Eight people died and nine others were injured in a crush during an evangelical gathering in Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

Saturday’s tragic incident happened at a school where prominent Burundian preacher Chris Ndikumana was appearing at the event attended by thousands of people.

Eyewitnesses and the police said a wall at the exit gate collapsed as worshippers jostled to leave the venue as the preaching ended late at night, with some being trampled in the crush.

Neither Ndikumana nor the event organisers have publicly commented on the incident.

“There were so many people and everyone wanted to leave at the same time,” a teacher said.

“It was late at night,” the teacher from the Senior Technical School of Kamenge, the venue of the gathering, added.

In a statement, police said King Khaled Hospital in Bujumbura recorded six deaths – five females and a male – with four others being treated there. Two other deaths were recorded at a military hospital, where five patients were treated.

The police said two people showed physical injuries, with the rest having no signs of trauma, suggesting suffocation as being the main cause of death and injuries.

Ndikumana, whose YouTube channel has more than a million subscribers, leads the Kanguka (Wake up) ministry and often attracts huge crowds for his services in several African countries.

Some of his followers believe he can cure diseases through prayers.

Crushes during religious events are not uncommon on the continent. At least 20 people died in 2020 in neighbouring Tanzania during an outdoor religious service as attendees rushed forward to be anointed with blessed oil.

In 2022, 31 people died in Nigeria’s southern city of Port Harcourt where a church was handing out food to the poor, some of whom had waited there overnight.

The same year, at least 29 people, including 11 children, were killed in a crush in Liberia after thieves targeted worshippers leaving a large evangelical gathering.

US Strikes Hit Iran in Honour of American Soldiers, Says Trump

President Donald Trump said the latest strikes by the US hit Iran “very hard”, adding that the attacks were “in honour” of three US soldiers killed in recent days two in Jordan, one in Iraq.

In the early hours of Monday local time, US Central Command (Centcom) said it had launched a “new wave” of strikes for the ninth consecutive night as explosions were heard across Iran.

The US said it had targeted military sites and communications networks to “further diminish” Tehran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran said it had responded with a “surprise attack” in Syria and targeted US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba airport.

Elsewhere in the region, Kuwait’s armed forces said they had intercepted Iranian drones.

On the US strikes, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several cities had been hit including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.

There were also Iranian state media reports that two oil tankers had exploded as the vessels tried to cross the strait.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the tankers were going through what it called an “unsafe and hazardous southern route” of the strait and “exploded and were brought to a halt”. Centcom disputed the claims.

The IRGC added that the strait “will not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, nor even a single drop of oil and gas” as long as the US strikes continue and that it will respond with a “punitive operation”.

Over the weekend, the US confirmed that a service member had been killed after an Iranian attack in northern Iraq on Saturday.

That news came after the US said a separate attack on a base in Jordan on Friday had killed two soldiers there. The two have now been identified by the Pentagon as Pte Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25.

A third serviceperson was declared missing after the attack in Jordan, and US officials say “unidentified remains” have been found during the search process.

As the strikes continued over the weekend between the US and Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US “always remains open to a diplomatic solution”.

He also said “the world has to decide whether or not it’s going to allow an international waterway to be under the control” of Iran, saying Tehran was using the crucial shipping route as leverage.

His comments come as a preliminary deal made in mid-June to stop fighting has unravelled, with negotiations for a permanent peace making little progress after Trump declared the agreement was “over” on 8 July.

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board on Monday announced the commencement of the 2026 selection and placement of qualified candidates into state and technical colleges nationwide.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of NABTEB, Dr.

Mohammed Aminu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja.

Recall that 15,290 candidates had earlier registered for the entrance examination, while 13,848 candidates eventually sat for the test nationwide.

10,426 candidates, representing 75.29 per cent, obtained scores of 50 per cent and above, while 5,708 candidates, representing 41.

22 per cent, scored at least 70 per cent.

Aminu said the exercise was a critical stage in the admission process designed to ensure that qualified candidates are fairly and transparently placed into technical colleges across the country.

