Human angle
VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA MOURNS DAMBOA FALLEN SOLDIERS
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the soldiers who lost their lives repelling the terrorist attack in Damboa, Borno State, as eternal heroes whose sacrifices will never be in vain.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, revealed in a statement that Vice President Shettima also reaffirmed his deep sorrow and firm solidarity with the families of the heroic soldiers. Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, Vice President Shettima noted that the military recorded a decisive victory in Nigeria’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts but regretted that the price of freedom is eternally steep.
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I received news of our brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation in Damboa. These six valiant soldiers demonstrated exceptional courage in the face of danger by protecting their fellow citizens,” Vice President Shettima said. Nkwocha stated that the attack, which took place in Sabon Gari, involved terrorists attempting to ambush troops at a Forward Operating Base. The soldiers’ decisive response, bolstered by reinforcements and air support from Operation HADIN KAI, not only neutralised 34 terrorists but also led to the troops recovering weapons and ammunition and largely weakening the attackers’ capabilities.
Vice President Shettima lauded the soldiers’ heroism, saying, “Their sacrifices remind us of the extraordinary price of peace and security. These heroes died ensuring that their fellow Nigerians can live in safety, free from the scourge of insecurity that has impacted our country.” Nkwocha added that Vice President Shettima reassured the grieving families that their beloved children did not die in vain, noting that “their sacrifices will be forever remembered in our nation’s history, and their memory will continue to inspire future generations of Nigerians.”
Vice President Shettima also commended the armed forces, saying, “To our armed forces, your unwavering commitment to protecting our citizens, even at the cost of your own lives, fills us with profound gratitude and respect. We will continue to support you and provide all necessary resources to ensure you can carry out your duties effectively.” Nkwocha stated that the Vice President further urged Nigerians to honour the fallen heroes by standing firm in the collective pursuit of peace and security. “May Allah grant our fallen heroes Aljannah Firdaus, comfort their families, and give us all the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” VP Shettima prayed.
A man in New York has been released from prison after spending nearly two decades behind bars for a robbery he did not commit, marking yet another case of wrongful conviction in the United States justice system.
Sheldon Thomas, now in his late 30s, was exonerated after serving 19 years in prison for a 2004 fatal robbery in Brooklyn. He had been convicted as a teenager, largely based on eyewitness misidentification and inconsistent police records, according to court documents and reports from legal advocacy groups.
Thomas consistently maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. His case was later taken up by the Innocence Project and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit, which re-examined the evidence.
The review uncovered significant flaws in the original investigation, including errors in witness identification procedures and discrepancies in police reports that raised doubts about the integrity of the conviction. Authorities concluded that Thomas had been wrongfully convicted, leading to his release and the dismissal of his conviction.
Speaking after his release, Thomas expressed relief and a sense of lost time, noting that he had spent his formative years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Advocates say his case highlights longstanding issues within the criminal justice system, particularly around the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the handling of evidence.
Wrongful convictions remain a persistent issue in the United States, with organizations like the Innocence Project documenting hundreds of cases where individuals have been exonerated after years; sometimes decades, of imprisonment.
Thomas’ legal team is expected to pursue compensation for the years he lost, while calls for systemic reform continue to grow.
A Utah-based children’s author who wrote about grief following her husband’s death has been found guilty of murdering him in a case that has shocked the United States.
Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother of three, was convicted of aggravated murder for poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022, according to court proceedings.
Prosecutors told the court that Richins spiked her husband’s drink with a fatal amount of the synthetic opioid, allegedly administering up to five times the lethal dose. The jury reached its verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation, bringing an end to a high-profile trial that drew national attention.
The case gained widespread publicity due to the defendant’s actions after the killing. Following her husband’s death, Richins authored and promoted a children’s book on coping with grief, titled Are You With Me?, presenting herself as a grieving widow.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the murder was financially motivated. They alleged that Richins was deeply in debt; reportedly owing about $4.5 million, and believed she would benefit from her husband’s estate and insurance payouts.
Further evidence presented in court included internet searches related to lethal drug doses, testimony from witnesses, and claims that she had previously attempted to poison her husband weeks earlier.
In addition to aggravated murder, Richins was found guilty of attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery.
Her defence team argued that investigators failed to adequately explore the possibility of accidental overdose, but they did not call any witnesses, and Richins did not testify in her own defence.
She now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 2026.
The case has sparked widespread debate about deception, financial desperation, and the disturbing contrast between public image and alleged criminal intent.
Four people have been confirmed dead and four others injured after a truck collided with a commercial bus along the busy Lekki–Epe Expressway in the Ajah area of Lagos.
The accident occurred over the weekend and involved a truck with registration number KNN 313 YL and a fully loaded Suzuki commercial mini bus popularly known as “Korope,” according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
LASTMA spokesman Adebayo Taofiq said the impact of the crash resulted in the immediate death of four male passengers in the commercial bus, while four other occupants—two men and two women—sustained serious injuries after becoming trapped in the wreckage.
“The four critically injured victims who were rescued from the wreckage were immediately conveyed to Hamon Royal Hospital for urgent medical treatment, while the remains of the four passengers who tragically lost their lives were evacuated and deposited at Shency Hospital morgue,” Taofiq said.
Preliminary findings indicated that the driver of the articulated truck reportedly lost control while the vehicle was in motion, causing it to veer across the carriageway and crash into the oncoming commercial bus.
Officials of LASTMA who arrived at the scene rescued the trapped victims with the support of other emergency responders and passersby. The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Authorities said an ambulance belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps transported the bodies of the deceased to the morgue.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Elemoro Police Division were also deployed to the scene to maintain order and ensure the safety of rescue workers and motorists.
Meanwhile, the driver of the truck and his assistant reportedly fled the scene shortly after the crash. Police say an investigation has commenced to determine the exact cause of the accident.