Oyo State Chapter of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, on Sunday, directed all its members to commence a seven-day warning strike on Monday, June 24, 2024 to press further the demands of the union.

This was disclosed in a notification letter sent to the members across all health institutions; including ministries, departments and local government areas by the union President, John Fabunmi, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday.

He said the strike action was imperative to press further the demands of the union, revealing that the union has reminded the State Government of its grievances but nothing was done to assuage the situation.

The letter reads in part, “Re: Notification of Industrial Action. Sequel to our letter with ref. No. OYSC/MHWUN/AD/INDU.ACT/0524 dated May 27, 2024 on the above subject matter giving the state government a 14 day ultimatum to attend to all our grievances, we wish to draw the attention of Your Excellency to the fact that up till now nothing has been done to assuage the present situation.

“In view of the present situation and agitations from every quarter in our union, the union has, therefore, resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike to further press for the attention of the government to attend to agitations.

“All our members in all health institutions, ministries and all Local Governments will be participating in the seven days warning strike which will commence on 12:01am midnight of Monday, June 24, 2024, after further actions may be embarked upon,” Fabunmi added.

Three wolves in a zoo outside Paris attacked a 37-year-old woman leaving her fighting for her life, a source familiar with the case and local prosecutors said.

The woman was bitten “on the neck, the calf and the back” at the Thoiry Zoo around 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the French capital, the source familiar with the case told AFP.

The Chief Prosecutor in Versailles, Maryvonne Caillibotte said the woman’s life was in danger, according to AFP on Sunday.

The woman is believed to have gone out alone for a jog after spending the night with her family in a safari-style lodge at the zoo, which it advertised on its website at between 220 and 760 euros ($235-810) per night.

Lodges in the wolf zone promise “silence, rest and disconnection”, according to the zoo’s adverts. They offer “a one-of-a-kind, very intimate experience with the arctic wolves you’ll be able to see from the living room”.

The woman “ended up in the safari zone, which is supposed to be restricted to cars. That’s where she was attacked by three wolves,” Caillibotte said.

She added that it was not clear “whether she made a mistake or the trail wasn’t clearly marked”.

First responders got to the scene “very quickly”, the wolves were “moved away, then returned to their area,” Caillibotte said.

The source familiar with the case earlier said the woman must have got through “security systems, a trench and an electric fence supposed to keep the animals in”.

Police are investigating the incident.

Thoiry Zoo was founded in 1968 by Paul de la Panouse, owner of a local chateau that has been in his family since the 16th Century.

He recalled to regional newspaper L’Independant in April how he initially stocked the zoo with a ship loaded with 120 animals brought from Kenya.

De la Panouse sold the zoo to a group of investors in 2018.

Nigeria has recorded a commercial transaction of raw gold sales at the London Bullion Market Association, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake disclosed on Sunday.

He said the sales have delivered a $5m increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, 70 plus kilograms of gold refined to the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard and successful aggregation of locally mined gold thereby injecting about N6bn into the rural economy.

Alake disclosed this while presenting the latest gold bar sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by the Solid Minerals Development Fund to President Bola Tinubu during the weekend.

The minister in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said the refined gold would be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria to bolster foreign reserves.

Nigeria reportedly has about 600,000 tonnes of gold reserves, worth about $45bn located in several states including Zamfara, Edo.

However, the upsurge of illegal mining has led to a notable diversion of the nation’s commonwealth into the hands of private individuals, thereby diminishing resources intended for public benefit.

Three years ago, former president Muhammadu Buhari declared Zamfara State a ‘no-fly zone’ as part of efforts to curb the problem of illegal gold mining.

At the event, Alake commended Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the National Gold Purchase programme will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value.

Explaining to President Tinubu the significance of the event, Alake said it marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program, the centralised offtake scheme supported by a decentralised aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.

He said, “The successful completion of the first commercial transaction demonstrates the National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness. It has increased the nation’s foreign reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy. This transaction has also underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and monetary stability.”

Receiving and displaying a symbolic bar, Tinubu commended the Ministry for achieving a major milestone in the administration’s drive to diversify the economy.

“This is another concrete step towards the diversification process under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the President said.

In her presentation, the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatimah Shinkafi said the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard is the globally recognised stringent and trusted standard that enables the global trade in gold and silver bars.

“Only gold and silver bars that meet our Good Delivery standards are acceptable in the settlement of a Loco London contract – where the bullion traded is physically held in London” she said.

