Author: The Whistler Newspaper

Southeast Asian nations have added their voices to growing international pressure on the United States and Iran, calling on both powers to build on their fragile two-week truce and negotiate a permanent end to a conflict that has rattled global energy markets and disrupted shipping lanes critical to the region’s economies.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations welcomed the ceasefire announced on April 8 between Washington and Tehran, while pressing both sides to go further.

The ministers urged the two nations to continue negotiations toward a permanent settlement and called specifically for the full restoration of safe, unimpeded maritime and air passage through the Strait of Hormuz in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The statement also stressed the safety of seafarers and vessels under international maritime conventions.

The ASEAN appeal carries particular weight given how directly the bloc’s economies are exposed to the crisis. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and disruptions caused Brent crude prices to jump sharply, with analysts warning they could reach $100 per barrel or higher if the situation persists.

For energy-dependent Southeast Asian economies, prolonged instability in the Gulf is not an abstract concern but a direct threat to fuel supplies, manufacturing costs, and trade flows.

The ceasefire the ministers welcomed was itself the product of intense diplomatic effort. The two-week truce, brokered by Pakistan, followed fierce exchanges of air strikes, missile attacks and threats that saw unprecedented strikes on Gulf nations and disrupted global shipping routes.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described both parties as having displayed “remarkable wisdom and understanding” in reaching the agreement.

However, the truce has shown serious signs of strain even before ASEAN issued its statement.

Peace talks in Islamabad between Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation collapsed on Sunday after Iran declined to meet several U.S. red lines, including a complete halt to uranium enrichment and the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz without charging transit tolls.

Following the breakdown, President Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, with U.S. Central Command saying the blockade would commence at 10 a.m. ET on Monday.

Iran said the two sides had reached an understanding on a number of issues but that talks ultimately did not produce an agreement.

Tehran has maintained that its nuclear programme is civilian in nature and that it has the right to continue uranium enrichment for that purpose.

The ceasefire window, which was set for two weeks from April 8, had already been tested almost immediately, with ships once again being prevented from moving through the strait by April 9 as Iran restricted and conditioned traffic while Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued.

The ASEAN statement commended mediation efforts, including those by Pakistan, and called on all parties to uphold international law on freedom of navigation and overflight.

The group’s intervention reflects a broader wave of international appeals, coming alongside similar calls from European nations and Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly urged both sides toward dialogue and an off-ramp from escalation.

With the two-week ceasefire window set to expire around April 22 and the U.S. naval blockade now taking effect, the pressure on both Washington and Tehran to return to the negotiating table is mounting rapidly.

How both sides respond in the coming days will determine whether the truce holds or the conflict enters a dangerous new phase.

ASEAN Urges U.S., Iran To Convert Ceasefire Into Permanent Peace is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A Ghanaian Premier League footballer, Dominic Frimpong, has been killed after armed robbers attacked his team on the way back from an away fixture on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said Monday.

Berekum Chelsea FC  said in a statement that “masked men wielding guns and assault rifles” fired on the team bus and forced the players to take cover in the bushes.

The robbery, according to Ghana police, occurred around 10:30 pm local time (2230 GMT) along the Ahyiresu-Kwame Dwumor Sreso road in the Nyinahin District in the southern region of Ashanti.

Police said Frimpong sustained gunshot wounds and died in hospital while receiving treatment.

“Another victim, George Owusu Afriyie, 52, was also robbed of 4,500.00 cedis ($408),” the police said in a statement.

The Ghana Football Association described the incident as “tragic” and a “huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole.”

“Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league,” it said in a statement.

The 20-year-old forward joined Berekum Chelsea FC on loan from Aduana Stars FC at the beginning of the year.

He played 13 games and scored two goals for the club, according to local media.

Vanguard News

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Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has arrived at the Kaduna State High Court as hearing on his case with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

DAILY POST reports that the court had adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by him to April 14.

The former governor is facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged financial misappropriation and money laundering.

El-Rufai was first detained by the Department of State Services before he was handed over to the ICPC.

