United News of Bangladesh

The Nigerian army has rescued 360 people abducted by Boko Haram during an operation in Borno State in the country’s northeast, military authorities said on Sunday. According to an army statement, the operation was carried out in the Mandara Mountains, a known stronghold of the militant group in southern Borno. The mission led to the rescue of hundreds of captives, including children, who had been abducted from different communities across the state. Army spokesperson Haruna Sani said two infants died from exhaustion during the rescue operation due to the difficult mountainous terrain and the hardships they endured during their prolonged captivity. “The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group,” Sani said. Nigeria continues to face a complex security crisis, particularly in its northern regions, where a long-running insurgency, widespread kidnappings for ransom and illegal mining activities have intensified security concerns. Among the most active armed groups are Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which is affiliated with the Islamic State group. Last month, Nigerian authorities said a joint operation with the United States killed 175 ISWAP fighters. The insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has killed thousands of people and displaced millions, according to the United Nations. Security analysts have repeatedly criticized the government’s response, saying stronger measures are needed to protect civilians despite President Bola Tinubu’s pledges to tackle the crisis.

Somali security forces, backed by international partners, have killed 29 al-Shabaab militants including a senior commander during a joint operation in the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions of central Somalia, officials said. The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday that the allied forces had launched two separate, coordinated raids after intelligence reports revealed that dozens of group members were gathering to organize terrorist activities across the region. "The forces killed 23 al-Shabaab militants near Masjid Ali Gudud in Middle Shabelle in the first operation, and they later killed five and a commander at Buq Aqable in the Hiran region," NISA said.

At least 16 students were killed after a fire tore through a girls’ school dormitory in Kenya, authorities said, while several others sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment. A relative of one of the students, Wambui Nderitu, said she rushed to the scene to look for her cousin after hearing about the blaze. According to her, one of the dormitory’s two doors was opened by the matron, but students were allegedly not alerted to evacuate immediately. “The other door reportedly remained locked. My cousin managed to escape with a leg injury, but we were told many students were hurt and some lost their lives,” she said. The Kenya Red Cross said several students were rescued and transferred to different hospitals for medical care. The organisation also deployed tracing and psychosocial support teams to assist affected students and their families. Kenya has witnessed several deadly school fires over the years. In 2001, 67 students were killed in a dormitory fire in Machakos County, marking one of the country’s worst school fire tragedies. More recently, 21 students died in a school fire in central Kenya in 2024, prompting President William Ruto to declare three days of national mourning. In another incident in 2017, 10 students were killed in a school fire in Nairobi, after which a student was charged with murder.

Ugandan health authorities on Monday confirmed two new Ebola infections, raising the total number of cases in the country to seven. Officials said all the infections are linked to the Ebola outbreak in neighboring Congo, which is believed to have begun days or even weeks before Congolese authorities officially announced it on May 15. The outbreak in Uganda was traced back to a 59-year-old Congolese man who was admitted to a hospital in Kampala on May 11. He died three days later before doctors confirmed he had Ebola. Later, two other Congolese nationals who sought treatment in Uganda also tested positive for the virus. On Saturday, Ugandan authorities confirmed the first locally transmitted cases involving a driver and a health worker who had contact with the Congolese patient who died earlier this month. The Ministry of Health said Monday that two additional health workers at a private hospital in Kampala have also tested positive. Meanwhile, health authorities in Congo said suspected Ebola infections have exceeded 900, mostly in the eastern Ituri province where the current outbreak is concentrated. Efforts to contain the disease have faced major challenges, including fear, public anger and attacks on treatment centers. Distrust of authorities remains high in the violence-hit region, which has long suffered from armed conflict. The current outbreak has been declared a global health emergency. Health experts say there is no approved vaccine or treatment yet for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus responsible for the outbreak.

