Photo : Ladji Bama/BBC
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Ladji Bama/BBC
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Burkina Faso: Search team reaches closer to trapped miners
On 12 May, the government said the rescue team searching for eight mine workers have reached closer to the location where they have been trapped since 16 April. The mine workers - six Burkina Faso nationals, one Tanzanian and one Zambian - work for a Canadian-owned zinc mine and were trapped after the mine was flooded. Meanwhile, the the mine managers have been restricted from leaving the country and the government has launched a judicial investigation. (“Burkinabe rescuers 'in race to reach trapped miners',” BBC, 12 May 2022)
Nigeria: Christian student killed over alleged blasphemy
On 12 May, a college student was killed over alleged blasphemy in Sokoto state, after she reportedly made a comment on Prophet Muhammad. The young Christian girl was burned in the college premises; following this, the state governor ordered the immediate closure of the college. On 13 May, BBC reported the police had arrested two suspects. (“Mob kills student over ‘blasphemy’ in northern Nigerian college,” Al Jazeera, 12 May 2022; Ishaq Khalid, “Two seized over alleged blasphemy Nigeria killing,” BBC, 13 May 2022)