Tinubu Urges ECOWAS to Condemn Afrophobic Attacks in South Africa

President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to present a united front against Afrophobic attacks in South Africa, urging the regional bloc to escalate the matter to the African Union and reminding South Africa of the sacrifices made by other African nations during its liberation struggle.

President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the appeal during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held on Sunday in Lungi, Sierra Leone. The summit, hosted by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, brought together regional leaders to deliberate on political, economic, and security issues affecting West Africa. The gathering provided a platform for leaders to address pressing concerns, including the rising wave of xenophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa, which has drawn widespread condemnation across the continent.

The President condemned, in the strongest terms, the recent attacks on Nigerian citizens and other Africans in the Republic of South Africa. “As already stated by His Excellency, the President of Ghana, ECOWAS should present a united voice in this condemnation,” Tinubu said through Vice President Shettima. He further urged the regional body to table the matter before the next session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, saying this would “send a clear message that this type of intolerance is totally unacceptable under any guise.” Tinubu reminded South Africa that the freedom it currently enjoys was the result of the sacrifices and liberation efforts of African countries, including Nigeria, which played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle. He disclosed that the Nigerian Government had already evacuated over 1,490 of its citizens from harm’s way in seven batches and was prepared to engage further on the matter. The evacuations, which began in June following the outbreak of violence, were completed with the arrival of 305 returnees in Lagos on July 15, bringing the total number of evacuees to 1,490. The attacks have strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa, with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, previously hinting that Nigeria could consider retaliatory measures.

READ ALSO:

• Boko Haram Abducts Pastor’s Wife, Three Children in Borno
• 139 Million Nigerians in Poverty Despite Three Years of Tinubu’s Reforms – World Bank
• APC Chieftain Tells Atiku to Quit 2027 Race, Citing His Past Stance on Zoning

Beyond the security concerns, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the principles enshrined in the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and other regional frameworks. He also assured that Nigeria remained committed to the setting up of the Counter Terrorism Force and the strengthening of the ECOWAS Standby Force “with a view to enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint security operations, and preventive diplomacy to safeguard peace and stability across our region.” President Tinubu further warned against the temptation to tamper with constitutional term limits, stating that “the most effective tool against unconstitutional changes of government and mass protests that is capable of undermining good order is for us to enthrone good governance that delivers more tangible benefits to our citizens.” The President also declared Nigeria’s support for the newly developed ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration, describing it as a framework that would strengthen cooperation among member states. He said the compact reflects the region’s commitment to rebuilding public trust in institutions and ensuring that regional integration remains relevant despite emerging geopolitical challenges.

Earlier, President Julius Maada Bio and the Chairman of ECOWAS explained that the summit was organised to reflect on where ECOWAS has come from and where the community must go next. Bio stated that West Africa must enter a new era with confidence, strategic clarity, and stronger determination to shape its own destiny, noting that “dependency narrows the very freedom that challenging partnership is meant to strengthen.” The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, reiterated the resolve of the regional body to strengthen governance and accountability across institutions and deepen policy coordination among member states. He said the commission had reintroduced democratic governance and electoral support mechanisms while strengthening regional responses to security and humanitarian challenges.

A major highlight of the summit was the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project by the authority. The pipeline, estimated to cost $25 billion, is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Nigeria through 13 West African countries to Morocco, connecting to the European gas network. A dedicated ceremony will subsequently be held in Morocco, during which Morocco and Mauritania will jointly sign the agreement in the presence of Nigeria’s president. United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, also addressed the summit, stressing that the international body has an obligation to support the region in combating terrorism and all forms of crime against humanity. “The United Nations Security Council must clearly hear the voice of Africa and stand behind the solutions that Africa offers,” she said, underscoring the importance of African-led solutions to the continent’s challenges.

Tinubu Urges ECOWAS to Condemn Afrophobic Attacks in South Africa

Ghanaian TikToker Jailed One Year Over False Ritual Claim Against President

A Ghanaian TikToker, Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publication of false news over videos she posted about President John Dramani Mahama. Camilla Alhassan, 43, was convicted on Thursday, July 16, 2026, by the Accra Circuit Court for sharing a series of videos alleging, without evidence, that President Mahama sacrificed 32 cows as part of a ritual to help him win the 2024 general election.

Prosecutors told the court that Alhassan, who has more than 70,000 followers on TikTok, published several videos between late June and early July 2026 containing false and offensive allegations against the President and First Lady Lordina Mahama. According to the prosecution, the widely circulated videos included claims that President Mahama performed ritual sacrifices involving 32 cows to secure victory in the 2024 polls. She also alleged that the government’s distribution of sanitary pads to flood victims was an attempt to conceal what she claimed he had done.

Court documents revealed that Alhassan made further unsubstantiated allegations, including claims that President Mahama had committed sexual offences, fathered a child as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, and was responsible for the deaths of former Presidents John Evans Atta Mills and Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. She also made offensive remarks and threats against the lives of the President and First Lady, statements the police said were considered capable of disturbing public peace and undermining national cohesion. Alhassan was arrested on July 9, 2026, through an intelligence-led operation after police intercepted the TikTok videos. She initially appeared before the Accra Circuit Court on July 10, where she pleaded guilty to both charges.