He was recently released for the burial of his mother, who passed away in March.

Alleged fraud: El-Rufai arrives court as hearing continues

A 45-year-old man, identified as Emereze Okoro, has been arrested by the police for the alleged murder of a resident in Igbo Imabana Village, Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The incident, which occurred on Friday, at about 10:30 p.m., was reported to the police in the early hours of April 11 by Egbe Enya, 48, who alleged that his younger brother, Egbegi Enya, 45, was attacked and killed with a machete.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Police Spokesman of Cross River state, ASP Sunday Akata, said that Police operatives from the Abi Division promptly swung into action, visiting the scene of the crime where photographs were taken and the victim’s body was evacuated and deposited at the Eja Memorial Joint Hospital Mortuary in Itigidi.

He said, “Police operatives from the Abi Division promptly swung into action. We visited the scene of the crime where Photographs were taken, and the victim’s body was evacuated and deposited at the Eja Memorial Joint Hospital Mortuary in Itigidi.”

He further added that the suspect was subsequently apprehended and transferred to the state criminal investigation department as investigations continue.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals who may be connected to the crime.

“The uspect was subsequently apprehended, and to be transferred to the state criminal investigation department (SCID)as investigations continue. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals who may be connected to the crime,” he added.

Recall that on Friday, the Ogun State Police Command arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged murder and attempted secret burial of a 38-year-old man in Akute, Ifo Local Government Area.

The deceased, Stanley Okirie, was reportedly attacked with a pestle.

His family members were allegedly in the process of burying him secretly when police operatives, acting on intelligence, swooped in and made the arrests.

The three suspects, Maureen Okirie, 35; Salia Karikari, 15; and Jubril Karikari, 12, are now in custody as investigations continue.

Man Arrested For Alleged Murder Of Brother In Cross River is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW) has warned against the diversion of officially procured weapons.

The National Coordinator of the centre, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, gave the warning at the inauguration of a capacity development programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management for arms-bearing security agencies in Abuja on Monday.

Kokumo said lapses in weapons management continued to undermine national security efforts, stressing that weak control systems had created dangerous vulnerabilities in armoury oversight.

He said assessments indicated that a significant proportion of illegal arms in circulation may have originated from official stockpiles over time, raising concerns over internal leakage points.

“A significant portion of illegal arms in circulation today passed through official channels at some point,” he said.

Kokumo noted that while security agencies had intensified efforts against illicit arms proliferation, weaknesses in stockpile management remained a persistent challenge requiring urgent reform.

According to him, weapons in official custody must be properly secured, documented and strictly monitored to prevent diversion to criminal and armed groups.

He warned that any leakage from official inventories not only fueled criminality but also complicated counter-terrorism and internal security operations nationwide.

According to him, weapons issued to official armouries must be prevented from slipping into the hands of enemies of the state.

“If we fail to properly account for these weapons, we are indirectly empowering criminal networks and terrorist groups operating within and outside our borders.

“There must be deliberate efforts to secure and account for all official weapons inventories across the services,” he stressed.

Kokumo identified poor record-keeping, weak oversight and inadequate storage systems as key gaps that must be urgently addressed.

He said the centre was collaborating with national and international partners to strengthen audit systems, enhance stockpile security and improve compliance frameworks across security agencies.

“Our goal is to ensure accountability, transparency and effective control of weapons within government custody.

“Securing official weapons is not optional; it is a critical component of national security architecture,” he said.

He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to curbing illicit arms flow and strengthening institutional control mechanisms to reduce diversion risks.

Also speaking, Mr Jacob Nyaga, Operations Manager, Halo Trust, said the programme was organised in collaboration with NCCSLAW and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Nyaga said the initiative was aimed at equipping personnel with modern skills for effective armoury management and prevention of weapon diversion.

He said the training would run in three phases, beginning with armoury stock keepers across participating security agencies.

According to him, the first phase will focus on practical skills in handling, documentation and accountability of weapons and ammunition.

“The second phase will address leadership-level stockpile management, including risk assessment and identification of operational gaps.”

