General
ACAEDF Seeks Funds to Rehabilitate Children, Young Adults
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A leading child rights protection organisation in Africa known as the African Children’s Aid Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) is planning to raise funds for education development in riverine communities and rehabilitation of over 1,000 children and young adults through donations.
The group, which has been doing humanitarian works for the past seven years by protecting the rights of children across the continent, has rescued and transformed more than 234 children across Nigeria.
To mark its seven years of impactful existence in Nigeria and across Africa, an event has been fixed for Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at ACAEDF Crescent, Ikot Afaha, Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
A statement from the organisation said dignitaries, industry captains and notable child rights promoters across the continent would attend the programme themed Children for Change Celebration (CHICC).
Activities lined up in commemoration of the foundation’s seven years anniversary include raffle tickets for community development, fashion show, music performance and poetry, cocktail events and a novelty football match.
Since its inception in 2014, ACAEDF has been mobilising people and resources to advocate, protect and proactively provide interventions especially against child witch branding and other forms of abuses.
The foundation’s provable track records especially within its community of practice include rescue and sheltering homeless children accused of witchcraft, provision of quality education both to sheltered children and those on the Home Support Programme and reunification and reintegration of the rescued children into the society.
The foundation’s multi-purpose childcare centre called Land of Hope is equipped with an in-house hospital, skills/vocational training centre, library, children’s parliament, sporting/recreational facilities, residential areas, amongst others.
Speaking on the impacts made by the foundation since its inception, the founder and Executive Director of ACAEDF, Mr David Umem, stated that, “Our vision is to provide every child with the audacity to hope for a better life and an envisaged future.
“The foundation came into existence in the first place because we saw the ever-widening gap between child abuse and timely interventions by the authorities.
“The situations of child witch branding which is championed by adults and parents whose duty is to protect these children ignited in us the need to intervene and provide direct and immediate aid to these children whose rights have been greatly abused.
“Also, beyond our intervention programs, we have in place an established structure used to propagate the message of hope and build top of mind awareness on child right acts through community intervention programs.
“We enjoin every Nigerian to make an effort to help at least one child every day, that way, the message of hope would be extended to everyone across the continent.”
“It is vital to also state that in the actual sense, what we are celebrating are the people, our team of dedicated experts and over 1,000 children, young adults, parents and communities who have been impacted by our campaigns and interventions.
“In the coming future, we hope to create a sustainable and thriving environment free from all form of child abuse.
“My utmost gratitude also goes to my dedicated team who works tirelessly to ensure that the purpose of this organisation is actualized,” Mr Umem added.
Also, the Director for Child Development at ACAEDF, Mr Nsidibe Orok, reiterated the organisation’s commitment towards child-right protection in the continent.
“As a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization, we aspire for a society free of child witch branding and all forms of child abuse.
“This aspiration has informed our commitment. The team has shown their commitment through active and impactful contributions in putting an end to all forms of child abuse and witch-hunting.
“Currently, we are proactively collaborating with the riverine communities across the Niger Delta on methods to improve access to qualitative education.
“These communities have been completely forgotten in terms of the provision of basic amenities like clean water, schools, healthcare facilities, good roads, electricity amongst others and thus make children from these areas vulnerable to the adoption of criminal behaviours and other social anomalies.
“We seek partners particularly in using ICT for qualitative and sustainable education to improve the lives of a vast population of people especially children in Riverine communities,” Mr Orok stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the latest United States airstrikes on Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) targets in northwest Nigeria were conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to reports, the US struck at ISWAP targets in Jabo, Sokoto State, on Christmas night.
The ministry described the operation as a product of established counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said the strikes were “undertaken following formal engagement and with the full knowledge and coordination of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the airstrikes conducted by the United States against Islamic State elements in parts of northwest Nigeria were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and in line with existing bilateral security cooperation frameworks,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that Nigeria “remains firmly in control of all counterterrorism operations within its sovereign territory,” adding that international partners only provide support “where such assistance aligns with Nigeria’s national security objectives.”
According to the statement, the strikes form part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to “degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and protect civilian populations from violent extremist threats.”
The Foreign Ministry further emphasised that the federal government “will continue to work with trusted international partners to confront terrorism, banditry, and transnational criminal networks that threaten national and regional stability.”
Reacting to concerns around sovereignty, the Ministry said:
“At no time was Nigeria’s sovereignty compromised. All actions were conducted with due respect for Nigeria’s laws, institutions, and command structures.”
The statement also cautioned against mischaracterising Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that extremist violence “has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines and should not be framed in sectarian terms.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-layered response combining military operations, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions, adding that counterterrorism efforts remain focused on protecting lives and restoring stability.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State and that multiple militants were killed.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes as “powerful and deadly,” saying they were directed at Islamic State militants responsible for violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has clearly denied that only Christians are affected by the killings, saying the terror spread across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that “more to come” as part of sustained efforts against extremist groups.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
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