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Africa is confronting unprecedented threats from violent conflicts and the continent needs conflict prevention to achieve peace and security, UN Special Representative to the African Union (AU), Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, has said.

Onanga-Anyanga was speaking at a Security Council meeting focused on the key issues faced by Africa and cooperation between the UN and the AU.

The UN envoy also said conflicts in Africa cannot be solved through military solutions.

According to him, peace and security on the continent ‘demands a proactive preventative’ approach.

He warned that ‘concerns remain in some parts of the continent about the number and complexity of conflicts.’

He said these conflicts were often worsened by ‘weak or ineffective state authority, violent extremism conducive to terrorist activities and the inequitable management of natural resources’.

The other reasons fuelling violent conflicts, he said, are ‘organised crime, the impact of climate change, acute food insecurity and, in some cases, denial of fundamental human rights’.

Conflicts in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan and the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have caused widespread displacement and multiple humanitarian emergencies.

‘No military solution whatsoever can resolve underlying causes of the conflict in the DRC or elsewhere in Africa,’ Onanga-Anyanga said.

‘I call upon this Council to continue to leverage its influence towards peaceful settlement of outstanding issues between the parties.’

The Special Representative highlighted two critical conflict-related issues to Council members: climate change as a conflict multiplier and the challenges faced by women and girls in battle-scarred regions.

He noted the consistent spillover effects of climate-induced insecurity across all these crises.

Speaking for the AU, Amb. Mohamed Edrees told the Council that ‘Africa is facing an unprecedented wave of threats to its security’.

The AU envoy added that ‘solutions are needed to achieve greater stability.’

The UN and the AU have long collaborated on issues affecting the continent.

According to the UN Special Representative, ‘significant progress has been made, particularly in supporting recent free, fair and credible elections across the continent.

Onanga-Anyanga said that fostering consensus was more important than ever.

‘The strong and enduring partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, as well as with other regional organisations, constitutes the foundation of effective and networked multilateralism.

He added that the partnership was ‘essential to address today’s complex, evolving and interconnected threats to peace, security, development and human rights, particularly in Africa’.

In December 2023, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution (2719) to enhance cooperation between the UN and AU.

Addressing the Council, Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, said that the resolution was conceived ‘as a means to address a longstanding gap in the African Union’s peace and security architecture’.

Pobee added that the resolution aimed ‘to better respond to armed conflicts on the African continent, with the support of the broader international community, and this Council in particular.’

The efforts ‘seek to ensure that our collaboration is grounded both in strategic vision and in operational practicality,’ Pobee said.

Earlier in the year, the UN outlined financial rules for AU-led missions, now under legislative review.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised serious concern over the growing number of HIV infections among young women worldwide, revealing that about 4,000 girls aged 15 to 24 contract HIV every week.

This was disclosed in a statement by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Steve Aborishade, on Wednesday in Lokoja, as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.

According to the statement, adolescent girls and young women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

‘Globally, adolescent girls and young women face a disproportionate HIV burden. In spite of progress, the numbers remain alarming,’ AHF said.

The foundation revealed that over 3,300 of the 4,000 weekly HIV infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, while 1.9 million adolescent girls and young women were living with HIV in 2023, compared to 1.2 million boys and young men in the same age range – exposing a troubling gender disparity.

AHF further highlighted education as a critical factor in the fight against HIV, noting that 133 million girls worldwide remain out of school, depriving them of vital knowledge and opportunities for health and self-reliance.

The organisation called for increased investment in HIV and STI prevention, testing, and treatment, and greater attention to the issues of period poverty, gender-based violence, child marriage, and lack of comprehensive sexuality education, which it identified as key drivers of health inequality.

AHF Nigeria announced plans to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl with an educational event on October 10 at the Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikot Oku, Ubo, Offort, and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.

The event will feature menstrual hygiene education, leadership sessions, and innovation presentations by young girls, alongside free sanitary pad distribution and mentorship opportunities.

AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie, expressed concern about persistent challenges such as limited access to reproductive healthcare, gender-based violence, and menstrual health neglect.

He said the foundation would continue to empower girls through education, leadership, and access to healthcare.

‘We must ensure that every girl has the opportunity to thrive, learn, and lead without fear or barriers,’ Ijezie stated.

AHF, the world’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, delivers medical care and advocacy to over 2.5 million people across 50 countries, including Nigeria.

Reality TV star Bella Okagbue has been thrown into mourning following the heartbreaking loss of her triplet nieces , Zion, Zoe, and Ziva, who passed away shortly after birth.

The Big Brother Naija star took to her Instagram page to share the devastating news, penning an emotional tribute to the infants who, according to her, brought immense love and joy within their brief time on earth.

In her post, Bella wrote:

‘Dear Zion, Zoe, and Ziva, you were here for such a brief moment, but the love you brought into our lives will last forever. Never have I prayed so passionately like I did for you three. Though our time was short, it was filled with love and hope. I love you more than words can say. Rest peacefully, little ones.’

The reality star also sent a touching message to her sister, commending her for showing extraordinary strength amid the tragic loss.

‘To my sister, your strength during this tough time is nothing short of inspiring. You have truly inspired me by your courage, and I love you more than words can say,’ she added.

The world football body, FIFA, has banned Heartland FC from signing new players because the club has not paid the full salaries and benefits owed to a former player, N’Goran Roland Adjourmani Koffi.

Heartland FC, who play in the Nigeria National League (NNL), will not be allowed to register new players for the next three transfer windows.

According to FIFA’s letter to the club, the ban will only be lifted after Koffi receives all the money he is owed.

Koffi played for Heartland during the 2023-24 Nigeria Premier Football League season.

Notably, the Nigeria Football Federation’s Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) had earlier instructed Heartland FC to pay long-overdue entitlements to a number of its former players, such as Umah Johnson, Esobe Chukwudi, Ezekiel Bassey, Ugochukwu Leonard, and others.

In a commanding display on Wednesday, Ghana delivered a brutal 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic (CAR) in their latest 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, taking a major step toward clinching the Group I top spot.

The match, held at the Stade d’Honneur in Morocco, saw the Black Stars dominate from the start, capsulizing their superiority in all phases of play.

They broke the deadlock in the 20th minute via Mohammed Salisu, who powered home a header off a Mohammed Kudus corner. From there, the floodgates opened.

Just after the break, Thomas Partey pushed the lead to 2-0 with a composed finish. Minutes later, Alexander Djiku headed in Ghana’s third. A clinical strike from Jordan Ayew followed, and Kamaldeen Sulemana sealed the emphatic victory with his first senior international goal in the 87th minute.

This emphatic result keeps Ghana firmly atop Group I, now three points clear of Madagascar, with a far superior goal difference and only one match remaining. A draw in their final fixture will suffice to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Coach Otto Addo’s side showed tactical discipline, fluid movement, and ruthless finishing. Meanwhile, CAR struggled to contain Ghana’s attacking waves and offered little in response.

Ghana will next return home to face Comoros in Accra to cap off their qualification campaign. If they maintain their form, the Black Stars are poised to return to football’s grandest stage.

About 20 operatives of the Amotekun Corps in Osun State have been arrested by a squad of the Nigeria Police Force in connection with the killings that occurred in Akinlalu, a community in Ife North Local Government Area, last week.

The operatives were reportedly picked up on Wednesday by a police team said to have been deployed from Abuja.

They were arrested at the Amotekun Operation Base in Oke Fia, Osogbo, and the Ife Central Division in Ile-Ife.

Sources said the police sealed off both locations after making the arrests. However, when journalists visited the Corps’ headquarters in the Powerline area of Osogbo around 7:40 p.m., the premises remained open.

Confirming the arrests, Osun Amotekun spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, said the police stormed two of their operational bases and took away several officers.

‘Some policemen came, but they didn’t seal our headquarters. They raided our Oke-Fia base and the Ife Central Command. They also arrested about 20 of our operatives. The policemen said it was in connection with the Akinlalu incident, but we don’t know where they took them,’ Idowu stated.

Efforts to reach Osun Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, for confirmation were unsuccessful as his phone lines were unreachable at press time.

The arrests come days after the alleged assassination attempt on the Osun State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Mr. Isaac Omoyele. According to Amotekun officials, Omoyele was attacked by gunmen along Ikirun Road in Osogbo on Monday night.

Omoyele said he narrowly escaped after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle around 10:05 p.m., riddling it with bullets. The attack was reported at the Ota-Efun Police Division.

