Category: World News

Fatima says her husband and six of his siblings were killed when bandits attacked "If you ran into a room, they set the room on fire," says Fatima, describing a recent attack on her village in Zamfara, north-western Nigeria. "If you came out and started running, they shot you." The gunmen, who struck at 02:00, split into groups to surround residents: one at the village entrance, one in the centre and one at the back.

"They opened fire without a care in the world, shooting indiscriminately," the 55-year-old quietly tells the BBC World Service. It was one of many attacks that have caused havoc in the mainly Muslim community where residents live in fear of being kidnapped for ransom.

Fatima explains how the raids unfold: "You could have 100 motorcycles, and each one could be carrying three people." About 70 people, including children, were killed from the village of Bia Buki in June, according to Fatima. She describes how the attackers also targeted villagers as they fled and children were injured falling into ditches. Among the dead were her husband and six of his seven siblings.

Fatima is one of an estimated 800,000 Nigerians who the UN says have been displaced in the country's north-west. One of the main reasons people have left their homes is violence. Some attacks have been carried out by militant Islamist groups, but the majority in this region are by gangs, locally referred to as bandits, who often move around on motorcycles and attack quickly then ride away, escaping before security forces arrive.

Thousands of people have joined government-backed vigilante groups to fight, and the BBC spoke to one who said his armed group had killed many bandits. But the gangs keep attacking in what appears to be a deteriorating pattern of violence and abductions

Jacques Ekomie (left) and Issa Kabore (right) are two of five senior signings made by Wrexham so far this summer Wrexham have completed the signings of Issa Kabore from Manchester City and Jacques Ekomie from Angers. Burkina Faso international Kabore featured 32 times across all competitions during a loan spell with Wrexham in 2025-26 and has now signed a three-year deal with the club. "I'm very happy to be back.

It feels good to be here again," said right wing-back Kabore. "Everybody knows our ambition is to get to the Premier League, and I'm here to fight for that promotion." The deal for Kabore is worth up to £4.75m – with City having a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights.

Left-back Ekomie was in the final year of his deal with Angers and reportedly attracted interest from Wrexham's Championship rivals West Ham United and German side Hamburg. On signing for Wrexham, Ekomie – who has put pen to paper on a four-year contract – said: "I'm excited to be here. It is a very big and interesting project for me – I'm here to progress, and I'm very happy to be here.

"I want to achieve great things at Wrexham. I think it's an ambitious project and I want to bring all my experience to help the team achieve our goals." The Red Dragons recruited Liberato Cacace from Italian side Empoli during the 2025 summer transfer window, but the New Zealand international has been plagued by injuries since moving to north Wales.

Ekomie – signed for an undisclosed fee – will bolster Phil Parkinson's left-sided options, with the Gabon international joining right wing-backs Kabore and Danny Imray, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and midfielder Ben Whiteman in moving to the Racecourse Ground this summer.

Nchout Njoya Ajara, 33, is one of Cameroon's greatest female footballers and plays professionally around the world The killing of at least eight women in a week has sparked outrage in Cameroon, with many calling on the government to do more to protect women and girls. Among those who have spoken out is renowned footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara, who has called for an end to the "tragic wave" of targeting women, saying "silence is complicity".

The government has also raised concern about the rise in attacks. At least 50 women have been killed between January and April this year, compared to 77 last year, according to official figures. In the latest case on Tuesday, a 44-year-old woman was killed in a hotel room in the capital, Yaoundé. She was allegedly stabbed to death by a 22-year-old who was later arrested.

"Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk," said Ajara, who is one of Cameroon's greatest female footballers. The 33-year-old striker has played professionally in Russia, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia for clubs including Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan. "In the face of the tragic wave of femicides that has hit our country in recent days, silence is complicity," Ajara said.

In a statement, the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party said it was outraged by the "tragic recurrence of domestic femicides" and accused the government of being passive about the issue. The femicide cases, most of which are attributed to domestic violence, have been reported in different parts of the country.

In a video published by state media, the minister for Women's Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, condemned the "worrying" rise in the number of the killings, and said the government was working to address the problem.

Tottenham have signed Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush on loan until the end of the season, with an obligation to make the deal permanent for £60m next summer. The 27-year-old Egypt international will join former City team-mate Savio at Spurs, after the Brazilian moved to north London for an initial fee of £75m on Tuesday.

"Tottenham Hotspur is one of the biggest clubs in England, if not the world, and the project was very attractive to me," said Marmoush.