The statement partly read, “Today’s exercise marks one of the most critical stages in the admission process into our Technical Colleges. It is the bridge between assessment and admission, ensuring that qualified candidates who sat for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination are fairly, transparently and appropriately placed in accordance with the admission guidelines approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.”

The NABTEB registrar stressed that admissions would be guided by merit, equity, accountability, transparency and the Federal Character Principle.

He urged members of the selection committee to discharge their responsibilities with integrity and impartiality.

“The success of the National Common Entrance Examination can only be fully realised when it is followed by a transparent, credible and objective selection and placement process.”

Aminu also highlighted improvements in the conduct of the examination, noting that NABTEB successfully deployed computer-based testing, enhanced digital result processing and an AI-powered aptitude placement system to improve efficiency and transparency.

He described technical colleges as centres for innovation and entrepreneurship rather than institutions of second choice.

According to him, strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training remains critical to producing skilled technicians, artisans and technologists capable of driving Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification.

The registrar commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for championing reforms aimed at repositioning technical education through increased investment in skills development, stronger industry partnerships and digital innovation.

He also called on governments, school administrators, parents, communities and development partners to intensify advocacy for technical education and encourage more young Nigerians to embrace vocational skills.

The Federal Government has in recent years intensified efforts to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a major pillar of its education reform agenda.

The Ministry of Education has expanded enrolment into Federal Technical Colleges, introduced a revised TVET curriculum, strengthened partnerships with industries and increased investments in skills acquisition to address youth unemployment and bridge Nigeria’s skills gap.

The National Common Entrance Examination, conducted annually by NABTEB, serves as the gateway for admission into Federal and participating State Technical Colleges, where students receive competency-based training in engineering, construction, ICT, agriculture, hospitality and other vocational trades aimed at meeting labour market demands.

ActionAid Urges FG to fund Safe Schools Declaration

Amid rising attacks on schools, ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to fully fund and implement the Safe Schools Declaration while strengthening community-level security in rural and newly threatened communities to protect learners.

The call was made by the Board of Directors of ActionAid Nigeria during its annual General Assembly convened to review the state of the nation.

Reading the text of the press conference at the weekend in Abuja, the convener of the General Assembly Ohio Akoudo Ifiabor, expressed concern over the increasing attacks on schools, noting that between May and July 2026 alone, at least 124 schoolchildren and students were abducted in Oyo, Borno and Zamfara states.

It described the attacks as a growing threat to education and the safety of learners, adding that many abducted children and teachers in other states remain in captivity.

While commending the rescue of 39 pupils and six surviving teachers abducted in Oyo State, they urged the Federal Government to treat the rescue of all remaining abducted children and teachers as a national emergency.

It called for a visible, coordinated and adequately funded rescue and protection operation with clear timelines and regular public updates.

The organisation also urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to move beyond reactive military responses by adopting a comprehensive security strategy rooted in community intelligence, trust and accountability.

The assembly further commended the renewed legislative push for state police, the Federal Executive Council’s approval of comprehensive reforms to the National Youth Service Corps and the introduction of a community-level flood forecasting system ahead of the rainy season, but stressed that Nigerians were yet to experience tangible improvements

They called for the speedy passage of legislation establishing state police, while ensuring safeguards against political abuse and a sustainable funding framework that would enable all states to effectively provide security.

The organisation observed that although Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to about $51.5 billion, the country’s public debt had increased to N156.28 trillion, with $11.6 billion budgeted for debt servicing in 2026.

It also cited the World Bank’s warning that 79 per cent of Nigerians remain poor or vulnerable to poverty and the National Bureau of Statistics’ June inflation figure of 15.91 per cent, saying rising food prices, petrol costs above N1,100 per litre and the N70,000 minimum wage had further worsened living conditions.

On flooding, ActionAid noted the recent projections of 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been placed on high flood alert, with more than 14,000 communities, about 5,000 health facilities and over 10,000 schools at risk between July and September, and called for urgent efforts to safeguard lives and property.

