Musa Murjanatu, 40, was once a thriving trader in Niger State, North-Central Nigeria, where terrorists have taken roots for clandestine operations. As a prosperous merchant known for food supply in the Bassa area of Shiroro, Murjanatu has not only lost her home, but also her economic power, wallowing in penury in a displacement camp.
With almost two decades in the consumer goods business, she had built a reputation as a hard-working woman who could transform modest capital into a flourishing enterprise. Her home, a large compound in Bassa, was always filled with the laughter of family members and relatives who often visited. Three years ago, everything changed.
“I left my home in Bassa due to terrorist attacks,” Murjanatu said. “Whenever they attack us, we run uphill and return two or three days after they have finished committing their atrocities. When it became unbearable, we fled, leading to our displacement. Some fled to Erena, we came to Kuta, some to Gwada, Charagi, Ilori, Gunu, and some are currently in Minna.”
Musa Murjanatu, a displaced resident of the Bassa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, laments on the living condition in Kuta displacement camp. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle.
Her once-thriving business was reduced to ashes when terrorists stormed Bassa, shooting sporadically, setting homes ablaze, kidnapping residents, and looting whatever they could. She fled with only the clothes on her back, walking for days alongside other survivors to reach Kuta, where a temporary displacement camp had been established in a central primary school.
“I arrived in Kuta without my belongings because I had just taken my bath when they invaded our community. I only had a wrapper on when we started running. When we reached Gurmana [a 10 km distance from Bassa], people were kind enough to help us with clothes to cover up properly. Then we got help and came down to Kuta,” she revealed.
The lives of Murjanatu and thousands of other women and children have been flipped by the escalating wave of terror attacks by armed groups in the agrarian communities in Shiroro. In the past three years, she has lost count of the number of close and distant relatives claimed by gruesome terror attacks.
“I have lost people. My brothers and their children were slaughtered; my in-laws were killed. I’ve lost over 70 close relatives and direct family members to terrorism. I sleep and wake up with a heavy heart,” she cried.
She is just one among the thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggling to survive in neglected displacement camps in the Shiroro Local Government Area.
In 2020, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) revealed that only 4,030 people were displaced across four local government areas of the state. As of 2024, the figure has increased to 21,393.
As of June 2024, a total of 1.3 million residents have been displaced across the North-Central and Northwest regions of Nigeria, as data from the International Organisation for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has shown.
The data encompasses over two thousand households in the states of Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Niger who have been displaced by either communal clashes, terrorism, or kidnapping, among other issues.
Children washing some utensils at the only borehole built by the Development Initiative of West Africa [DIWA] in Kuta camp. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle
While the reasons for the displacements vary considerably across the affected states, the report indicates that terrorism, in the form of killing and kidnapping, is the causal factor of the displacement of thousands of people in Niger State.
The forgotten souls
The Kuta IDP camp, located in the headquarters of the Shiroro LGA, is now a sanctuary for thousands of displaced women and children from Bassa, Allawa, Manta, Gurmana, and other communities ravaged by insurgent attacks. What was initially set up as a temporary shelter has become a permanent residence for many, with no clear path to resettlement.
The displacement crisis in Shiroro LGA is as much a humanitarian tragedy as it is an economic and social disaster. Many of the displaced seeking refuge in the central primary school in Kuta lack access to basic amenities, such as food, sanitation, and medical services, which are woefully inadequate.
The block of classrooms in the central primary school in Kuta is serving as shelter for the displaced persons in the camp. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle.
It was only recently that the Niger State governor, Umar Bago, revealed that plans are underway to build permanent structures in each of the affected areas and close down the temporary ones presently occupied by displaced persons. The proposed shelters will also serve as temporary homes “pending when the insurgency will end in the affected areas”.
When HumAngle visited the camp in March this year, the conditions were dire—overcrowded classrooms, insufficient food supply, and inadequate medical care. Sources revealed that they have been abandoned without any state intervention for over six months now.
The desk officer in the central camp, Yusuf Bala, revealed that when the camp was initially set up here, there was a rapid response from both the state and local government. Now, things are different.
“They sleep in classrooms. Due to the excessive heat we are experiencing, we have decongested the camp. Some are leaving the camp. We have about 734 households [women] here in this camp. We have 1,113 children, 204 men, because most of them are on the move. We are managing over 2,000 displaced persons here in this camp.
Yusuf Bala, the desk officer of Kuta displacement camp since 2019, raised concerns about the neglect and lack of support from the government for six months. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle.
“Currently, the situation is dire. There are issues, and we no longer receive food and medical supplies. These interventions have stopped coming in. We have written to the local and state governments. Since the beginning of this year, nothing tangible has come into this camp from the state ministry of humanitarian affairs. It has always been unfulfilled promises,” he said.
Bala, who has been managing the camp since 2019, added that until recently, when the erstwhile commissioner of health visited the camp with some heart doctors from Greece to conduct checkups and brought some food items and medical supplies to support them, “interventions don’t come in regularly.”
“As you can see, we are in fasting period, and nothing has been brought to the camp,” the desk officer said. “We only have a classroom designated as a clinic. The plain truth is we only have a mattress in it; there are no medical supplies. The personnel only attend to minor cases and give out prescriptions to those who can afford to buy the medication.”
