U.S probes Afghan hospital bombing

President Barack Obama said the United States has launched a “full investigation” into air strikes that killed 19 people at an MSF-run Afghan hospital on Saturday.

The U.S military said a strike targeting Taliban in the northern city of Kunduz may have caused “collateral damage.”

Offering his “deepest condolences,” Mr. Obama said he expected a “full accounting of the facts” and would then make a definitive judgment.

According to the BBC, At least 12 MSF staff members and seven patients were killed in the incident.

The United Nations called the strikes “inexcusable and possibly even criminal,” with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling for a thorough and impartial investigation.

“International and Afghan military planners have an obligation to respect and protect civilians at all times, and medical facilities and personnel are the object of a special protection,” said UN High Commissioner, Ra’ad Al Hussein Zeid.

The hospital, run by the medical charity MSF, was severely damaged by a series of strikes lasting more than an hour from 02:00 local time on Saturday. Dozens were also injured in the attack.

MSF president Meinie Nicolai described the incident as “abhorrent and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”

“All indications currently point to the bombing being carried out by international Coalition forces,” MSF said.

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Kane hails Dele Alli’s England invitation

Tottenham Hotspur star, Harry Kane, has said teammate Dele Alli merited his call – up to the England national team.

The Anglo – Nigerian midfielder will no longer be eligible to represent Nigeria if he is involved in any of the games against Estonia and Lithuania as the matches are competitive.

“I will probably spend most of my time with him there because we are Spurs and I want to look after him, make sure he settles in all right, ” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted  Kane as saying to thefa.com.

“I think he deserved his invitation because he has been outstanding for us this season.

“He has come in and for such a young lad, has settled very well. I am sure he is excited and everyone here is very proud of him. I don’t think he can wait to get going.”

 

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10 killed in Maiduguri explosions

At least 10 people were killed in multiple explosions that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday, locals said.

They told AFP that loud explosions were heard from the areas of Kayamla and Dalori, three days after Maiduguri was attacked by the insurgents, leaving 10 dead and many more injured.

“The explosions were heard from Kayamla and Dalori along Bama Road since around 7:00 am today,” Kursi Yusuf, an employee at the nearby University of Maiduguri, told AFP.

“We are not sure whether the terrorists are planning to invade the town, but the sound vibrating is devastating,” he added.

Khadija Mustapha, a resident of Dalori Quarters, 11 kilometres from Maiduguri, said she had fled her home with her three daughters for fear of being caught in the explosions.

“I don’t know what will happen. The sound of the explosives is really disturbing,” she said. “Many of us have vacated our homes.”

A military officer, who did not want to be named, confirmed the blasts, but said troops were on top of the situation.

“The terrorists will not have their way,” he told AFP.

 

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CAR president seeks tougher mandate for UN mission

Central African Republic’s interim President, Catherine Samba-Panza, on Saturday called for a tougher mandate for the United Nations’ mission, MINUSCA, and the disarmament of militias and rebels after more than 40 people were killed in Bangui, the country’s capital.

Samba-Panza, who returned early from the UN General Assembly in New York this week because of the unrest, also declared three days national mourning for the victims, starting on Monday.

The murder of a Muslim man last weekend rekindled sectarian violence that has plagued the mostly Christian nation of 4.5 million people since Muslim Seleka rebels briefly seized power in March 2013, Reuters reported.

Scores of homes were burnt, while shops and aid organisations’ offices were looted in the riverside capital, severely hampering humanitarian operations.

More than 40,000 people were displaced, according to UN figures, and the violence ended any hopes of holding elections scheduled for October 18.

Samba-Panza has blamed the latest unrest on supporters of former president Francois Bozize, who was ousted in 2013 by mainly Muslim rebels who fought under the umbrella group Seleka.

Many shops reopened on Saturday and people returned to the streets. Isolated acts of criminality were reported, however, and a night-time curfew remains in place.

 

 

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Ighalo saves Watford from defeat

•Nets 45th minute leveler

Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo continued his goal scoring feat for Watford on Saturday as he grabbed a 45th minute equalizer for the side to avoid what perhaps would have ended as defeat by AFC Bournemouth.  The homers had shot into the lead in the 28th minute thanks to Glenn Murray who converted a brilliant assist from teammate Matt Ritchie.  The strike of course gave AFC Bournemouth bench and fans a lot to celebrate, but the jubilation was short lived when the Nigerian international rattled defenders just before the end of the first half to level scores at 1-1 in front of 11,187 spectators at the Vitality Stadium (Bournemouth, Dorset).

