Multiple Tragedies Unfold in Nigeria and Middle East Amidst Political Tensions in the UK
Nigeria faced a series of crises this week, including a deadly attack on a remote village and the tragic death of a singer from a snakebite, while tensions flared between Lebanon and Israel. Meanwhile, in the UK, a by-election in northern England was poised to test the Labour Party's hold on its traditional voters.
In Nigeria, at least 35 people were killed in Woro, a remote village in Kwara State, after armed men attacked and burned homes and shops, according to Al Jazeera. Saidu Baba Ahmed, a local lawmaker in the Kaiama region, told AFP that "35 to 40 dead bodies were counted" following the attack on Wednesday. Many others reportedly escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds.
Adding to the country's woes, Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old singer and former contestant on The Voice Nigeria, died after being bitten by a snake in her flat in Abuja, the nation's capital, The Guardian reported. Nwangene was awaiting treatment in the hospital after the incident. In a final message to her friends, she wrote, "Please come." Her death highlighted the ongoing crisis of preventable fatalities in Nigeria, particularly concerning the availability of effective antivenoms, according to The Guardian.
In the Middle East, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of committing an "environmental crime" after Israeli forces allegedly sprayed a toxic substance over southern Lebanese towns, Al Jazeera reported. Aoun condemned the move on Wednesday, stating that he ordered government agencies to take "all diplomatic and legal measures to respond to this aggression," which he described as "a blatant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty."
Meanwhile, a small number of sick and wounded Palestinians were allowed to cross into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing to seek medical treatment, The Guardian reported. According to Egyptian officials, about 150 people were due to leave the territory on Monday, and 50 to enter it, after more than 20 months of closure. However, Reuters reported that Israel permitted only 12 Palestinians to re-enter by nightfall.
Across the globe in the UK, a by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency of Greater Manchester was set to take place on February 26, Al Jazeera reported. The election, triggered by the resignation of long-serving MP Andrew Gwynne in January, was becoming a test of the Labour Party's strength in its heartland. Eleven candidates are vying for the seat, including representatives from the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.
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