Ahmed Almustapha, a displaced resident of Rumache village in Bassa, doubles as a humanitarian officer in the camp. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle
Ahmed Almustapha, a son of the late district head of Rumache, killed by terrorists, also confirmed that displaced widows and orphans in the camp have been abandoned. “Children are hungry, women are traumatised, and there is no end in sight to their suffering. These people feel completely abandoned,” Almustapha said.
“There are a lot of widows now taking care of their children by themselves without any support. Some have to beg to be fed. We don’t even know what the government is doing. We have lost a lot, and there is nothing that is being done about it.”
“As I speak with you now, I can’t remember when they last brought food for our people in the IDP camp here. We are appealing to the government to do the needful and come to our aid,” he noted.
Raising 12 children single-handedly
In one corner of the camp, under the shade of a classroom, sits 67-year-old Hauwa Zakari Mashuku, a grandmother who now shoulders the responsibility of raising twelve grandchildren. One of her children is among the hundreds slaughtered in numerous midnight raids in their homes.
Hauwa Zakari Mashuku, a grandmother of 12, has been living in the Kuta displacement camp for about eight years now. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle
For Hauwa, in the slightest of thoughts, this insecurity is something that wouldn’t last, but it has been eight years since she visited her community. The best she can do is to give a mental picture of how things were in the past.
“My husband and his brother were kidnapped while they were running to safety. When they attacked our village, I jumped into a river to protect my life, even though I couldn’t swim. As we speak, I have high blood pressure all from this insecurity,” she revealed.
With no source of income and limited intervention, Hauwa is overwhelmed by the burden of providing for her grandchildren. “Our businesses have collapsed. The grains we had in the village before running away have either been stolen or set ablaze. How can you have peace of mind?” she lamented.
This firewood gathered by children in the Kuta camp is subsequently sold to neighbouring homes and roadside food businesses. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle.
Her grandchildren, ranging from ages three to sixteen, spend their days in hunger, scattered across the Kuta community to gather what they can, sometimes at the mercy of handouts and the pieces of firewood they gather to sell for their survival in the camp.
For many displaced women like Hauwa, security remains a major concern, leaving them with the fear of returning to their villages as insurgents still control vast areas. Those who have summoned the courage to return are left with difficult choices: to farm and share their crops with terrorists, become informants, or pay taxes.
The displacement dilemma
“Our children and younger generation are not in schools; they are scattered in IDP camps,” Dangana Yusuf, a displaced resident of Bassa, told HumAngle. “When illiteracy is high, it can be catastrophic. We can see how it is fuelling terrorism today.”
Salamatu Abdullahi, a displaced mother of seven, told HumAngle that sending her children to school is impossible as they struggle to survive with limited intervention. Photo credit: Isah Ismaila/HumAngle.
Among the displaced are thousands of children who have been forced out of school due to the conflict. Many have witnessed unspeakable horrors—the killing of parents, the burning of their homes, and the trauma of displacement. Without education, their futures hang in the balance.
Almustapha, a displaced local and humanitarian worker, expressed his anguish over the bleak future that lies ahead. “The thought of our future is heartbreaking,” he lamented. “Once operational, schools are now shut down due to the attacks, leaving over 10,000 children in these communities without access to education. The consequences are alarming – an uneducated generation spells disaster.”
Murjanutu also stated: “It has been five years since anyone attended school in Bassa. These terrorists have put a stop to education in our community. No one is willing to risk their child going to school and getting kidnapped. Here in Kuta, we desire for our children to attend school, but we can’t even afford to feed them. How, then, can we send them to school?”
As for Salamatu Abdullahi, another displaced mother of seven who has only spent about two years in the camp, school is not an option for now as her priority remains how to feed her children, who have been forced to be breadwinners at a very tender age.
“Five of my children have headed to a mining site to get something so that we can feed ourselves. Sometimes they get lucky, sometimes they don’t. We have lots of orphans; we also have widows currently mourning their husbands. We are here in this camp without food or a form of business,” Salamatu said regretfully, noting that, “If our children are in school, how can we survive? You can’t even study properly without food in your stomach. That is why we don’t even talk about sending them to school.”
Breadwinners have been reduced to beggars. Many displaced women in Kuta were once traders, farmers, and skilled artisans. Now, they rely on handouts. Without financial aid, they cannot rebuild their lives.
Attempts by some to start small businesses outside the camp—selling roasted corn, firewood, or sachet water—are met with challenges, including a lack of capital.
“I left a lot behind. I had two grinding engines; they were burnt. One of my sons is a tailor; his shop was burnt down by terrorists. I sell awara [tofu]. I fry buns up to 10 measures daily. But now there’s nothing. Whenever I remember how things were and how it is now, I feel bad,” Salamatu added.
“If I can’t get some sort of support to start a business and take care of my children, I will be happy. Above all, I wish to go back home because my home is better than living here.”
For now, women like Murjanatu and Salamatu depend on meagre food rations often distributed by the few humanitarian agencies who drop by. In most cases, they rely on handouts and the petty services they render in markets.
“I barely get ₦1,000 ($0.65) daily to take care of myself and six children; now, I don’t know where my next meal will come from,” Murja said, with her voice laced with grief.
