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Nigeria, Burkina Faso in diplomatic row after gunmen kill 16 Muslim pilgrims on way to Senegal

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Tension is currently brewing between Nigeria and Burkina Faso following the killing of 16 Nigerian Muslim pilgrims by gunmen wearing the Burkinabe Army uniforms.

According to media reports, the Nigerian pilgrims, were travelling in a convoy of luxurious and mini-buses on their way to a pilgrimage in Kaolack, Senegal, when they were flagged down by the gunmen wearing uniforms of Burkinabe soldiers, who asked the passengers to disembark from the vehicles, randomly selected some and summarily shot them to death.

While the Burkina Faso military junta has debunked reports that the attackers were their soldiers, the Nigerian government has, however, vowed to go after the killers of its citizens even if it has to breach the territorial integrity of the West African neighbours.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivia Rouamba, during a meeting with the Nigerian ambassador to Burkina Faso, Misitura Abdulraheem, assured that “investigations are opened to clarify the situation”.

“For the time being, there is no concrete information or element picked up on the field that proves the veracity of these facts,” Rouamba said at the meeting.

But in a statement by the Nigerian presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari said the West African giant will go after the killers and bring them to book by all means.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso, is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities and awaits the outcome of their investigation of the unfortunate incident, and if necessary, to ensure that all culprits are appropriately sanctioned,’ the statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Garba Shehu, said.

According to a Senegalese religious order, the pilgrims were on their way to a religious ceremony in Senegal from Niger and Nigeria, a trip that involves crossing conflict hotspots in northern Burkina Faso and central Mali.

For years, Burkina Faso, like many West African countries , have been battling armed groups with links to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) that spilled over from neighbouring Mali in 2015.

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Nigerian Army reveals names of soldiers killed by youths in horrific attacks

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The Nigerian Army Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Monday night, revealed the identities of the 16 soldiers who were killed
by attackers while on a peace mission to the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last week Thursday.

The soldiers comprising of a Lieutenant Colonel, a Major, a Captain, and 12 other rank and file soldiers, were serving with the 181 Amphibious Battalion and were on a peace-keeping mission to quell community clashes in the Bomadi LGA of the State when they were abducted and subsequently killed.

In the statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the soldiers were on a rescue mission to Okuama community to free a hostage identified as Anthony Aboh, who was allegedly abducted over a lingering land dispute between the two communities, when they were ambushed and killed.

“The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State, were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024,” the statement said.

“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding Officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.”

In a post in its X account, the DHQ shared their photos and names of the fallen soldiers.

Their names are:

– LT COL AH ALI, COMMAND OFFICER 181 AMPHIBIOUS BATTALION NIGERIAN ARMY

– Maj SD Shafa (N/13976)

– Maj DE Obi (N/14395)

– Capt U Zakari (N/16348)

– SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974)

– Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274)

– Col Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853)

– LCol Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844)

– Lal Sole Opeyemi (17NA/760719)

– LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290)

– LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653)

– LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191)

– Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079)

– Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911)

– Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162)

– Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079)

– Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795)

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Zimbabwe in food shortage as El Nino drought strikes harder

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Residents of the Zimbabwean community of Buhera are waiting in groups outside a primary school, hoping to be called by name to collect life-saving gifts of grain, peas, and cooking oil following a situation of below-average rainfall caused by El Nino once more this year, according to Francesca Erdelmann, the country director of the World Food Programme for Zimbabwe.

“We are grateful, but the food will only be enough for one month,” said Mushaikwa, 71, who lives with her elderly husband, as she trudged away with her bag of grain. “My crops are wilted.”

Since former president Robert Mugabe took over farms held by white people in 2000, Zimbabwe has been unable to feed itself. This disruption in production has resulted in severe drops in productivity, leaving many Zimbabweans dependent on food help to survive.

A drought brought on by El Nino that has affected several countries in southern Africa has made the situation worse. Though the actual figure may be higher, the government has projected that 2.7 million people will go hungry this year.

Poor harvests in drought-ravaged areas, where people depend on small-scale farming for sustenance, have resulted in food shortages that have put over 20% of Zimbabwe’s population at risk of starvation.

El Nino is a regular and natural weather phenomenon that warms regions of the Pacific and modifies global weather patterns. It affects different areas differently. Erdelmann said during a press conference that it makes a big difference when the rains don’t fall or come late.

A cabinet minister told journalists that the government is debating whether to impose a state of emergency. A natural weather phenomenon known as El Nino is linked to a change in wind patterns and higher ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific.

It usually lasts nine to twelve months, happens every two to seven years on average, and can cause extreme weather, including tropical cyclones, protracted droughts, and ensuing wildfires.

“When you drive around, you will see that many crops have wilted,” said World Food Programme acting country director Christine Mendes in Buhera, about 220 km (140 miles) southeast of the capital, Harare.

In four areas that are vulnerable to drought, WFP has assisted 270,000 individuals between January and March; nonetheless, Mendes stated that more funding will be required to feed even more people.

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