Although the hosts maintained 53% possession as against Watford’s 47%, the remaining half of the game failed to provide further goals for either side.

Prior to Saturday’s match, Ighalo, who has so far made about 41 appearances for the side with 24 goals in the kitty has recorded goals this season against Newcastle and Swansea respectively. He scored the only goal in Watford’s win over Swansea City and two goals in 2-1 away win over Newcastle.

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Kuje suspect came in a new motorbike, says eye witness

The mastermind of the Kuje bomb blast arrived the scene of the crime riding a new motorbike, it was learnt yesterday.

Also, the figure of casualty from the Kuje blast, it was learnt, far outweighs that of the Nyanya which happened about the same time.

While the country is still waiting for the official figures of victims, an eye witness said over 20 people may have died in the Kuje incident.

According to one Ya’u Umar, who claimed to have witnessed the blast, the suspected assailant came on a new motorbike.

Umar who was at the National Hospital to check on his friends who were affected by the blast said ? “The man brought the bomb on a new motorcycle at around nine o’clock in the evening.

“When he alighted from the motorbike, he told us that he was going to buy something and will soon come back.

“Just few minutes after, the bomb exploded.”

Umar also revealed that the impact of the blast was severe as many people died in the process; noting that about 20 dead bodies were counted as at yesterday morning.

He said most of the corpses were found far away from the blast scene.

He explained most of them tried to escape from the scene of the incident but unfortunately they couldn’t as they might have been hit by ?objects.

The eye witness who painted a horrific picture of the incident said some of the corpses were picked from the gutters and while some could have died as a result of shock.

He said, “From the time the incident happened to this morning, we counted over 20 dead bodies. Many people because of the shock of the bomb did not die there immediately, some while trying to run went and died inside gutters, others died while trying to run to their houses. Many dead bodies were found far from the scene of the incident.”

Also, at the National Hospital a middle age man was spotted attending to his seven- month old baby who was among those affected by the bomb blast and she is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

The man who was not disposed to speaking to our reporter, it was learnt also lost his wife, and grandmother in the bomb blast.?

Meanwhile, nine bodies and 13 people who sustained various degrees of injuries from the blasts both at Nyanya and Kuje have been deposited at the National Hospital.

The spokesman of the hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, confirmed this. He said, “As at now, nine dead bodies from both the Nyanya and the Kuje bomb blasts have been deposited in our hospital.

“Also, 13 people who were brought alive with various critical degrees of injury are also in our hospital. The good thing is that those who were injured are under stable health condition and are currently being treated.”

 

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ABUJA BOMB EXPLOSIONS: 20 dead, 41 injured

The Federal Ministry of Health ýhas said that 20 people died in the Friday Abuja bomb blast.

According to Director Family Planning, Federal Ministry of Health, Wapada Balamiý, the 41 people injured are in the hospital receiving treatment from various degree of injuries.

He said, “The total number of persons who died are 20 and distributed as follows:  In Kuje, 15 persons died and in Nyanya five persons died.

“The total number of persons that were injured and were taken to hospitals by the first responders are as follows: From Kuje, we have 20 persons and from Nyanya, we have 21.ý”

ýThe breakdown of casualty according to him, “In Kuje, there were two locations that were affected. One is outside Kuje Police Station and the other is outside Kuje market.

“In Nyanya, the two locations were very proximal to each other, by road side in Jikwoyi exit along the side of the second Nyanya bridge and another within the surrounding market, just below the bridge.”

ýHe added, “The number of persons currently in hospitals: In Nyanya all the patients that came in were treated and discharged, in Kuje, we also treated and discharged all the patients. In Nyanya and Kuje hospitals, there are no patients currently there.

“In Asokoro General hospital we have seven patients currently on admission while in the National Hospital, we have 13 patients currently on admission. In Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, we have four patients.”

“The inter agency collaboration has been very good between the first responders and this should be kept up.”

He also said that the identification of victims and the dead has also commenced through morbid and forensic means.

He said, their “relations will have access to the corpse of their loved ones immediately security clearance is concluded.”

He advised the public to desist from unfounded rumours.

He also assured that “the combine team of security agencies will continue to work in partnership to provide update to the public.”

Among the security agencies present include the representatives from the Commissioner of Police (FCT), Civil Defence, Road Safety, NEMA, FEMA and directors from the federal ministry of health.

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