They told HumAngle that some children in the displacement camps spread into the market in Kuta while school activities are ongoing to pick up spilt grains—rice, maize, and millet—from the pans of sellers and bring them home for their parents to sort and prepare a meal for their hungry stomachs. “When they bring it, we then pick out the stones before cooking it. We are living in bondage,” she added.
The insecurity has had devastating effects on the displaced local population, and their current situation in the Kuta IDP camp presents a plethora of challenges, especially the abandonment and lack of access to education.
“We want to go back home and take care of our children. Living in such conditions can push a child to steal or engage in prostitution. When a young girl is hungry and her parents cannot afford to feed her, she can be easily deceived to engage in immoralities just to fill up her stomach,” Murja lamented
As the sun sets over the Shiroro Dam, casting its reflection on the still waters of the Kaduna River, these women displaced by insecurity want “to go back home and live our lives as farmers.” Until then, their silent struggles may be another forgotten chapter in the annals of history.
This is the third of a three-part investigation on the human costs of the infiltration of Boko Haram elements in Niger State. Additional reporting by Ibrahim Adeyemi.
Kate Pryke is campaigning to prevent new housing being built in a village where sewage facilities are over capacity
On the edge of Buckingham in southern England, the quiet and leafy village of Maids Moreton, dotted with thatched cottages, is at the heart of a dilemma.
There is a plan – already granted permission – to add 153 new homes to the existing community of 350 houses, a medieval church and a pub.
But the local sewage works has been over capacity for years, and there is no sign of it being upgraded soon.
A choice is looming over what to do if the planned new homes are built.
Leave them standing empty, waiting for upgrades to the wastewater treatment system before they are connected?
Or connect them anyway and let people move in – contributing towards Buckinghamshire Council’s target for new homes, but increasing the sewage pollution of the nearby river, the Great Ouse?
“You wouldn’t dream of building a house that you couldn’t connect to electricity, or that was never going to connect to a road. But for some reason we’re building houses that have nowhere to treat the sewage,” says Kate Pryke, one of the local residents campaigning to prevent the development being built.
Maids Moreton’s dilemma is an increasingly common one across England – as ageing sewage works, water industry under-investment and chronic pollution in many areas appear to threaten the government’s ambitious plans to build 1.5 million homes this parliament.
About 30 miles away in Oxford, concerns over sewage capacity led to the Environment Agency objecting to all new development, placing up to 18,000 new homes in limbo. It led a group of developers, including some of Oxford University’s colleges, to describe the city as “uninvestable”.
“We think the problem is rife across England and Wales,” says Justin Neal, solicitor at Wildfish, an environmental charity that campaigns against river pollution.
The charity has been granted permission for a judicial review at the High Court, challenging Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the Maids Moreton development.
It says the case goes to the heart of the gap between plans for new housing and the capacity of the existing sewage infrastructure.
Getty Images
Sewage works in many parts of the country are over capacity – a potential obstacle to building new homes
The area is “a good example of where too many houses have been put in”, and as a result the local sewage works – Buckingham Water Recycling Centre – “won’t be able to deal with all the sewage that’s going to it,” says Mr Neal.
He says sewage from the Maids Moreton development would likely end up being discharged into the Great Ouse as a result, “a river which is already suffering from pollution”.
“We hope that people start listening, particularly in government, and the ministers start thinking, ‘Well, maybe there is a way around this.’ And it’s to put more pressure on water companies to make sure that they have capacity.”
The water companies – along with the regulator Ofwat and the Environment Agency – decide when and where sewerage investment will be made. While this should take account of future housing need, there is no way for a local council or developer to influence investment decisions directly – or even pay for the extra capacity.
In Maids Moreton, Anglian Water stated in planning documents 10 years ago that Buckingham Water Recycling Centre did not have any capacity for new development.
Since the site was flagged as being at capacity in 2015, planning permission has been granted for about 1,500 homes in and around Buckingham, hundreds of which have already been built and connected to the over-capacity treatment works.
Joe Crowley / BBC
Maids Moreton is a village of thatched cottages and mid-20th Century homes
Sewage pollution is listed by the Environment Agency as one of the reasons the Great Ouse is failing to achieve “good ecological status”.
Last year the treatment works released sewage into the river for a total of 2,001 hours – the equivalent of more than two-and-a-half months non-stop – although Anglian Water claims this is not related to site capacity.
“They don’t even have the money to upgrade it for the housing that’s here. The idea that one day it will be upgraded to cope with all the growth is just a pipe dream,” says Mrs Pryke.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Environmental policies in the area’s local plan to protect rivers led to a planning condition that developers have to prove that “adequate capacity is available or can be provided” at wastewater treatment works.
But in the Maids Moreton case, no capacity upgrades have been carried out and there are none currently planned. There was provisional funding to upgrade the capacity of the works between 2020-25 but it was reallocated to priority schemes elsewhere in the region.
“We are currently reviewing and prioritising our growth portfolio for delivery over the next five years,” Anglian Water said, but the company did not respond to questions about whether the upgrades to Buckingham sewage works would take place before 2030.
Unable to meet the planning condition about sewage capacity, the developer – David Wilson Homes South Midlands, part of the UK’s largest housebuilder Barratt Redrow – applied to amend it so construction could start and the council agreed.
“Under pressure from the developer, they’ve watered this down, and it means that these houses can now be built without paying attention to whether or not the sewage works has capacity,” says Mr Neal from Wildfish.
