A large group of migrants were escorted by police and military personnel on Saturday, August 1, in the Spanish enclave in North Africa towards the El Tarajal border crossing.

Security forces were seen accompanying migrants toward designated border areas after hundreds entered the Spanish enclave from neighbouring Morocco in recent days, many by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater or crossing through coastal border points.

Spain said on Friday it had reversed a huge rush of migrants into Ceuta, with most of the more than 50,000 people who had crossed the border by land and sea already heading back voluntarily.

The Spanish government’s representative in Ceuta said 57 bodies had been recovered on the Spanish side of the border and that there could be additional casualties on the Moroccan side. It said some drowned and some were crushed while trying to climb the breakwater that holds the border fence.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said around 50,000 people had crossed the border since Thursday morning, and estimated that 48,300 had returned by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Friday. Juan Jesus Vivas, head of Ceuta’s local government, said as many as 60,000 people had pushed across over the past couple of days.

Ceuta and Melilla, Spanish autonomous cities in northern Morocco, have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. Both periodically experience surges in attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe, but the scale of Thursday’s rush appeared unprecedented.

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Mrs. Iyun Janet Oluwatoyosi Ajilore, popularly known as Saint Janet and fondly called “Mama Yabis,” has died after a brief illness.

The celebrated Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician reportedly passed away on Saturday, bringing an end to a remarkable career that earned her a loyal following across the country.

Saint Janet was widely admired for her electrifying live performances, energetic stage presence, and unique style of engaging audiences through satire, humour, and socially unfiltered commentaries. Her performances often featured candid remarks on societal issues, gossip, and everyday happenings, earning her the nickname “Mama Yabis.”

Her ability to blend Juju and Highlife music with witty social commentary made her a household name at parties, celebrations, and other social events. Fans appreciated her boldness, spontaneity, and exceptional ability to connect with audiences through music and humour.

News of her death has thrown the entertainment industry and her numerous fans into mourning, with tributes expected from colleagues, admirers, and lovers of indigenous Nigerian music.

Details surrounding her funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family

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At least 60 people have died attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after up to 60,000 migrants crossed into the territory from Morocco in just 24 hours, triggering a humanitarian and political crisis in Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the mass influx as “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” as the surge overwhelmed the enclave, which has a population of about 85,000 people. Sánchez, who visited Ceuta on Friday, July 31, said the Spanish government would use all available resources to guarantee the safety of residents.

He blamed the unprecedented crossings on human trafficking networks, which he said had taken advantage of a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling preventing the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla.

“That has spread like wildfire during these last few hours through the networks of mafias that traffic in human beings and has produced an avalanche of the characteristics and dimension that we experienced yesterday,” Sánchez said.

The prime minister announced plans to establish a temporary reception centre to facilitate the documentation, registration, triage and expedited removal of migrants with no legal basis to remain in Spain. He also said the government would install a visible barrier of buoys near the breakwater at Ceuta’s Tarajal beach to clearly mark the border while complying with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Spain’s Interior Ministry, which has deployed additional police officers and soldiers to the enclave, said more than 37,500 migrants had voluntarily crossed back into Morocco by Friday afternoon. The developments prompted strong reactions across Europe. WesternEuropeans

Italy announced it would suspend the Schengen border-free travel arrangements with Spain for one month in response to the migration surge. Although Italy does not share a land border with Spain, the measure means travellers moving by air or sea between the two countries will be required to present passports. Italy’s Interior Ministry also said it had agreed with France to strengthen controls along the Franco-Italian border to prevent undocumented migrants from crossing.

The announcement drew a sharp response from Madrid after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani blamed Spain’s migrant regularisation programme for encouraging human trafficking. Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, summoned Italy’s ambassador, describing Tajani’s comments as “unbecoming” and accusing Italy of engaging in “partisan demagoguery.”

The European Commission later clarified that Ceuta and Melilla operate under special Schengen rules that prevent migrants from moving freely into the rest of the border-free zone. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner described the situation in Ceuta as “unacceptable” and said he was in close contact with Spanish authorities. InternationalRelations

Ireland also expressed support for Spain. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said he had spoken with Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. “I expressed my solidarity and support to the Spanish Government as they deal with the situation in Ceuta,” O’Callaghan said in a post on X.

He added that, as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, he had requested an emergency meeting of the EU’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) mechanism and a meeting of EU ambassadors. The latest influx far exceeds the previous mass crossing in May 2021, when around 10,000 migrants entered Ceuta over two days following a temporary relaxation of border controls by Morocco.

Moroccan government sources told Europa Press that criminal organisations were responsible for the latest crossings and insisted Rabat’s cooperation with Spain remained “exemplary.” Rachid Sbihi, head of a workers’ association representing Spain’s Guardia Civil officers, described the situation as “a serious humanitarian crisis.”

According to Sbihi, thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, have been left without shelter, sleeping in parks and on pavements while others wander the streets. “It’s chaotic,” he said.

He added that many of those who died drowned while attempting the crossing, while others were killed in a crush near the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach. Footage from the area showed large groups of migrants, including young men, women and children, making their way from the shoreline onto roads inside the Spanish enclave.