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Over 40 African migrants killed in shipwreck off Italian island

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No fewer than 41 migrants sailing from Africa have died in a shipwreck off the island of Lampedusa in Italy.

According to the BBC, four people who survived the shipwreck told rescuers that they were on a boat carrying over 40 people, including three children.

The survivors said the boat set off on Thursday morning from Tunisia’s Sfax but capsized and sank after a few hours.

A large wave was said to have flipped the vessel, causing everyone on board to be thrown into the sea.

The survivors, consisting of three men and a woman from Ivory Coast and Guinea, said they were rescued by a cargo ship and then transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel.

It is unclear if this shipwreck is linked to the two shipwrecks that the coast guard had reported on Sunday. Around 30 people were reported to have been missing from them.

The coast guard had also said they had recovered 57 survivors and two bodies, amid reports that at least one of the sunken boats had set off from Sfax on Thursday.

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According to Tunisian authorities, Sfax, a port city about 80 miles (130km) from Lampedusa, is a popular gateway for migrants seeking safety and a better life in Europe.

Italian patrol boats and charity groups have in recent days, rescued another 2,000 people who have arrived on Lampedusa.

Tunisia has experienced a wave of racism against black Africans in recent months. Attempts to leave the country by boat have increased.

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‘Notorious Boko Haram member surrenders’ to army

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One alleged notorious member of Boko Haram, simply identified as Alhaji Wosai, has surrendered to the Nigerian troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said Wosai surrendered to the army on Saturday.

 

Wosai was said to have escaped from an enclave of insurgents in Garno village in Borno state.

 

“It was gathered that the terrorist surrendered on May 11, 2024, to the troops of 21 Armored Brigade after escaping from the enclave of the insurgents in Garno village in Borno State,” the publication said.

“Intelligence sources informed Zagazola Makama that he surrendered with 1ak 47 rifle and 1 Magazine filled with 7.63MM 39 MM Special ammunition.

 

“The militant is in the military custody for profiling.”

In April, a Boko Haram fighter identified as Sajeh Yaga reportedly surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno state.

 

He was said to have surrendered to the soldiers after he “sneaked out” from the terrorists’ camp in Sambisa forest.

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He also reportedly relinquished weapons, including an Ak47 rifle, four Ak47 magazines, six 7.62 MM special ammunition, and three mobile phones to the troops.

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Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Nigeria is complex but not difficult to govern, says Obasanjo

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1. Former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has said despite the fact that Nigeria is a complex country, it is not too difficult to govern. Obasanjo while commissioning presidential lodge inside Osun State Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, alongside Governor Ademola Adeleke and former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on Sunday, May 12, noted that governance is easy when leaders are honest with their conscience.

 

2. Rivers State factional House of Assembly led by speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has invited a commissioner-nominee, Danagogo Iboroma, for screening and confirmation as a member of the state executive council. In a letter signed by the factional Clerk, Dr. G.M. Gillis-West, he asked Iboroma to appear before the House on Monday by 10 am.

 

3. Hoodlums at the weekend attacked a Police Station at Umabor, Eha-Alumona, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, leaving two policemen dead. The hoodlums had earlier on Saturday evening attacked Police and Road Safety teams at nearby Orba community in Udenu Local Government Area of the state and reportedly left a policeman and one officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) dead.

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4. Members of the organised labour, on Sunday night, announced that they would shut down offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies nationwide. They said the offices would be under lock and key until the Federal Government accedes to their request on total reversal of electricity tariff hike.

 

5. The Coalition of Fulani groups in Plateau State has claimed that the recent attack on their members in Bassa Local Government Area of the state is a confirmation of the Department of State Services’ (DSS) alert of threat against their members. The group said this at a press conference in Jos, capital of Plateau.

 

6. Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the country’s “lopsided” federalism practice has hindered the development of states, calling for a review of revenue derivation formula in line with the practice of fiscal federalism. According to him, Bayelsa cannot continue to use its money to develop another state.

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7. Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State on Sunday, carried out a solidarity protest to the House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt. The protesters were received by Hon. Martins Amaehwule, Speaker of the Assembly faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

 

8. A landlord, Bola Abiodun, and her husband, identified simply as Sunday, have flown their Temidire community home in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State after allegedly disposing of their tenant’s body in a canal. It was learnt that the incident, which occurred on May 8, 2024, led the state police command to launch a manhunt for the couple after their disappearance following the alleged crime.

 

9. The International Monetary Fund has warned the Nigerian government to remove what it called implicit fuel and electricity subsidies. In a report published recently by the IMF, the organisation told Nigeria that the subsidies would guzzle three per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024 as against one per cent in the year before.

READ  Court adjourns ‘money laundering’ case against Yahaya Bello to April 23

 

10. Residents of the ancient city of Zaria in Kaduna State were on Sunday thrown into mourning following the arrest of one AbdulAzeez Idris, who allegedly abducted and killed his six-year-old cousin, Aisha Dahiru. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, while confirming the case, said Dahiru was kidnapped while on her way to Islamiya school (Qur’anic school).

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Some varsity students kidnapped by gunmen have been rescued, says Kogi government

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The Kogi state government says some students abducted from the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) Osara have been rescued.

 

The government said the kidnappers “succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gun wounds”. 

 

On May 9, gunmen invaded the university and abducted students who were preparing for their examinations.

 

The state government had said nine students were missing after the attack.

 

Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, had visited the institution and assured parents of his commitment to rescue the students.

 

Ododo had also said closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in the school were switched off on the night of the attack.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday, Kingsley Fanwo, information commissioner, said some of the students have been rescued by a joint team of security operatives and hunters.

 

Fanwo did not release the specific number of students rescued.

 

READ  Court adjourns ‘money laundering’ case against Yahaya Bello to April 23

William Aya, police spokesperson in Kogi, told TheCable on Sunday morning that 14 students have been rescued.

 

“This is to inform the general public that some of the students abducted by gunmen at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara have been rescued safely by local hunters and other security agents,” the statement reads.

 

“Local vigilante men and security agents engaged the kidnappers in a fierce shootout and the kidnappers succumbed to superior firepower and escaped with gun wounds, leaving the kidnapped students who also ran in different directions to avoid being caught up in the fire exchange.

 

“Many of the students kidnapped and even other people in captivity have been rescued and taken to medical facilities for proper attention, while many others were also rescued in the early hours of today.”

 

He said a hunter and DSS operative sustained injuries during the firefight with the kidnappers, adding that they are receiving medical attention.

 

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Fanwo said security agents are “currently combing the forests” to rescue the remaining students in captivity.

 

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