“What we need is proper joined-up thinking where there should be no development unless there is capacity.”
Joe Crowley / BBC
Justin Neal from environmental charity Wildfish says he wants ministers to pressure water companies to add capacity
Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for planning Peter Strachan said the local authority “follows the planning process rigorously” and it has made the new homes subject to “a condition preventing any part of the development from being occupied unless and until confirmation has been provided to the council that wastewater upgrades have been completed”. He added “it is not appropriate for the council to comment further” because of the legal challenge.
Occupation clauses like the one imposed by the council are known as “Grampian conditions”, after a 1984 court case, and are often used when work is required that is beyond the developer’s control. They are increasingly common as local authorities grapple with the challenge of building new homes in areas where the sewage works are at capacity.
However, once homes with planning permission are built, water companies are obliged to connect them to the sewage network, regardless of its capacity.
“The very idea that they are going to sit empty for months, possibly years without being occupied because there’s a condition that hasn’t been met is an utter nonsense,” says Kate Pryke. “And in any event the council will have no interest in enforcing that condition.”
Neither the council nor the developer answered the BBC’s questions about when they expect Buckingham sewage works to be upgraded and how long they would be prepared for the newly built houses to remain unoccupied.
But the developer said it would “ensure a programme of any wastewater upgrades required to support the development has been agreed with Anglian Water”. On the development site itself, the company said there will be “at least a 10% uplift in biodiversity” with the installation of “bat and bird boxes and hedgehog highways”.
Joe Crowley / BBC
Campaigners fear sewage from the new development will be discharged into the Great Ouse
The BBC also asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government what should happen in areas where new homes are needed but where there is no available sewage capacity in the foreseeable future – and also whether Buckinghamshire Council had been right to grant planning permission in Maids Moreton.
A government spokesperson said: “Councils must consider sewerage capacity as part of their housebuilding plans and, through our Independent Water Commission, we will clean up our waterways by making sure planning for development and water infrastructure works more efficiently.”
The judicial review could take place later this year. If the charity is successful it could stop the Maids Moreton development going ahead and place future housebuilding in the area in doubt.
It comes at a time when the government says it is “turbocharging growth” and overhauling the planning system – with Chancellor Rachel Reeves promising to reduce “environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into the nature restoration fund… so they can focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about bats and newts”.
Mr Neal says the charity’s legal case, however, is not about “newt-hugging” or “people caring for fish more than they do for people who are homeless” – but about development being held back by the lack of capacity in sewage works.
“The solution is not to take away the laws that give the environment protection, but to build better sewage works that actually do their job properly.”
AN ELECTRICIAN heroically smashed his way into a burning home to help save two people from a fire which killed a mum and three of her children.
Victor Pedra heard a dad crying and screaming “my children, my wife, my whole family is in there” at around 1.15am on Saturday.
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A blue teddy and flowers have been left at the scene of the fatal house fireCredit: Steve Bell
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The flat fire killed a mother and three of her children in the middle of the nightCredit: PA
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Floral tributes left at the scene in Tillett Close, in Brent, north west LondonCredit: PA
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The tragic blaze killed a mum and her three childrenCredit: Leticia Marie
He bravely ran towards the flames and broke a lower floor window to gain access to his neighbour’s house in Brent, west London.
The dad-of-two helped rescue a grandmother aged in her 70s, who has been released from hospital, and her teen granddaughter who remains in intensive care.
Victor, 33, said: “I heard the dad outside crying and screaming ‘my children, my wife, my whole family is in there’. He was in shock and couldn’t really speak.
“I had gone outside and saw people standing around watching these huge flames so I just knew I had to act. I cut my hand breaking the window.
“The grandmother and one of the daughters managed to get out safely. The only way they could escape was through the garden as the front door was blocked by the fire.
“The flames were so strong and there was smoke everywhere. I couldn’t get to the second floor where the mum and her youngest son was.
“I also had to wake up the people in the house next door before it caught fire as they were all sleeping and hadn’t realised.
“Firefighters managed to bring the mum and one of the sons out and attempted CPR for about an hour but it was no use.
“They also managed to bring the other son and eldest daughter out from the top floor but sadly it was too late for them. It was really tough to see.
“I couldn’t sleep that night as I just kept hearing the screams from inside the house.”
His partner Leticia Maria, 31, added: “I was speechless. One of the firefighters was my friend but I didn’t even recognise him from the shock.
“It all happened so quickly. The fire seemed to take hold instantly. It seemed like it started from the top down because it wasn’t as strong at the bottom.
“The little girl managed to escape and was covered in black stuff from the smoke. She looked about 12-years-old.
“No one knows what caused the fire but you could hear explosions like things were popping.
“All the children must have been sleeping at that time. It’s just such a tragedy.”
Brent councillor Tariq Dar MBE named Usman Ghani, known as Ozzy, as the man who lost his wife and three children in the tragic fire.
He wrote on Facebook: “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of the wife and three beloved children—a daughter and two young sons—of Brother Usman Ghani in a tragic house fire in Wembley last night.
“Please remember the entire family in your heartfelt duas during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Met Police arrested a 41-year-old man who remains in custody on suspicion of murder.