Shinkafi said, that through the efforts of the National Gold Purchase Program under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria has joined a select group of countries bolstering their gold reserves by purchasing gold in local currency to foster economic confidence, enhance currency stability, and create a more attractive environment for foreign investment.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission have arrested a syndicate of fake State House employees in Abuja for alleged criminal conspiracy, false representation and employment scam.

The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said operatives of the commission arrested the suspects separately following investigation on petitions by victims, who were promised jobs in various ministries, departments and agencies.

The suspects, he said, promised the victims jobs as “director-general” at the Ministry of Communication, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Federal Road Safety Corps and other ministries.

The spokesman listed the suspects to include Augustine Umogboi, who claimed to be a former employee of the State House and Eleojo Idakwo, a fake worker at the Ministry of Information in the Registry Unit.

Others are Kingsley Onuh who also claimed to have just completed the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps, Omata Sunday and Eljayon Nigeria Limited; one of the companies whose bank account they used to fleece their victims.

He said, “Besides, they had different account numbers of different banks through which they were receiving the money amounting to N22,350,000 from different victims. Umogboi was arrested on June 16, Idakwo was arrested on April 30, 2024, while Onuh was arrested on April 3.’’

He said that the victims narrated their bitter experience in a series of petitions to the EFCC, adding that, “the suspects have given useful information to the EFCC and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.”

The Police Command in Benue State has said a suspected vandal, Inalegwu Elias, was electrocuted when he attempted to vandalise a Jos Electricity Distribution Company transformer in Otukpo.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident on Saturday in Makurdi.

Mr Anene said the victim was found hanging on the double transformer poles dead on Saturday morning.

Eyewitnesses also said that the lifeless body of Inalegwu was seen dangling at the transformer located at the JAMB office Otukpo.

They said the incident took place around 4:00 am on Saturday when electricity was restored.

The victim, who was said to be a known cable vandal, had succeeded half way after cutting away several cables with the knife and plier in his possession before JED suddenly restored power.

Also, Head, Corporate Communications, JED, Adakole Elijah, said the incident was reported to the police.

He said, “Yes, it happened yesterday night and he got electrocuted. It was a computer-based transformer for JAMB. So, I can confirm that the electrocution is true. It was an obvious attempt to vandalise the transformer. We have a high spate of transformer vandalism in Otukpo town. The truth is that the transformer is properly safeguarded, it’s a pole mounted transformer. So, for someone to climb, it beats my imagination. That tells you it was deliberate, a clear case of vandalism. I’m sure he went with terrible motive and unfortunately, he paid with his life.’’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two former staff of Union Bank in Makurdi over alleged stealing of N4,199,500 belonging to a deceased customer of the bank.

Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, the suspects, Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute were arrested on Friday in Makurdi, Benue state.

“Their arrest followed a petition against them by the bank for fraudulent debits on a deceased customer, Emmanuel Azer Agenna’s account.

“Their dealings were uncovered when the family of the deceased approached the bank for the balance on the account of the deceased for probate processing.

“The family disputed the balance given to them by the bank and subsequently sent a complaint to the bank regarding unauthorised debits on the account,” he said.

According to him, based on their complaints, the bank carried out an internal investigation and its findings revealed that a debit card was procured on the deceased’s customer account on May 10, 2023.

He said that the debit card was procured by Ifah Ogoh, one of the bank’s Sales and Service Associates which was authorised by the bank on the same date.

“Further findings by the bank showed that the procured card by Ogoh was handed over to another Sales and Service Associates, Agbo Okwute, who eventually delivered the card to an accomplice for transfer and withdrawal of funds from the account of the deceased.

“Several withdrawals were allegedly made by the suspects through the accomplice.

“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Russian strikes on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday killed two people and wounded 15, regional governor Oleg Synegubov said.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is close to the Russian border and has been severely damaged in repeated attacks.
Russia launched a fresh offensive in the Kharkiv region in May, making the most significant territorial gains for 18 months.

Synegubov wrote on Telegram that Russian soldiers “hit a residential building with guided bombs” on Saturday afternoon.

“According to initial information from emergency medics, two people were killed. The number of wounded from the occupier’s strikes has risen to 15”, Synegubov said.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has made public his assets declaration as part of his unwavering stand for transparency and aversion to corruption and graft.

The President said his action is in fulfilment of his commitment to upholding the Constitution and laws of Liberia, in addition to his dedication to fostering a culture of accountability, integrity, and good governance.

