Africa Live: Veteran Nollywood star Amaechi Muonagor dies at 62 ...

25 Mar 2024

Four women killed in Nigeria cash handout stampede

Copyright: Getty Images

Amaechi Muonagor - Figure 1
Photo BBC News
Image caption: Stampedes for free cash and food have become more common as Nigeria faces a severe cost-of-living crisis

At least four women were killed in Nigeria in a stampede as a crowd struggled to get cash handouts from a businessman, police say.

A 17-year-old girl was also injured in the Sunday incident that happened in the north-eastern Bauchi state.

Some reports put the death toll much higher.

The businessman was issuing 5,000 naira ($3) to each recipient to help them buy food during the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, AFP news agency reported.

Nigerians have been grappling with severe economic challenges, including soaring food prices.

Two students of Nasarawa State University near the capital Abuja died on Friday during a stampede for free rice.

At least seven deaths were reported in the Lagos commercial hub last month after a struggle for cheap rice that was being sold by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Amaechi Muonagor - Figure 2
Photo BBC News

Police have warned against holding public donations without proper crowd control mechanisms from the authorities.

Section of Kenya's main airport closed after fire incident

Copyright: AFP

Image caption: The incident caused panic as passengers and staff were evacuated

A section of Kenya's main airport has been closed temporarily after a fire incident.

An electrical fault caused the "small fire" incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport's Terminal 1E on Monday morning, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said in a statement.

“The situation was quickly contained, with no injuries or casualties resulting from the incident."

Power to the terminal has been temporarily shut off as a precautionary measure and all flight arrival operations redirected to Terminal 1A, KAA said.

The incident caused panic as passengers and staff were evacuated from the affected area.

Amaechi Muonagor - Figure 3
Photo BBC News

Chad's junta chief, nine others cleared for May election

Copyright: Reuters

Image caption: Interim President General Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power after the death of his father in 2021

The Constitutional Council in Chad has approved ten candidates for the upcoming presidential election, including the country's interim President General Mahamat Idriss Deby.

The poll is scheduled for 6 May as part of a transition to democracy.

Mr Deby initially promised an 18-month transition, after he seized power in 2021, following the death of his father.

But he later postponed the elections until this year, triggering protests that were violently suppressed by the security forces.

The candidate list also includes Succès Masra, the opposition leader who was appointed prime minister of the transitional government in January.

Ten other candidates have been barred from contesting due to "irregularities" in their applications.

Amaechi Muonagor - Figure 4
Photo BBC News

They include Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, both outspoken critics of the government.

Chad's military government is one of several juntas currently ruling in West and Central Africa.

Veteran Nollywood star Amaechi Muonagor dies at 62

Copyright: Amaechi Muonagor/Instagram

Image caption: The comedy legend reportedly suffered kidney failure

Nollywood comedy legend Amaechi Muonagor has died aged 62, a relative told the BBC.

He died on Sunday after suffering kidney failure and was on dialysis, local media reported.

His death comes just a few days after he appealed for help to raise funds for a kidney transplant in India.

Many of his fans have taken to social media to mourn him.

During his career, Muonagor appeared in dozens of films, including Aki and Paw Paw, one of his most famous roles where he played the father of two mischief-making, over-exuberant teenagers.

He was nominated for the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for Best Actor.

His death comes just a few weeks after Nigeria lost another Nollywood star John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu, who also needed medical help.

Wise words for Monday 25 March 2024

Our African proverb of the day:

Quote Message: Someone who talks about a wound talks about a wound that he has had before." from A Tonga proverb sent by Peter Mulekwa Gotola in Lusaka, Zambia

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

Read more
Similar news
This week's most popular news