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11 Killed, 529 Communities Affected In Niger Catastrophic Flooding
Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has reported a devastating toll from recent flooding in Niger State, with 11 individuals confirmed dead and 529 communities severely impacted.
During a press briefing, Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba Arah, provided a grim update on the widespread flood disasters affecting the region. “Tragically, we have lost 11 lives due to the floods—5 in Mokwa, 2 in both Shiroro and Munya, and 1 each in Katcha and Rijau local government areas,” he stated. He emphasized the scale of the disaster, noting that 19 out of the 25 local government areas in the state have been affected.
The impacted local government areas include Mokwa, Katcha, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie, Shiroro, Munya, Gbako, Kontagora, Bosso, Edati, Agwara, Magama, Bida, Mashegu, Borgu, Gurara, Suleja, and Rijau. The flooding has displaced approximately 41,192 individuals and affected 6,865 households across these regions. Currently, 34 communities have been forced to evacuate, seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps established by the Niger State government, with some taking shelter in neighboring communities.
Additionally, the floods have devastated educational infrastructure, with 246 school buildings reported as destroyed, leading to significant challenges for both students and teachers. The destruction extends to critical transportation infrastructure, with 18 bridges and 80 culverts rendered unusable, complicating access for residents in affected areas.
Arah highlighted the severe agricultural impact, stating that the floods have ravaged 118,692 hectares of farmland—much of which was nearing harvest—as well as over 1,600 fish ponds, raising concerns about potential food shortages in the state.
The Director General assured the public that ongoing impact assessments are being conducted in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), with updates to be provided as developments unfold. He noted that the figures reported are subject to change as assessments continue.
In a bid to address the immediate needs of those affected, the Niger State Government has approved the urgent procurement of food and non-food items for displaced individuals. NSEMA is actively engaging with stakeholders, donor institutions, and international partners to secure further assistance for the impacted communities.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for disaster preparedness and resilience in the face of climate-related challenges. The community’s strength and support will be crucial as Niger State navigates this difficult time.
The Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision that recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP). In a decisive ruling, a five-member panel declared that the Court of Appeal lacked the legal authority to determine the party’s leadership matters.
In a unanimous verdict, the highest court in the land stated that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction over the matter. The panel observed that since the case revolved around the internal leadership structure of the Labour Party, it fell outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The ruling reinforced the long-standing principle that leadership disputes within political parties should be resolved internally, rather than through judicial intervention.
The Supreme Court stressed that leadership struggles within political parties are purely internal matters. According to legal principles, courts should not interfere in such issues, as they fall under the party’s constitution and governance framework. By upholding this legal doctrine, the apex court reaffirmed that political parties must settle their leadership crises independently.
The Supreme Court upheld the appeal lodged by Senator Nenadi Usman and a fellow appellant, ruling that their claims were valid. Their appeal challenged the earlier judgment, arguing that it was flawed due to jurisdictional overreach. After thorough legal scrutiny, the Supreme Court found merit in their argument and ruled in their favour.
The legal battle also involved a cross-appeal filed by supporters of Julius Abure, who sought to challenge the decision against their leader. However, the Supreme Court dismissed this cross-appeal, declaring it unsubstantiated and lacking merit. The ruling effectively ended the legal contest over the Labour Party’s chairmanship, cementing the judiciary’s stance on non-interference in party leadership disputes.
Bitcoin experienced sharp fluctuations following President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, initially surging to $88,000 before dropping to $82,000.
By April 3, it stabilized around $83,000, with the broader crypto market down over 4%. Major altcoins like Ethereum and Solana also declined over 6%, hitting multi-month lows.
Analysts see the tariff news as reducing market uncertainty, potentially attracting institutional investors.
Despite higher-than-expected rates, experts believe the clarity could help Bitcoin regain momentum toward $90,000. Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock, recorded $218 million in inflows on April 2, reversing prior outflows.
Kraken’s Thomas Perfumo challenged the idea that institutional interest stabilizes crypto, emphasizing that volatility signals demand for a scarce asset.
Some analysts viewed the sell-off as an overreaction to trade policy concerns, highlighting Bitcoin’s resilience as a store of value.
With ETFs showing strong demand, Bitcoin’s price may stabilize and rise, though market participants remain cautious, monitoring trade policies and economic conditions.
Violent clashes between pastoralist groups and settled farming communities have long been a challenge in South Sudan.
However, the recent outbreak of violence in the northern Ruweng Administrative Area has further heightened concerns over the nation’s fragile peace. At least 30 people lost their lives after an armed youth group launched a brutal attack on a northern South Sudanese town, according to local officials.
The incident, linked to an escalating cattle raid, saw the town briefly fall under the control of the attackers before security forces regained control.
The violence began when a group of armed youth stole lambs earlier in the week. Security forces quickly intervened, forcing the raiders to retreat. However, instead of dispersing, the group reorganised and launched a more aggressive attack on Abiemnom the following day.
Local Minister of Information, Simon Chol Mialith, confirmed that despite resistance from local youth and security personnel, the town was overrun by the Mayom armed youth. The attack led to significant casualties and destruction before security forces were able to reclaim the town.
On Wednesday, the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) successfully pushed the attackers out, restoring a semblance of calm. However, the scale of the destruction was already severe, with over 40 individuals injured in addition to the fatalities.
Although reports suggest that some of the deceased were members of the armed groups, official confirmation remains pending.
The attack comes at a time of growing instability in South Sudan, with tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar intensifying. This political rivalry threatens to unravel the delicate 2018 peace agreement that ended the nation’s five-year civil war.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with continuous unrest. Despite its vast oil resources, the country remains impoverished, with conflicts like these exacerbating economic and social difficulties.