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“I’ve arrived Rome safely but I soorow for my flock in Iran,” Catholic Bishop cries
Belgian Cardinal Dominique Mathieu of Tehran-Isfahan surfaced in Rome after days of uncertainty about his whereabouts following the start of a U.S. and Israel-Iran war.
In a brief statement sent to the Belgian Catholic news site, Cathobel, Mathieu said he arrived in Rome March 8 “not without regret and sorrow for our brothers and sisters in Iran.”
His departure from Iran, he said, was “part of the complete evacuation of the Italian Embassy, which serves as the seat of the archdiocese.”
“While waiting to return, pray for the conversion of hearts to inner peace,” he wrote.
Before his statement, Mathieu’s whereabouts were unknown after the U.S.-Israeli-led campaign started Feb. 28. OSV News had reached out to the cardinal several times but had received no response since the start of the war.
Tehran’s Cathedral of the Consolata, as well as the cardinal’s residence and administrative offices, are located on the grounds of the Italian Embassy.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced March 5 that the country’s embassy in Iran would be temporarily closed.
“A group of about 50 Italian nationals led by our ambassador to Iran has crossed the border into Azerbaijan,” Tajani said, adding that embassy staff will continue to operate in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.
“We are keeping diplomatic relations with Tehran open, in order to protect the Italians there and our national interests,” he wrote on X.
It is unknown whether the cardinal traveled with the group before his arrival in Rome, and OSV News is awaiting a response from both the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Franciscan General Curia in Rome regarding the circumstances of Mathieu’s return.
According to Cathobel, Mathieu is expected to meet with Vatican officials to brief them on the situation in Iran. OSV News reached out to the Vatican press office to confirm if the cardinal is expected to meet with officials, as well as with Pope Leo XIV. By publication time, the Vatican had not responded.
The war in Iran began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and weakening the country’s leadership, which they accuse of threatening Israel and destabilizing the region.
The U.S. and Israel gave similar reasons for their joint attacks on Iran in 2025.
In an interview with OSV News in July, following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Mathieu said the rise of populist nationalism had led to “more barriers and increased armament, justified by fears of actual or potential attacks.”
“This leads to a climate where pre-emptive or preventive aggression is justified, and the notion of the other as a brother or sister to love diminishes,” he said. “Negotiations are often based on power balances rather than sincere dialogue and mutual understanding.”
“It is troubling to hear the idea of ‘obtaining peace by force,’ where violence becomes the only means of addressing conflicts,” Mathieu told OSV News in July.
With the war now in its second week, the U.S. and Israel continued strikes against Iran, as well as in southern Lebanon, where a Maronite Catholic priest was killed March 9 by Israeli artillery fire.
The killing of Fr. Pierre al-Rahi prompted a statement from the Vatican press office expressing Leo’s “profound sorrow” for victims of the Middle East, including the Maronite priest and “the many innocent people, including many children, and for those who were providing them with aid.”
This story appears in the War in Iran feature series. View the full series.
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The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has dismissed an appeal filed before it by the former Governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, challenging the decision of the Kaduna State High Court to deny him bail.
Delivering its judgment in Appeal Number CA/K/254C/2026, the Appellate Court affirmed the ruling of the lower court, holding that the trial Judge exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously, with no miscarriage of justice.
In a unanimous judgment, the three-member appellate panel held that El-Rufai failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances warranting interference with the lower court’s decision to deny him bail.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment, the lead judgment delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi affirmed the ruling of the Kaduna State High Court, which refused the former governor’s second bail application on June 10, 2026.
The Court also struck out the appellant’s reply brief filed on September 29, describing it as incompetent, while resolving the sole issue for determination against El-Rufai and in favour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Appellate Court held that it would not interfere with findings of fact by a trial court where such findings had not been shown to be perverse, consequently dismissing the appeal for lack of merit.
The substantive trial has been scheduled to commence on October 12, 2026.
Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has strengthened its support for the Jakura community through scholarship awards and empowerment programmes for farmers and market women.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Monday, Plant Director, Obajana Plant, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, said the scheme was part of the company’s commitment to implementing the provisions of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).
Represented by the Head of Social Performance at the Obajana Plant, Prince Ademola Adeyemi, he said the empowerment programme benefited students, farmers and market women.
Engr. Nawabuddin said the programme, which focused on students, farmers and market women, underscores DCP’s continued commitment to sustainable community development, poverty reduction and economic empowerment across its host communities.
He said a total of twenty beneficiaries drawn from several tertiary institutions and sixty beneficiaries from secondary schools received educational grants running into several millions of naira.
He disclosed that 20 farmers were provided with essential farming implements and funds, noting that the initiative is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, encourage the adoption of improved farming practices and contribute to greater food security in the community.
Twenty market women were each provided with start-up capital and business support to strengthen their enterprises, promote financial independence and enhance household incomes.
The event attracted several stakeholders, traditional rulers, government representatives, and community leaders including: His Royal Highness, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, the Obaro of Jakura., Representative of the Olu of Oworo, Chief K.A Mahmood, (The Obalumema of Oworo Land), Engr. E.O. Olaitan, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), Mrs. A. O. Onimode, Kogi State Ministry of Solid Mineral and Natural Resources, youth and women groups, members of Jakura traditional council, among others.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Jakura CDA Committee, Chief Bonibade Ajiboye, appreciated Dangote Cement Plc Obajana Plant for keeping to commitments noting that aside the empowerment programme, the electrification project is almost completed.
He commended the Plant for the kind gesture towards Jakura community despite the security challenge. Goodwill messages were brought to the event by members of Jakura traditional council, Oworo traditional council, Federal and State representatives with all commending and joining Jakura community to express appreciation to Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant.
In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Oba Usman Adoga Ajibola, the Obaro of Jakura, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for blessing Jakura with abundant mineral resources and commended **Alhaji Aliko Dangote** for choosing to invest in the area.
The royal father also lauded Dangote Cement Plc for its numerous developmental interventions in the community, describing the latest empowerment initiative as another demonstration of the company’s commitment to improving the welfare and livelihoods of its host communities.
He pledged that the community would ensure the sustainability of the projects and see to it that the beneficiaries put their respective benefits to good use.
He prayed for Allah’s continued blessings upon Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his generosity, philanthropy and contributions to humanity.
Families of the rescued 20 abducted National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members have said they paid millions of naira in ransom before learning of their release.
Accordding to them, some relatives paid more than N3 million, while others reportedly paid up to N6 million each.
The hat security agencies, including the military, Department of State Services, DSS, police and other security formations rescued the corps members and another hostage in Imo State on Wednesday.
“I paid as much as N3 million as ransom while I was hoping that nothing happened to my child. I ran helter-skelter to raise the money. I eventually got the money and sent someone to Imo State to deliver the ransom,” a mother of one of the corps members said.
A father, who spoke to News Central Television, said he paid N6 million for the release of his abducted son.
“We had to converge somewhere in Ibadan, Oyo State to put the money together. Some of us even changed the money to dollars and sent it to Imo State to meet whoever was coming to pick it.
“I am excited that my son is coming back. However, how do I repay the N6 million I borrowed? I’m just a farmer,” he said.
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