Deadly Gun Attack Claims Over 100 Lives in Nigeria's Benue State

A tragic bus accident on Saturday in Nigeria resulted in the deaths of 21 athletes who were returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival. Officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) indicated that the crash, which occurred on a highway without any other vehicles involved, may have been caused by driver's fatigue or excessive speed following a long overnight journey. The athletes were traveling back to Kano, located in northern Nigeria, after participating in the sports festival held approximately 1,000 kilometers away in Ogun state. President Bola Tinubu praised the event's significance, highlighting it as a representation of national unity, strength, and resilience. Road accidents in Nigeria are frequent, largely attributed to poorly maintained infrastructure and significant disregard for traffic regulations. According to FRSC statistics, the country experienced 9,570 road accidents last year alone, which led to 5,421 fatalities.

At least 151 people have died due to severe flooding in Mokwa, a market town in Nigeria's Niger state, following heavy rainfall that began on Thursday. Niger State emergency service spokesperson Ibrahim Audu Husseini reported the numbers rising dramatically, with over 3,000 residents displaced and many still unaccounted for. The flooding has submerged roads and buildings, heavily impacting local infrastructures, which are already facing criticisms for being inadequate during natural disasters. Experts are warning that climate change is exacerbating such disasters. Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, highlighted the "cruel irony" faced by African nations, noting that those least responsible for climate change are suffering its direst consequences. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has initiated emergency response measures to aid recovery efforts, ensuring that relief materials reach affected individuals promptly. Meanwhile, ongoing budget cuts to international aid by nations like the UK have raised concerns among NGOs about the ability to support countries like Nigeria, which are vulnerable to climate impacts. The rainy season began in April, but infrastructural improvements in flood-prone regions are long overdue, as highlighted by local officials.

At least 110 people have died in central Nigeria due to catastrophic flooding following intense rainfall, according to officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. The head of the agency, Abullahi Baba-Arah, reported that the heavy rainfall lasted several hours, resulting in surging floodwaters that submerged and destroyed over 50 homes, displacing their occupants. The Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa districts of Mokwa town were identified as the most affected areas. Mokwa's District Head, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, remarked that it has been "60 years" since the community experienced such severe flooding and urgently called for government assistance. Meanwhile, ongoing search and rescue operations are in place as many remain at risk. Local fishermen like Danjuma Shaba shared harrowing accounts of their loss, revealing they have been left homeless due to the destruction of their houses. This situation follows a trend of heavy rainfall and flooding in Nigeria, which significantly impacted northern regions in previous years, displacing over 1.3 million people and causing more than 600 deaths in 2022.