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Islamic State claims responsibility for devastating bomb attack in northern Nigeria, says 30 killed

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The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), affiliated to the Islamic State terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for a devastating bomb explosion that occured on Tuesday at a market in the north central Nigerian State of Taraba.

Though the Nigerian government and military authorities said seven people were killed in the blast, the terrorists say more than 30 people lost their lives while dozens of others were injured in the explosion.

The explosion took place at a local market in a rural community known as Iware, with local police initially saying only three people were killed and 19 injured, before the military said the death toll had risen to seven.

However, the extremist group said it killed 30 people at a drinking joint in the market where alcohol was sold, marking an expansion of its operation beyond the north east into the north central of Nigeria.

In a statement posted on Thursday on a Telegram channel used by Islamic State to distribute its propaganda, the insurgents said it was responsible for the attack and described those who detonated the bomb in the market as “soldiers of the caliphate in central Nigeria.”

“Soldiers of the caliphate struck a gathering of infidel Christians and sent them to hell,” part of the statement said.

Residents and eyewitnesses said a local drinking spot selling beer and local brew was targeted in the attack, with one resident saying he counted nine dead bodies, while another said he had seen several dead including two women.

The northeast of Nigeria, especially Borno and Yobe States, have been the epicenter of the Islamist insurgencies for over a decade, beginning first with Boko Haram, before the infiltration of the IS-affiliated ISWAP.

And with the attack in Taraba which is located in Nigeria’s middle belt central region, the Islamic State insurgents are gradually expanding into other territories.

Metro

President Tinubu congratulates Trump on US election victory

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has congratulated USA president-elect, Donald Trump, on his electoral victory after defeating vice president Kamala Harris to stage a return to the White House.

Tinubu, who conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he looked forward to working with him and further strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States.

The statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

“President Tinubu looks forward to strengthening the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

“President Tinubu says, ‘Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.’

“According to President Tinubu, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership. He congratulates them on their commitment to democracy.

“President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th president will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.

“Acknowledging the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, the Nigerian leader trusts that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.”

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Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

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Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his meekness should not be mistaken for weakness.

Secretary-General of the UPND, Batuke Imenda, who gave the warning in a statement in Lusaka on Monday, urged political opponents to always engage in mature and issue-based discourse.

Zambia Monitor reports that Imenda’s warning, was directed at the leader of Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) party, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, whose recent remarks Imenda described as “provocative” and a “feeble attempt to mislead citizens.”

“Provocative words uttered by Kelvin Bwalya against our party and President Hichilema are a clear demonstration of naivety,” Imenda said in the statement.

He further advised Bwalya to abandon personal attacks and focus on substantial political issues.

The UPND Secretary suggested that Bwalya’s attacks stemmed from a desire for relevance amid declining political fortunes, hinting at a possible alignment with former President Edgar Lungu.

“It appears KBF is hoping that Edgar Lungu might support his embattled political career by unjustly attacking President Hichilema,” he said.

Imenda defended the President’s record, highlighting that under Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia’s democratic space had expanded compared to the previous PF administration, which he accused of stifling freedoms.

He noted that while criticism was welcome, it should not devolve into baseless attacks, warning that opposition figures should not misinterpret Hichilema’s restraint as weakness.

Imenda also criticized Bwalya for overlooking the gains in transparency and justice since the change in government, claiming that past regimes were marked by resource mismanagement and corruption.

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