Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

An Afghan asylum seeker who repeatedly told British immigration officials “I don’t know” during questioning has been granted permission to remain in the United Kingdom until 2029, following a significant legal victory that also confirmed he was a minor at the time of his arrival. According to court documents, the migrant, whose name was withheld because he arrived as an unaccompanied child,  said “I don’t know” 158 times and “I can’t remember” 49 times during his screening interview with the UK Home Office. His inconsistent answers fuelled suspicion among immigration officers, who initially accused him of withholding information about his true age.…

A highly classified U.S. government assessment has concluded that China would defeat the United States in a military conflict over Taiwan, warning that Beijing’s rapidly expanding arsenal and mass-production capabilities have overtaken the Pentagon’s traditional technological advantage. The Telegraph reported that Beijing’s hypersonic missiles “could sink U.S. aircraft carriers within minutes.” The analysis, contained in a top-secret document known as the “Overmatch Brief”, states that China can manufacture weapons at a pace the US defence industry cannot match. While American strategy relies on sophisticated, high-cost platforms, Beijing is now capable of deploying cheaper alternatives in overwhelming numbers. The Telegraph  reported…

The opposition party in Benin – Communist Party of Benin (PCB) has openly criticised what it calls foreign military interference following the attempted coup d’état in Benin Republic on Sunday, December 7, 2025. In a statement released on Monday, the opposition party said the failed coup and the events that followed have raised serious concerns about Benin’s sovereignty, warning that the country is drifting into external control under the guise of “defending democracy.” According to the PCB, the attempt to overthrow President Patrice Talon was foiled largely through intervention by French forces stationed in Benin and airstrikes reportedly carried out by…

For more than ten years, Nigeria has experienced relentless insecurity, ranging from kidnappings to mass abductions and deadly attacks, that has shaken public confidence and intensified national anxiety. As these incidents grow more frequent and sophisticated, one question keeps resurfacing: Is the Nigerian government paying ransom to kidnappers? Successive administrations have consistently denied making ransom payments. Yet the patterns surrounding major abductions, particularly those involving schoolchildren, religious worshippers, and travellers, have deepened public suspicion. Victims often return home quietly and unexpectedly, without any clear explanation from officials, fuelling speculation that back-channel negotiations and ransom deals may be taking place. This…

An Afghan national accused of raping two 14-year-old girls in Bolton had been allowed to remain in the UK with his family after receiving indefinite leave to remain, a court has been told. Sultani Bakatash, 28, appeared before Manchester magistrates’ court on Tuesday following his arrest at the weekend. He is accused of carrying out the attacks at a flat in Greater Manchester last Saturday. Bakatash, who required a Dari interpreter during the brief hearing, listened as prosecutors outlined the allegations against him. The court heard that he had lived in Britain for two years and had been granted indefinite…

A British service member has died in Ukraine, prompting tributes across the UK political spectrum and renewed attention on Britain’s ongoing military support for Kyiv. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the individual, whose identity has not yet been released, died earlier in the day. While investigations are continuing, the Press Association understands that the death is not being attributed to hostile fire, though the precise circumstances remain undisclosed. Defence Secretary John Healey expressed deep sorrow following the news, writing in a social media post that he was “devastated” by the loss. “My thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues as…

New evidence has emerged showing that thousands of asylum seekers are being granted refugee status without attending face-to-face interviews, as the UK’s asylum system struggles with rising demand. New documents show that migrants from countries with high approval rates, including Eritrea, Sudan and Yemen, are being permitted to submit detailed questionnaires instead of undergoing traditional interviews with specialist caseworkers. Officials tell applicants that if their written account includes enough evidence to justify their claim, a decision may be made without meeting them. The policy, first introduced under the previous Conservative government to address a backlog of more than 100,000 applications,…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their rapid and coordinated intervention in the Republic of Benin following Sunday’s attempted coup that briefly disrupted national broadcasting and threatened the country’s 35-year-old democracy. Security sources confirmed that Nigeria deployed fighter aircraft and ground forces into Beninese territory after receiving two urgent requests from the Government of Benin, which warned that coup plotters had seized the national broadcaster and regrouped at a military camp in Cotonou. According to a Note Verbal from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country sought “immediate Nigerian air support  to safeguard the constitutional…

Nigeria has deployed fighter aircraft into Benin Republic’s airspace following Sunday’s attempted military coup to remove President Patrice Talon from power, multiple security sources confirmed. The move signals Abuja’s heightened vigilance as political instability unfolds in the neighbouring West African nation. The fighter aircraft, which took off earlier in the day from Lagos, were sighted conducting aerial operations over Beninese territory as Nigeria intensified surveillance in response to the rapidly evolving security situation. According to senior security officials, the deployment is part of a broader precautionary strategy aimed at assessing regional threats and protecting Nigeria’s national interests. The coup in…

Security forces loyal to President Patrice Talon have successfully foiled an attempted coup in Benin Republic, according to new details released by the government. Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed on Saturday that the country’s armed forces had thwarted the plot and prevented the military takeover from gaining ground. Although initial reports suggested unrest in parts of the country, government officials later announced that the army had “regained control” and that the situation was “fully under control.” The attempted coup comes at a politically sensitive moment for Benin, just months before a presidential election scheduled for April. President Talon, who first…