News
Coup d’etat: Niger soldiers overthrown President Bazoum
Soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s government following an apparent coup in the West African nation on Wednesday when members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
Members of the elite guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down, “refused to release” him, a presidential source said.
The soldiers said “all institutions” in the country would be suspended, borders were closed and a curfew imposed “until further notice” from 10 pm to 5 am.
“We, the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said in a televised address late Wednesday.
“This follows the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance,” he added, surrounded by nine other uniformed soldiers.
Regional and global leaders have called for the release of Bazoum, who entered office two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful transition of power since independence from France in 1960.
The president of neighbouring Benin, Patrice Talon, will head to Niamey for mediation efforts, the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
One of a dwindling group of pro-Western leaders in the Sahel, Bazoum was elected in April 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty and jihadist insurgencies.
In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president’s office said “elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper… (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard”.
“The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,” the presidency said.
“The president and his family are well,” it added.
Hours after his detention, Bazoum’s supporters had tried to approach the official complex, but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots, an AFP reporter saw.
One person was hurt, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured by a bullet or from falling as the crowd scattered.
The parties of Niger’s ruling coalition in Niamey denounced “a suicidal and anti-republican madness” in a statement, saying that “certain elements of the presidential guard sequestered the President” and his family, as well as the interior minister.
Condemnation also poured in from beyond the nation’s borders.
ECOWAS and the African Union both decried what they called an “attempted coup d’etat”.
ECOWAS called for Bazoum’s immediate and unconditional release and warned all those involved would be held responsible for his safety.
The European Union said it “associates itself” with the ECOWAS statement and attacked “any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability” of Niger.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to Bazoum to offer Washington’s support, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he “strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government” in Niger.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it was “following with great concern the developments” in the country, and the foreign minister of Niger’s former colonial power France, Catherine Colonna, condemned “all attempts to take power by force”.
President Talon was expected to arrive in Niamey on Thursday, after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu said Talon would mediate with both the Presidential Guard and Bazoum, with a view to finding an agreement.
– Coup-prone –
The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since its 1960 independence, and numerous other attempts.
Bazoum, a former interior minister, was the right-hand man to former president Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after two terms.
An attempted coup took place just days before Bazoum’s inauguration, according to a security source at the time.
Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader. Five people were jailed in February for 20 years.
A second bid to oust Bazoum occurred last March “while the president… was in Turkey”, according to a Niger official, who said an arrest was made. The authorities have never commented publicly on the incident.
– Poverty and jihadism –
The nation of 22 million is two-thirds desert and frequently ranks at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity.
Niger is struggling with two jihadist campaigns — one in the southwest, which swept in from Mali in 2015, and the other in the southeast, involving jihadists from northeastern Nigeria.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, stoking a humanitarian crisis and further straining the economy.
The poorly equipped military is receiving training and logistical support from the United States and France, which have bases there.
What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange rate at the black market also known as the parallel market (Aboki fx)?
See the black market Dollar to Naira exchange rate for yesterday 11th September, below. You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1525 and sell at N1550 yesterday 12th September 2025, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC). …CLICK LINK TO CONTINUE READING
Amidst swirling rumors surrounding Oseloka Obi, the son of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, a new twist has emerged regarding persistent allegations about his gender identity.
In response to a flurry of speculation, Oseloka has taken a stand against the viral claims connecting him to homosexuality, which were sparked by the circulation of photographs featuring him alongside Kent Okwesa, a British-Nigerian based in London. Click link to continue reading.
“We’ve lost two games in a row, it’s not good enough, it’s way too bad,” he said, speaking to Viaplay in Norway. “We need to figure it out, get back to winning ways.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the bottom half of the Premier League table heading into the clash having lost back-to-back matches against Tottenham and Brighton before the international break. Click link to continue reading.
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi, has announced a series of changes to some of the long-standing rules of the church, saying many of them were never scriptural but were introduced for administrative purposes.
Pastor Kumuyi, widely regarded as one of the most influential church leaders in the world, is the founder of Deeper Life Bible Church, which began in 1973 as a small Bible study group in Lagos.
Over the decades, the ministry has grown into a global Christian movement. The Lagos headquarters alone attracts over 120,000 worshippers weekly, placing it among the five largest single congregations worldwide. In Nigeria, the church boasts more than one million members with over 5,000 branches, and a further 3,000 branches spread across Africa, Europe, and North America.
Speaking at the church 2025 Global Family and Marriage Conference, Pastor Kumuyi announced modifications to certain marriage rules that had long been regarded as doctrinal. He clarified that many of these practices were never rooted in the Bible but were merely administrative guidelines designed to provide structure.
One of the major changes is the cancellation of the restriction that prevented a lady from visiting her suitor before marriage. According to Kumuyi, intending couples may now visit each other during courtship, provided they are accompanied by an elder. The long-held six-month mandatory courtship period has also been scrapped. “We just felt you need some time to know one another. And then we said one month will be too short, two months too short. So, why not six months? But it is not from the Bible,” he said.
He stated the importance of Christians being able to distinguish between God’s commandments and church traditions.“As a Christian, you need to be so mature that you know the difference between the law of God and the principles in the church. Six months is all right, but it’s not something inflexible. If we change it to three months, we’re not changing the Bible, because six months is not in the Bible,”
Pastor Kumuyi also clarified the role of marriage committees in Deeper Life, noting that their purpose was to provide guidance and not to exercise authority beyond what is written in the scriptures. “There’s no marriage committee in the New Testament. We created it to help you, not because we can give you a chapter and a verse. It is church administration,” he stated.
These changes are seen by people as another step in the ongoing review of church practices that many members and outsiders have often considered too strict. Since founding the church has faced both admiration and criticism for its distinct doctrines. Some of its earlier beliefs and practices have either been misinterpreted or have since evolved:
Technology Use: The church, which once opposed television and modern gadgets, now embraces media and social platforms for evangelism.read the gospel.
Marriage Rules: Inter-church marriages are now accepted, provided the partner is from a Bible-believing church with a holy standard of living.
Dress Code: The church still emphasizes modesty, but women no longer have to tie scarves at all times, and men are not strictly bound to suits.
Medical Treatment: While rumors once suggested Deeper Life discouraged hospital visits, today members are encouraged to seek proper medical care when needed.
Christmas Celebrations: Although many members spend Christmas at church camps, the church has clarified that celebrating Christmas is not forbidden.
Other misconceptions, such as supposed food restrictions or claims that Pastor Kumuyi had relocated to the UK, have also been dispelled.
Through these reforms, Pastor Kumuyi is reinforcing his long-held belief that while order is necessary in the church, it must never be mistaken for scripture.
Source: City People
What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange rate at the black market also known as the parallel market (Aboki fx)?
See the black market Dollar to Naira exchange rate for yesterday 11th September, below. You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.
The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1530 and sell at N1550 yesterday 11th September 2025, according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC). …CLICK LINK TO CONTINUE READING
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Reports suggest that Jonathan is discreetly meeting with key political figures across the country, which adds to the anticipation surrounding his possible return to politics. Click link to continue reading.
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