"I've spoken with the head coach [Roberto de Zerbi], I loved what he had to say and I'm sure our passion for the game will go very well together." Marmoush signed for City from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m in January 2025 and has scored 16 goals in 62 games for the club in all competitions.

After a bright start to his City career, Marmoush made 13 of his 21 league appearances last term from the bench with Norway international Erling Haaland the club's preferred central striker. Marmoush was utilised as a second-half substitute in City's 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal and was an unused substitute in their 2-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth last Sunday. Spurs have spent more than £312m in the transfer window this summer.

They have signed Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, Sandro Tonali from Newcastle and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, while defenders Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, plus goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, have arrived on free transfers. Speaking about their most recent arrival, De Zerbi said: "Omar is exactly the kind of player we want at this club – ambitious, hungry and determined to make a difference.

"He has incredible attacking quality but what I also love is his desire to improve and to win.

King Oyo ascended to the throne at the age of three but was crowned on reaching adulthood at 18 in 2010 A traditional Ugandan ruler named as the world's youngest monarch has died aged 34, his prime minister has announced. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV became king of Tooro in western Uganda at just three years old in 1995 after the death of his father.

The Tooro kingdom did not disclose the cause of King Oyo's death, but a Ugandan government minister was quoted in local media saying that he had been critically ill and was seeking treatment in the US. Though Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, it has several traditional kingdoms which continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.

Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world's youngest reigning monarch, external, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century. Announcing his death, Tooro's Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki called his passing on Thursday an "immeasurable loss" to the royal family and the people of Tooro.

"I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time," Akiiki said on Friday. "May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace." In 2001 King Oyo (R), nine at the time, welcomed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (L) to the Tooro kingdom alongside Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (C) Oyo was not officially married, but Akiiki said "the continuity of the Crown is assured".

"His Majesty leaves behind a Prince as his heir, whose identity will be formally revealed at the appropriate time, in accordance with the traditions and customs of Tooro Kingdom," he explained.

El Hadji Malick Diouf joined West Ham last year in a £19m deal and played four matches for Senegal in this summer's World Cup Brentford have signed West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf in a deal worth up to £40m. The 21-year-old Senegal left-back has joined on a five-year contract, with the club having an option to extend it by a further year.

The move sees Brentford paying an initial £35m for the player, with a further £5m in add-ons. Diouf played in West Ham's Championship opener against Burnley, but was excluded from the matchday squads of the Hammers' following two games as a deal was worked on. He was the Bees' priority defensive target in this transfer window, but discussions had stalled this summer before being reopened earlier this week.

Diouf is returning to the Premier League after suffering relegation with the Hammers last season. And his sale represents a big profit for West Ham on a player they paid Slavia Prague £19m for a year ago. "He's a player that fits our ideal age profile, with lots of room to still develop," Brentford head coach Keith Andrews said. Diouf said Andrews had convinced him he could continue to improve at the club.

And when asked about his ambition upon joining his new club said: "Why not win the league?" He is Brentford's fifth summer signing of the summer after the arrivals of striker Callum Wilson, midfielder Mamadou Sangare, centre-back Jannik Schuster and winger Jaidon Anthony. After breaking into the Senegal side last year, Diouf played four times at the World Cup this summer.

While West Ham were relegated after finishing 18th last season, Brentford enjoyed an excellent campaign under Andrews, finishing ninth and just missing out on European football on goal difference.

Nigeria have missed the past two editions of the men's World Cup while the West Africans will also be absent from the 2027 Women's World Cup An interim board has been appointed to lead the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the organisation's president, general secretary and executive committee all resigned to leave a power vacuum at the top of the sport in the country.

Outgoing president Ibrahim Gusau – whose tenure was set to expire in 33 days – confirmed he was stepping down during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying he had come to the decision "after consultation with family, friends and stakeholders". Elected in September 2022, he had faced mounting scrutiny over the performance of Nigeria's national teams and youth sides but was expected to stand for re-election next month.

Beyond results on the pitch, which have included the Super Eagles missing out on the past two Fifa World Cups, the NFF has faced questions over governance and financial management. The country's President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of the game to overcome "repeated failures" following the resignations of Gusau, general secretary Mohammed Sanusi and the 11 other members of the executive committee.

Emmanuel Ikpeme, who had previously held the post of deputy general secretary, has become interim general secretary and Ademola Olajire, who oversaw the NFF's media and communications department, will be interim deputy general secretary. The NFF elections scheduled for 27 September have been suspended.