Firefighters were supervising today while specialist workers secured the terraced home so detectives can investigate safely.
Six bouquets of flowers and a large blue teddy bear were left at the large police cordon surrounding the estate near Wembley Stadium.
A friend who knew the family well said: “It’s very sad. They were such loving and friendly people and will be dearly missed by everyone.
“Usman would always give me good advice. If something ran out like my milk or eggs, I would always go and borrow from them and it would never be a problem.
“He bought this house and worked very hard in a warehouse through an agency. He used to be a bus driver but had to stop due to health issues.
“The family are practising Muslims and were originally from Pakistan when Usman’s parents moved here over 25 years ago. His dad died a couple of years ago.
“I would always see the kids playing outside. It’s making me tear up thinking I will never see them again now the family is broken.
“They had just started half term and it makes me really sad thinking they won’t be going back to school.”
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Emergency services at the scene with the burned home behindCredit: David Dyson – Commissioned by The Sun
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Metropolitan Police Superintendent Steve Allen (left) and London Fire Brigade (LFB) Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster speaking to the media at sceneCredit: PA
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A canopy is erected in Tillett Close, Brent, north-west LondonCredit: PA
GOVERNMENT officials are investigating the possibility of Russia having links to arson attacks at properties belonging to Sir Keir Starmer, it is claimed.
Two homes and a car previously owned by the Prime Minister were torched earlier this month.
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A burning car in the same north London street where Sir Keir Starmer has a propertyCredit: PA
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Police forensics officers seen near the PM’s home on May 12Credit: Getty
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The inquiry is being led by the Met’s counterterrorism commandCredit: Reuters
Officials probing whether the three Ukrainian-born men charged with arson or conspiring to commit arson were recruited by the Kremlin, according to senior Whitehall figures.
This is just one of many lines of investigation being explored.
Talks are ongoing on how to respond if this proves to be the case, they told the Financial Times.
Even if there are found to be Russian links that does not mean the suspects were aware of any Kremlin involvement.
Cops have already said they suspect the trio of suspects could be part of a wider community.
However, they are keeping an open mind about motive.
The inquiry is being led by the Met’s counterterrorism command due to the connection to a high profile public figure, the force previously confirmed.
The suspects have been charged with criminal as opposed to national security offences.
Petro Pochynok, 34, is accused of conspiring to damage by fire the PM’sformer Toyota Rav4,a property where he once livedand his family’sformer housewith intent to endanger life.
ModelsRoman Lavrynovych, 21, andStanislav Carpiuc, 26, are also charged with plotting arsons between April 17 and May 13.
The charges relate to a vehicle fire in Kentish Town on May 8, a fire at the entrance of a property in Islington on May 11 and a fire at a residential address in Kentish Town in the early hours of May 12.
The three suspects deny the charges.
On Monday, police raided a two-bed North London flat said to have been previously shared by Pochynok and Carpiuc, his dad and brother until about six months ago.
Pochynok is said to have last visited the property three weeks ago.
Six officers were seen carrying evidence bags out after spending about four hours inside.
Carpiuc was arrested last Saturday at Luton Airport as he prepared to catch a Wizz Air flight to Romania.
He studied business at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, and is awaiting his results.
On website StarNow.com, Carpiuc said he wanted to be the “top male model in the world”.
The suspects have not displayed any links to Russia.
One has previously posted pro Ukraine messaging on social media.
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Petro Pochynok is the third man to appear in court charged over an alleged plot to torch two homes and a car linked to Sir Keir Starmer
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Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, is also charged with plotting arsons between April 17 and May 13
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Model Roman Lavrynovych, 21, of Sydenham, has also been chargedCredit: Pixel8000
In one case, a person suffered permanent brain damage because of a delayed transfer, The Guardian newspaper reported.
UnitedHealth has allegedly secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers — the latest accusations in a series of woes facing the health insurance giant.
The alleged action, first reported by The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday, was part of a series of cost-cutting tactics that have saved the company millions, but at times, risked residents’ health, the publication showed, citing an investigation.
The story, which cites thousands of documents and firsthand accounts of more than 20 former employees of the healthcare company and nursing homes, says that the insurance giant sent its own medical teams to nursing homes to push the cost-cutting measures. As a result, patients who urgently needed medical care did not receive it, including one person who now lives with permanent brain damage after a delayed transfer.
The allegations add to the litany of negatives that have hurt UnitedHealth in the last several months, following a massive cyberattack at its Change Healthcare unit, reports of criminal and civil investigations into the company’s practices, including one for Medicare fraud and the abrupt departure of CEO Andrew Witty last week.
UnitedHealth said in response to the story, “The US Department of Justice investigated these allegations, interviewed witnesses, and obtained thousands of documents that demonstrated the significant factual inaccuracies in the allegations.”
The company also said that the DOJ “declined to pursue the matter”.
Wall Street responds
Shares have stumbled all year, losing more than 39 percent compared with a 0.6 percent decrease for the Dow. As of noon ET (16:00 GMT), the stock is down more than 3.6 percent.
“The news is only seemingly getting worse for UnitedHealth,” said Sahak Manuelian, managing director, global equity trading at Wedbush Securities.
HSBC downgraded the stock to “reduce” from “hold,” and cut the price target to a street-low of $270.
