African delegates attending seminars in China have condemned reported xenophobic attacks against foreign African nationals in South Africa and called for greater unity across the continent.

The delegates made the condemnation on the sidelines of training programmes organised by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) under China’s Ministry of Commerce.

They described the reported attacks as disturbing and contrary to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, solidarity, and peaceful coexistence.

Yusupha Bojang of The Gambia’s National Council for Civic Education said Africans must see themselves as one people irrespective of colonial-era boundaries.

“We first have to recognise that in Africa we are all one. These boundaries are artificial creations. We should treat each other as brothers and sisters,” he said.

Bojang said frustrations over domestic challenges should not be directed at fellow Africans lawfully residing in another country.

“If you have any problem, it should be channelled to your government, not innocent citizens legitimately carrying out their activities,” he said.

He urged Africans to speak with one voice against xenophobia.

“We need to unite. When we see wrongs happening, we should all come out to condemn them because it can happen to anybody,” he added.

Also speaking, Jallow Gibbi, a journalist with Dunia Radio in The Gambia, said he was saddened by reports of Africans attacking fellow Africans.

“When I watched the news, I was embarrassed to see Africans fighting Africans. It is not humanitarian and it should not happen,” he said.

Gibbi called on African leaders and international organisations to promote peace and unity across the continent.

“We are all the same. One Africa, one people. We should unite and stay together,” he said.

He said information from Gambian diplomatic authorities indicated that no Gambian citizen had been reported affected, while advising nationals to remain vigilant.

Mr Richard Jombi James of South Sudan’s Ministry of Culture, Museum and National Heritage described African unity as essential to the continent’s progress.

“We are all Africans from the north to the south, east and west. We cannot attack ourselves. We are one Africa, one people,” he said.

Kawu Muhammed Lawan of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy said the reports were particularly troubling given the support many African countries provided during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.

“Looking at all the efforts other African countries made to end apartheid in South Africa, it is embarrassing to witness hostility against fellow Africans today,” he said.

Lawan urged African leaders to take practical steps to protect citizens across the continent and strengthen regional integration.

Similarly, Emmanuel Nok, a legal practitioner with South Sudan’s Ministry of Culture, Museum and National Heritage, said Africans should reject violence and discrimination against one another.

“We feel hurt as Africans when we see fellow Africans being hunted by other Africans. We should condemn such behaviour because it goes against the spirit of African brotherhood,” he said.

Nok noted that many African countries host citizens from neighbouring states and stressed that peaceful coexistence remained vital for economic development and regional cooperation.

The delegates called on governments, regional organisations and civil society groups to promote tolerance, strengthen social cohesion and uphold the principles of African unity.

They also urged Africans to focus on common development goals, saying stronger cooperation would advance peace, prosperity and integration across the continent.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government said it will reach over 240,000 children aged 5–14 years in 39 wards across 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the 2026 Schistosomiasis Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) exercise.

The campaign is scheduled for June 22–30, 2026.

The target was unveiled at a two-day state-level planning meeting convened Wednesday by the Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health – Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Control Programme in collaboration with Sightsavers.

The meeting aimed at developing strategies for 2026 treatment targets, validate drug quantification, strengthen micro-planning, and finalize the implementation timeline for schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia.

Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Health Dr Abdullazeez Adams, said schistosomiasis remains a public health challenge in Kogi, affecting school-age children, farmers, fishermen, and communities near freshwater bodies.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary Maji Enoch, the commissioner noted the disease reduces school attendance, affects productivity, and impacts health outcomes.

He said the meeting would review performance from previous rounds, strengthen social mobilization and training of teachers and Community Drug Distributors, CDDs, and focus on data quality, equity, and beneficiary safety.

He commended Sightsavers and the Federal Ministry of Health for technical and financial support, and urged LGAs to maintain strong collaboration “to reach the last child in the last community.”

The National Programme Manager, Dr Jacob Solomon of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), said Nigeria is working toward WHO’s 2030 elimination target for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis.

He described Kogi’s progress since baseline mapping as “significant” and urged participants to remain diligent to reach the “last mile.”

Solomon confirmed the programme targets all children 5–14 years, whether in school or out of school.

The State NTD Coordinator, Musa Momohjimoh, said the intervention will use Praziquantel in 39 wards identified as endemic from a 2015 survey and revised WHO strategy.

According to him, teachers will administer drugs in schools while health workers supervise, and CDDs will reach out-of-school children.

He said radio jingles and engagement of religious and community leaders will drive awareness.

Sightsavers Programme Officer, Phoebe Hindan, said treatment will cover only wards with demonstrated need based on evidence.

She described Praziquantel as safe and effective, used in Kogi for over 10 years, and urged parents to allow children to participate.

She noted misconceptions have caused refusals in the past, and warned untreated schistosomiasis can lead to other complications in the future.

The government said the campaign will cover public, private schools and out-of-school children, with parents directed to contact the State Ministry of Health for enquiries.

Salihu Usman, a participant and former Education Secretary of Kogi LGEA, assured the government of the participants’ commitment to a result-oriented MAM exercise that will deliver on its goals and objectives.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

No fewer than 11 persons were Saturday night feared dead when a boat said to be conveying them back home from a burial ceremony capsized on the River Benue in Makurdi local Government area of the Benue State on.

Amongst victims of the boat mishap which was conveying 40 passengers said to be returning to Daudu Dawadawa Community, an island settlement behind the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, NASME Barracks in Makurdi’s North Bank area, was a pregnant woman and six children.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred between 7pm and 8pm during a heavy downpour accompanied by storms that swept across parts of the state capital.

Narrating the incident to newsmen, Commander of a local vigilante group, Operation Shara (Sweep), in North Bank, Nura Umar, said the victims had earlier attended the burial of a woman from their community at Wadata.

According to Umar, the deceased woman had been taken to a private hospital in North Bank on Saturday morning where she later died, prompting relatives and sympathisers from the island community to converge in Wadata for her burial.

“What happened was that we took a sick woman from the community behind NASME to a private hospital in North Bank yesterday morning, where she later died. Her relatives came and joined us for the burial at Wadata.

“After the burial, they boarded a boat to cross over to Daududawadawa community. At about 7pm heavy rain and strong winds started and the boat capsized halfway into the journey.

“There were over 40 passengers aboard the boat, but 11 are feared dead. We have recovered four bodies so far and buried them, while divers are still searching for the remaining victims,” Umar said.

He further disclosed that one of the survivors had a baby strapped to her back but lost the child in the accident.

When contacted, spokesperson, Benue Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, however said she was unaware of the incident

Meanwhile, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)’s Area Manager in Makurdi office, Andrew Mdama Mdahi, said they were currently carrying out rescue operations for missing persons.

“This morning (Sunday), my colleague reported the incident to me so I called the Unit Head of Marine who narrated the details to me. As of when we spoke, he said that the boat was carrying 20 people and three people lost their lives while nine are still missing.

He warned against night sailing on river Benue, stressing that the incident happened around 7pm against the NIWA’s 6pm sailing on waterways deadline.

“Our laws say 6am-6pm but the boat sailed at 7pm. Again, the law says disengage, when there is a storm or heavy wind. You can see that there was serious wind and rainfall about that time,” he added.

He warned people to adhere to the wearing of life jackets, warning that, “no life jacket, no sailing.”