Ojelabi, however, said the police had yet to begin an investigation, insisting that Omoyele must provide his bullet-riddled vehicle and other evidence before an inquiry could commence.

The latest development follows the Akinlalu incident, where Amotekun operatives were accused of killing three residents – Ibrahim Oyebamiji (26), Sefiu Oyebamiji, and Abiola Olutayo – during a raid on the community. Others injured in the attack were identified as Adeagbo Kadijat (22), Oke-Ila Oyebamiji (60), and Fayomi Toheeb (19).

Although Amotekun authorities admitted their operatives killed three people, they claimed it happened during a gun battle with hoodlums who had earlier seized two rifles from their officers.

Following public outrage, the Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Oyewusi, led a delegation to the Alakinla of Akinlalu, Oba Oluwabusola Oloyede, assuring the community that justice would be served.

‘We appeal to the youths to remain calm and allow the investigation to take its course. The state government and the police have already begun an inquiry, and justice will be delivered,’ he said.

Nigerian media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has debunked the news of her split from IVD.

Blessing on Wednesday, initially announced the split on her Instagram page, stating that love is not for her. The relationship expert also shared screenshots of their chats, while revealing her plans for the engagement ring.

‘Officially ending the content creation between us. Thanks for the love and engagement. Back to my controversy love is not for me. Officially selling the ring or giving it out. Thanks for all your support. Na to cover the tattoo for my neck with flower,’ she wrote.

Shortly after the announcement went viral, Blessing debunked the news, stating that people only want to hear bad news from her.

I was loosing my touch of controversy. Decided to test it again. I still got the magic. Boom. Boo boo for life. They love bad news oooooo. Wedding loading,’ she wrote.

England captain Harry Kane could miss Thursday’s international friendly against Wales after sitting out training due to an ankle injury.

The Bayern Munich striker picked up the knock during his side’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday but still joined up with the Three Lions camp earlier in the week.

Speaking after the match, Kane had downplayed the injury, saying, ‘I am recovering at the moment – I took a knock. A few days and then I should be fine, so no problem for the national team.’

However, the 32-year-old, who holds England’s all-time scoring record with 74 goals, trained indoors on Wednesday alongside uncapped Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, while the rest of the squad practiced at St George’s Park.

Kane has been in blistering form for Bayern, netting 18 goals in 10 matches this season.

If he fails to recover in time, manager Gareth Southgate may turn to Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, or Anthony Gordon to lead the attack.

England will host Wales at a sold-out Wembley Stadium before heading to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

The Three Lions currently top Group K, seven points ahead of Albania, with qualification for the 2026 World Cup firmly within reach after winning all five of their qualifiers so far.

Meta Platforms Inc., the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay $32.8 million to Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission for breaking the country’s data privacy rules.

The fine, first issued in February 2025, accused Meta of using Nigerians’ data for ads without their clear permission, collecting data from people who don’t even use its platforms, failing to file required reports, and sending user data abroad without proper approval.

After months of legal battles, Meta decided to settle the case out of court.

The agreement is expected to be completed by the end of October 2025.

This move shows Meta’s willingness to follow Nigeria’s stricter data protection laws.

The Data Protection Commission has now ordered Meta to update its privacy policy, carry out local reviews of how it uses data, and always get user consent before using personal data for targeted advertising.

Experts say this case could influence how big tech companies handle user data across Africa as more countries introduce stronger privacy laws.

A commission official said the case shows how important it is for companies to respect people’s privacy and follow local data rules.

The settlement highlights Nigeria’s growing confidence in regulating global tech giants and its push for stronger control over how citizens’ digital information is used.

Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani has urged women not to go through their husband’s phones without consent.

Sani on his X handle, stated that going through one’s partner’s phone is an invasion of privacy and it could lead to an emotional turmoil.

Sani also claimed that not every information is worth knowing in relationships.

‘If you cannot handle some truths, don’t go searching for them in this imperfect and temporary life. Don’t search the phone of your husband without his consent. When the Devil directs you to your husband’s phone, he wants to open your eyes and shutdown your heart. Avoidable tragedies should be avoided!,’ he wrote.

This statement stirred reaction from other users who argued that transparency should be a core part of the foundation of relationships.