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Eight students arrested over Kenya school fire that killed 16

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Police in Kenya  said on Friday that eight students had been arrested over a suspected arson attack at a girls’ school that killed 16 children and hospitalised 79 others.

The fire broke in the early hours of Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy in Kenya’s Nakuru County, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi.

The upper floor of the two-storey building, which had 12 cubicles housing 135 bunk beds, was badly damaged, according to police.

“Preliminary investigations have identified eight students as persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution of the suspected arson attack,” the director of criminal investigations said in a statement.

Relatives gather and wait for news of their loved ones at the Utumishi Girls Academy following the deadly fire in Gilgil, north of the capital Nairobi on May 28, 2026. Photo: AFP

Investigators have conducted intensive interviews with students and teaching staff, and reviewed CCTV footage and other forensic evidence to determine the cause of the fire — which remains unknown.

The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers.

All 16 bodies have been recovered and moved to the mortuary pending identification, police said.

Distraught parents gathered at the school when news of the fire broke on Thursday , and by the evening some were still uncertain about the fate of their children.

There have been many devastating school fires in Kenya, where boarding schools are common as a colonial legacy of missionaries and the British.

See also  PHOTOS: 13 Zamfara residents fleeing bandit attack drown, 22 others missing

Children have been accused of deliberately starting school fires in Kenya in the past. One report found there were 63 arson cases at schools in 2018 alone.

Pupils were accused after a 2001 dormitory fire in the southern county of Machakos killed 67.

A 2024 dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County killed 21 boys, prompting government promises of nationwide school safety audits and prosecutions, though it remains unclear whether the measures were implemented.

On Thursday, the education minister said the ministry had closed around 350 schools since 2024 for failing to comply with safety standards.

AFP

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Crime

US-based Nigerian correctional officer arrested for public intoxication in Texas

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A Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officer, Bashir Oladimeji Lawal, was arrested for alleged public intoxication.

Lawal, who is assigned to the Wainwright Unit in Lovelady, was arrested on Sunday, July 26, 2026 by the Huntsville Police Department.

The 37-year-old officer was charged with public intoxication and later released on a personal recognizance bond.

Jail records show he was assessed a $281 fine.

Employment records show Lawal was hired by TDCJ in May 2025.

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Police arrest romance scammer who posed as pastor to defraud Ghanaian women with promises of marriage

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Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspected romance scammer, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, for allegedly defrauding women through false marriage promises and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect posed as a pastor conducting online church services on Instagram, where he targeted women and claimed that God had revealed they were his future wives.

He allegedly gained their trust by meeting their families and presenting promise rings.

The suspect is also accused of obtaining intimate images of some victims and using them to blackmail them for money.

He allegedly introduced some victims to a fake car tyre business and collected thousands of dollars from them under the pretext of shipping and clearing containers of tyres, after which he became unreachable.

Investigations further revealed that the suspect shared the intimate images of some victims with his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, who is also accused of threatening the victims.

Seven victims have reported the matter to the Police, with investigations indicating that the offences date back to 2021.

Suspects Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng and Sally Akosua Amoasah were put before the Accra Circuit Court 1 on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretences, defrauding by false pretences, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

The court remanded Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng into Police custody to reappear on 6th August 2026, while Sally Akosua Amoasah was granted bail.

The Ghana Police Service continues to receive complaints from other possible victims and encourages persons who may have experienced similar incidents involving the suspect to report to the nearest Police station to assist ongoing investigations.

See also  Cameroonian fleeing from suspected ritualists found in Osun

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Mob killing: UNIJOS alumni demand justice for graduate

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UNIJOS Alumni Association has called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice over the alleged mob killing of its member, Ibrahim Mbaya.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday at an off-campus apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road in Jos, Plateau State.

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear, and Nensemka Fwanji had been arrested in connection with the alleged culpable homicide.

Mbaya, a Jos-based model, had reportedly attended a social event before spending the night at a friend’s apartment because it was too late for him to return home.

He was said to have been resolving an outstanding academic issue at the University of Jos.

According to reports, the following morning, his friend informed him that an iPhone was missing and accused him of being the prime suspect since they were the only occupants of the apartment.

Although Mbaya initially left, he reportedly returned after being called back to explain himself.

On his return, the command added that he was allegedly confronted by his friend and a group of youths, who accused him of stealing the phone.

According to the police, witnesses alleged that the group assaulted him with sticks and other objects for several hours in an attempt to force a confession until he lost consciousness.

A nurse who later examined him reportedly confirmed that he had died.

The command also disclosed that one of the suspects was seen in a viral video allegedly striking the deceased with a large wooden plank.

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Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Tuesday, the alumni condemned the incident and described it as “barbaric, unjustifiable, and a gross violation of the right to life.”

According to the association, Mbaya, an alumnus of the University of Jos, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob under circumstances that remain unclear.

“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the gruesome killing of our colleague and brother, Ibrahim Mbaya,” the statement read.

“No Nigerian deserves to die in such a manner, irrespective of any allegation against them.”

The alumni demanded that relevant authorities expedite investigations into the incident, apprehend all those involved, and ensure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.

“We demand justice for Ibrahim Mbaya. The rule of law must prevail and not mob action,” the association stated, urging the police to make public the findings of their investigation.

The group further called on the government at all levels to intensify public enlightenment on the dangers of jungle justice and to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of lives and property.

“This incident should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. We must collectively reject mob killings and allow due process to take its course,” the statement added.

The association also commiserated with the family of the deceased and pledged to support them in seeking justice.

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