Among its recommendations, ActionAid called on the Federal Government to improve debt management, block revenue leakages, strengthen social protection programmes, adequately fund primary healthcare, review the proposed sugar tax to protect small businesses, ensure reductions in ex-depot petrol prices are reflected at filling stations, and intensify flood preparedness across the country.

The organisation also reviewed the country’s democratic environment ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing reported cases of vote-buying, voter intimidation, accreditation failures and inconsistencies during the recent Ekiti State governorship election.

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to address the irregularities observed during recent elections and strengthen voter education ahead of the 2027 polls.

By Ebuka Ukoh

Across West Africa, cities are expanding faster than infrastructure. Wetlands that once absorbed floodwaters have been built over. Natural waterways have narrowed under unplanned development.

Drainage systems designed for smaller populations now serve millions more people.

Climate change has intensified rainfall, but poor placement has multiplied its consequences.

Lagos State, like several others this year, was on the national news diet. You can trust that it was for the wrong reason.

Every rainy season, we say the same things: “The rain was too much.

” “Flood everywhere.” “It happened unexpectedly. What do we do now?” Then, perhaps the waters recede. The television cameras leave. Relief materials are distributed. Promises are made. Committees are formed.

Whenever another rainy season arrives, the story begins again. It may be time to admit an uncomfortable truth. Floods do not merely reveal the force of nature. They reveal the society we have built.

As communities across Nigeria and Ghana mourn the lives lost, families displaced, businesses destroyed, and livelihoods washed away, our first responsibility is compassion. I grieve with those who have lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses, and the memories attached to them.

No editorial can restore what has been lost. I pray that those affected find comfort, strength, and the support needed to rebuild their lives.

Our second responsibility is honesty. Flooding is not new to West Africa. Climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall, but heavy rains alone do not explain why disasters repeatedly become humanitarian tragedies. Human decisions often determine whether rainfall becomes an inconvenience or a catastrophe. Across West Africa, cities are expanding faster than infrastructure. Wetlands that once absorbed floodwaters have been built over. Natural waterways have narrowed under unplanned development. Drainage systems designed for smaller populations now serve millions more people. Climate change has intensified rainfall, but poor planning has multiplied its consequences. Floods are becoming disasters because exposure and vulnerability have increased alongside the rain.

Water exposes what already exists. It exposes blocked drainage systems. It exposes buildings constructed on waterways. It exposes poor urban planning. It exposes projects existing in budgets but never fully materialise on the ground, drainage systems left unfinished, and environmental regulations enforced selectively rather than consistently. It exposes weak enforcement of environmental regulations. It exposes neglected infrastructure. It exposes governments that prepare only after disaster strikes. And it exposes citizens who sometimes contribute to the very conditions that later threaten their own communities. That is why floods are not only environmental events. They are governance events. They are public health events. They are development events. And they are moral events.

The United Nations estimates that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and severe globally. Across West Africa, rapid urbanisation, inadequate drainage infrastructure, informal settlements in flood-prone areas, and changing rainfall patterns have significantly increased flood risks. Nigeria has repeatedly experienced devastating floods over the past decade, including the nationwide floods of 2022 that affected millions of people and caused widespread destruction. Ghana, too, continues to face recurring floods that disrupt lives and livelihoods, particularly in densely populated urban areas. These tragedies should no longer surprise us. They should educate us. Too often, our response begins and ends with government.

The government carries an enormous responsibility and should be held accountable. Citizens rightly expect functioning drainage systems, effective urban planning, early warning systems, emergency shelters, enforcement of building regulations, and disaster preparedness. Leaders should be judged not only by whether or not they visit disaster sites, but also by how effectively they reduce the number of disasters that become national tragedies. Compassion is not measured by the number of condolence messages issued after floods. It should be measured by the number of lives protected before they occur. But the government cannot do everything.

Flood resilience begins much closer to home. It begins with us. Every rainy season, countless drainage channels become clogged with plastic bottles, food containers, nylon bags, and household waste. Refuse dumped into gutters does not disappear. It waits. Then, when the rains arrive, it returns to us as floodwater. Environmental responsibility is not merely an environmental issue. It is an act of protecting human life. Families also have responsibilities. Many households prepare for weddings. They prepare for funerals. They prepare for Christmas. Far fewer prepare for emergencies.