Sudan’s three-year civil war has left more than 8,000 people missing, with many feared buried in unmarked graves across the conflict-ravaged country, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Families continue to search desperately for loved ones who disappeared amid fighting, displacement and arrests as the conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) devastates the country. Among the missing is Fahmy al-Fateh, a 38-year-old farmer and merchant who joined the army after the war began. He disappeared more than a year ago while returning from a military base in Khartoum. His wife, Azaher Abdallah, said she has searched hospitals, morgues and military camps but still has no information about his fate. “I would feel more at peace if I knew something. It’s better than not knowing what happened to him, whether he's alive or dead,” she said. According to the ICRC, many missing people in Khartoum state are believed to be buried in makeshift graves created during intense fighting when it was too dangerous to reach formal cemeteries. Associated Press reporters visiting Khartoum last month saw burial sites in football fields, beside roads and near abandoned buildings, with many graves remaining unidentified. Khartoum authorities say nearly 30,000 bodies have already been relocated from temporary graves, while thousands more remain buried across the city. Around 10 percent of the reburied bodies remain unidentified. Forensic officials are preserving DNA samples from unidentified remains in hopes that future testing may help families identify relatives. Psychologists warn that uncertainty surrounding missing loved ones causes long-term emotional trauma. “Families of missing persons experience additional layers of vulnerabilities due to hostilities, displacement and ambiguous loss,” said ICRC psychologist Nathalie Nyamukeba. Many families continue searching despite the dangers. Sulafa Mustafa has spent two years looking for her son Suleiman Abdalsid, who disappeared after visiting a friend near Khartoum. “I haven’t lost faith in finding you,” she said. Others who have located relatives face the painful task of reburying loved ones properly after they were hastily buried near homes during the fighting. “What happened had left a mark on my heart,” said Abubakar Alswai after relocating his brother’s remains to a public cemetery.

A series of militant attacks on schools across Nigeria over the past week has left more than 80 children missing, according to local officials and a rights group, highlighting ongoing insecurity in the country. In the northeastern state of Borno State, militants abducted at least 42 children from a primary school between Wednesday and Thursday in the Askira Uba and Chibok areas. According to Amnesty International, the attack occurred in Mussa village near Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold of Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Meanwhile, in the southwestern state of Oyo State, two secondary schools were attacked within hours of each other on Friday, with at least 40 students abducted, Amnesty said. Such incidents are uncommon in the region. Local official Peter Wabba said authorities informed him that 48 children were taken in the Oyo attacks. “The government is assuring us that they are doing their possible best to see that these children are rescued but up till now, we are still waiting,” he told The Associated Press. Amnesty criticised the authorities for failing to follow through on investigations and bring perpetrators to justice, saying victims and their families are often denied justice. Police said three suspects were arrested in connection with the Oyo attack in the Oriire area, about 220 kilometers from Lagos, after being identified by local residents. It remains unclear if more suspects are being pursued. The rights group also warned that repeated abductions are discouraging school attendance, with some families withdrawing children—especially girls—from school and forcing early marriages out of fear. Kidnappings of students have become a recurring security challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the north. Last year alone, more than 300 children were abducted in two major school attacks. Analysts say armed groups often target schools to attract attention and exert pressure on authorities, making such institutions increasingly vulnerable.

Health experts are warning of growing lead contamination risks across Africa as the continent’s rapid shift toward clean energy fuels a surge in battery use and recycling, often in unsafe conditions. In Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, residents of Owino Uhuru say they continue to suffer from lead poisoning years after a lead-acid battery recycling plant was shut down, highlighting the long-term health impact of industrial pollution linked to battery processing. Faith Muthama, 40, a mother of four, said her health has never recovered. “Life has never been the same,” she said, wiping away sweat. “I still struggle to do heavy chores as I suffer from breathing difficulties. When I was tested in 2012, I was found with high lead levels in my blood.” The contamination in Owino Uhuru dates back to 2007, when Kenya Metal Refineries EPZ, a local subsidiary of a Mumbai-based company, operated a lead-acid battery recycling plant in the settlement. Residents allege toxic waste from the facility, which exported processed lead to India, seeped into soil and water, causing widespread illness. More than 20 deaths have been linked to the pollution. The plant was shut down in 2014, but residents say its effects remain. Lead exposure is associated with neurological damage, reduced cognitive development, and long-term health complications, particularly in children. A February report by the Centre for Global Development, a Washington and London-based think tank, warned that the rapid expansion of off-grid solar systems and battery storage in Africa is increasing demand for battery recycling, much of which takes place in informal or poorly regulated environments. The report noted that lead-acid batteries remain widely used in low-income markets because they are cheaper than alternatives such as lithium-ion batteries. However, safe recycling requires costly infrastructure, which is often lacking, leading informal recyclers to use unsafe methods that release lead into air, soil and water. Experts say similar risks are emerging across Africa and other regions as renewable energy adoption accelerates. “Off-grid solar could account for a substantial share of batteries entering the recycling stream in Africa,” said Lee Crawford, senior research fellow at the Centre for Global Development. “That's on top of existing demand from vehicles like cars and motorbikes.” “Safe recycling is expensive and that creates a strong incentive to do it unsafely,” he added, noting that banning lead-acid batteries is unrealistic and the focus must be on making recycling safer. Across Africa and South Asia, studies suggest that between one-third and half of children have elevated blood lead levels, making it one of the most widespread environmental health threats globally. Experts say weak enforcement of environmental rules in many countries worsens the situation, even where regulations exist. “This is a silent threat,” Crawford said. “It's often invisible, but it affects health, cognitive development and economic productivity.” In Owino Uhuru, residents say the impact continues to devastate lives. Alfred Ogulo, 70, a village elder, said he is still awaiting compensation after years of illness linked to exposure. He described nerve damage, mobility issues, and severe health problems. At one point, Ogulo said tests revealed extremely high lead levels in his blood. “I cannot walk without a stick,” he said. “I also suffer from serious chest pain and coughs from the toxic fumes that we breathed in here when the factory was still in operation.” In 2025, Kenya’s Supreme Court awarded about $12 million in damages to around 3,000 residents after a class-action lawsuit against the smelting company, marking a rare legal victory in industrial pollution cases. However, activists say compensation has been delayed. Phyllis Omido, who leads the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA) in Mombasa and helped residents take legal action, criticised the lack of implementation. “It is sad that the state has ignored prioritizing the compensation payment as ordered by the court,” she said. “These monies would have alleviated the current suffering these vulnerable residents are going through.” Residents also expressed frustration over the long wait for justice. “Is it fair that we are the ones still chasing justice while the company walks away?” said Mejumaa Hassan Nyanje, 60. “Will we all die before justice is served? It feels like we've been abandoned, like our lives and our health don't matter.”

