Nigeria Grapples with Jihadist Massacre, Preventable Death, as International Tensions Rise
Nigeria faced a multifaceted crisis this week, ranging from a brutal jihadist attack to the tragic death of a young singer, while internationally, tensions rose with prisoner swaps and political detentions.
In Kwara state, western Nigeria, hundreds were reportedly massacred in the village of Woro on February 5, 2026, by jihadist gunmen. Umar Bio Salihu, the traditional chief of Woro, recounted a night of terror during which the attackers killed two of his sons and kidnapped his wife and three daughters, according to The Guardian. "They killed my sons," Salihu stated, describing the indiscriminate violence.
Adding to the nation's woes, Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old singer who had appeared on The Voice Nigeria, died after being bitten by a snake in her flat in Abuja, the nation's capital, The Guardian reported. Nwangene's death highlighted a critical shortage of effective antivenoms in the country, raising questions about "preventable fatalities." In a final message to her friends, Nwangene pleaded, "Please come," underscoring the urgency of her situation.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, opposition leader Bobi Wine remained in hiding nearly three weeks after a disputed election, The Guardian reported. Wine fled what he described as a night raid on his home by police and military. His whereabouts were unknown as a social media feud with the country's military chief escalated. Wine alleged mass fraud in the election and called on supporters to protest.
In Venezuela, Alex Saab, a close associate of deposed President Nicolás Maduro, was reportedly detained in Caracas in a joint operation by Venezuela's intelligence agency and the FBI, according to The Guardian. Saab, a wealthy Colombian-Venezuelan businessman considered Maduro's frontman, could be extradited to the US in days. Billionaire media mogul Raúl Gorrín was also reportedly arrested at the same address.
In Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia completed a prisoner of war swap on Thursday, bringing home more than 300 prisoners, Al Jazeera reported. "Sorry for being away," one freed prisoner tearfully told his family over the phone. The exchange offered a moment of hope amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
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