Every family should know what to do when floodwaters begin to rise. Parents should teach children basic flood safety. Families should identify safer locations, protect important documents, maintain emergency contacts, and know which elderly relatives or neighbours may need assistance during an evacuation.

Preparedness saves lives. Communities matter too. Strong communities do not wait for disaster before organising. Residents’ associations can coordinate drainage cleanup before the rainy season begins. Community leaders can identify vulnerable households. Volunteers can check on older adults, persons living with disabilities, and families who may struggle to evacuate quickly. Disaster resilience is built long before disaster arrives. Schools have responsibilities. Do students know what to do during severe flooding? Do schools have evacuation procedures? Do they monitor weather alerts? Can parents be reached quickly during emergencies?

The same questions should be asked of hospitals, churches, mosques, markets, universities, and businesses. Preparedness should become part of institutional culture rather than an afterthought. There is another lesson these floods should teach us. Poverty magnifies disaster.

The wealthiest families rarely lose everything to floods because they often live in safer neighbourhoods, possess stronger buildings, have insurance, and recover more quickly. The poorest frequently live where land is cheapest, often in flood-prone areas lacking adequate drainage, waste management, and resilient infrastructure.

This means flooding is also a justice issue. Climate hazards do not affect everyone equally. They punish vulnerability. That is why reducing flood risk requires more than sandbags. It requires reducing poverty, improving housing, expanding access to insurance and strengthening public infrastructure. Planning cities around people rather than political convenience. This is where governments must move beyond promises and camera lights.

Disaster response should not end with distributing relief materials for the evening news. Families need temporary shelter. Children need to return safely to school. Small business owners need support to rebuild. Farmers need assistance restoring livelihoods. Communities need functioning roads, drainage, healthcare, and clean water. Recovery is measured months after the cameras leave. Not while they are still recording.

There is also a lesson for faith communities. Churches and mosques often become places of refuge during disasters. They should also become places of preparedness. Faith leaders can educate congregations about disaster readiness, encourage environmental stewardship, organise volunteer response teams, and support affected families long after public attention has faded. The media also has a responsibility. Too often, flood coverage ends when the water disappears. Yet recovery takes months and sometimes years. Journalists should return after the headlines fade to ask whether displaced families have been rehoused, whether promised relief has arrived, whether damaged schools have reopened, and whether governments have fulfilled their commitments. Accountability should not end when the cameras leave.

Perhaps the greatest lesson is this. Floods do not discriminate. They do not ask whether you voted for the ruling party or the opposition. They do not ask your ethnicity. They do not ask about your religion. They do not recognise national borders. The floodwaters that overwhelm communities in Ghana carry the same message as those that devastate communities in Nigeria. Nature is impartial.

Our preparation has not been. If there is hope in this tragedy, it is that every flood teaches us something. It teaches governments where infrastructure failed. It teaches engineers where cities need to be redesigned. It teaches communities where solidarity matters. It teaches families where preparation was missing. It teaches citizens that every plastic bottle thrown into a drainage channel has consequences far beyond a single household. The measure of a society is not whether floods come. No nation possesses that power. The measure is whether fewer people die the next time. Whether fewer homes are destroyed. Whether children return safely to school. Whether families recover more quickly. Whether governments learn. Whether communities organise. Whether citizens accept that caring for public spaces is also caring for one another.

The floodwaters will recede. The grief will not disappear so easily. The question is whether our memory will last longer than the water. Because if we forget these lessons once again, the next flood will not simply be another natural disaster. It will be another reminder that we failed to build the society we already knew we needed. Floods are often described as acts of nature. In truth, the scale of their destruction is often an act of policy, planning, preparation, and collective responsibility. Rain will continue to fall. The question is whether we will continue building societies that turn rainfall into mourning. The floodwaters will recede. What must not recede with them is our resolve to build differently.

 Mr Ukoh, a PhD student and coauthor of Built By The Ancestors, writes from his base in New York, the United States.