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Tension as Nigerians Hit in Iran Missile Strikes, Details Emerge

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7 hours ago

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Iran’s missile attack has injured over 140 residents, including Nigerians, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s air defence intercepted nine missiles and 33 drones amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Six fatalities were reported, with casualties among foreign nationals, including Nigerians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis.

Dubai, UAE – Amid the US/Israel-Iran war, Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Tehran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As reported on Sunday morning, March 15, by The Punch, the development raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.

The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed on Saturday, March 14, that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault, adding that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.

The ministry stated:

“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran.”

“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran.”

UAE’s authorities’ post can be viewed below via X:

According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.

Meanwhile, when contacted about the situation, Nigerian resident Yinka Sodiq in the UAE expressed hope for safety, saying he is closely monitoring regional tensions amid reports of increased military activity in the Gulf. He also expressed full confidence in the country’s security measures to safeguard both residents and visitors.

He told Legit.ng:

“Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), for now, I am safe. We are also keeping our heads. May Allah continue to protect us all.”

Another resident, Remi Susan, addressed occasional sounds heard in the skies, clarifying that they pose no threat but are part of a defensive system designed to protect the population and secure the UAE’s airspace, a reflection, she said, of the country’s advanced defence capabilities and preparedness.

Susan said:

“Yes, there has been a lot of noise in the sky, even from my house. I saw like some missile or drone or whatever. But they have been intercepted. I trust the government.”

Dailyvoice.ng reports that escalating hostilities in the Middle East have sent shockwaves through Nigeria, grounding pilgrimages, disrupting travel plans, rattling the oil market and prompting anxious calls from Nigerians abroad. Besides, some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), the Iran-inspired Shiite organisation founded in the late 1970s by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, have been staging protests in solidarity with the Iranians in some parts of the country, such as Kano, Kaduna and Lagos.

The Iranians, under attack from the United States (US) and Israel because of a long-running disagreement over Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme, have been firing retaliatory missiles at Israel and other countries considered US allies in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, among others.

So far, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members and more than 700 citizens have died.

 

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Foreign

Former President Confirmed Dead

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2 weeks ago

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March 3, 2026

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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s former president, was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.

The reports said the attack targeted the Narmak neighborhood in eastern Tehran and that Ahmadinejad was killed along with several of his bodyguards.

Ahmadinejad, 69, served as Iran’s sixth president from 2005 to 2013, leading the country’s ninth and tenth administrations. His presidency was marked by confrontational rhetoric toward the West and escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Born in 1956 in the village of Aradan in Semnan Province, he moved to Tehran with his family as a child. Before becoming president, he served as governor of Ardabil Province and later as mayor of Tehran.

In 2013, after leaving office, he was appointed by Iran’s supreme leader to the Expediency Council, an advisory body that mediates disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council. He had continued to serve as a member in recent years.

His reported death comes a day after Iran’s supreme leader was killed in US-Israel airstrikes.

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Foreign

Has Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Been Killed In Drone Airstrike? Fact Emerges

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2 weeks ago

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March 1, 2026

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On February 28, an X account named ReversingTrend posted: “Initial reports indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was killed by an Iranian drone strike inside his residence in Tel Aviv.”

The post quickly gained traction, recording 954,000 views, 1,100 retweets, and 7,700 likes.

Factcheck Africa tool confirmed that the claim was false. Multiple reliable sources confirmed that Benjamin Netanyahu was alive and continued to serve as the Prime Minister of Israel.

See the X post below:

Further checks by Legit Nigeria showed that his profile entry on Israel’s official website listed his birthdate and current position with no mention of his death.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) page also confirmed his status, noting that an arrest warrant was issued against him on November 21, 2024.

The existence of this warrant implied that he was alive and subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

The evidence showed that Benjamin Netanyahu had not been killed in a drone strike. He remained in office as Prime Minister of Israel, and no credible reports supported the claim of his death.

The viral post was therefore misleading, spreading false information about a sitting world leader.

Verdict: False – Benjamin Netanyahu was not killed in a drone strike. He was alive and serving as Prime Minister of Israel at the time of the claim.

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Foreign

Cabinet Reshuffle: President Sacks Finance Minister

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3 weeks ago

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February 25, 2026

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South Sudan President Salva Kiir fired Finance Minister Bak Barnaba Chol in a reshuffle that was unveiled on state television on Monday evening.

Chol was appointed to the post in November, following the president’s firing of Athian Diing Athian just two months after his appointment.

Kiir appointed Salvatore Garang, an economist trained at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, as the new Minister of Finance.

Garang previously served as finance minister from 2018 to 2020, a period marked by economic reforms and fiscal strains.
During his first stint in the role, local media reported that Garang faced corruption allegations, including that he allocated 100,000 dollars to cover the cost of his son’s funeral.

He has not commented on the allegations.
The decree also removed several other senior officials, including the commissioner general of the National Revenue Authority, as part of the broader administrative changes.

Analysts say Kiir regularly makes changes to ranks in the military and government to maintain control as he contends with armed conflict and speculation about his eventual succession.

No reason was given for the ninth change in the finance minister since 2020.

-Source: (Reuters/News Agency of Nigeria NAN)

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