The brokerage said higher medical costs, pressure on drug pricing and its pharmacy benefit management unit, OptumRx, and a potential Medicaid funding cut can upset the company’s recovery journey.
Amazon often slashes prices on household appliances, making it a great place to shop for labour-saving gadgets like electric spin scrubbers and fence paint sprayers.
This clever little window vacuum is designed to make cleaning windows, mirrors, tiles and shower screens an absolute breeze.
It’s lightweight, quiet, and easy to handle, so you can get the job done without breaking a sweat.
Karcher says its leave surfaces streak- and drip-free, giving you sparkling results every time (though some Amazon shoppers say a lint-free rag might be needed to finish the job).
The VW 2 Plus comes with two suction nozzles, one wide and one narrow, so you can clean big areas and smaller, hard-to-reach places.
The vacuum also sucks up dirty water without leaving any residue behind and lets you empty it hygienically without touching the mess.
The set includes everything you need to get started: a spray bottle, a microfibre cloth, two nozzles, and 20 ml of Kärcher window cleaner concentrate.
SHOPPING experts have revealed when is the ideal time to stock up on major garden essentials to make huge savings.
Three of the key items should be bought this month in order to make the biggest savings.
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Gazebos are a must-have for the unpredictable British summerCredit: Getty
Boffins at comparison site Idealo have done the hard work for us and worked out that shoppers could save £183.84 if they purchase a gazebo this month, rather than in November, when they are at its worst price.
One shopper recently bragged about picking up a “huge” gazebo from her local Morrisons for just £20.
May is also your month for hedge trimmer shopping and you could save £12.80 as opposed to buying in August as their most expensive month.
As most parents will know, tearing kids away from screens can sometimes be a challenge, making garden toys a lifeline in the summer months.
read more on garden bargains
If you’re after something that will keep your little ones entertained for hours, what about the trusty pogo stick?
May is the best month to pick one up, creating a saving of £1.24 rather than in December.
For your other green-fingered needs, June has been officially crowned as the cheapest month of the year to buygarden bitsin the UK, with the greatestdealson offer.
While June is ideal, buying garden goodies any time between the end of May and August is also promised to save you cash.
Idealo found that savings of up to £649 can be made by buying each item at the right time.
Katy Phillips, senior brand and communications manager at idealo tells The Sun: “Our data shows that a little patience can go a long way when it comes to saving money on garden essentials this year.
“Holding off until the right month could save shoppers hundreds of pounds on big-ticket items like sun loungers, tables and fire pits.
“We’d always recommend comparing prices across multiple retailers before committing to a purchase. With a bit of planning, and by using apps with tools like price alerts, you can enjoy your garden for less and make your money stretch further this summer.”
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The best time to buy a hedge trimmer is MayCredit: Getty
How to save money on garden furniture
Opting to buy your new garden furniture or items on sale could save you a lot of money.
Most retailers start discounting garden items after summer and will run promotions over the winter, but be aware stock can be far more limited during this time.
Retailers will start reintroducing more to their garden ranges during spring and may run limited promotions over bank holidays, for example.
You are unlikely to get a great deal just before or in the height of summer, but some retailers offer mid-summer clearance sales to get rid of old stock, so keep an eye out.
Remember to always shop around when making a big purchase, as even if one store has a sale on, you may be able to get a better deal elsewhere.
You can use websites like Price Spy to compare the prices of items across multiple retailers and see how the prices have changed over time.
Remember, you may not need to buy you furniture – you could save a fortune by up-cycling old items instead.
Giving dirty pieces a good wash and a lick of fresh paint can make them look brand new.
You can also pick up perfectly good items second-hand.
Try platforms like Facebook Marketplace or eBay to see if anyone near you is getting rid of old items – you may even be able to pick them up for free.
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May is an excellent month to score the best deals on garden toolsCredit: Getty
A MAN and his company have been charged after a 27 tonne mountain of rotting rubbish was dumped in a road.
The mound of industrial waste, which is longer than two double-decker buses combined, was dumped by fly-tippers back in January.
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The27 tonne mound of rubbish was fly-tipped on Watery Lane, LichfieldCredit: BPM
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A man and a company have now been charged for dumping the wasteCredit: BPM
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The pile is longer than two double-decker buses combinedCredit: PA
Furious locals complained about being trapped inside their homes by the humongous 80ft mountain of waste.
Local businesses were also been left stranded due to the blockage on Watery Lane in Lichfield,Staffordshire.
Now, Lichfield District Council said a man from Uttoxeter now faces multiple charges.
These include depositing waste, endangering road users, dangerous driving, breaching HGV drivers’ hours regulations, and obstructing the highway.
A company, based near Stafford, has been charged with depositing the waste and obstructing the highway.
Resident Elaine Hutchings, who owns a livery yard, previously said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distance.
She explained that the rural road – which was already inaccessible on one end due to ongoing works – was now completely unusable.
She said: “It’s industrial rubbish, building waste, you can smell it.
“Watery Lane is used as a cut-through. The one end was already shut due to scheduled works and this being dumped this morning means residents and businesses will be left isolated.”
She added that nine or ten households had been cut off – with a small number, including Elaine’s, able to escape their properties via an alternative route set up by housing developer Redrow.
The local told how staff from Lichfield District Council had been on-site to move the build-up, adding: “I had a message from a farmer and they sent me a photograph.
