馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Russian drone strike kills one on Panama-flagged cargo ship en route to Ukraine
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
A Russian drone strike set fire to a Panama-flagged cargo vessel, killing a 58-year-old Egyptian cook, according to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Eight other sailors, including Turkish and Indian citizens, escaped on a life raft. The Ukrainian navy identified the vessel as the Turkish cargo ship Victress, stating it sustained significant damage and lost seaworthiness, and that Russia continues to violate international maritime law. Kuleba also reported Russian attacks on vessels under the flags of Palau and Belize, with no casualties. Separately, Russian attacks killed two people in Ukraine: one in Odesa from a missile strike and another in Zaporizhzhia from a drone attack, where three people were also wounded. In Russia, Moscow's four airports were briefly closed after drones were intercepted, and Russia's defense ministry claimed to have destroyed 301 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadProtesters, led by the Take It Back Movement, have barricaded the Iwo Road area in Ibadan, Oyo State, to demand an end to insecurity in Nigeria and the release of 39 abducted schoolchildren and teachers. The protest, which began around 10 am, is a continuation of actions initiated by the human rights group since the abductions in the Orire Local Government Area in May. Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Movement, stated that protests will continue until all abducted victims are freed, criticizing government officials for their perceived inaction while 46 students and their teachers remain in captivity. Sanyaolu emphasized the demand for freedom for all captives across Nigeria and urged state and federal governments to act, warning of continued mass action if their demands are not met.
Must ReadA South Korean court has sentenced former justice minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the brief martial law declaration by former president Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of "insurrection." Prosecutors stated that Park held a meeting of justice ministry officials shortly after the declaration to assess prison capacity for potential arrests of anti-government figures. Presiding judge Lee Jin-gwan noted that Park, as justice minister, disregarded opinions raised during the meeting concerning the illegality of the December 3 insurrection. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence, arguing Park abused his power and challenged the rule of law. Park was taken into custody following the ruling. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol is currently appealing a life sentence for leading the insurrection and also received a 30-year term for sending drones to North Korea to create a national crisis. Other former officials, including former prime minister Han Duck-soo and former interior minister Lee Sang-min, have also received significant prison sentences related to the martial law incident.
The Kwara State Government has expressed significant concern following the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria's discovery and closure of 724 illegal drug premises across the state. Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, stated that while the enforcement exercise is commendable, the sheer number of illegal outlets is alarming and highlights the scale of unregulated medicine distribution. He noted that many of these premises are operated by individuals lacking the necessary pharmaceutical training, leading to risks such as improper drug handling, treatment failures, and serious health complications for residents who unknowingly patronize them. Malik emphasized that the findings should prompt the Kwara State Pharmaceutical Inspectors Committee to strengthen its surveillance and enforcement strategies. He recommended leveraging Community Health Committees in 46 communities to improve grassroots monitoring and reporting of illegal drug outlets and support public awareness campaigns on the dangers of unauthorized medicine vendors. The government aims for a significant reduction in illegal drug premises during future inspections, underscoring public health protection as a top priority and calling for stronger regulatory vigilance.