News
796 Babies Buried Under Shelter Home For Unmarried, Pregnant Women
Irish authorities have commenced excavation at a site in Tuam, County Galway, believed to contain the remains of nearly 800 infants who died at a Catholic-run institution for unmarried mothers.
According to Sky News on Tuesday, the site, formerly home to the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, was operated by an order of Catholic nuns between 1925 and 1961. The facility catered to unmarried pregnant women, many of whom were victims of rape or sexual abuse and were forced to give up their babies after delivery.
Local historian, Catherine Corless, who brought the case to national attention in 2014, discovered death certificates for 798 children but found burial records for only one.
Her investigation sparked widespread outrage and prompted a government inquiry into Ireland’s system of institutional care for women and children.
Preliminary findings showed that the remains of many of the children, some as young as 35 weeks in the womb, were dumped in what used to be a septic tank on the premises, an area now surrounded by a modern apartment complex.
Corless told Sky News that the structure, referred to as “the pit,” may hold the remains of 796 infants, most of whom were never given a proper burial.
The excavation, which began this week, is part of efforts to identify the remains and accord them dignified reburials. The process is expected to last up to two years.
“I don’t care if it’s a thimbleful, as they tell me there wouldn’t be much remains left; at six months old, it’s mainly cartilage more than bone,” Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be one of the 798 victims, told Sky News.
Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be among the deceased, recalled how her mother, Margaret O’Connor, was informed about her baby’s death.
Her mother, Margaret “Maggie” O’Connor gave birth to a baby, Mary Margaret, at the home after she was r@ped at the age of 17.
The girl died six months later, and her mother only found out when a nun told her.
“She was pegging washing out and a nun came up behind her and said ‘the child of your sin is dead,’” said Annette, who now lives in the UK.
The Bon Secours facility was part of a broader system of state-sanctioned institutions across Ireland where pregnant women were confined, forced into unpaid labour, and separated from their children. Women who became pregnant again were often sent to Magdalene Laundries, infamous religious-run institutions for “fallen women.”
Originally, the term “fallen women” was applied mostly to sex workers, but the Magdalene laundries later started taking in “seduced” women, victims of rape and incest, and female orphans or children abandoned or abused by their families.
The last of the Magdalene laundries only closed their doors in the 1990s.
A 2021 state inquiry revealed that about 9,000 children died in 18 similar homes, mainly from preventable illnesses such as gastroenteritis and respiratory infections.
In 2014, the Irish government issued a formal apology to survivors. In 2022, it launched a compensation scheme, which has so far paid out over $32m to more than 800 individuals.
The Nigerian Police Force has dismissed allegations of certificate forgery against the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo, describing them as baseless following an extensive investigation.
The Police, through its spokesperson, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that no evidence was found of forgery, alteration, falsification, or unlawful production of the minister’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
According to him, the investigation established that there was no proof of forgery, alteration, falsification, or unlawful production of the minister’s NYSC certificate.
“After an exhaustive investigation into the allegations, it has been established that there is no evidence whatsoever of forgery, alteration, falsification or unlawful production of the minister’s NYSC certificate,” Hundeyin said.
He explained that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was contacted during the investigation and confirmed that the certificate in question was duly issued to the minister.
“The NYSC was contacted and it was verified that the certificate was duly issued by the corps to the minister. The allegations are therefore unfounded,” he added.
The development comes a day after youth and civil society groups staged a protest in Abuja over the alleged certificate forgery involving the minister.
The demonstrators accused Tunji-Ojo of providing conflicting information regarding his NYSC records, which they said raised concerns about integrity in public office.
Addressing journalists during the protest, one of the demonstrators said the minister had yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
“We have not heard from him. He has not come out to clarify to the public whether what is being said is right or wrong,” the protester said.
The protesters also argued that in similar circumstances, some public officials had resigned from office when faced with such allegations, insisting that accountability should apply equally to all public office holders.
“We want accountability, and we want everyone to be treated equally. What is good for one person should be good for all. If other ministers could resign over similar issues, we do not see why he should still remain in office,” the protester added.
They warned that failure to properly address such allegations could erode public trust in government institutions, particularly among young Nigerians, and undermine the credibility of public offices at the federal level.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to various Nigerian missions and international organizations worldwide.
The list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors, whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Senate in December 2025.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the postings assign the envoys to various countries and international missions.
Among the non-career ambassadors, former presidential aide Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico, while former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode was assigned to Germany.
Former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole will serve in Canada, while former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was posted to China.
Other notable appointments include Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Olufemi Pedro to Australia, and Lateef Kayode Are to the United States.
The President also approved the posting of several career diplomats to key missions.
These include Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris to The Hague, Netherlands, Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel to Belgium, and Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, among others.
The Presidency disclosed that some countries have already issued diplomatic clearance, known as agrément, for Nigeria’s envoys.
The United Kingdom has approved Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner, while France has granted agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also formally notified other host countries of the appointments and requested their agrément in line with diplomatic procedures.
Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment to their respective missions.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed that Ezeogo Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike and father of former Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe, has been killed by his abductors.
The victim, Francis Igwe, was the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state before his death.
According to the police, the monarch was abducted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, while on his way to church.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Friday, the spokesperson of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said operatives launched intensive operations immediately after the abduction was reported.
Ukandu explained that deploying technical and intelligence assets led to the arrest of two suspects believed to be members of the kidnapping syndicate.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed that the monarch had been killed on March 2.
“They further volunteered to lead operatives to their hideout and assist in recovering the monarch’s remains,” the statement said.
However, while approaching the hideout, other gang members allegedly opened fire on the police team.
Ukandu said the operatives responded with superior firepower, overpowering the criminals during the gun battle.
“In the course of the confrontation, one of the hoodlums was neutralised, while others fled the scene,” he said.
The police spokesman added that seven additional suspects were later arrested, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to nine.
He also confirmed that one locally made pistol was recovered during the operation.
Ukandu said the remains of the slain traditional ruler had been recovered and deposited in a morgue for autopsy.
The suspects are currently in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members.
He added that the suspects would be charged to court after the investigations conclude.
Police Clear Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo In NYSC Certificate Probe
After Long Wait, Tinubu Assigns Portfolios To 65 Ambassadors-Designate
Kidnappers Kill Ex-Ebonyi Deputy Governor’s Father, Nine Suspects Arrested
Four Abducted Victims Rescued By Police Along Igbeti–Kishi Road
DIG Mba Among Retiring Officers As Seven AIGs Await Promotion
Owode Onirin: Four Police Officers Dismissed Over Killing Of 7 Traders
Court Acquits Abba Kyari, Brothers, Slams Asset Case As Persecution
Zenith Bank Hosts 2026 International Women’s Day Seminar Themed “Take It, You Own It”
Tragedy Hits Lagos APC As Exco Member Dies Ahead Of Inauguration
