Ehi Ochogwu

Russia struck cities across Ukraine on Monday with a missile barrage that killed 31 people and heavily damaged a Kyiv children’s hospital in an assault condemned as a ruthless attack on civilians.

Dozens of volunteers, doctors and rescue workers were digging through debris of a part of Okhmatdyt paediatric hospital in a desperate search for survivors after the rare day-time bombardment, AFP journalists on the scene saw.

The first responders ran for cover when sirens and a explosion sounded after the initial strikes — a repeat attack that left four dead at a maternity hospital in a separate district of Kyiv, emergency services said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces fired more than 40 missiles toward at least five major civilian hub, mainly in the south and east of the country, as well as the capital.

Zelensky arrived in Poland as news of the strikes broke to sign a security deal with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw, where the leaders held of minute of silence for the victims.

The Ukrainian leader in Warsaw called on allies to deliver “a stronger response to the blow that Russia has once again delivered on our population, on our land and on our children.”

The UN condemned the wave of strikes saying it was “unconscionable that children are killed and injured in this war,” while the EU’s Josep Borrell slammed Russia for “ruthlessly” targeting civilians.

France condemned the attacks, with the foreign ministry calling the bombardment of a children’s hospital in Kyiv “barbaric”.

Kyiv said the children’s hospital had been struck by a Russian cruise missile and claimed that it contained components produced in NATO member countries.

Russia however claimed the extensive missile damage in Kyiv was in fact caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile.

Moscow said its forces had struck their “intended targets”, which it added were only defence industry and military installations.

Natalia Svidler, 40, was in the hospital at the time of the strike with her two-year-old son, who was due to have surgery this week, when the air raid sirens sounded.

“The nurses told us to go down to the basement. After a while we heard a loud rumble and then the ceiling in the basement collapsed a little,” she said at the scene.

“Everyone got very scared, of course. Everyone started screaming and running,” she told AFP.

Officials in Kyiv said the attack had also damaged several residential buildings and an office block in Kyiv where AFP reporters saw cars on fire and shredded trees in charred courtyards.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said three electrical substations had been destroyed or damaged in Kyiv in the attack — the latest in series of strikes that have halved the country’s energy generation capacity in recent months, compared to one year ago.

Zelensky said that there were an unknown number of people trapped under the rubble of the children’s hospital. An AFP reporter saw one body at the scene, covered with a blanket.

Emergency officials said 20 people had been killed in the barrage that hit Kyiv and another 38 were wounded.

Russian forces have repeatedly targeted the capital with massive barrages since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and the last major attack on Kyiv with drones and missiles was last month.

In Zelensky’s hometown Kryvyi Rig, which has been repeatedly targed by Russian bombardment, the strikes killed at least 10 and wounded over 41, officials there said.

In Dnipro, a city of around one million people in the same region, one person was killed and six more were wounded, the region’s governor said, when a high rise residential building and petrol station were hit.

And in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian forces have taken a string of villages in recent weeks, the regional governor said three people were killed in Pokrovsk — a town that had a pre-war population of around 60,000 people.

“This shelling targeted civilians, hit infrastructure, and the whole world should see today the consequences of terror, which can only be responded to by force,” the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, wrote on social media.

Zelensky and other officials in Kyiv have been urging Ukraine’s allies to send more air defence systems, including Patriots, to the war-battered country to help fend off deadly Russian aerial bombardment.

“Russia cannot claim ignorance of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes,” Zelensky said in another post on social media.

Source: Channels

The United States troops have withdrawn from their base in Niger’s capital of Niamey and will fully depart from Agadez in the north before a September 15 deadline set by the country’s military rulers.

Niger’s military leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington in March, after seizing power in a July 2023 coup.

The US had around 650 soldiers in Niger as part of anti-jihadist missions in several Sahel nations of West Africa, including a major drone base near Agadez.

“The defence ministry of Niger and the US Defence Department announce that the withdrawal of American forces and equipment from the Niamey base 101 is now completed,” the two countries said in a statement on Sunday.

A final flight carrying US troops was due to leave Niamey late Sunday.

The US presence had stood at around 950 troops, and 766 soldiers have left Niger since the military ordered their departure, AFP learned at a ceremony at the base attended by Niger’s army chief of staff Maman Sani Kiaou and US General Kenneth Ekman.

“American forces are now going to focus on quitting Airbase 201 in Agadez,” the statement said, insisting that the withdrawal would be completed by September 15 as planned.

Niger had already ordered the withdrawal of troops from France, the former colonial power and traditional security ally, and has strengthened ties with Russia which has provided instructors and equipment.

On Saturday, Germany’s defence ministry also said it would end operations at its airbase in Niger by August 31 following the breakdown of talks with military leaders.

A similar shift has taken place in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also ruled by military leaders and faced with violence from jihadist groups.

Source: Punch

The Imo state police command has confirmed the murder of three vigilante personnel and one civilian, by gunmen at Umuaka autonomous community in the Njaba local government area of Imo state.

Condemning the unfortunate incident in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, said the command’s tactical squad have been deployed with the available operational resources, to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the dastardly act.

He expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, and vowed that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are all arrested and brought to justice.

He sympathised with the families of the deceased victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.

He also called on the general public, particularly the residents of Njaba who may have any information that will assist the police in apprehending the hoodlums responsible for the attack, to report the same at the nearest police station.