The President expressed his belief that by making his assets declaration publicly available, he is setting a compelling example for public officials and citizens alike, emphasizing the importance of accountability and ethical leadership.

The Liberian Leader said this move underscores his vision for a Liberia where honesty and integrity form the bedrock of governance and where the principles of fairness and justice guide the nation’s progress.

He furthered that his decision to disclose his assets is a clear demonstration of his belief in leading by example and his determination to create a government that operates with the highest standards of integrity.

“Transparency not only strengthens public trust but also underscores unyielding dedication to rooting out corruption and fostering a climate of openness and accountability”, the Liberian Chief Executive declared.

The President reiterated the hope that in continuing to champion transparency and ethical conduct, his actions will serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all Liberians, signaling an era of responsible and conscientious leadership that is committed in the nation.

It can be recalled that the President declared his assets in the first few weeks following his inauguration.

Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion

The Lagos state police command has detained and commenced disciplinary action against two of its operatives who went on illegal duty with some civilians, which resulted in the death of one person.

An X user, @bigwig_austin, had on Saturday, shared two videos on his handle, one of which showed riders using their motorcycles to trample over a lifeless body on an expressway.

Captioning the video, the X user wrote, “Dear Lagos State Govt, a disturbing video of a man M¥rdered in broad daylight and his m¥rderers using okada to run over his body repeatedly is circulating on the Media. Irrespective of his cr¿me this is barb@ric. Kindly do something. Thanks!”

Responding to the gory video, the command’s public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the detained officers are attached to the state task force, adding that the lifeless body is one of the civilians that went with the officers on the illegal operation.

Mr Hundeyin wrote, “Two police officers attached to the Lagos State Task Force on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, went on illegal duty, taking some civilians with them to shore up their number. They came under attack from motorcycle riders, resulting in the death of one of the civilians.”

The state police spokesperson disclosed that, “While disciplinary action has commenced on the already detained police officers, search is on for their civilian accomplices.”

He added that “investigations have commenced to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this dastardly act.”

Three people are missing after floodwaters swept through the south-eastern Swiss town of Misox in the alpine valley of Graubünden.

A massive thunderstorm on Friday night caused rivers to break their banks, flooding streets and causing several dozen residents to be evacuated from their homes, local authorities said.

Further west, the alpine resort of Zermatt has been isolated by floodwaters.

Footage from the town, which lies at the base of the iconic Matterhorn mountain, showed floodwaters raging through the streets on Friday.

Train services between Visp and Zermatt have been suspended, and the road between Täsch and Zermatt has been closed, leaving the resort completely inaccessible.

Authorities had prepared for some overflow, restricting public access to the banks of the Rhône and its off-shoot rivers from Friday.

The Graubünden government said it was following the situation with “great concern” and issued thanks to the local emergency services.

The Kano State Government has advised residents against drinking rainwater to prevent the spread of cholera as the rainy season has set in.

The advice was contained in a statement on Saturday, by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Health, Ibrahim Abdullahi and issued to newsmen on Saturday.

Abdullahi said the advice was necessary because usually, the rainy season comes up with cholera complications which some states in the country have already fallen victim to.

“Hence, it is necessary to warn and remind the people that prevention is better than cure. People should always examine what they take, most importantly vegetables, fruits and drinking water. People need to be wary in this regard to protect themselves from contaminated food or water.

“It is important for people to understand that the rainwater at the beginning of the rainy season is unclean. If one must use it, it must then be purified using water treatment substances, including boiling and filtering before use.

“This will help greatly to safeguard people against the bondage of cholera.”

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf also urged people to always wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with clean water before consumption because they are mostly purchased from the markets with little cleanliness.

Yusuf assured that the state Governor, Abba Yusuf’s administration will continue to give all the needed attention to the healthcare of the people of the state, adding that health is one of the aspects that the governor accords maximum priorities.

Labaran urged people to report to the nearest health facility as soon as possible whenever they fall ill, praying for the safety of Kano state and its people against cholera and other illnesses

Cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more frequently in areas with poor sanitation.

On Thursday, the World Health Organisation announced a spike in cholera in several regions of the world with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of 2024.

With many Israelis gripped by a sense of insecurity following Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, the number of women applying for gun permits has soared, while feminist groups have criticised the rush to arms.

According to security ministry data, there have been 42,000 applications by women for gun permits since the attack, with 18,000 approved, more than tripling the number of pre-war licenses held by women.

The surge has been enabled by the loosening of gun laws under Israel’s right-wing government and its far-right security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir.