Mali’s Defence Minister General Sadio Camara has been killed during coordinated attacks on military installations across the country, according to Al Jazeera report on Sunday. The attack came a day after his residence in the garrison town of Kati came under assault amid simultaneous strikes by an al-Qaeda-linked group and Tuareg rebels. Camara, a key figure in Mali’s military leadership following coups in 2020 and 2021, was seen as one of the most influential members of the ruling junta. Analysts say his death marks a significant blow to the country’s armed forces. According to reports, attackers carried out a suicide car bombing targeting his residence in Kati, a heavily fortified military town about 15 kilometres northwest of the capital Bamako, where Interim President Assimi Goita also resides. Despite the scale of the assault, Goita was safely evacuated and remains in a secure location, according to Al Jazeera reports. The attacks also targeted several other locations, including Bamako, and northern and central regions such as Gao, Kidal and Sevare. Witnesses reported heavy gunfire and explosions continuing in some areas hours after the initial assault. Armed groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), are believed to have coordinated the attacks. Analysts warn that the situation remains volatile, with further clashes expected as rival armed groups intensify operations against state forces. The African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United States Bureau of African Affairs have condemned the attacks.

Mali’s army said unidentified armed “terrorist” groups launched coordinated attacks on several military positions in the capital Bamako and other parts of the country on Saturday, with fighting ongoing. In a statement, the army confirmed that multiple locations came under attack, though it did not provide immediate details on casualties or the extent of damage, reports Al Jazeera. Witnesses and journalists reported hearing sustained gunfire and at least two explosions near key military sites, including areas close to the country’s main airport in Bamako. Gunfire was also reported near the main military camp in the capital, raising concerns over security in the military-ruled West African nation. The situation remained fluid, with authorities yet to disclose further operational details as clashes continued in several places.

More than half a million people are expected to attend a Mass led by Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon on Friday, as he marks the midpoint of his four-nation tour of Africa. The pontiff travelled to Douala, the country’s main port city, to lead the large-scale liturgy and visit a hospital, with the Vatican estimating a crowd of around 600,000 — the biggest turnout anticipated during his 11-day visit, the first to Africa by an American pope. Later in the day, he is scheduled to return to Yaounde to meet students, faculty and staff at the Catholic University of Central Africa, continuing his focus on engaging young people. Catholics make up about 29 percent of Cameroon’s population of roughly 29 million, in a country where the median age is just 18. During his visit, Pope Leo has emphasised the importance of youth, urging greater investment in education, training and employment opportunities to address poverty, corruption and social exclusion. In earlier remarks to Cameroon’s longtime leader Paul Biya, he called for breaking what he described as the “chains of corruption” and highlighted young people as the nation’s hope. Cameroon, led by Biya since 1982, reflects broader tensions across Africa between a youthful population and aging leadership, with many young people expressing frustration over limited economic opportunities. Despite modest economic growth, many youths remain in informal employment, and the country has experienced a significant outflow of skilled professionals, particularly in the health sector. Pope Leo warned that unemployment and exclusion could fuel instability, stressing that empowering young people is essential for long-term peace and development.