Category: International

DETROIT, US (NPA) — A federal grand jury in the United States has indicted eight individuals over their alleged involvement in coordinated threats targeting University of Michigan officials, law enforcement personnel, businesses, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

The indictment was announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Those charged are Zainab Aliasgar Hakim, 23, of Canton, Michigan; Amatullah Aliasgar Hakim, 21, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Paige Elizabeth Feyock, 26, of Ann Arbor; Ahmet Kerem Korkaya, 28, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jonathan Hongru Zou, 22, of Ann Arbor; Alexander Matthew Sepulveda, 23, of Chicago, Illinois; Mariam Muhammed Odeh, 24, of Dearborn, Michigan; and Colin Hunter Weger, 24, of Ann Arbor.

According to federal prosecutors, the defendants allegedly participated in a campaign of threats, intimidation, vandalism, and harassment following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Authorities alleged that the group organised what they described as “autonomous actions” aimed at pressuring the University of Michigan and other institutions to divest from Israel.

Prosecutors said the campaign escalated when the defendants became dissatisfied with responses to their demands.

The indictment alleges that members of the group spray-painted threatening messages and Hamas-related symbols, hurled chemical-filled containers at private residences, and posted threatening messages online.

Among the messages cited by prosecutors were statements such as “you cannot hide” and “we only come back stronger.”

U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. described the alleged actions as an attack on the rule of law and public safety.

“In America, we rule by law, not by fear. These alleged threats and attempts to terrorise government officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation are anti-American. We will counter intimidation with justice,” he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also warned against acts of intimidation and coercion directed at public officials and institutions.

“No one has the right to threaten, intimidate, or coerce public officials, law enforcement officers, or community institutions. Those who engage in coordinated campaigns of threats and intimidation should expect to be held fully accountable under federal law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.

According to court documents, some meetings allegedly involved discussions about harming victims and members of their families, including references to poison, bombs, and psychological torture.

Federal prosecutors specifically alleged that on May 21, 2024, Feyock and Korkaya discussed plans to “kill,” “torment,” and “terrorise” targeted individuals and their relatives.

The indictment further alleges that Korkaya stated that his “entire family” was on his “hit list,” while Feyock suggested that the children of two victims should also be targeted.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, Zainab Hakim and Feyock are accused of witness intimidation.

Prosecutors allege that in July and August 2024, both women confronted a University of Michigan student whom they believed was cooperating with federal investigators and warned him against sharing information with authorities.

Sepulveda faces an additional charge of destruction of property to prevent seizure.

He and Zou are accused of vandalising the home of the University’s Provost by spray-painting threats and symbols before allegedly attempting to destroy evidence ahead of the execution of a search warrant.

If convicted, the defendants face significant prison terms and financial penalties.

Conspiracy to transmit threats carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, while conspiracy to tamper with a witness carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a similar fine.

The charge of destruction of property to prevent seizure is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Field Office with support from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies across Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Federal prosecutors Sarah Resnick Cohen, Maggie Smith, Matthew Roth, and Robert Kuhn are leading the prosecution.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasised that an indictment is merely a formal accusation and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Former U.S. mayor and conservative activist Mike Arnold has levelled a series of allegations against Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab, Middle Eastern and African Affairs, accusing him of conflicts of interest and maintaining improper business and political ties with the Nigerian government.

Arnold, founder of Africa Arise International, made the allegations in a statement titled “It Sure Looks Like Massad Boulos Is Running Scared,” released on Tuesday.

In the statement, Arnold alleged that Boulos publicly echoed the Nigerian government’s position on insecurity and violence in the country while maintaining business interests that could create conflicts with his advisory role in the United States government.

According to Arnold, his criticism stems from events surrounding his October 2025 visit to Nigeria, during which he publicly accused the Nigerian government of failing to adequately address violence against Christians in parts of the country.

He claimed that shortly after his intervention, Boulos met with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the Aqaba Summit in Rome and subsequently appeared on Nigerian state television, where he described terrorism and insecurity as issues affecting multiple communities and religious groups.

Arnold alleged that Boulos repeated narratives he believed were intended to downplay the scale and nature of the violence against Christian groups occurring in parts of Nigeria.

The activist further alleged that Boulos’ family business interests in Nigeria create significant conflicts of interest.

According to him, SCOA Nigeria, a company linked to Boulos’ family, has commercial relationships connected to major infrastructure projects being executed in Nigeria.

Arnold specifically referenced the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, alleging that SCOA Nigeria supplies equipment used by construction firms involved in the project.

He argued that the existence of such business relationships raises questions about the impartiality expected of a senior adviser to the President of the United States.

The statement also focused on Lebanese-Nigerian businessman Gilbert Chagoury, whom Arnold alleged maintains close business and political ties with both Boulos and the Nigerian government.

Arnold cited previous legal and regulatory actions involving Chagoury in several jurisdictions and claimed that his role in facilitating meetings between Nigerian and international actors warrants greater scrutiny.

He further alleged that beneficiaries of major government contracts have strong incentives to support the continuation of the current administration’s policies and political influence.

Beyond the business allegations, Arnold questioned Boulos’ standing within the Trump administration, claiming that his influence in Washington has diminished in recent months.

