International
The kidnappers of more than 280 students and teachers in Nigeria ask for a ransom of 567,000 euros
The kidnappers of more than 280 students and teachers captured last Thursday in the center-north of Nigeria, in a town in the state of Kaduna, asked the families for a rescue of one billion nairas (about 567,000 euros), two leaders of local civil society confirmed to EFE on Wednesday.
“They have contacted us, they have asked us for a billion nairas to free the students and teachers. They threatened to kill all the captives if they do not receive the money by the end of this month,” Abdullahi Umar, a community leader in the town of Kuriga, where the events happened, told EFE by phone.
Umar stressed that it is “a huge amount of money” and that they do not know how to get it and explained that the parents of the kidnapped minors and the neighbors of the area have tried to raise the funds since the kidnappers contacted them last weekend.
“But we haven’t gathered much. We ask the Government and well-intentioned people to help us. They say that the payment of ransoms is illegal but we can’t let our children die,” Umar added.
The kidnapping, which has shocked the whole country and the international community, occurred early in the morning of March 7 at the primary school of the Local Educational Authority in Kuriga, when the attackers – about a hundred, according to EFE then a resident – surrounded a group of students and teachers and pushed them into the forest, where some managed to flee.
The request for the rescue was also confirmed to EFE by the undersecretary of the regional office of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Farouk Alhassan.
“It’s outrageous. We receive information that the bandits demand a billion nairas (…) The Government should try to guarantee the safe return of children and teachers,” Alhassan said.
EFE did not get a response when it tried to contact the state commissioner for Internal Security and Interior of Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan.
The Nigerian authorities have ruled out the payment of a ransom to get the release of the captives.
Speaking to the press this Wednesday in the country’s capital, Abuya, the Nigerian Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, assured that the president of the country, Bola Tinubu, “has ordered the Government not to pay any ransom to any of these criminal elements.”
“Security agencies are working day and night. These children and these people who have been kidnapped by criminals will be safe again very soon,” he said.
For his part, the human rights activist and former legislator Shehu Sani, who in the past represented the state of Kaduna in the Senate (High Chamber) of Nigeria, pointed out through the social network X that “the negotiations with the bandits who kidnapped Kaduna’s students are fine as long as they do not involve large payments.”
According to Sani, “it would have to be a negotiation where cents are not mentioned” because “this information about his ransom demands is a scandalous madness.”
Some states of Nigeria – especially in the center and northwest of the country – suffer incessant attacks by “bandits”, a term used in the country to name criminal gangs that commit assaults and mass kidnappings to ask for large ransoms.
The attacks are repeated despite the repeated promises to end the violence by the Nigerian Government, which has reinforced the deployment of security forces.
To this insecurity is added that caused since 2009 by the activity of the jihadist group Boko Haram in the northeast of the country and, from 2016, also by its splinterion, the Islamic State in the Province of West Africa (ISWAP).
International
Meta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
U.S. tech giant Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said that Russia is seeking to ban the messaging app because it “challenges government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication.”
Russian authorities have encouraged citizens to switch to state-backed applications, and in August they already blocked WhatsApp’s calling feature.
On Friday, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the platform was being used to “organize and carry out terrorist acts in the country, recruit perpetrators, and facilitate fraud and other crimes.”
“If the messaging service does not comply with Russian law, it will be completely blocked,” the regulator warned.
WhatsApp remains one of Russia’s most widely used messaging services, alongside Telegram.
Moscow is pressuring both platforms to grant authorities access to user data upon request for investigations into fraud and activities the government labels as “terrorist.”
Human rights advocates fear the demand could be used to target critics of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin, or the war in Ukraine.
International
Archbishop Wenski criticizes Trump’s deportation policies, calls for stronger push for reform
The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, has called for increased pressure on the U.S. Congress to advance comprehensive immigration reform and criticized President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies, arguing that they “do nothing to help.”
“We need to apply more pressure on Congress so lawmakers can make the necessary changes. It is also important for the Administration to listen to our voice. We do not want to be anyone’s enemy—we are Americans,” Wenski said in an interview with EFE.
The religious leader, who heads one of the dioceses with the largest Latino and Haitian populations in the United States, issued a call to defend the rights of migrants. He also emphasized that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has maintained a strong and public stance in favor of migrants for decades.
International
Trump relaunches diplomatic push to finalize U.S.-Backed peace plan for Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his diplomatic team will resume meetings with delegations from Russia and Ukraine in an effort to pressure both sides to accept the peace plan proposed by Washington to end the war in Ukraine.
As part of this new round of talks, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will hold discussions with Ukrainian representatives to narrow differences on the remaining points of the agreement.
Trump also confirmed his intention to meet personally with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with Putin, though he emphasized that such meetings will only take place “when the agreement is fully finalized or in its final stage.”
The president claimed that his administration has made “tremendous progress” toward resolving the conflict and reiterated that the war “never would have started” if he had been in the White House at the onset of the crisis.
The U.S.-backed peace plan consists of 28 points and has been revised following feedback from both sides. According to Trump, only “a few points of disagreement” remain under active discussion.
One of the most controversial aspects of the proposal is the suggestion that Ukraine cede parts of the Donbas region to Russia and limit the size of its armed forces. Kyiv is working closely with Washington to soften these clauses in search of an arrangement that does not compromise its sovereignty or security.
With this diplomatic push, Trump aims to solidify his role as the main mediator in the conflict and steer the war toward a political resolution after years of devastation, humanitarian crisis, and rising global geopolitical tensions.
Honduras Extends Voting by One Hour Amid High Turnout, CNE Announces
Honduras’ China–Taiwan Future Hinges on Sunday’s Presidential Election
Meta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America2 days agoTrump Pardons Former Honduran President Hernández and Warns of Aid Cuts Ahead of Election
-
Central America4 days agoPanama reinforces security with new helicopters and Super Tucano Aircraft purchases
-
Central America4 days agoTrump urges hondurans to back conservative candidate Nasry Asfura in november elections
-
International4 days agoArchbishop Wenski criticizes Trump’s deportation policies, calls for stronger push for reform
-
Central America1 day agoHonduras’ China–Taiwan Future Hinges on Sunday’s Presidential Election
-
Central America11 hours agoHonduras Extends Voting by One Hour Amid High Turnout, CNE Announces
-
Central America4 days ago
Washington calls for oversight as Honduras faces allegations of electoral interference
-
International2 days agoMeta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication