Residents of a Nigerian village on the shore of Lake Chad say at least 50 residents are missing after a raid by suspected Boko Haram militants.
A witness told the BBC that 26 people were also killed during the raid on the village of Doron Baga on Sunday.
The remote region has poor communication links, meaning news of the raid took days to emerge.
Nigeria has been plagued by attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist group in recent years, particularly in the north-east.
In April, Boko Haram caused global outrage by abducting more than 200 girls from their boarding school in the remote down of Chibok in Borno state. Houses burnt
It is unclear exactly how many people were seized during the attack.
Some of the villagers tried to fight the attackers off, but they were unable to stop the raid, a villager elder told the BBC's Hausa service.
The militants then burnt down some houses and rounded up a group of 50 people, he said.
They were mainly women but also included some boys and girls, he added.
Other survivors say young men were also taken possibly to be turned into Boko Haram fighters.
Witnesses from the village told reporters about the attack after reaching the state capital of Maiduguri.
The Nigerian military has not commented on the attack.
BBC
Related stories: Wives of Nigerian soldiers protest the lack of resources troops have to combat Boko Haram
Video - Boko Haram release video mocking plea for kidnapped schoolgirls release
Friday, August 15, 2014
Adidas drops Nigeria Football Federation
Nigeria national teams official kitting outfit and partner of the Nigeria Football Federation, Adidas has written to the Nigeria Football Federation notifying them of their decision not to renew the current contract.
The global merchandise outfit signed a new contract with the NFF on March 6, 2010 and did not state specific reason for pulling out.
In a letter addressed to the federation, dated August 12, 2014 and signed by the VP Global Sports Marketing Football, Claus-Peter Mayer and the Marketing Manager Federations and Leagues, Kai-Philipp Stief, the outfit stated that they will continue to fulfill their obligations under the previously communicated agreement.
"Adidas has conducted an analysis of its football partnerships and related businesses. Based on this evaluation and in combination with the recent correspondence between the parties, we regret to inform that adidas has decided not to extend its partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation as per the end of the Agreement (i.e 31 December 2014),” the letter read.
"Adidas will continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as previously communicated and respectfully requests the Nigeria Football Federation to do the same for the remainder of the contract period (including the obligation to share any third party offer pursuant to Adidas’ right of first refusal).”
With this, the Nigeria Football Federation will have to search for another global brand for the national teams. Adidas was their partner when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and first featured at the Fifa World Cup in 1994.
Goal
Related story: Adidas congratulates Nigeria on Nations Cup win
The global merchandise outfit signed a new contract with the NFF on March 6, 2010 and did not state specific reason for pulling out.
In a letter addressed to the federation, dated August 12, 2014 and signed by the VP Global Sports Marketing Football, Claus-Peter Mayer and the Marketing Manager Federations and Leagues, Kai-Philipp Stief, the outfit stated that they will continue to fulfill their obligations under the previously communicated agreement.
"Adidas has conducted an analysis of its football partnerships and related businesses. Based on this evaluation and in combination with the recent correspondence between the parties, we regret to inform that adidas has decided not to extend its partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation as per the end of the Agreement (i.e 31 December 2014),” the letter read.
"Adidas will continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as previously communicated and respectfully requests the Nigeria Football Federation to do the same for the remainder of the contract period (including the obligation to share any third party offer pursuant to Adidas’ right of first refusal).”
With this, the Nigeria Football Federation will have to search for another global brand for the national teams. Adidas was their partner when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and first featured at the Fifa World Cup in 1994.
Goal
Related story: Adidas congratulates Nigeria on Nations Cup win
President Goodluck Jonathan sacks striking doctors
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has fired thousands of doctors who have been taking part in weeks of strikes, amid warnings that West Africa's Ebola outbreak continues to escalate.
Jonathan ordered the dismissal of around 16,000 doctors in an internal memo to the Health Ministry, local newspaper Premium Times reported on Friday.
Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu instructed that "letters of termination" be issued immediately to all affected resident doctors in hospitals.
The move allows the Health Ministry to "make internal arrangements to get alternative doctors to cater for patients," said Health Ministry spokesman Isiaka Yusuf.
Doctors and nurses in public hospitals across the country of 169 million people have taken part in work stoppages since July 1 and are refusing to return to work until their working conditions and salaries improve.
The strike is severely hampering efforts to curb the epidemic.
Nigerian authorities on Friday announced a new confirmed Ebola case, raising the overall number in Africa's most populous state to 11.
Three people have died of Ebola in Nigeria, and 169 others are under surveillance, according to the Health Ministry.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that a "massive scaling up of the international response" is necessary to get the outbreak under control.
By August 13, 1975 cases and 1069 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Sky News
Related stories: Patients dying as Nigeria's doctors strike continues
Video - Nigeria's medical sector goes on strike
Jonathan ordered the dismissal of around 16,000 doctors in an internal memo to the Health Ministry, local newspaper Premium Times reported on Friday.
Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu instructed that "letters of termination" be issued immediately to all affected resident doctors in hospitals.
The move allows the Health Ministry to "make internal arrangements to get alternative doctors to cater for patients," said Health Ministry spokesman Isiaka Yusuf.
Doctors and nurses in public hospitals across the country of 169 million people have taken part in work stoppages since July 1 and are refusing to return to work until their working conditions and salaries improve.
The strike is severely hampering efforts to curb the epidemic.
Nigerian authorities on Friday announced a new confirmed Ebola case, raising the overall number in Africa's most populous state to 11.
Three people have died of Ebola in Nigeria, and 169 others are under surveillance, according to the Health Ministry.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that a "massive scaling up of the international response" is necessary to get the outbreak under control.
By August 13, 1975 cases and 1069 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
Sky News
Related stories: Patients dying as Nigeria's doctors strike continues
Video - Nigeria's medical sector goes on strike
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Nigeria ranked third in Africa FIFA rankings
FIFA monthly Africa national team rankings released Thursday (Africa ranking, world ranking):
Algeria 1 24
Ivory Coast 2 25
Nigeria 3 33
Ghana 4 36
Egypt 5 38
Tunisia 6 42
Sierra Leone 7 50
Cameroon 8 54
Burkina Faso 9 58
Senegal 10 59
Mali 11 60
Libya 12 62
Guinea 13 64
South Africa 14 69
Cape Verde 15 74
Angola 16 75
Benin 17 77
Congo 18 78
Morocco 19 81
Uganda 20 81
Zambia 21 84
Botswana 22 86
Togo 23 87
Zimbabwe 24 90
DR Congo 25 93
Rwanda 26 101
Gabon 27 102
Kenya 28 104
Lesotho 29 105
Malawi 30 106
Mozambique 31 107
Tanzania 32 110
Ethiopia 33 112
Eq. Guinea 34 113
Namibia 35 114
Sudan 36 115
Niger 37 118
Liberia 38 119
C.A.R. 39 120
Guinea-Bissau 40 123
Burundi 41 129
Mauritania 42 133
Chad 43 140
Madagascar 44 143
Gambia 45 148
Swaziland 46 158
Comoros 47 175
Sao Tome 48 177
Seychelles 49 180
S. Sudan 50 185
Mauritius 51 188
Eritrea 52 203
Somalia 53 204
Djibouti 54 205
Next rankings: Sept 18
Vanguard
Related story: FIFA to lift ban on Nigeria participating in international football
Algeria 1 24
Ivory Coast 2 25
Nigeria 3 33
Ghana 4 36
Egypt 5 38
Tunisia 6 42
Sierra Leone 7 50
Cameroon 8 54
Burkina Faso 9 58
Senegal 10 59
Mali 11 60
Libya 12 62
Guinea 13 64
South Africa 14 69
Cape Verde 15 74
Angola 16 75
Benin 17 77
Congo 18 78
Morocco 19 81
Uganda 20 81
Zambia 21 84
Botswana 22 86
Togo 23 87
Zimbabwe 24 90
DR Congo 25 93
Rwanda 26 101
Gabon 27 102
Kenya 28 104
Lesotho 29 105
Malawi 30 106
Mozambique 31 107
Tanzania 32 110
Ethiopia 33 112
Eq. Guinea 34 113
Namibia 35 114
Sudan 36 115
Niger 37 118
Liberia 38 119
C.A.R. 39 120
Guinea-Bissau 40 123
Burundi 41 129
Mauritania 42 133
Chad 43 140
Madagascar 44 143
Gambia 45 148
Swaziland 46 158
Comoros 47 175
Sao Tome 48 177
Seychelles 49 180
S. Sudan 50 185
Mauritius 51 188
Eritrea 52 203
Somalia 53 204
Djibouti 54 205
Next rankings: Sept 18
Vanguard
Related story: FIFA to lift ban on Nigeria participating in international football
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Nigeria approves use of experimental Ebola drug
The National Health Research Ethics Committee, Nigeria, has approved the use of an experimental Ebola drug, Zmapp, for treatment of patients infected with the virus.
The committee, which composed research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health.
The endorsement is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement Adebamowo, Chairman of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.
The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.
“It is ethical to use these treatments in the current situation without first submitting an application to National, State or Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee for prior review and approval.
“In addition, the Committee waives the current requirement that international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria should be preceded by the establishment of a Materials Transfer Agreement.
“ This waiver is to promote rapid international response to this global emergency,’’ the statement said.
In the statement, the Nigerian National Code for Health Research Ethics emphasised that all innovative and non-validated treatments should be carefully and adequately documented.
According to the statement, the documentation can form the basis for clinical trials of the efficacy and side effects of the treatment according to established scientific principles.
In the statement, the ethics committee enjoined all agencies, development partners and research scientists to follow the guideline for the rapid resolution of the current emergency.
“The guideline will contribute to preparedness in case of future occurrences and contribution to scientific knowledge.
“It must be noted that all Phase O and Phase I Clinical Trials that may subsequently be designed for treatment of this infection can be approved only by the National Health Research Ethics Committee,’’ it said.
Vanguard
Related stories: Third Ebola death confirmed in Nigeria
Video - Nigeria's challenge to contain ebola
The committee, which composed research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health.
The endorsement is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement Adebamowo, Chairman of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.
The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.
“It is ethical to use these treatments in the current situation without first submitting an application to National, State or Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee for prior review and approval.
“In addition, the Committee waives the current requirement that international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria should be preceded by the establishment of a Materials Transfer Agreement.
“ This waiver is to promote rapid international response to this global emergency,’’ the statement said.
In the statement, the Nigerian National Code for Health Research Ethics emphasised that all innovative and non-validated treatments should be carefully and adequately documented.
According to the statement, the documentation can form the basis for clinical trials of the efficacy and side effects of the treatment according to established scientific principles.
In the statement, the ethics committee enjoined all agencies, development partners and research scientists to follow the guideline for the rapid resolution of the current emergency.
“The guideline will contribute to preparedness in case of future occurrences and contribution to scientific knowledge.
“It must be noted that all Phase O and Phase I Clinical Trials that may subsequently be designed for treatment of this infection can be approved only by the National Health Research Ethics Committee,’’ it said.
Vanguard
Related stories: Third Ebola death confirmed in Nigeria
Video - Nigeria's challenge to contain ebola
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