Author: Tunde

At least 15 civilians, including three children, were killed and over 40 injured when Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and 12 other regions overnight, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack was expected after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned a day earlier that intelligence suggested Moscow was preparing a “massive” bombardment. Despite this warning, Ukrainian forces struggled to fully defend against the assault, which coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday. This latest wave of violence underscores the difficulties Ukraine faces in countering Russia’s advanced ballistic weapons and jet-powered drones. A lack of ammunition for US-made Patriot air defence systems…

Supreme Court of Sierra Leone for live coverage of the hearing on the Constitutional Amendment. 7 OCTOBER 2026 Disclaimer: The views expressed by our guests do not represent the views of ECKO MEDIA. We connect voices, and every voice on Ecko counts.

Bloody Division in Liberia’s Military Junta: The Story of Weh-Syen and Toe In 1980, Liberia’s army toppled President William R. Tolbert Jr., marking the beginning of a chaotic military government. A mere sixteen months later, this regime executed several of its own leaders, including Thomas Weh-Syen, vice head of state, and Nelson Toe, the youngest member of the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), who was only 22 when he was killed. The tension within the military leadership can be traced back to the coup itself. After Tolbert’s assassination on April 12, 1980, Samuel K. Doe, who held a superior military rank,…

Families, friends, and colleagues are mourning the loss of several Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel who were killed in an ATR-42 aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The tragedy struck during a routine flight on Monday morning, with the aircraft, tail number NGR 931, carrying 32 people—25 passengers and seven crew members—when it went down into a swamp near a Naval Base. Among the deceased was Squadron Leader Ahamefule Man-Ugwueje, who had just married Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle two weeks earlier on September 19, 2026, in a ceremony held in Abuja. The NAF confirmed on Tuesday that five crew members…

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has declared there can be “no room for tolerance of violence” amidst widespread protests from students about school conditions. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France. Lecornu stated in Parliament that high schools would clear their schedules this week to allow for democratic discussions about grievances. During a question session, the Prime Minister condemned the violence that has accompanied these protests, noting that at least 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured since the protests began. He remarked, “Ultra-violence has arrived at the doorstep of high schools.…

The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone has urged the Government to withdraw recent statutory instruments affecting Freetown, Freetown West, and Lungi, citing concerns about the lack of public consultation and adherence to parliamentary procedures. In a statement issued on 1 October 2026, the Society specifically requested the withdrawal of Statutory Instruments Nos. 13, 15, and 19 of 2026. They argue that a genuine public consultation and an independent socio-economic viability study must be conducted prior to any changes. The Society expressed worries that splitting Freetown could lead to overlapping administrative bodies, complicating urban management and establishing councils with varying financial…

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) aims for its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, to secure 68 million votes in the 2027 election, representing two-thirds of Nigeria’s 103 million registered voters. At the campaign committee’s launch in Abuja on Tuesday, Makinde, represented by his running mate Lawal Daura, emphasised the APM’s commitment to engaging in legitimate campaigning to gain majority support. Felix Hyat, Director General of the National Campaign Management Committee, stated that Makinde’s presidency would allow the South to complete its eight-year tenure, making the upcoming election a pivotal moment for the nation’s direction. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revealed…

Swedish police shot an armed man outside the Royal Palace in central Stockholm on Tuesday evening. Officers responded to reports of a disruptive individual carrying a weapon. According to Stockholm police spokeswoman Susanna Rinaldo, the man was injured and taken to hospital. His injuries are serious but not life-threatening. Rinaldo did not specify the weapon involved, noting the police operation is ongoing, but assured that there is no threat to the public. Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that the man approached palace guards with a knife and demanded to be shot. Police have since launched an investigation into “aggravated threats against…

The Constitution at the Bar By Mahmud Tim Kargbo Tuesday, 6 October 2026 Sierra Leone’s constitutional amendment dispute is now before the Supreme Court, focusing on whether Parliament followed the required procedure to change the Constitution. This follows a ruling by the Speaker on 10 August and President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to seek judicial guidance before deciding on the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025. While it may seem a simple arithmetic issue, it delves deeper into the constitutional limits of parliamentary power. Section 91(1) states that decisions should be made by a majority of Members present and…

Freddie Jackson, the American R&B singer, passed away on Tuesday, 6 October, at the age of 70. His family announced the news in an Instagram post, expressing their deep sadness over his passing, stating, “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night.” Jackson was best known for hits like “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” which topped Billboard’s R&B chart for 16 weeks in 1985, as well as “You Are My Lady” and “I Could Use A Little Love (Right Now).” Born…