From Dan Amasingha, Minna

A tragic domestic incident has left a 60-year-old man dead after he was allegedly assaulted by his son in Minna, the Niger State capital.

The deceased, identified as Ali Haruna, was reportedly attacked by his son, Usman, at the Shango area of Chanchaga Local Government Area on Monday.

Sources said the incident occurred behind a primary school in the community during a family dispute.

 Usman was said to have intervened during an alleged altercation between his parents, in which his mother was reportedly being maltreated by the deceased.

In the process, the son allegedly struck his father, causing him to collapse and slip into a coma.

 Haruna was rushed to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

Residents of the area said there had been long standing reports of domestic violence within the family.

When contacted for confirmation, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has thrown the Shango community into shock, while investigations are expected to commence into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the first anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Francis, as he addressed worshippers in Equatorial Guinea yesterday.

The pontiff paid tribute to his predecessor’s commitment to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society.

As he flew from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, Leo said Francis had given “his witness, his words, and his gestures.

He did so by truly living close to the poorest, to the least, to the sick, to children, and to the elderly.”

In tribute, Leo said, “Let us thank the Lord for the great gift of Francis’ life to the whole Church and to the whole world.

”

As Pope, Francis headed the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025. He died at the age of 88.

The current pope, who was the curia cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a U.S. and Peruvian citizen, was then elected to succeed him.

Equatorial Guinea is the final stop on the pope’s 11-day tour.

Africa is one of the regions of the world where the Catholic Church is growing.

There are currently around 290 million Catholics living on the continent, and this could rise to more than 700 million by the end of this century, forecasts suggest.

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Cross River State Government has confirmed a case of COVID-19 and swiftly activated its public health emergency response mechanisms to contain any potential spread, health authorities announced.

Making the disclosure in Calabar, The State Commissioner for Health, Dr.

Henry Egbe Ayuk, Tuesday at a press briefing assured residents that the situation is under control and that there is no need for panic, he said

He said the confirmed case involves a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived Nigeria about a month ago and works in a company at Akamkpa Local Government Area.

The patient, who initially presented mild symptoms, was later admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where samples were collected and the infection confirmed.

“The patient is currently receiving care at the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to treatment,” the commissioner said.

He emphasized that the government deliberately delayed public announcement until all diagnostic protocols were completed to avoid misinformation, adding that the state remains vigilant in disease surveillance and response.

Ayuk noted that global interconnectedness continues to expose populations to infectious diseases, stressing that COVID-19, like other outbreaks, is not peculiar to Nigeria.

“We are living in a world of mobile populations, and public health threats can easily cross borders. What matters is the capacity to detect and contain them promptly, and that is what we are doing.

“The state is safe. There is no cause for alarm, but we must all play our part in preventing the spread,” Ayuk reiterated.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, confirmed that this is the first officially recorded COVID-19 case in Cross River since 2022, attributing the low visibility of recent cases to widespread vaccination and the prevalence of mild or unreported infections.

She explained that COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, and respiratory distress in severe cases often resemble malaria, which may contribute to underreporting.

“With even a single confirmed case, it qualifies as an outbreak, and that is why we immediately activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC),” Ekpenyong said.

She disclosed that rapid response teams have been deployed to Akamkpa LGA, while contact tracing and line-listing of exposed individuals are ongoing. Identified contacts are being monitored daily within the virus’ incubation period of two to 14 days.

WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Olatunde Rebecca, highlighted the importance of sustained surveillance, risk communication, and provision of testing materials. She also warned against misinformation, describing it as a key factor that can worsen outbreak outcomes.

“COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces. Preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of face masks, and physical distancing remain critical,” she said.

Rebecca added that efforts are underway, in collaboration with national health authorities, to determine the specific strain involved in the current case.