“I drove up and called the council, councillors and the police were already there.
“They are trying to sort the logistics of trying to get it moved.”
Both the man and company who have been charged are due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on July 1.
Councillor Doug Pullen, the leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “This was an appalling act of environmental crime.
“Local people woke up to find their only route to and from their homes completely blocked, and the cost to the taxpayer of removing and disposing of the waste was nearly £10,000.
“Thanks to the swift action of our environmental health officers, suspects were quickly identified, leading to these charges.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping, because that’s what our communities rightly expect.
“This case is about more than prosecution. It’s about protecting our environment, supporting law-abiding businesses, safeguarding local people—and sending a strong message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated.”
CRIMINAL OFFENCE
FLY-TIPPING means dumping waste illegally, instead of using the kerbside collection service or your local recycling centre.
From a bin bag left in front of your bin store or on the street to a mountain of tyres abandoned in a field, it’s all flytipping.
Flytipping is a criminal offence. If you’re caught you face a fixed penalty notice of £200.
But if you get taken to court, you could be fined up to £40,000 or sent to prison for a maximum of five years.
It’s up to you to store and dispose of your household waste legally, safely and responsibly.
This means using your bins correctly and taking them in again once emptied. Check your local Council website for the correct way to use your bins.
If you have any information relating to a flytipping incident you can report it anonymously on your local council website.
Credit: The Scottish Government / Glasgow City Council
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The mound was 10ft highCredit: PA
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Resident Elaine Hutchings said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distanceCredit: PA
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Aerial shots reveal the full length of the moundCredit: PA
A HOMEOWNER was left stunned after her neighbour took matters into their own hands with their DIY project.
She took to Reddit to explain what happened, and people were left divided on it all.
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The homeowner shared a snap of their fence on RedditCredit: Reddit
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People had different ideas of how they could get their own backCredit: Getty
The problem started when her neighbours decided to add a small building to the back of their garden.
Initially, the project made no difference to the homeowner and she thought nothing of it.
That is until she came home from work one day to discover they had replaced their shared fence for their benefit.
It turned out the small outbuilding had a small window on the wall next to the shared fence, but because of the normal fence panels no light could get into the window.
That’s when the neighbours decided to take matters into their own hands.
The homeowner explained: “I came home from work today and this is how the fence looks, the neighbour has had a building built at the bottom of the garden and a window on the building just the other side of that fence.
“I understand it’s to allow light to pass through the window bit it looks white and why should my privacy be invaded for their benefit?”
Alongside the post, the homeowner shared a picture of the new fence, which had large holes in the design to allow light through.
However, as well as letting light into her neighbour’s new space, the new fence allowed them to peek right into her garden.
After sharing the post on Reddit users were left divided over how the homeowner should go about the problem.
Moment neighbour ‘STEALS’ 1.9m of next door’s garden & tears down their shed in bitter land row while they’re on holiday
One said: “That is certainly one of the most moronic things I’ve ever seen.”
Meanwhile, a second suggested adding plants to the area to solve the problem.
They explained: “You can buy laurel trees that are already a couple of metres high to give a hedge a head start.
“This is what I did last year. I planted 10 two metre high laurels last spring and they are doing really well.”
And while someone else suggested adding another shed on their side of the fence, another person had an easier plan.
They said: “Instead of a shed, just put two garden chairs directly facing it, then sit there and look in through their window.
“Privacy works both ways and when they don’t have it, they will want it back.”
The Top Five Reasons Neighbours Squabble
One study by Compare the Market revealed the top reason British neighbour’s argue
Broken fences – top of the board was broken fences and whose responsibility it was to fix it
Parking: one of the leading drivers of neighbour disputes, with 54.1 per cent of people having issues with people parking in front of their house, parking bay or driveway
Trees – complaints about a neighbour’s tree cracking your garden path was also common with nearly half of participants finding it frustrating
Bin wars – outdoor bin etiquette continues to ignite the most furious debates between neighbours
Nosy Neighbours – some people have their eyes and ears at the ready to have a peek causing problems for others
This sprayer is made for small to medium jobs like fences, sheds, decking, and garden furniture.
You don’t need any fancy sprayable paint either – it works with normal fence paint, oil, varnish, stains, and wood treatments.
It’s got some cracking features to make the job easier.
You can adjust the paint flow for precise painting and switch the paint jet to suit what you’re working on.
The gun’s detachable, so it’s dead easy to clean, refill, or swap attachments, and has a decent 1.4-litre capacity.
It can reportedly spray a whole fence panel in under two minutes.
We’ve not tried it ourselves, but over 4,300 people on Amazon have, and they’ve left it with an average 4.5 out of 5-star rating.
“Wish I’d purchased this sooner!” one happy shopper writes. “If you’re looking for a fence/decking sprayer to do the job – this thing is more than adequate!
“Best £50 I’ve spent in a LONG time!! Fantastic product, easy to use and most importantly – a major time saver!!!”
Another said: “Excellent coverage. Powerful and lightweight. Totally impressed with this machine.
“I still can’t believe how good it paints and how fast. In no time we have garden benches and fence panels that look as good as new.”
One more added, “Works like a dream… Brilliant!