More than 15,000 women civilians now own a firearm in Israel and the occupied West Bank, with 10,000 enrolled in mandatory training, according to the ministry.

“I would have never thought of buying a weapon or getting a permit, but since October 7, things changed a little bit,” political science professor Limor Gonen told AFP during a weapons handling class at a shooting range in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,431 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

“We were all targeted (on October 7) and I don’t want to be taken by surprise, so I’m trying to defend myself,” Gonen said after the class, an obligatory step for acquiring a permit.

While the immediate trigger for the surge in gun buying was the Hamas attack, Ben Gvir was already pledging to reform firearms legislation when he became security minister in late 2022.

He promised to raise the number of civilians holding weapons and “increase self-defence capacity”.

Under Ben Gvir, the process for getting a gun license has been sped up, with Israeli media reporting that in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack the authorities were often clearing hundreds of permits per day.

Eligibility criteria for gun ownership in Israel now include being a citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18, having a basic command of Hebrew and medical clearance.

The full list of requirements makes it nearly impossible for non-Jews to obtain a permit.

In March, Ben Gvir, who is himself a settler in the West Bank, hailed civilian weapon ownership passing the 100,000 mark, while showing off his own gun at a rally.

But his rush to put deadly arms into the hands of ordinary Israelis has drawn criticism too.

The Gun Free Kitchen Tables Coalition, an Israeli initiative founded by feminist activists, condemned the civilian arms race.

It is “a strategy of far-right settlers to consider the arming of women to be a feminist act”, a spokesperson for the group of 18 organisations told AFP.

“The increase of weapons in the civilian space leads to an increase in violence and murder against women. It’s time for the state to understand that individual safety is its responsibility.”

Community manager Yahel Reznik, 24, said she now felt “a lot more safe” in Ariel, which sits three kilometres north of the Palestinian city of Salfit.

“Thanks to my training I will be able to defend myself and protect others” from an attack, she told AFP.

Violence in the West Bank, which was already rising before the war, has surged since October 7.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and troops across the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian Authority.

Attacks by Palestinians have killed at least 14 Israelis, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The surge in gun ownership is not limited to West Bank settlers. In the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, Corine Nissim said she never leaves home without her gun.

The 42-year-old English teacher walked her three children to the park with a 9mm Smith & Wesson sticking out the back of her trousers.

“After October 7, I think like most people in Israel, I realised that the only person I can trust is myself,” she told AFP, adding she bought a gun not to feel “helpless”.

“The worst scenario that was going through my head was that, of course, terrorists attack me and my family in our own house,” the mother said.

Her decision to own a gun initially surprised some in the seaside town known for its tranquillity and safety, she said.

“People watched me and said, ‘This is so surreal to see you like this with a gun and with the baby’” said Nissim.

But, she said, others started to agree with her and said they would follow suit.

“Many women told me: ‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to get a gun as well.’”

With many Israelis gripped by a sense of insecurity following Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, the number of women applying for gun permits has soared, while feminist groups have criticised the rush to arms.

According to security ministry data, there have been 42,000 applications by women for gun permits since the attack, with 18,000 approved, more than tripling the number of pre-war licenses held by women.

The surge has been enabled by the loosening of gun laws under Israel’s right-wing government and its far-right security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir.

More than 15,000 women civilians now own a firearm in Israel and the occupied West Bank, with 10,000 enrolled in mandatory training, according to the ministry.

“I would have never thought of buying a weapon or getting a permit, but since October 7, things changed a little bit,” political science professor Limor Gonen told AFP during a weapons handling class at a shooting range in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,431 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

“We were all targeted (on October 7) and I don’t want to be taken by surprise, so I’m trying to defend myself,” Gonen said after the class, an obligatory step for acquiring a permit.

While the immediate trigger for the surge in gun buying was the Hamas attack, Ben Gvir was already pledging to reform firearms legislation when he became security minister in late 2022.

He promised to raise the number of civilians holding weapons and “increase self-defence capacity”.

Under Ben Gvir, the process for getting a gun license has been sped up, with Israeli media reporting that in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack the authorities were often clearing hundreds of permits per day.

Eligibility criteria for gun ownership in Israel now include being a citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18, having a basic command of Hebrew and medical clearance.

The full list of requirements makes it nearly impossible for non-Jews to obtain a permit.

In March, Ben Gvir, who is himself a settler in the West Bank, hailed civilian weapon ownership passing the 100,000 mark, while showing off his own gun at a rally.

