
Following an attack on Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, 37 children are reportedly still missing. The incident occurred on Monday around 9 a.m. while students were taking the National Examinations Council examination. Two teachers were killed, and an unspecified number of students were abducted. Parents have registered missing persons, with one parent, Mbula Bura, confirming 37 names have been recorded, including his 19-year-old daughter, Esther Mbula. Another parent, Emmanuel Dari, stated his 16-year-old daughter, Lucy Emmanuel, was abducted from her classroom. A resident, Bitrus Milnda, reported two relatives, Martha Wajau and Abori Ujulu, both SSS1 students, were also abducted. The state government has sent a delegation, led by Commissioner for Education Lawan Wakilbe, to assess the situation. The Nigerian Army confirmed the rescue of 10 victims, including teachers and students, abducted during the attack. The Acting Military Information Officer, North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, stated that two security operatives, a soldier and a Civilian Joint Task Force member, died during the rescue operation. The 10 victims were rescued unhurt by ground troops with air support after engaging the abductors around the Daggu area. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

PUBG Mobile has announced the opening of registrations for the Road to 2026 PMGO Season 2, inviting competitive players from Sub-Saharan Africa to compete for a spot on the global esports stage. This tournament offers African teams the final opportunity in 2026 to qualify for the PUBG Mobile Global Championship PMGC, which features a $3,000,000 prize pool. The Season 2 champions will also secure a direct slot at the 2026 PUBG Mobile Global Open PMGO Season 2, where they will compete for an additional $500,000 prize pool. As an incentive, every successfully registered participant will be entered into a lucky draw to win an Infinix Note Edge smartphone. Participation is open to players who have achieved Platinum Tier or higher in Ranked Classic Mode, with eligible teams requiring at least four players and an optional substitute. Interested players can register through the PUBG Mobile Road to PMGO registration portal, selecting their region and forming a team. This initiative aims to foster esports growth in Africa and provide opportunities for emerging talent to compete at the highest level.

The Kwara State Government announced a 50% reduction in malaria prevalence, decreasing from 26% to 13%. However, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, stated that poor environmental sanitation is responsible for approximately 60% of malaria transmission. This information was shared during the Kwara State Malaria Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation Quarterly Meeting and the inauguration of the State Malaria ACSM Working Group in Ilorin. Dr. Fakayode, represented by the State Malaria Control Coordinator, Dr. Kazeem Oladapo, emphasized that environmental conditions, including stagnant water, remain a primary driver of mosquito breeding and malaria cases. He urged policymakers and development partners to enhance collaboration and integrate environmental management with other preventive measures. Jeremiah Ngutor-Ulaa, Data Analyst for the Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics Jhpiego STOP Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Project, highlighted the importance of strengthened collaboration and improved health systems to eliminate malaria and prevent antimalarial drug resistance. The state's ACSM Desk Officer, Yemisi Ajala, noted climate, environmental, behavioral, and social factors as key drivers of transmission and praised the government's sustained interventions, such as mass distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, and the "Test, Treat, Track" policy, despite inconsistent use of
Must ReadOlisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has endorsed the proposed introduction of state police in Nigeria, commending President Bola Tinubu for transmitting a bill to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution. Agbakoba, however, warned that the reform's success hinges on constitutionally insulating law enforcement agencies from executive interference. In an open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Agbakoba suggested that the creation of state police also presents an opportunity to devolve additional responsibilities to state governments, such as driver's license issuance, prison administration, and marriage registration. He cautioned that without institutional protection, state police could become tools of executive power, similar to the challenges faced by State Independent Electoral Commissions. Agbakoba proposed a constitutional framework akin to South Africa's, where independent institutions derive autonomy directly from the constitution, enjoy security of tenure, guaranteed funding, and are accountable to the legislature. He also suggested a shared appointment and removal process for state police leadership, involving the Police Service Commission, the governor, and the State House of Assembly, to prevent political interference. Agbakoba emphasized that establishing state police without these constitutional safeguards would undermine the reform's objective and could lead to oppression.