The United Arab Emirates has intercepted a large-scale missile and drone attack launched from Iran, officials confirmed Tuesday. UAE air defence systems successfully destroyed 132 ballistic missiles and 195 drones targeting the country, marking one of the most significant escalations in regional tensions this year. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that out of 137 missiles detected, five fell into the sea, while the remaining 132 were neutralised mid-air. In the case of dron

A Nigerian national based in the United States has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar romance and business email fraud operation that targeted individuals and companies. The 40-year-old, Leslie Chinedu Mba, was handNigerian National Gets 19-Year Jail Term in US Over $4m Romance, Email Fraud Schemeed a 228-month sentence by a federal judge in Houston after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy related to fal

The United States has ordered the withdrawal of non-essential government personnel from Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq as tensions in the Middle East intensify following recent military confrontations involving Iran. In separate updates issued on Tuesday, the United States Department of State confirmed that travel advisories for Bahrain and Jordan had been revised to reflect the mandatory departure of non-emergency staff and eligible family members. The directive signals growing s

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has dismissed reports suggesting it claimed no distress calls were received from Nigerians caught up in the escalating Middle East crisis, clarifying that such statements were wrongly attributed to the Commission. In an official statement released on Tuesday, NiDCOM said it never declared that Nigerians stranded in the region had not reached out. The Commission described the circulating claim as inaccurate and misleading. Accordin

A diaspora-based support group aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda has launched an international operational structure aimed at strengthening collaboration between Nigerians abroad and the Federal Government. The group, known as Renewed Hope Ambassadors Diaspora, formally inaugurated its global activities during a meeting held in the United Kingdom. The gathering brought together coordinators and representatives from Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australi

Photo Credit: AFP Tensions in the Gulf deepened on Monday as smoke was seen rising near the United States diplomatic compound in Kuwait, while multiple explosions echoed across the country amid Iran’s continuing military retaliation against American interests in the region. Security warnings were issued by the US mission in Kuwait, advising citizens to stay clear of the embassy premises and confirming that personnel had taken shelter due to threats of missile and drone attack

The continental leadership of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Africa has commended the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal for its support during the recently concluded Nigerian Products Exhibition in Dakar. The event, held on February 27 in the Senegalese capital, brought together entrepreneurs and stakeholders to showcase locally manufactured goods to a broader African market. Organisers said the exhibition aimed to deepen trade links and expand the visibility of Nige

Foreign-based Nigerian boxers have begun arriving in Lagos for the inaugural National Boxing Week, marking a significant build-up to the country’s preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifiers. The week-long event, running from 1 to 6 March at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex inside the National Stadium, will host the National Open Trials aimed at selecting athletes to represent Nigeria at the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Officials say the initiative reflects

First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, becoming the first U.S. first lady to chair the powerful global body. The session coincides with the United States’ assumption of the Council’s rotating presidency for March and is expected to focus on education as a tool for fostering tolerance and global stability. According to officials, the initiative is designed to highlight the role of education in preventin

Photo Credit: AFP A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Japan’s remote Volcano Islands on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at approximately 12:55 p.m. local time (0355 GMT). Initial assessments indicated no immediate reports of casualties, structural damage or tsunami threats linked to the quake. The Volcano Islands are situated roughly 1,250 kilometres south of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean. The isolated island chain has no civilian

A diaspora-based civic organisation, Future Platform–Diaspora Group, has formally issued a legal notice to social media personality Martin Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, over comments it claims are defamatory toward Seyi Tinubu. In a statement released at the weekend, the group expressed concern about what it described as rising cases of online harassment and reputational attacks across Nigeria’s digital landscape. It warned that public figures who circulate unver

The Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait has called on citizens living in Kuwait and Bahrain to exercise caution following a sharp escalation of hostilities across the Middle East. In a public notice released on Sunday, the mission urged Nigerians to stay alert, comply with directives from authorities in their host countries, and avoid actions that could expose them to danger. The embassy appealed for calm, advising nationals to rely only on verified information from official governmen

A federal court in the United States has sentenced a 40-year-old Nigerian national, Leslie Mba, to 19 years in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving romance scams and business email compromise. Mba, a Houston resident, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to make false statements in immigration documents. Authorities said the scheme defrauded American victims of more than $4 million. Investigators re

The Diaspora chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has formally adopted its 2026 Constitution, marking a significant restructuring aimed at strengthening its global operations and representation of young Nigerians abroad. Diaspora President Collins Idahosa described the new constitutional framework as a defining step in repositioning the council as the recognised coordinating body for Nigerian youth organisations across different countries. He said the document rei

Several operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have urged the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to probe the circumstances surrounding the return of five Chinese nationals previously deported for working illegally in Nigeria. The workers were initially arrested at a ceramics factory in Ogun State for lacking valid work permits and visas. The five Chinese men, Zhang Damou, Qian Jin, Tang Pan, Lin Jianfeng, and Guo Zhengheng, were detained by NIS at its Abu

A Nigerian-American mathematician and educator, Akinyemi Agbede, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election in California, positioning himself as a candidate focused on data-driven leadership and measurable policy outcomes. Agbede, who holds a doctorate in Mathematical Analysis from the University of Cambridge, said his academic background has equipped him with the analytical tools required to confront complex governance challenges. He arg

A new bill seeking to impose capital punishment on individuals convicted of sexually abusing children under federal law has been introduced in the United States Congress. The proposed legislation, titled the Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act, was sponsored by Nancy Mace, a Republican lawmaker from South Carolina. The measure aims to expand federal statutes to allow the death penalty for specific child sexual abuse offences. If passed, the bill would amend Title 18 of the U.

The United States government has reportedly established a temporary processing facility at its embassy in Pretoria as part of an effort to accelerate refugee applications from white South Africans. According to internal planning documents cited in U.S. media, officials have been directed to process up to 4,500 applications per month from South Africa. The target has been described as a key presidential priority, raising questions about how it aligns with the administration’s

A Nigerian national, Leslie Chinedu Mba , has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison in the United States over his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud operation and immigration-related offences. The ruling was delivered by a judge of the U.S. District Court in Houston, who also ordered that Mba be deported after completing his sentence, as he is not an American citizen. According to prosecutors, the 40-year-old participated in a coordinated scheme that ran from 2

A former employee of the United States Embassy in Ouagadougou has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of sexually abusing two underage girls while stationed in West Africa. The conviction was secured in the U.S. District Court in Maryland following a two-week trial that concluded in October 2025. Federal prosecutors said the 41-year-old defendant, a U.S. citizen, committed the crimes between 2022 and 2023 while working overseas. According to the Unite