Gunmen on motorbikes in Katsina state killed at least 69 people and torched several homes in attacks on four villages, a local lawmaker said Thursday, amid rising communal tension in the region.
The state’s police chief, Hurdi Mohammed, who gave a lower toll of 30 dead, told AFP the violence was perpetrated by ethnic Fulani herdsmen who have been blamed for scores of deadly raids.
“So far, 69 bodies have been recovered from the attacks carried out by a large group of gunmen riding on motorcycles,” said Katsina lawmaker Abbas Abdullahi Michika of the violence which first broke out late Tuesday.
“The victims include men, women and children.
Rescue teams are still combing nearby bushes in search for more bodies,” he told AFP.
He specified that 47 people were killed in the village of Mararrabar Maigora while seven deaths were recorded in both Kura Mota and Unguwar Rimi.
Another eight people were killed in Maigora, according to Michika.
Fulani leaders have for years complained about the loss of grazing land which is crucial to their livelihood, with resentment between the herdsmen and their agrarian neighbours rising over the past decade.
Most of the Fulani-linked violence has been concentrated in the religiously divided centre of the country, where rivalries between mostly Muslim herdsmen and mostly Christian farmers have helped fuel the unrest.
While there is no religion element to the conflict in Katsina, which is overwhelmingly Muslim, tensions between the Fulani and ethnically Hausa farmers have worsened in recent months. Residents have blamed the Fulani for several violent robberies this year.
Three people were killed earlier this month in Katsina when suspected Fulani gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint.
The police chief insisted the attacks were not linked to Islamist group Boko Haram, whose insurgency has killed more than 500 people in the northeast already this year.
Vanguard
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Video - Nigeria demands justice for Nigerian brutally mistreated by South African police
Nigeria has protested to South Africa about a "merciless attack" by police on one of its nationals in Cape Town, its foreign ministry has said.
An amateur video on social media sites purportedly shows the man being stripped, assaulted and handcuffed by policemen and security guards.
Nigeria had sent a "strongly worded" note to Pretoria, demanding justice for the man, the ministry said.
Two South African police officers have been arrested.
Rights groups have often accused South African police officers of brutality, incompetence and corruption.
"The Nigerian High Commission will continue to monitor the case with keen interest until justice is achieved," the ministry said in a statement.
South Africa's police watchdog, the Independent Police Directorate, has said the officers would be charged with assault.
About 17,000 registered Nigerians live in South Africa, but correspondents say there are many more illegal immigrants.
Last year, Mozambican national Mido Macia died after being dragged behind a moving police patrol van in a town east of Johannesburg.
Nine officers are standing trial for his killing.
BBC
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Stephen Keshi is ranked 24th best coach in the world
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has been named the 24th best national team coach in the world by The Institute of Football Coaching and Statistics.
The listing, which is the latest by the body, also named the Head coach of Ghana Black Stars James Kwesi Appiah in the 42nd position.
Top of the list
The coach of the Spanish national team, Vincente Del Bosque tops the list with 25188 points followed by Germany Joachim Low with 21422 points.
Oscar Tabarez of Uruguay placed 3rd, Italy Ceasre Prandelli came fourth, Netherlands Van Marwijk 5th, Jurgen Klinsmann 6th , Poalo Jorge Gomes of Portugal 7th.
Position
Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer is in the 29th position, while Algeria coach Vahid Halihodzic fell from previous 34th position to 41st.
Seasoned coaches like Laurent Blanc was named in 43rd place, Lars Lagerback, 47th, with Croatia Slaven Billic placing 50th.
The listings can be found at http://www.coachworldranking.com/ranking-national-teams.aspx
Futaa
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Video - Best selling author Chimamanda Adichie talks about her new book and gives praise to Lupita Nyongo
During a recent segment of HuffPost Live, critically acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discussed Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o and her influence on beauty for black women. "I think her existence is very important" Adichie said, while expressing her personal adoration for the actress. Adichie goes on to talk about Nyong'o's mainstream presence, pressing the notion that the Kenyan actress' looks challenge a typical Hollywood aesthetic. "Looking the way she looks, she's very dark-skinned, she has natural hair -- this is spectacular," Adichie added. And speaking of spectacular, last week Nyong'o gave a powerful speech at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, telling her story about accepting her beauty as it is, not as it should be.
Aliko Dangote makes good on promise - Super Eagles to receive $1m for Nations Cup win
Africa's wealthiest businessman Aliko Dangote is set to fulfil his promise to reward Nigeria's team with $1m for winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.After a public appeal by Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama, it seems Dangote is about to come good.
He told BBC Sport: "We've been waiting for Nigerian officials to collect the money but nobody has written to us.
"We will write to them, asking for the account numbers of the players, then we'll make the transfer immediately."
Dangote, who is group president and chief executive officer of the Dangote Group, is reputed to be Africa's richest man.
Earlier this month he became the first African to be listed in the top 25 of Forbes magazine's annual ranking of global billionaires, with a net worth of $25bn.
His wealth has been accumulated from a business empire that he founded in 1977 and now includes the number one sugar production company in Nigeria, a cement factory and textile products.
Dangote added that "the money was promised through the presidency [during a state dinner last February]" and he had been waiting to be approached about the pledge.
The delay led to a public appeal by Nigeria goalkeeper Enyeama, who said: "It was just a reminder to patriots who are very busy and may not have been prompted after they made their pledges.
"The players are determined to bring more honours to fatherland at the forthcoming World Cup."
Enyeama was full of praise for Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke for following through with his promise to give members of Super Eagles one plot of land each in the state capital, Calabar.
Last week, Nigerian Football Federation president Aminu Maigari delivered the land papers from government house in Calabar to team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, who has since commenced their distribution to all the players and officials.
But Nigerian economist and banker Tony Elumelu's promise of $500,000 for the Super Eeagle's Nations Cup success in South Africa remains outstanding.
BBC
Related stories: Video - Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote talks about his road to success
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