19th September 2026

Thirty-seven people accused of illegal mining in north-central Nigeria have died in custody as a consequence of overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the detention facility in Niger state. However, the the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) blamed on an apparent disease outbreak. One many whose son was among those detained told reporters that his son described how many had fainted in the heat of the overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell. Despite repeatedly knocking on the door for help none was provided. A mother of one of the detainees, Shafa'atu Suleiman, told Reuters  news agency that officials had refused to allow relatives to deliver food to the detainees and demanded 100,000 naira ($75) for them to be freed. Security forces opened fire as hundreds of people took to the streets in Minna to protest against the deaths.  Some protesters tried to set fire to government buildings in the Tunga neighbourhood.  Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the immediate suspension of Niger State's NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.  "It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. 

Loving God, you have taught us to care for all wgho are in prison.  We ask ou comfort and care for those whose loved ones have died in this incident.   May  the authroities' investigate find the truth of what happened and make recommendations to ensure the humane treatment of detainees, and justice be done according to the law.  May all responsible for prison operations ensure that all who are held are treated with human dignity regardless of the crimes of which they are accused. May our humanity not be degraded becasue of our anger of criminal actions.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

Thermoplastics lack conventional recycling methods and eventually breakdown into microplastics that poison people and the environment. The Schick family in San Carlos, California, have established a non profit organisation, Precious Plastics, that reuses thermoplastics. Community groups divert these difficult-to-recycle plastics to Precious Plastics, where they are shredded into small granules that can be heat-pressed in moulds  and transformed into new objects such as furniture, combs, keyrings, clipboards, and many other items. The community also come up with the ideas to reduce plastic waste. For example, Sofie Roux, was working in Malawi to set up solar-powered classrooms from shipping containers. She contacted Precious Plastics hoping to get desks made out of the plastic. Precious Plastics sent some press machines to Malawi and helped to install them and whelp them to produce their own desks out of plastic gathered locally in Malawi. 

You can find out more about Precious plastics here.

Almighty and loving Father, 

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

We bow before you offering our praise.

We magnify your Holy name. 

Thank you for the gift of creation

and that you created us in your own image.

Thank you for all that sustains our earthly bodies

and all that sustains our souls.

We thank you too for talents of mind and eye and hand,

that bring us fulfilment

and enable us to be of service to you and to one another.

We thank you for friendship and family,

for those with whom we can laugh and rejoice

and for those with whom we can weep and mourn.

Your might is beyond measure,

your wisdom beyond knowledge.

We are unable to grasp the breadth and length and height

and depth of your love. 

Thank you O God for the gift of your Son,

born into the world to heal the sick and befriend sinners,

to teach us your truth and show us a new way to live.

Thank you that through his death,

and by faith in him,

you have given us a way to be reborn,

counted worthy to be adopted as your children,

and to inherit eternal life, lived with you.

Eternal Father fill us with your Holy Spirit

and use each one of us to continue your work

in the places we live and throughout the world.

Help us to use the gift that the Holy Spirit

has given each one of us

that your will may be done on earth

so that your Kingdom will grow

and you name glorified.

To you O Lord we lift our hearts and voices

in songs of everlasting praise;

blessing and honour and glory and power be yours

for ever and ever.