But his rush to put deadly arms into the hands of ordinary Israelis has drawn criticism too.

The Gun Free Kitchen Tables Coalition, an Israeli initiative founded by feminist activists, condemned the civilian arms race.

It is “a strategy of far-right settlers to consider the arming of women to be a feminist act”, a spokesperson for the group of 18 organisations told AFP.

“The increase of weapons in the civilian space leads to an increase in violence and murder against women. It’s time for the state to understand that individual safety is its responsibility.”

Community manager Yahel Reznik, 24, said she now felt “a lot more safe” in Ariel, which sits three kilometres north of the Palestinian city of Salfit.

“Thanks to my training I will be able to defend myself and protect others” from an attack, she told AFP.

Violence in the West Bank, which was already rising before the war, has surged since October 7.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and troops across the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian Authority.

Attacks by Palestinians have killed at least 14 Israelis, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The surge in gun ownership is not limited to West Bank settlers. In the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, just north of Tel Aviv, Corine Nissim said she never leaves home without her gun.

The 42-year-old English teacher walked her three children to the park with a 9mm Smith & Wesson sticking out the back of her trousers.

“After October 7, I think like most people in Israel, I realised that the only person I can trust is myself,” she told AFP, adding she bought a gun not to feel “helpless”.

“The worst scenario that was going through my head was that, of course, terrorists attack me and my family in our own house,” the mother said.

Her decision to own a gun initially surprised some in the seaside town known for its tranquillity and safety, she said.

“People watched me and said, ‘This is so surreal to see you like this with a gun and with the baby’” said Nissim.

But, she said, others started to agree with her and said they would follow suit.

“Many women told me: ‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to get a gun as well.’”

In another major upset at the ongoing World Table Tennis 2024 (WTT) Contender Lagos, defending champion Shin Yubin, ranked number eight worldwide, was knocked out of the women’s singles event by India’s Mukherjee Sutirtha, ranked number 125.

It was a tough quarter-final match between the two Asians, but Sutirtha emerged 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11 winner over South Korea’s Yubin, paving the way for the emergence of a new number one in the women’s singles event in the final day of the five-day tournament on Sunday.

Akula Sreeja (WR 43) defeated Ghorpade Yashaswini (WR 99) 3-0 (11-6, 11-9,11-8) in an all-Indian quarter-final tie in the morning session of day four on Saturday. She will now face compatriot Sutirtha for a place in the final of this year’s women’s singles event.

Sutirtha’s victory over Yubin is another major upset in the women’s singles event after Egypt’s Badawy Farida, ranked 331 in the world, defeated Batra Manika, ranked 28 in the world, 3-2 to reach her first-ever WTT tournament quarter-final.

A 36-year-old man, Yetunde Alao, who allegedly stole $5,006 Canadian dollars (about N5.2 million), on Friday appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The defendant, whose residential address was not provided, is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The Police Prosecutor, Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the alleged offences on June 2, at Akeem Balogun Street, Idimu, Lagos.

According to him, the defendant allegedly stole a cash sum of $5,006 Canadian dollars, equivalent of N5.2 million, five Jackets worth N500,000 and an international passport, belonging to one Mr Anthony Alao.

He told the court that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Miss K. A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ariyo ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

She, however, adjourned the case until July 2 for mention.

A man died on the sidelines of mass demonstrations against proposed tax hikes in the Kenyan capital, police said Friday, with the mounting protest a day earlier also leaving 200 people injured.

A police watchdog said it was investigating allegations that the man was shot by police after Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi, the second this week.

Led largely by young Kenyans, the protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday before spreading nationwide.

They have been galvanised by widespread discontent over President William Ruto’s economic policies as many people already grapple with a cost-of-living crisis.

Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi were mostly peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannon throughout the day in an attempt to disperse people who gathered to protest near parliament.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said Friday it had “documented the death” of a 29-year-old man, “allegedly as a result of police shooting”.

“The Authority has this morning launched investigations into the fatal shooting,” the IPOA said in a statement.

According to a Nairobi police report seen by AFP, a 29-year-old man was taken to hospital in Nairobi’s central district at around 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday “unconscious with a thigh injury” before “succumbing” to his injuries, without giving further details.

A spokesman for Amnesty International Kenya, Mathias Kinyoda, told AFP that “one demonstrator was shot yesterday in the CBD (central business district) as he was trying to run away from the police”.