The organisation says a fresh electoral process will commence "following the completion of the anticipated comprehensive reforms" which will be undertaken in consultation with world governing body Fifa and the Confederation of African Football. President Tinubu said the aim of the reforms was to build a "stronger, more accountable and successful system" in Nigeria's most popular sport.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nicolas Jackson in a deal worth up to £65m, with Ollie Watkins looking set to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Unai Emery's Villa are undergoing a major overhaul this summer, with key players including Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne having already departed. Jackson, 25, joins a number of new additions including Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, Zion Suzuki and Matteo Ruggeri.

That level of squad disruption was evident on the opening weekend, when Emery's side slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Brighton. With Watkins, 30, unavailable and both Tammy Abraham and 17-year-old Brian Madjo injured, Villa started without a recognised centre-forward – Emiliano Buendia led the line. The arrival of Jackson – who overtakes Manzambi to become Villa's record signing – from Chelsea gives Emery a specialist striker to work with.

It also looks set to coincide with the end of Watkins' six-year spell at Villa, during which he scored 108 goals in 278 games and became one of the defining players of the rise under Emery. However, the stats suggest Jackson is not just a like-for-like replacement for the England international – he is a different type of number nine.

On the surface, Jackson's numbers at Bayern Munich last season compare favourably with those of Watkins at Villa. The Senegal forward scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 1,320 minutes across all competitions, averaging 1.0 goal involvements per 90 minutes. Watkins recorded 21 goals and five assists in 3,837 minutes, an average of 0.6 per 90. Jackson also generated more attacking opportunities. He averaged 3.8 shots per 90 compared with Watkins' 2.6, and 2.2 shots on target to 1.2.

His expected-goals (xG) figure was also higher, at 0.7 per 90 compared with 0.5, while he averaged 8.5

World champions South Africa delivered a powerful first-half performance as they edged past New Zealand and levelled 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series at 1-1 with two Tests to play. The All Blacks travelled to Cape Town knowing a win would write them into the history books as the first New Zealand team to win back-to-back Tests in South Africa since the 'Incomparables' of 1996.

But South Africa dominated the basics and showed a more clinical edge this week, even though the lively All Blacks again outscored them on the try count by four to three. New Zealand's fightback ultimately came too late, captain Ardie Savea barging over on 77 minutes to get the game within a score, but on the All Blacks' final attack Boks replacement Cameron Hanekom won a superb turnover that settled the nervy closing stages.

As he did last week, Springboks wing Cheslin Kolbe took on the kicking duties over fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, notching up 18 points in a player-of-the-match performance. The first series in 30 years between these two mighty rugby nations is shaping into an epic, with the third Test back at altitude in Soweto, Johannesburg next Saturday.

The Springbok team that took the field at the Cape Town Stadium was markedly different to the one originally named by head coach Rassie Erasmus on Monday. Fly-half Handre Pollard was fit and then injured and withdrawn in the week, while Kolbe was injured and then fit and eventually named on the wing.

On top of that, Erasmus switched around his whole front row in the hours before kick-off, with the starting trio dropping to the bench and vice-versa. It meant there were five changes in all from the matchday squad announced on Monday and surely would have had the New Zealand management thumbing through the regulations of

The Samba Stars spent two and a half months in England playing against a number of EFL and non-league youth teams In the heat of rural Leicestershire, the Samba Stars are chasing their dream. Head coach Freddie Okyere has just finished a shooting exercise and allows the squad to catch their breath.

The teenagers from the Ghanaian academy, which is backed by former West Ham and Nottingham Forest forward Michail Antonio, have spent two and a half months in England with one goal – impressing clubs and earning a contract. While scouts do visit west Africa, it is rare for academies to travel to the UK to put their players directly in front of professional clubs.

"We created Samba Stars Academy to give young players in Ghana access to elite coaching, shape them as players and create real avenues into the pro game and show how much talent Ghana has." Based in Kumasi while building a new facility in Bompata, just over 100 miles north of Ghana's capital Accra, the Samba Stars' tactic has paid off.

Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester City, Charlton, Preston, Barnsley and Peterborough have all taken players on trial this summer. "The first two or three weeks it hadn't sunk in, but then they saw the facilities we'd be [using] and the teams we were playing," said Okyere. "They want to go and show what they can do. They are hungry, they really want it.

I'm hoping there will be so much interest because we have so much talent here. "With the facilities we will have in Ghana we feel we will be top two, top three [academies]. We hope we can bring the best of Ghana to Europe."