Source: Channels

ABEOKUTA—A 40-year-old mother, identified as Rafiat Sheriff and her seven-year-old daughter, Asisat, on Saturday, lost their lives in a gas explosion that occurred on Ebute Road, Ibafo area of Ogun State.

Vanguard gathered that Rafiat had instructed her seven-year-old daughter to cook their dinner.

Confirming the incident, yesterday, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said: “The incident occurred last night (Saturday night) when the mother told her seven-year-old daughter to cook.

“The girl was attempting to light up the gas cylinder when the entire house went up in flames.

“The mother and the child lost their lives in the explosion. Two other girls, including one of the children of the deceased, are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.”

Source: Vanguard

A man who gave his name as Shaibu Alhaji Yusuf on Monday caused a stir in Abuja when he climbed a 120-metre-long broadcast mast at the premises of the Abuja Broadcasting Service, owners of Aso Radio and Television.

The broadcast station which is owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA is located on Katampe Hill, at a point dubbed the geographic centre of Nigeria, along the Kubwa Expressway.

The man who for several minutes refused to come down despite entreaties by emergency responders, said he is an indigene of Borno state.

He said he was not happy with the general state of hopelessness in the country, especially hunger and insecurity.

He later came down after a pep talk by the Acting General Manager of the FCT Emergency Management Department FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme.

He was however interested taken into custody by men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Source: Vanguard

Reverend Father Mikah Suleiman, who was kidnapped by bandits two weeks ago, has regained his freedom.

A statement by the Director of Communications Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Reverend Father Pascal Salifu, on Sunday, said Suleiman who is the parish priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State, has been released and is currently receiving “necessary care and support”.

He said, “We are overjoyed to announce the safe release of Fr Mikah Suleiman, who was kidnapped on 22/06/2024.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to God for His protection and to everyone who offered prayers and support during this challenging time.

“Our thanks also go to the authorities and all involved in securing Fr Mikah’s release. He is currently receiving the necessary care and support.

“Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he begins his recovery.”

Father Suleiman was kidnapped around 3 am on Saturday, June 21 at his residence in the Damba area of Gusau.

After the priest was abducted, the Zamfara State Police Command deployed a police tactical squad to the trail of the kidnappers and to ensure his safe return.

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, had confirmed the abduction.

“We were not informed when the incident happened but what I gathered was that the man stays alone not in the church,” he said when confirming the abduction in June.

“We have deployed our tactical squad to go after the kidnappers with the aim of rescuing the victim unhurt.”

Announcing the abduction, the acting Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Very. Revd. Fr. Nuhu Iliya, had called on Christians to pray for the quick and safe release of the cleric.

He said, “With sadness in our hearts, we write to inform the general public of the kidnap of one of our priests, Revd. Fr. Mikah Suleiman. This sad event occurred in the early hours of today, Saturday, 22nd June 2024 in the Father’s rectory. Fr Mikah is the Parish Priest of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, Gusau, Zamfara State,” the statement reads.

“We invite all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for his quick and safe release.

“We equally commend him to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, for his speedy release from the hands of his abductors.”

Source: Channels

The Nigerian Army says troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have successfully neutralized a terrorist, recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and destroyed terrorists’ camps in Ikiyayo Forest, Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State.

This was disclosed in a statement on the Nigerian Army’s social media platforms on Monday

According to the statement, “troops of 93 Battalion Sub-Sector 3B OPWS swiftly moved into action, targeting the hideouts and camps used by the terrorists.

The Nigerian Army says troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) have successfully neutralized a terrorist, recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and destroyed terrorists’ camps in Ikiyayo Forest, Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State.

This was disclosed in a statement on the Nigerian Army’s social media platforms on Monday

According to the statement, “troops of 93 Battalion Sub-Sector 3B OPWS swiftly moved into action, targeting the hideouts and camps used by the terrorists.

“During the combing of the forest, the troops encountered the terrorists, engaging them in a heavy gunfight which led to the neutralization of one terrorist.”

It said troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, and 39 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, besides destroying multiple camps used for planning and executing attacks

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute and decisive in its mission to ensure peace and security of lives and properties of citizens.

“We, therefore, urge the public to continue supporting our efforts by providing timely and accurate information on suspicious activities of terrorists and criminal elements,” it said.

Source: Daily Post

Four big trees fell on Monday at the popular Jattu Market in Etsako West Local Government of Edo killing four persons and injured many others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident, reports that the trees came down following a storm and prolonged rainfall.

The Chairman of the council, Mr Marvellous Zibiri confirmed the death of the persons while speaking to newsmen at the market.

“At about 9a.m on Monday, I got a call from my Vice Chairman and the Supervisory Councilor for Environment about the incident.

“During the rain, four trees in the market fell simultaneously while people took cover under the trees thereby killing four persons and many injured.

” So far, we have been able to recover four bodies and we have taken them to the mortuary while those who sustain injuries are at the hospital for treatment,” Zibiri said.

Zibiri added that rescue operation was still ongoing as the trees were being cut to confirm if there were other bodies under the trees.

The Chairman described the incident as tragic and sympathised with families who lost their love ones at the market.

He, however, appealed to residents to stay indoor whenever it was raining.

NAN recalls that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted thunderstorms and rains from Monday to Wednesday across the country.

The agency urged the public to take adequate precautions as strong winds may precede the rains during the period.

Source: The Nation