Soldiers open fire on protesters in Lagos

Five persons have lost their lives while a number of persons yet to be ascertained injured in a gas explosion at Odekunle Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin, Lagos, on Tuesday morning.⁣⁣ The fire incident was said to have been caused by a woman frying bean cake (Akara) close to a gas cylinder.⁣ Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service are currently at the scene of the explosion.⁣⁣

The report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution on the Lekki Tollgate shooting has indicted the Nigerian Army and the Police of complicity in the death of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate on 20 October 2020. ⁣⁣⁣ The report detailed how the Army and Police disregarded their rules of engagement during the protest.⁣⁣⁣

Russia is monitoring a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but tensions over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region have risen this week.

Several local protesters were injured after French soldiers fired warning shots into a civilian blockade. Anger against France's military intervention has been growing in the African country.

#EndSARS protester, Kamsiyochukwu Ibe, who testified before a Lagos Judicial Panel on the alleged role of the military and the police in the Lekki shooting of October 20, 2021, has been attacked by hoodlums who left her with machete wounds. This was disclosed on Monday by members of the Joint #EndSARS at a press conference in Lagos. They added that Miss Ibe has been hospitalised following the attack and is responding to treatment.⁣ ⁣

Since France began its military withdrawal from Mali, many social media posts have been misleading. Reports assert that Mali is negotiating with the Russian private military company Wagner. One photo on Facebook from November 10 claims that a Wagner military instructor is training Malian soldiers. Another photo from November 20 claims that Mali received a delivery of military equipment from Russia. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Since France began its military withdrawal from Mali, many misleading social media posts have appeared. Reports claim that Mali is negotiating with the Russian private military company Wagner. One photo on Facebook from November 10 allegedly shows a Wagner military instructor training Malian soldiers. Another photo from November 20 claims to show that Mali received a delivery of military equipment from Russia. We take a closer look in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Authorities in Nigeria reject the conclusions of an independent report that found that security forces were behind the death of 11 people at an anti-police brutality protest last year. Also, South Africa's president calls for solidarity between countries in the face of travel bans following the discovery of the Omicron variant. And on World AIDS Day we take you to Kenya, where the prevalence of HIV has fallen drastically in the past two decades, but the fight against new infections remains a daily battle.

Human Rights Watch says that more than 100 former Afghan security personnel have disappeared or been killed by the Taliban since they came to power in August. The actual number could be much higher than that.

Nigerians at the Landmark Beach, Lagos talk about having fun during this month's festive season tagged 'Detty December' and plans for the coming new year 2022.

French troops leave a key base in Timbuktu, handing it over to the Malian military. We explain how this marks a turning point in France’s wider Sahel mission. Also, Kenya's High Court suspends a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination order, saying it violates the constitution. Finally, Congolese rumba wins UNESCO World Heritage status. FRANCE 24 shows you how the music and dance tradition jumped from Africa to Cuba to the world.

The Lagos state government through its Ministry of Agriculture held a Food Festival to stimulate investors’ interest in the food business at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who assumed the role of a chef along with Big Brother Naija season 6 winner, White Money to cook a delicacy encouraged the sellers to take advantage of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to grow their businesses, noting that part of the event’s objectives was to boost the entrepreneurial spirit of the residents.