Jeff Woodke, an American aid worker, has been released after being held hostage by terrorists for over six years. The U.S. government worked with partners in the region to ensure safe transport and medical care for Woodke. The FBI is now investigating the circumstances of his kidnapping and captivity, and his family has requested privacy. The U.S. government is committed to the safe return of all Americans held hostage abroad.
Posts tagged as “Nigeria”
Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress party has been declared president-elect of Nigeria following a weekend election. Tinubu won 8.79 million votes, ahead of main opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar’s 6.98 million votes. The election was marred by reports of violence and irregularities, and Tinubu will be sworn in as Nigeria's new president on May 29 after the INEC concludes its investigations.
Nigeria's main opposition parties have called for a revote of the 2023 presidential election, citing widespread violence, rigging, intimidation of voters, and doctoring of results. They have urged the international community to intervene and the Nigerian government to take steps to ensure a free and fair election, which has been widely criticized by international observers. Partial results from the election show an early lead for the ruling party, but the opposition parties have decried the results as "heavily doctored and manipulated."
This Saturday, Nigeria is holding its presidential and parliamentary elections with 18 candidates vying for the top office. Three front-runners have emerged, but the election is taking place amidst fears of violence and reports of a national bank note shortage. There have been reports of isolated violence and widespread delays, but the military has intervened and the results of the election are expected to be announced in the coming days.