UK Releases Thousands Of Prisoners To Relieve Congestion.

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

Thousands of prisoners in British jails were set to be released early on Tuesday as part of a government effort to alleviate overcrowding.

According to recently disclosed numbers, England and Wales’ prison population has reached its all-time high.

However, due to concerns about recidivism, the government stipulated that no violent felons or domestic abusers be eligible for early release.

Report says, it was “a difficult decision” to release the 1,700 detainees.

Downing Street stated that the approach was necessary to prevent “unchecked criminality,” in which newly convicted offenders were spared jail sentences because there were no spots available.

Reynolds blamed the previous Conservative government, which was defeated in July, saying the decision “should have been made prior to the election” but that it “had given up on governing”.

“Of all the scandals we inherited, I think the prison system, the justice system, is probably the worst of all,” he told reporters.

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, told BBC Radio that jails were under “extreme” pressure.

“It’s the highest population we’ve ever seen in this country. Prisons are absolutely close to 100 percent capacity.

“My understanding, as of yesterday there is a couple of 100 spaces remaining.”

Jones warned that it was a “certainty that some will reoffend”, highlighting that around a third of people released from prison each year go on to commit further offences within a year.

Reynolds insisted that “no violent offenders, no domestic abusers will be eligible” for early release, adding that “we’ve put those greater protections in place”.

The prison population has swollen in recent months by those convicted of taking part in anti-immigration riots across England.

The government has said those involved in the unrest would not be excluded from the early release plans.

Trump Threatens Military Action Over Alleged ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria

Published

6 days ago

November 2, 2025

Samson Adeyanju

By Huldah Shado

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened military action against Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to stop what he described as the persecution of Christians.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump said he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible intervention, warning that Washington would “immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria” if the alleged killings continued.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will stop all aid and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities,” Trump wrote.

His remarks came after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected Trump’s earlier designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” describing it as inaccurate and unfair.

“Religious freedom and tolerance remain core to our national identity,” Tinubu said in a statement on Saturday, stressing that Nigeria protects the rights of all faiths.

Trump, however, maintained that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria, blaming “radical Islamists” for the violence.

His comments followed U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s recent call for Congress to classify Nigeria as a violator of religious freedom.

As of Saturday, the U.S. Department of Defense had not issued any statement on Trump’s directive.

However, his warning marks one of the most aggressive statements yet by a former American president regarding Nigeria’s religious tensions.

World News

Osinbajo to Lead ECOWAS Election Mission to Côte d’Ivoire

Published

3 weeks ago

October 19, 2025

Admin

By Olokuta Rofiat

Former Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to head its election observation mission for Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025.

In a statement on Sunday, ECOWAS said the mission would be deployed from October 19 to 29, in accordance with its Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

As Head of Mission, Osinbajo will lead a team of senior West African officials to engage national stakeholders, coordinate with observer groups, and assess the entire electoral process, from pre-election activities to voting and results collation.

The regional bloc described the move as part of its “unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and credible elections” in West Africa, noting that the Ivorian election holds key implications for regional democracy and stability.

The ECOWAS delegation will meet electoral authorities, political parties, civil society, and the media, and will issue a preliminary report after the polls assessing the credibility of the election.

News

US Government Shutdown Sparks Visa Concerns for Nigerians

Published

1 month ago

October 1, 2025

By Adenike Lawal

Nigerians are expressing concern that the ongoing shutdown of the United States government could disrupt visa processing, student travel plans, and other consular services.

The shutdown followed a budget standoff in Washington after President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on spending.

At the centre of the dispute is Democratic pressure for increased healthcare funding, which Republicans strongly oppose.

Although essential services such as the military, postal service, and welfare programmes remain operational, the closure has forced several federal agencies to suspend activities.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed without pay daily until a deal is struck.

This is the first government shutdown since the record-breaking 35-day closure nearly seven years ago during Trump’s first term.

Since the introduction of the modern budget system in 1976, the U.S. has witnessed 21 shutdowns, highlighting the recurring political battles over spending.

For Nigerians with upcoming travel plans, authorities have advised monitoring official updates via travel.state.gov to confirm the status of visa appointments, passport processing, and other consular services.