To support the Invictus Games, an initiative he launched to facilitate the rehabilitation of sick and injured service men and veterans, including Nigerian soldiers engaged in a 14-year fight against Islamic extremists, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday morning.

The couple, who were invited by the Nigerian Armed Forces to visit West Africa for the first time, reportedly landed in Abuja early on Friday morning, according to Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence. In an effort to improve wellbeing and morale, they will meet with injured soldiers and their families while they are there.

This participation has been praised by Nigerian officials as a major chance for the soldiers’ recovery.

Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner, founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to provide wounded veterans and Service members with the challenge of competing in sports events similar to the Paralympics. Nigeria participated in last year’s edition of the games.

During their stay, the couple will attend basketball and volleyball matches and meet with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos that receive their support.

Meghan will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, according to the couple’s spokesman Charlie Gipson.

The news of Meghan’s visit has generated excitement among Nigerians who closely follow her life and association with the British royal family.

The Nigerian military has emphasised the significance of the Invictus Games in aiding the recovery of thousands of personnel who have been fighting Boko Haram Islamic extremists and their factions since 2009.

According to the military’s sports director, Abidemi Marquis, “Eighty percent of our soldiers that have been involved in this recovery programme are getting better (and) their outlook on life is positive.

“The recovery programme has given them an opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, to improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”

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Bandits have attacked the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) Osara in Kogi.

It was gathered that the bandits invaded the university around 9pm on Thursday.

The incident occurred while students were reading in classrooms for their forthcoming examinations.

According to The Cable, a student under anonymity said that she was in ‘Class LR5’ with some other students for tutorials, when they heard a gunshot.

The student said they were shocked to hear the first boom of a gun, with several gunshots following in quick succession.

“We started scampering for safety and it appeared that the gunshots were coming from class LR3, where some students were also reading,” she said.

“I did not know where to run to. When I peeped through the window, I saw our security guard returning fire.”

The source disclosed that some students who managed to escape said the bandits were shooting at them as they fled the scene.

“This morning, we cannot find some of our course mates. Their phone lines are not reachable. We even saw someone’s phone on the floor. We don’t know the number of students that have been kidnapped,” the student said.

It was gathered that William Ovye Aya, Kogi police spokesperson, is yet to respond to phone calls and text messages on the incident.

The Lagos sexual offences and domestic violence court has sentenced one Success Odigoma Ude to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy with hearing and speech impairments.

The presiding judge, Rahman Oshodi, stated that the prosecution had proven the defendant’s sexual assault case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The youngster was sexually molested by Ude in the Ilufe neighbourhood of Ojo, Lagos, between May and August of 2021, according to the prosecution’s testimony in court.

The prosecution said the offence was contrary to the provision of section 261 of the criminal law, Ch. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos state, 2015.

Odigoma pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned on February 17, 2022.

During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses against the defendant.

The defendant testified for himself while eight documents marked A to I were tendered as exhibits.

Giving the ruling, the presiding judge held that the victim was a young boy of 13 who could not consent to sexual activities.

The judge said he considered all the evidence presented in the case to find the defendant guilty and convicted him under section 262 of criminal law.

He held that the defendant was initially charged with the offence of sexual assault by penetration under section 261, which attracts a life sentence.

However, Oshodi said he found that the evidence established an attempt, rather than a complete offence.

Oshodi sentenced Ude to 14 years in prison and ordered that his name be registered as a sex offender.

“The term is to run from the date of your remand on September 1, 2021,” he ruled.

“This sentence sends a clear message that sexual exploitation of society’s most vulnerable members, especially children with disabilities, will be met with punishment.

“I can only hope that during your period of incarceration, you will come to appreciate the enormity of the harm you inflicted on an innocent child for your perverse gratification.”