“I was dubious about getting this as I had tried pump-type sprayers before, but they were useless. The results were brilliant, quick and easy.”
If your shed, fences, or garden furniture need sprucing up, now’s the time to sort it out – ahead of the summer months.
SHOPPERS are hot footing it down to B&M to buy pretty and on-trend garden plants scanning for just £10 at the checkout.
The bargain shop is selling the social media garden must-have just in time forsummer.
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B&M is selling Salix Flamingo plants for only £10
People couldn’t believe their eyes after a fellow Flamingo Tree fan let everyone know in a Facebook group, Bargain Lovers, they were being sold for the cheapest price yet.
Delighted users started commenting and tagging their friends in.
One person wrote: “That’s a great price they are lovely shrubs so pretty.”
Meanwhile, another added: “Love these, £10, right bargain.”
Another let her friend know about the deal and simply said “quick”.
The pink Salix Flamingo Trees, known for their brightly-coloured foliage, are just £10.
They are also selling small hedge plants which were being sold for £4 last year.
They’re the cheapest on the market right now, with B&Q selling its 17cm trees for a pricier £24.99.
If you can’t find the Flamingo Tree in B&M, The Range is also selling them for £15.
Wilko‘s deal on the plant, like B&Q, is also more expensive than The Range, charging £17 for a 40cm tree.
5 ways to save money in B&M
On eBay you would have to pay £9.95 for a mini plant – an amount which could almost get you three when shopping at B&M.
It comes as a reminder to always compare prices before buying a product, which you can do through websites like Trolley.
The flamingo plants are currently unavailable to view online – meaning you’ll have to visit your local store to see if they stock it.
It’s important to bear in mind that prices may vary between locations.
If you want to find your nearest B&M store, you can use the Store Finder tool on its website.
They have 280 outdoor plants and trees to browse online, such as a rose bush for £23.99.
Another quick way to cut costs is by visiting at the right time.
One ex-manager told The Sun this is around 10am on a Wednesday, when staff slash the price of items to as little as 10p to clear excess stock and make way for new products.
Deals expert Tom Church said to keep an eye out for red sticker products as well.
It’s worth signing up to Facebook pages dedicated to hunting for bargains from B&M and other discounters too.
A 125-year-old Jacobean-style mansion is hitting the auction block for just £288,000.
The catch? Prospective buyers can only view it from a distance.
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The Jacobean mansion in north Wales has been put up for sale for just £288,000
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Originally constructed of stone in 1899 at the cost of just £4,453, a later extension was added to the incredible mansion in 1912
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The building had been used as office accommodation for a number of years but it is now set to be sold at auction between May 20 and 22
Shire Hall, in Llangefni on the island of Anglesey, north Wales, was built in 1899 and sits overlooking the Afon Cefni river.
It was originally constructed of stone at a cost of £4,453, with an extension added in 1912.
Once used as office space, the building is now derelict following a serious fire, and is considered unsafe to enter.
It’s set to be sold at auction between 20 and 22 May.
Viewings are restricted due to the building’s dangerous condition, including a collapsed roof and major structural damage.
Paul Fosh Auctions, which is handling the sale, says the site has planning permission in place for six riverside apartments.
However, they note that a more extensive development could be possible, depending on future discussions with the local council.
Gemma Vaughan from the auction house said: “The lot offers a most unusual and exciting opportunity for an investor/developer to acquire this historic building in the heart of Llangefni.”
Shire Hall stands on Glanhwfa Road, about a mile from the A55 expressway, which links the island to the rest of north Wales and Cheshire.
Anglesey is well known for its coastal walks and sandy beaches, although Shire Hall itself is far from the seaside charm – with only ruins remaining of its former grandeur.
The sale includes Shire Hall, along with around 90 other lots, in an online auction hosted by Paul Fosh Auctions, starting at 12 noon and running from May 20 to 22.
Another property has left Brits scratching their heads – not because of its price, but also because no one’s allowed inside.
Dubbed the “mansion you can’t go inside,” the eerie estate sits behind locked gates with no signs of life, yet manages to attract curious onlookers and conspiracy theories in equal measure.
Locals say the sprawling home has been sealed up for years, with perfectly manicured gardens but not a soul ever seen entering or leaving.
There’s no for-sale sign, no public records of recent ownership changes, and absolutely no explanation as to why the doors remain firmly shut.
Despite the mystery, the mansion has become an unlikely tourist magnet, with visitors travelling miles just to snap a photo at the gates.
It may not be Britain’s most expensive or oldest home, but it’s certainly one of the strangest, and its secrecy only adds to the eerie fascination.
This comes as Britain’s “loneliest house” went on the market for £250,000, but it comes with a huge catch.
Meanwhile, viewers of Britain’s Most Expensive Houses were left baffled by a rather unusual tactic used in a bid to sell a jaw-dropping £29m mansion.
Plus, the “UK’s smallest house“, measuring less than 2.5 metres wide, has hit the market for £200k – proving once again that when it comes to British property, size, access, and logic don’t always apply.
Top ten most affordable places in England and Wales
THE affordability ratio is the average number of years of salary needed to buy a house.
A lower figure means the area is more affordable.
Here are the top ten most affordable places in England and Wales:
1. Blaenau Gwent (Wales): affordability ratio 3.75 – £130,000 average house price – £34,635 average wage
