, it was gathered, occurred at the Umuokwe quarters of the community, with residents pointing accusing fingers at three women who had secured an emergency accommodation in the neighborhood.

Community sources alleged that the women lured the children from their homes on the pretence of buying biscuits for them from a shop in the area.

“It was when the children could not be seen around the compound that neighbours expressed concern.

“By the time the neighbours visited the ladies’ apartment, the room was empty as neither the occupants nor the children could be found,” sources stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command, SP Bright Edafe on Sunday confirmed the incident, adding that landlady of the compound has been arrested and in detention.

He said, “The children were abducted three days after the women rented the apartment.

“It is true; the problem is that there is no link. They just came and said they wanted to rent an apartment and the landlady gave it to them with no details, no name, no phone number, no agreement and after three days they carried four children.

“The landlady has been arrested because her actions are suspicious.”

Seven passengers travelling in a Toyota Sienna bus were abducted by gunmen on Saturday evening along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi Road in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The victims were en route from Abuja to Offa when they were ambushed by the armed attackers between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Sources confirmed that the abductors, suspected to be kidnappers, spared three children who were travelling with their parents.

The eldest of the children later reported the incident to the management of Olumoh Express, the transport company the victims boarded in Offa.

The secretary of the company, Mr. Mukaila Ogunlade, confirmed the abduction, noting that the vehicle initially left the park with five passengers.

“The oldest of the children told us that two more people joined the bus along the way. Presently, we are looking for seven people,” he stated.

The Kwara State Police Command also confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.

“Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus with registration number FFA 50XD and forcefully abducted seven occupants, including the driver,” the statement read.

Police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly and recovered the vehicle at the nearest police post.

During a search of the surrounding bush area, three children aged between two and twelve years were found and safely rescued.

“One of the children was able to provide the police with detailed information about her guardian. The children have since been reunited with their relatives,” the statement added.

The command said it has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering, and continuous bush combing operations to locate the kidnappers and ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to public safety and urged anyone with useful information to contact the police through the established channels.