Nigeria held a state funeral Friday for almost 40 people killed by gunmen at a church service earlier this month, amid strong appeals for authorities to act quickly to prevent future tragedies.
A clergyman of Nigeria's Methodist Church has revealed the church paid a ransom of nearly a quarter-million dollars for his release. The payment comes as Nigeria's president is expected to sign a bill punishing those who pay ransoms with up to 15 years in prison.
Nigerian consumers and producers have struggled with soaring prices in the past year, including foodstuffs normally shipped from the Black Sea area now engulfed in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The new measure calls for a punishment of six months in jail or a fine of about $1,200 for cross-dressers