READ ALSO:

• Man Uses Hot Pressing Iron on Daughter’s Private Part for Bedwetting
• I Spent N2.2m for Habila’s Strange Illness, Says Umahi
• Falana threatens to sue FG over judges’ luxury housing scheme in Abuja

Before sentencing, Alhassan claimed she was pregnant, which led the court to defer sentencing pending a medical examination. However, a medical examination conducted at the Police Hospital confirmed that she was not pregnant. During the sentencing hearing on July 16, her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, said the court struck out the charge of electronic abuse, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to determine that offence. The court convicted her on the charge of offensive conduct and sentenced her to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour. According to her lawyer, the defence pleaded for a more lenient sentence, but the judge ruled that the increasing prevalence of similar offences warranted a custodial sentence to serve as a deterrent. Under the law, offensive conduct is a misdemeanour carrying a maximum sentence of three years, but the court imposed one year after the defence pleaded in mitigation.

The Ghana Police Service has indicated that steps are being taken to prosecute Alhassan on a separate charge of false communication under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), before the High Court. The police have cautioned the public against using online platforms to spread false information, issue threats, or publish unlawful content, reminding citizens that while freedom of expression is guaranteed, that right must be exercised responsibly.

The sentencing has sparked significant debate in Ghana about misinformation on social media and the balance between criminal sanctions and freedom of expression. Senior lawyer Kofi Bentil, Vice-President of IMANI Africa, argued that Alhassan should not have been criminally prosecuted over comments she made about President Mahama. He stated that the statements in question could amount to defamation but the appropriate response should not be criminal prosecution. This is not the first time an influencer has been jailed in Ghana. In September 2025, popular TikToker David Kwodwo Prah Afful, known as “Kwame Nkrumah II,” was sentenced to seven months in prison after being convicted of making death threats against President Mahama and members of parliament. President Mahama had previously stated that his government was considering ways to “sanitise” social media, instructing authorities to track down and arrest those spreading misinformation and disinformation.

Ghanaian TikToker Jailed One Year Over False Ritual Claim Against President

21 dead as Uganda school bus carrying pupils from study trip crashes

A devastating school bus crash in Uganda has claimed the lives of at least 20 pupils and the founder of their school after a bus carrying children home from an educational excursion overturned in the eastern part of the country.

The fatal accident occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time on Thursday at Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa District, a notorious stretch of road known for repeated fatal crashes. The pupils from King David Junior School, located in Ndejje near Kampala, were returning from a study tour to the famous Sipi Falls when tragedy struck.

According to the Uganda Police Force, preliminary investigations indicate that the bus developed a mechanical fault while descending the steep hill. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, slammed into a large rock and overturned.

Police confirmed that 21 people died in the crash, including 20 schoolchildren and Mr. Tadeo Ssekade, the founder and director of King David Junior School. Authorities said dozens of other passengers, including teachers and school staff, survived with injuries, while several remain in critical condition.

Emergency responders, police officers and residents rushed to the crash site to rescue victims trapped inside the wreckage. Many of the injured were transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment as rescue operations continued late into the night.

READ ALSO:

• Court Remands 19-Year-Old for Allegedly Defiling, Impregnating 14-Year-Old Girl
• Court Orders Final Forfeiture of N8.9bn Assets Linked to Aisha Achimugu
• CAC Commences Deregistration of 100,000 Companies Over Unfiled Annual Returns

Videos recorded by eyewitnesses showed the bus severely mangled after the crash, with residents working alongside security officials to pull injured children from the wreckage before ambulances arrived.

Officials praised members of the local community for their swift response, saying their efforts helped save several lives during the rescue operation.

Investigators are yet to determine the exact cause of the accident, although early findings point to a suspected brake or mechanical failure. Authorities are also examining whether the steep terrain, vehicle condition and other factors contributed to the tragedy.

The identities of the deceased pupils have not yet been officially released as authorities continue notifying their families.

Road safety concerns intensify

The tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety in Uganda, particularly along Chekwatit Hill, which has gained a reputation as one of the country’s most dangerous roads due to its steep descent and history of fatal accidents.

The latest incident also comes amid growing worries over the safety of school transportation following several recent crashes involving buses carrying students across the country.

Uganda continues to record thousands of road crashes annually. Traffic authorities have consistently identified speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, mechanical failures, reckless driving, overloaded vehicles and hazardous road conditions as the leading causes of fatal accidents.

The latest Uganda school bus crash has prompted fresh calls for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations, compulsory mechanical inspections for school buses and improved safety measures to protect children travelling on educational trips.

As investigations continue, condolences have poured in from government officials, parents, religious leaders and members of the public, with many calling for urgent reforms to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

21 dead as Uganda school bus carrying pupils from study trip crashes