As part of his argument, he cited media reports and comments allegedly made by congressional aides and other officials regarding Boulos’ performance and effectiveness as a presidential adviser on African affairs.

The activist also referenced a decision by the United States government to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and suggested that the move contradicted positions he claimed Boulos had publicly advanced regarding the security situation in the country.

Arnold further disclosed that he had filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the U.S. State Department seeking records relating to Boulos’ meetings, ethics agreements, and disclosures.

According to him, the documents had not been released within the timeframe initially communicated by the department.

He argued that public disclosure of such records would help address concerns surrounding transparency and possible conflicts of interest.

The statement also alleged that Boulos and SCOA Nigeria retained legal representation to issue cease-and-desist letters to Nigerian journalists and commentators reporting on matters related to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project and other business dealings.

Arnold claimed the legal actions were intended to discourage scrutiny of issues he believes deserve public examination.

He maintained that a full judicial process would expose additional information concerning business transactions and communications involving key individuals mentioned in his statement.

Throughout the statement, Arnold insisted that his concerns relate to transparency, accountability, and the proper management of potential conflicts of interest by individuals occupying influential public positions.

He argued that senior government advisers should be held to high ethical standards, particularly where public responsibilities intersect with private business interests.

Neither Boulos, SCOA Nigeria, the Nigerian Presidency, nor other individuals mentioned in the statement had publicly responded to Arnold’s latest allegations as of the time of filing this report.

The allegations remain claims made by Arnold and have not been independently verified by Newpost Africa.

GENEVA, Switzerland (NPA) — The UN Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council have raised alarm over credible reports of killings, abductions, sexual violence, forced conversions, child marriages, and acts tantamount to enforced disappearances targeting Christian and other religious minority communities in Nigeria, particularly women and girls.

In their latest report, the independent experts described the situation as “deeply troubling,” citing the deteriorating security environment in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt where extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and radicalised herdsmen continue to operate with devastating consequences amid impunity and institutional failures.

“The testimonies we have received paint a horrifying picture of fear, trauma, coercion and abandonment,” the experts said, stressing that victims must not be left without protection, justice, reparations, and meaningful support.

The report highlighted incidents including the abduction and sexual assault of Christian women, the disappearance of girls taken from a church in Borno State, the forced conversion and marriage of a 13‑year‑old in Bauchi, and the brutal attack on a 16‑year‑old whose hand was cut off after her family rejected a forced marriage proposal.

The experts warned that displaced women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, often coerced into survival strategies such as concealing their religious identity.

They urged Nigerian authorities to act urgently to protect those at risk, secure the release of abducted victims, investigate and prosecute perpetrators, and guarantee remedies for survivors. “Impunity for these crimes only fuels further violence,” they said.

The report comes ahead of an official visit to Nigeria by UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea, scheduled for June 8–19, 2026, with findings to be presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2027.

JOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has renewed his call for greater international attention to what he describes as the ongoing persecution and killing of Christians in parts of Nigeria.

Dachomo, who has been vocal in campaigns aimed at drawing global attention to the plight of Christian communities affected by violence, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday titled, “The Cry of the Persecuted Church in Nigeria.”

The cleric had previously attracted international attention after a video in which he spoke about attacks on Christian communities was reposted by United States President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform.

In the latest statement, Sunday, Dachomo expressed deep concern over the security situation facing many Christian communities, describing the humanitarian consequences of violent attacks as devastating.

“I write with tears in my eyes and pain in my heart. While many sleep peacefully at night, thousands of Christians across Nigeria go to bed wondering if they will wake up alive the next morning,” he said.

“This is not a story from centuries ago. This is not something found only in the pages of history. This is happening now.”

The cleric alleged that many families in affected communities live under constant fear of attacks, displacement and loss of loved ones.

According to him, numerous women have been widowed, children orphaned, and entire communities uprooted as a result of violence targeted at Christians.

Painting a vivid picture of the human cost of insecurity, Dachomo recounted the story of a young boy living in a displacement camp who, according to him, continues to search for his missing mother months after an attack on his community.

“Every evening he sits quietly at the entrance of a small shelter. Whenever visitors arrive, he asks the same question: ‘Have you seen my mother?’” the cleric said.

He described the emotional trauma experienced by displaced children and families as one of the most painful consequences of the crisis.

Despite the challenges, Dachomo praised what he described as the resilience of Christian communities across the country.

According to him, many believers continue to gather for worship despite attacks on churches and the destruction of their communities.

“Church buildings have been destroyed. Communities have been displaced. Children have become orphans. Women have become widows. Families have been scattered,” he said.

“Yet in the midst of the suffering, Christians continue to worship.”

The cleric said many congregations now meet under trees and temporary shelters after their church buildings were destroyed, while continuing to pray and maintain their faith despite adversity.

Dachomo urged governments, religious organisations, humanitarian groups and the international community not to ignore the plight of affected communities. “Today I ask the world not to look away,” he said.

“Remember the mothers who will never see their children again. Remember the fathers who died protecting their families. Remember the children who go to sleep hungry in displacement camps.”

He called for continued prayers, advocacy and support for victims of violence, expressing hope that a time would come when all Nigerians would be able to practise their faith freely and live without fear.

“Until that day, we will continue to pray. We will continue to speak. And we will continue to stand with the persecuted Church,” he said.