Nyaga added that the final phase would adopt a train-the-trainer model to sustain institutional capacity within security agencies.

“In this phase, participants will learn how to develop training curricula, instructional materials and training management plans,” he said.

He noted that the programme was not an indication of capacity gaps, but an effort to strengthen and optimise existing systems.

He expressed optimism that the initiative would enable agencies sustain internal capacity-building without external dependence.

FG Govt. Warns Against Diversion Of Arms is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed reports of a planned cult-related clash in parts of the state, describing the claims as false while assuring residents of adequate security presence.

The development was disclosed in a statement shared on April 13, 2026, on the official page of the command.

According to the statement, the message circulating online had raised concerns about possible unrest in areas including Shitta, Akerele, Itire/Aguda, and Ishaga.

However, the police said proactive steps had already been taken to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the affected locations and surrounding communities.

“The Command wishes to categorically state that it has taken proactive and decisive measures to forestall any breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.

The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, was quoted as directing intensified patrols and increased deployment of officers across identified flashpoints to strengthen security.

According to the command, personnel have been strategically positioned, with enhanced visibility aimed at deterring any unlawful gatherings or activities.

“The areas are well secured, and adequate security coverage has been emplaced to deter any unlawful gatherings or activities,” the statement added.

The police, however, urged residents to remain calm and continue with their daily activities, noting that there was no cause for alarm.

It also advised members of the public to disregard unverified information capable of causing panic, while encouraging them to report any suspicious movements to security agencies.

The command maintained that it remains committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.

Police dismiss cult clash rumours in Lagos, boost security in affected areas

Renovation and construction project at FCT School for the Blind Children, Jabi, has slowed down due to delayed funds, leaving staff, including people with visual impairments, to live in uncomfortable conditions in the students’ dinner hall for almost five months.

The project is one of the numerous school projects commissioned by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike and handled by the Global SoftLayer Construction.

A concerned citizen who spoke with THE WHISTLER disclosed that the staff were asked to vacate the quarters and were told to settle at the students’ dinner hall for a quick renovation of the quarters.

The “quick” renovation according to the concerned citizen who pleaded anonymity, has dragged, leaving the staff members and their families to celebrate Christmas, Salah and Easter in the hall.

“I visited the place and did not like the living condition of the staff who are visually challenged. Before the students arrived for this term, they piled the dinner seats and table and the center of the hall and the staff occupied various sides of the hall with all their property.

“They were managing the space until the students came back from the holidays. The living condition is not only inconveniencing the staff but the students too who themselves are visually challenged,” he explained.

He added that the families face not just lack of privacy, but also mosquito bites every night since the hall is an open space.

The citizen urged the FCT Minister, Wike to release funds for the speedily completion of the renovation so that the staff will return to their quarters.

“Wike is doing a good job, I must commend him. He is renovating many schools in the FCT which is great but this very school ought to be given urgent attention as there are people with special needs. Other schools can afford to wait but not this school,” he explained.

He narrated how one of the staff nearly had a terrible fall while heading to the common bathroom and pleaded that something urgent be done to prevent further accident.

THE WHISTLER contacted Global SoftLayer Limited, the contractors handling the work, via their website’s contact line. The person who spoke with the reporter said the work is ongoing, but progress and completion depend on payment.

“We are waiting for payment. Once we get more payment, we will be able to complete the work,” he said.

A source at the FCTA also confirmed that the contractors have not been paid since November.

“I am sure that once they are paid, the work will be completed soon,” the source added.

FCT Blind School Staff Endure Hardship As Renovation Drags is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani, has visited the scene of accident that claimed the life of a student of the Lagos State University (LASU), assuring that justice will be served.

The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night.

She said that the CP, alongside other senior officers of the command, carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the scene.

Adebisi said that the police team also engaged representatives of the Students’ Union of LASU during the visit.

She said that Tijani commended the students for their orderly and responsible conduct, in spite of the grief over the loss of their colleague.

