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Traditional weather forecasts: expert shares 5 ways Africa’s coastal residents predict floods

Traditional weather forecasts: expert shares 5 ways Africa’s coastal residents predict floods

IN the Lapai Gwari community of Niger state, north-central Nigeria, elders predict the weather by observing a large stone in the Chachanga River. The LapanGwagwan stone serves as a tool to determine the frequency of flooding and gauge the severity of rainfall. When the colour of the stone changes to brown, it signifies an imminent heavy downpour, while a grey colour indicates either light or moderate rainfall. OLASUNKANMI HABEEB OKUNOLA, Visiting Scientist, United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), United Nations University This traditional knowledge helps the community to prepare for potential flooding. This is just…
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Truck crash in central Nigeria kills at least 17 people

Truck crash in central Nigeria kills at least 17 people

AT least 17 people were killed and 208 injured in Nigeria's Niger state after a truck carrying them veered out of control and crashed, the Federal Road Safety Corp said. Spokesperson Bisi Kazeem said the crash occurred at about 0200 GMT on Tuesday in Takalafia village, in the Magama local government area of the state. "The injured victims have been evacuated to Kantagora General Hospital for immediate medical attention, while the dead victims were deposited in the mortuary of the same hospital," Kazeem said in a statement. Traffic accidents are commonplace in Africa's most populous country, where many roads are…
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Gunmen abduct at least 10 hospital workers in Nigeria’s Niger state

Gunmen abduct at least 10 hospital workers in Nigeria’s Niger state

GUNMEN have abducted at least 10 healthcare workers in Nigeria's Niger state and killed an unspecified number after bandits invaded a general hospital early, a hospital and a military source said. Armed bandits operating for cash have kidnapped or killed hundreds across northwest Nigeria. Niger state officials have said that the Islamist militant group Boko Haram had taken over multiple communities in the state, offering villagers money and incorporating them into their ranks to fight the government. The hospital source said more than 20 staff were kidnapped, including patient relatives, while the security source said two people had been killed…
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Nigerian bandits abduct negotiator over ransom to free students

Nigerian bandits abduct negotiator over ransom to free students

Armed bandits in Nigeria have seized a negotiator who had been sent to pay ransom money to secure the release of 136 students kidnapped two months ago from an Islamic school in the north of the African nation, the school and parents said. Abubakar Alhassan, director of the Islamic school, said the school and parents have been negotiating with the kidnappers who demanded 30 million naira ($72,993) to release the students from the school in Nigeria's Niger state. Alhassan said the school had contributed to a ransom and some parents sold property to raise cash but they said the negotiator,…
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