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UN warns famine is ‘imminent’ in northern Gaza as Israeli military operation continues

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Palestinians gather to receive bags of flour distributed by UNRWA in Deir al Balah, 2 November, 2024 Abdel Kareem Hana/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

International hunger experts have said there is “a strong likelihood” that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza where Israeli forces are conducting a major military offensive.

The Famine Review Committee called the situation in the north of the Strip “extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating” and said all actors in the war must take immediate action “within days not weeks” to avert a humanitarian disaster.

The statement stressed that this includes not only combatants but also those who have influence on them.

“The alert further underscores that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as we have just detailed, is extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating. They’re calling for immediate action…and this action is required from all who are directly taking part in the conflict or who have influence on its conduct, to avert and to alleviate this catastrophic situation,” said Stephanie Tremblay, an Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.

The Famine Review Committee is part of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which comprises 15 UN and other organisations that monitor global hunger and food security.

Friday’s alert follows a report publish in October from the committee that said Palestinians in the entire territory face acute food insecurity.

The alert blamed recent significant developments, including the impact of Israel’s designation of northern Gaza as a combat zone and orders for the entire population to evacuate.

The IDF launched a renewed offensive in northern Gaza, it says to prevent Hamas units from regrouping there. It issued evacuation orders for people living in the north, advising them to move south to the already overcrowded ‘humanitarian zone’ in al-Mawasi.

At the beginning of the month, the Biden administration ramped up criticism of Israel for not doing enough to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a 13 November deadline loomed for Israeli officials to meet certain requirements or risk potential restrictions on military assistance.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller gave Israel a ‘fail’ grade in terms of meeting the conditions for an improvement in aid deliveries.

On Friday, Israel informed the US that it plans to open a new aid crossing at Kissufim, to facilitate deliveries into southern Gaza.

But in October, the Knesset passed laws banning the UN’s main agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Israel has long accused UNRWA of turning a blind eye to Hamas militants among its staff and of allowing the group to use its facilities for military purposes.

UNRWA denies those claims.

That decision sparked wide condemnation from the international community, including from the European Union.

The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called the decision “disastrous”, saying UNRWA provided “life-saving services.”

“The Agency, with its network of warehouses and staff, is the backbone of aid distribution in Gaza. Without it, civilians will lose their last remaining access to food, water, and medicine,” he said.

The amount of aid entering Gaza dropped dramatically in October as Israel launched another offensive in the north.

By the end of October, an average of just 71 trucks a day were entering Gaza, according to the latest UN figures. The US said it wants to see 350 trucks per day enter the territory.

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Actress Doris Ogala reacts to Pastor Chris Okafor’s wedding, makes fresh explosive claims

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Actress Doris Ogala has reacted strongly to Pastor Chris Okafor’s wedding, insisting that the public does not know what is really going on behind the scenes.

In a new outburst following reports of the wedding, Doris alleged that the marriage was forced, claiming the bride was r*ped and got pregnant and that the situation was allegedly used to prevent public exposure. According to her, the bride’s mother is his church’s choir coordinator and allegedly insisted on marriage to avoid scandal.

Doris further claimed that Pastor Chris had another woman he was allegedly set to marry on the 24th, adding that she has chats and videos she says support her claims. She described the situation as darker than it appears and said her decision to speak out was deliberate, despite the personal cost.

She maintained that her earlier confessions and allegations were part of what she described as a spiritual and personal reckoning, stating that she felt compelled to expose what she believes has been hidden.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSXz6ZLDMRY/?igsh=YjJyaHJ4bWNxdHg1

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Kwara Govt Confirms Arrested Armed Men Are Miyetti Allah Members, Not Bandits

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The Kwara State Government has provided clarification on the viral video showing armed men, initially believed to be bandits, being interrogated by soldiers, a development that had sparked widespread public anger and calls for a state of emergency.

