First Independent Mena Newspaper
After more than a century abroad, 119 Benin Bronzes have returned to Nigeria, marking the largest single repatriation of looted artifacts to date. Originally stolen during a brutal British raid on the Benin Kingdom in 1897, the sculptures — including royal regalia, plaques, and ceremonial figures — were officially handed over by the Netherlands in […]
The Trump administration is considering a dramatic expansion of its travel ban, potentially targeting 36 additional countries — 25 of them in Africa — with full or partial visa restrictions, according to a leaked State Department cable. Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo cites a 60-day deadline for affected nations to meet […]
A peaceful protest in Nigeria’s Benue State turned chaotic on Sunday (15 June) as police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the city of Makurdi who demanded justice after a massacre in Yelewata village left more than 100 people dead. Gunmen attacked the farming community late Friday (13 June), burning homes and killing civilians, […]
As the world marked the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO) renewed its call for urgent, collective action to eliminate child labour — particularly in sectors like agriculture and artisanal mining, where millions of African children continue to work under hazardous conditions. Despite a global drop from 160 million child […]
The United Kingdom is intensifying its defense partnerships with Kenya, Somalia, and Nigeria as part of a renewed strategic focus on African security outlined in its newly released Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The review, adopted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, identifies the three nations as critical allies in combating global threats and securing vital […]
Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, has proposed a bold and controversial solution to the country’s escalating insecurity: fencing the nation’s entire land borders with its four neighbors, namely Niger, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad. Speaking at a security conference in Abuja on Tuesday (3 June), Musa said the porous borders have allowed armed […]
Flash floods ravaged the town of Mokwa killing at least 115 people, as rescuers say the real toll is still hidden beneath the mud and debris. The River Niger, swollen by days of relentless rain, surged through the heart of Niger State on Wednesday night. It tore through Mokwa, leaving behind a trail of ruin […]
A new report from Amnesty International has revealed a grim death toll of at least 10,217 people killed in violent attacks across northern and central Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office two years ago, highlighting a deepening security and humanitarian crisis. The report, released on the second anniversary of Tinubu’s administration, accuses the Nigerian […]
Nigeria’s seaports have come under renewed international scrutiny as the European Union released a report identifying the country as a major gateway for counterfeit goods entering West Africa and beyond. In its 2025 Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries, the EU classified Nigeria among eight “Priority 3” countries […]
Boko Haram, a self-proclaimed jihadist militant group, has reportedly resurged in Cameroon’s Far North, escalating attacks and plunging the region into renewed insecurity. Despite earlier joint military successes by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, fractures within the Lake Chad Basin Commission and fragile civilian protection have allowed the Islamist group to regain strength. In recent […]