Lagos, NIGERIA | AFP | Herders are believed to have killed 25 villagers in central Nigeria’s Plateau state, police said on Wednesday, in the latest violence linked to land, water and grazing rights. The killings happened on Monday in the Bassa area of Plateau state, just a few days after …
Read More »Nigeria struggles to contain dramatic spread of deadly Lassa fever
Irrua, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria is battling on two fronts against an unprecedented outbreak of Lassa fever, a cousin of Ebola, that has already killed 110 people this year. Even as doctors are grappling to contain the threat, health watchdogs are struggling to understand why the deadly virus has …
Read More »Tillerson ends Africa trip vowing US backing against terror
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Secretary of State Rex Tillerson brought his truncated maiden Africa trip to a close on Monday, promising the full backing of the United States to two countries on the frontline of the war on terror. Washington’s top diplomat has been on a five-country tour of east …
Read More »Nigeria plane makes emergency landing in Ghana
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A Nigerian plane made an emergency landing in Ghana after smoke was detected in the cabin, officials said Friday, in the latest incident to hit domestic and foreign airline operators. The aircraft, owned by Arik Air, was travelling from Lagos to Accra on Tuesday when …
Read More »Boko Haram kidnap raises school safety, education fears
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Boko Haram’s abduction of 110 girls in northeast Nigeria has prompted fresh fears about safety at schools, nearly four years after a similar kidnapping led to promises of better security. The disappearance of the students from Dapchi, in Yobe state, on February 19, also threatens …
Read More »Two sentenced in Nigeria over 2010 deadly bomb blasts
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | A Nigerian court sentenced two men to life imprisonment on Wednesday over deadly twin bomb attacks which killed 12 people during the country’s 2010 Independence Day celebrations. Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze were convicted for facilitating and financing the blasts during national celebrations in the capital …
Read More »Lassa fever deaths rise to 110 in Nigeria: official
Lagos, Nigeria| AFP | has claimed 110 lives in Nigeria since the beginning of the year, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said Tuesday, in one of the worst outbreaks since 2016. The World Heath Organisation last week said the epidemic had reached record highs with 317 laboratory confirmed cases and …
Read More »Suicide bomber kills three in NE Nigeria: militia
Kano, Nigeria | AFP | A suicide bomber on a bicycle killed three people late on Monday when he detonated his explosives on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, civilian militia told AFP. Eighteen people were also injured in the attack, which happened in the Muna Dalti …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari to tour violence-hit states
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, under fire because of mounting security threats, including Boko Haram, is to tour states worst-hit by the violence, his office said Monday. “From today, March 5, he will visit Taraba, and subsequently Benue, Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers states,” the presidency said …
Read More »Eni and Shell trial over Nigeria kickbacks postponed
Milan, Italy | AFP | A trial for oil giants Eni and Shell over bribery and corruption allegations in the purchase of an offshore oilfield in Nigeria was delayed for two months on Monday. The trial had been set to start in a Milan court, but the judge said that, …
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