“He assured them that the suspect involved in the incident would be charged to court on Monday for proper prosecution,” she said.

The spokesperson, consequently, reiterated the command’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the safety of all residents.

She also expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed soul.

The CP’s visit followed the death of a 300-level female student, Miss Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, who was crushed by a vehicle at about 7:00 p.m. on Saturday in the Igando area of the same state.

In a video shared on X by a student of LASU, @Khennybass, some students were seen storming the Area M Police Division at Idimu.

They had alleged that officers were shielding the driver involved in the incident by attempting to cover up the situation.

They had, consequently, demanded justice for their colleague. (NAN)

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Political Editor at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, has cautioned that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, may be overextending its political strategy ahead of future elections.

Sambo, who spoke on The Morning Show on Monday, warned against what he described as overconfidence within the party, noting that the outcome of the last general election showed a closely contested race.

He argued that it would be poor political calculation for the APC to assume an easy victory in forthcoming polls, stressing that the party’s current approach could prove counterproductive.

According to him, the APC’s strategy appears to have inadvertently encouraged opposition figures to align under a common platform.

He referenced key opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose support bases, he noted, recorded results close to that of President Bola Tinubu in the last election.

Sambo said the ideal political strategy for the presidency would have been to keep opposition blocs fragmented rather than allowing a scenario where they could coalesce.

Sambo said: “I will just ask that they be not too overconfident of the political process. Because if you look at the results of the last election, I think it will be bad politics on their part for them to confidently think that President will just win. I’m thinking that they are over strategizing in the APC, and they are pushing their luck too far.

“I mean, if not over strategizing, talk to me how you would be a very strong political strategist and then you allow all your opponents who had votes much more closer to you in the last general election to all be in one political umbrella, one political platform.

“I thought that the best of politics that will come out of President Tinubu is to ensure that these groups, the Peter Obi group, the Atiku group, and the Kwankwaso group will still remain wherever they are.

“It may look like it will become much easier for President Tinubu to coast home, but whatever politics that the presidency and the APC led federal government are playing that have led all the opposition to coalesce together and be in the same umbrella, for all the three key opposition leaders to come together and be in the same platform, including the smaller ones that they don’t want to coalesce together, to be thinking of coming together all against the APC.

“I’m thinking that the APC has overplayed itself. I’m thinking that President Tinubu has skillfully done politics in such a way that if he’s not careful, it may affect his figures in the next election.

“Because if you look at how close the figures were, you will know that it was more of like a narrow escape for President Tinubu in the last elections. And I would think he wouldn’t have allowed a situation whereby all these persons and these other groups coming together.

“I’m thinking the tactics, you know, is being overstretched. So APC strategists need to have a rethink and not be too confident.”

2027: ‘APC has overplayed itself, tactics overstretched’ – Sumner Sambo

By Enitan Abdultawab

Wayne Rooney has said Manchester City will hold a psychological advantage over Arsenal in the Premier League title race, citing their experience and composure in crucial moments.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s decisive clash at the Etihad Stadium, the Manchester United legend noted that City’s familiarity with winning titles under Pep Guardiola will definitely give them a mental edge. He explained that Guardiola and his players are better equipped to stay calm under pressure compared to Arsenal’s squad.

“I think City will have the edge on that, just purely the manager and players they’ve got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players,” said Rooney on his The Wayne Rooney Show.

“They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking ‘Where’s the next goal, the next win going to come from?’ That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance.”

Guardiola’s men moved closer to league leaders Arsenal after they dismantled Chelsea at Stamford Bridge by three goals to nil. They now sit second with six points adrift of Arsenal with a game in hand, which is Sunday’s home hosting of Mikel Arteta’s men.

However, recent setbacks, including their defeat to Bournemouth, have raised concerns about their momentum, especially as City continue to chase fiercely.

Rooney described Sunday’s encounter as a potential “title decider,” suggesting the winner will likely become favourites for the league. He added that even a draw could be valuable for Arsenal but stressed that Arteta’s side must adopt a disciplined and resilient approach.

“Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring,” he said.

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