Kinyoda said the person had died.He said that the shooter “was wearing plain clothes but he was accompanying the police”, and called for an investigation.

“We saw what happened,” a witness told AFP, describing how he was among people gathered on the second floor of a building.

“We could see police opening fire at the group that was gathered there,” the man said.

“It was a police officer in a baseball cap because he got down from a police vehicle and ran back to it after the shooting when the crowd dispersed.”

Late Thursday, several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said that at least 200 were injured in Nairobi.

The Kenyan Red Cross said on X, formerly Twitter, that eight were in critical condition.

* Masses march –Thousands assembled across the country on Thursday, from the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa to the Rift Valley city of Nakuru and Ruto’s home city of Eldoret.

Following smaller-scale demonstrations in Nairobi earlier in the week, the cash-strapped government agreed to roll back several tax hikes laid out in a new bill.

But Ruto’s administration still intends to increase some taxes, defending the proposed levies as necessary for filling its coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.

After the decision to scrap levies on bread purchases, car ownership as well as financial and mobile services, the treasury warned of a 200-billion-shilling ($1.5-billion) shortfall.

The proposed taxes were projected to raise 346.7 billion shillings ($2.7 billion), equivalent to 1.9 per cent of GDP, and reduce the budget deficit from 5.7 per cent to 3.3 per cent of GDP.

The government has now targeted an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes, a move critics say will make life more expensive in a country battling high inflation.

Kenya is one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but a third of its 51.5 million people live in poverty.

The College of Education Academic Staff Union, Federal College of Education, Gusau, has suspended its three-month-old strike.

The chairman, Muktar Abdullahi, told journalists in Gusau on Thursday that the strike was suspended after a meeting of union members.

Mr Abdullahi urged members of the union to resume academic activities immediately.

He apologised to the institution’s students for the inconveniences caused them during the strike.

“Let me apologise to our students. I assure you that we shall recover from the long absence from academic activities. Whatever happened should be put behind us. We have now resumed full academic activities,” he said.

The chairman said that the decision to call off the strike was reached unconditionally.

“Members of the union reached an agreement after the meeting, and we were able to resolve the issues at stake,” he said.

A coalition of Zamfara-based civil society groups recently staged a protest to decry the college’s poor progress in academic activities.

The coalition’s spokesman, Nasiru Garba, said it was unfair for the academic staff union to embark on strike after the appointment of a substantive provost.

He expressed the commitment of the coalition to support efforts towards repositioning the college for academic excellence.

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE, OPWS, in Taraba State, say they have arrested a terrorist behind the recent attacks that led to loss of lives in Bali local government area of the state.

Several persons, including a 92-year-old man, were killed last week in Mararaban Azagawa village of Bali.

In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by the Acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Oni Olubodunde, he said the troops succeeded in arresting the terrorist responsible for the deadly attack.

He identified the suspect as Hassan Ibrahim, 39, adding that items such as a dane gun, cartridges and a motorcycle belonging to one of the victims, were recovered from him.

The suspect, whose nickname was also given as Godu, was said to have admitted his involvement in the heinous act and has provided valuable information to the troops.

“He is currently in custody, cooperating with authorities to help capture his collaborators,” the statement added.

In the statement, the commander of 6 Brigade Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, applauded the public for providing useful information leading to the capture of the suspect.

He also urged all to continue supporting the Brigade’s efforts to eliminate criminal activities in Taraba State.

He stated that “the successful capture of the terrorism mastermind is a significant achievement for the troops and a step towards restoring peace and security in the affected community.”

Chelsea defender, Ian Maatsen, is close to joining Aston Villa.

According to The Athletic, Maatsen could be playing in the Premier League next season.

The 21-year-old spent the last campaign on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Maatsen impressed with the Bundesliga side, helping them reach the Champions League final.

Dortmund wanted to keep him on a permanent deal, but look to have been beaten to his signature by Aston Villa.

The transfer fee is believed to be around £37.5million.

The Edo State Government on Wednesday condemned the alleged rape and murder of a fresh graduate of the University of Benin, Glory Adekolure. .

The victim was reportedly raped and killed at Iyowa Community, Benin City, on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

A source said that the 22-year-old was on her way home after processing her clearance forms when she waylaid, tortured and raped to death by yet-to-be-identified persons.

Her corpse was later dropped close to her mother’s house.

In a statement by the state government in Benin City, communications and orientation commissioner Chris Nehikhare, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.

“Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to fish out the perpetrators of the evil act within the next seven days,” he said.