The state official confirmed that the men apprehended were part of a security operation coordinated by the Federal Government, raising fresh controversy over the use of armed non-state actors in counter-insurgency efforts.

Speaking on Informant247, Ibrahim Abdulateef, Senior Special Assistant on Communication to the Governor, confirmed the arrested individuals were members of Miyetti Allah who were incorporated into a Joint Task Force following the deadly September 29 attacks in Ifelodun LGA.

“Under their security setup, they use both recognized officers and a JTF which includes members of Miyetti Allah and local vigilante networks,” Abdulateef said.

The controversy deepened as the state confirmed that a patrol vehicle was provided through the local government chairman “in a bid to empower security forces.”

The government denied the men were arrested as bandits in Kwara. Instead, Abdulateef alleged that after the men completed their assignment, they “absconded with the patrol van” and were subsequently arrested by soldiers “in Auchi, Edo State, not anywhere in Kwara.”

According to Sahara Reporters, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, further clarified the identity of an official named in the suspects’ confession: “Victor is a police sergeant attached to the NSA Office,” and not a DSS or Air Force officer as speculated.

Ajakaye disclosed that Victor and the vigilante operatives had since left Kwara State in line with the position of affected local communities, a decision the government said it respected.

He cautioned against sensational reporting of sensitive security matters, describing the situation as a “secrecy dilemma” that requires balance to ensure accountability without undermining national security efforts.

“We are going through a difficult phase in national security emergency. The pain of losing our brothers and sisters and of losing our peace of mind cannot be quantified. Losing a soul is a tragedy — much less many souls,” he said in a WhatsApp post.

He called for calm, urging political elites and community leaders to act with tact and responsibility amid rising tensions.

“But statesmen and patriots aren’t known in time of peace and ease. The elite (who shoulder the burden of guiding the masses) need to handle these whole things with a lot of tact and patriotism,” he said.

“May God guide us, restore peace in our land, expose the evil doers and their collaborators, and make our country stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous,” the CPS added. “This is a time for careful leadership, not reckless accusations.”

The state’s confirmation of the use of Miyetti Allah members in armed operations comes after previous reports highlighted strong opposition from Kwara residents and local Fulani leaders to an alleged plan by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to deploy and arm Fulani herders (Bororos) with AK-47 rifles to fight banditry.

Local Fulani stakeholders had warned that arming non-state actors could worsen insecurity, citing the failure of similar previous attempts and the volatility of migrant herders.

Both the Kwara State Government and Miyetti Allah initially denied any arrangement involving the arming of herders or collaboration with bandits.

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4 Rushed To Hospital as Aircraft Crash-Lands at Imo Airport

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By Dan Opara

A light aircraft, Cessna 172, operated by Skypower Express, crash landed on Tuesday night, December 16, 2025, at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, resulting in the hospitalization of four persons.

Eyewitnesses said the aircraft encountered difficulties during landing, lost stability on the runway, and subsequently somersaulted before coming to a halt within the airport premises.

The incident triggered panic among airport personnel and onlookers, although no lives were lost.

Emergency response teams were swiftly deployed to the scene, where the injured occupants were rescued and immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.

Airport officials confirmed that the four victims are currently receiving medical care, and their condition was described as stable as of the time of filing this report.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has commenced a formal investigation into the incident to ascertain both the immediate and underlying causes of the crash landing.

The investigation is expected to focus on the aircraft’s technical condition, prevailing weather conditions, pilot actions, and other operational factors surrounding the occurrence.

Following the accident, airport operations were temporarily disrupted, but normal activities were later restored after safety officials secured the affected area.

Authorities at the airport assured the public that all necessary safety measures are being strengthened to prevent a recurrence.

Meanwhile, stakeholders within the aviation sector have expressed concern over the incident and called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to further enhance aviation safety standards in the country.

Ekwutosblog gathered the report through monitored information circulating on social media, as prayers and goodwill messages continue to pour in for the quick recovery of those hospitalized, while the public awaits the outcome of the NSIB investigation.

 

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