Metro

12 civilians killed by suspected terrorists in Northern Burkina Faso

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

Burkina Faso authorities have confirmed an attack in a village in the northern region of the country by suspected jihadists where 12 civilians were killed while thousands of others fled their homes.

In a statement issued on Monday by a local official, the attack occured over the weekend when a group of terrorists attacked the village of Aorema, some 10 kilometres from Ouahigouya, capital of the northern region.

“The attackers opened fire on a group of young people sitting in a kiosk. Seven young people died on the spot and three people died in their homes, hit by stray bullets. Two other people were shot and later died from their injuries,” the official said.

“It was the kiosk where the young people were gathered that was directly targeted by the terrorists, who had already made incursions into the village, ordering the young people of the village to stop gathering there,” he added.

The attack was also confirmed by the country’s military which said in another statement that “operations are underway” in the area to flush out the jihadists.

The day after the attack, a curfew was imposed in the entire northern region of Burkina Faso, bordering Mali and regularly targeted by jihadists.

This curfew prohibits the movement of vehicles and people between 10pm and 5am until 31 March.

Burkina Faso has seen an increase in jihadist violence since the beginning of the year, with dozens of deaths recorded, including civilians and soldiers, almost on a weekly basis.

The violence which has attributed to groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, has left more than 10,000 civilians and soldiers dead since 2015, and some two million people displaced, according to the United Nations.

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Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.