Attacker of Ugandan Olympian Dies from Injuries in Kenyan Hospital

The man who attacked Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has died from injuries sustained during the assault, according to the Kenyan hospital where he was receiving treatment. The attacker, identified as Dickson Ndiema Marangach, had poured petrol over Cheptegei at her home in western Kenya on September 1, leading to her death from severe burns.

Cheptegei, a mother of two, suffered 80 percent burns and succumbed to her injuries last week. Marangach, who incurred 30 percent burns during the attack, was treated in the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret. He died on Monday at 7:50 pm local time (16:50 GMT), hospital spokesperson Daniel Lang’at confirmed.

Police investigations revealed that Marangach had snuck into Cheptegei’s home in Endebess, near the Ugandan border, while she attended church with her two children. The dispute between Marangach and Cheptegei reportedly stemmed from property disagreements. According to her father, Joseph Cheptegei, Marangach purchased five liters of petrol before hiding in a chicken coop and launching the deadly attack.

The United Nations condemned the murder, with Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, highlighting the global issue of gender-based violence. “This is one of the most prevalent human rights violations worldwide and must be addressed accordingly,” Dujarric said.

Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 Crowned Amidst Dual-Nationality Controversy

Chidinma Adetshina has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 at the grand finale of the annual beauty pageant held in Lagos on Saturday, August 31. The 23-year-old law student from Taraba State outshone four other finalists to claim the coveted title.

Despite facing controversy surrounding her dual-nationality, Chidinma demonstrated resilience throughout the competition. She emerged victorious after passing several rounds, including a first round where 24 contestants competed for the crown.

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In the final-five round, Chidinma competed against Miss Rivers, Nyekachi Douglas; Miss Anambra, Paula Ezendu; Miss Edo, Edeifo Brittany; and Miss Ondo, Ayegbidun Peace Olamide. Following a rigorous evaluation, Chidinma secured the top spot, with Miss Anambra as the first runner-up and Miss Ondo as the second runner-up, also named Miss Lush.

Chidinma’s win comes just days after she opened up about her struggles with dual-nationality and the identity crisis she faced. In an interview on Cool FM with former Big Brother Naija star Tacha, she shared how she overcame the emotional toll caused by her removal from the Miss South Africa competition due to allegations of fraud and identity theft involving her mother.

Chidinma revealed that she found strength by shifting her mindset and learning to cope with the controversy that surrounded her identity.

UN Condemns Deadly Burkina Faso Terror Attack, 200 Killed

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned a brutal terror attack that claimed around 200 lives in Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, over the weekend, leaving 140 others injured.

The attack was carried out by the Al Qaeda-affiliated group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which has been expanding its control in northern Burkina Faso.

This group, originating from Mali, has contributed to the region’s worsening security situation, which led to two military coups in 2022.

Residents of Barsalogho were reportedly digging trenches to defend the town from assaults when the militants attacked. Many of the wounded were evacuated to healthcare facilities in the nearby city of Kaya.

In a statement, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric shared that the Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Burkina Faso, reaffirming the UN’s support for the transitional government’s fight against terrorism.

“The secretary-general expresses his solidarity with the authorities and urges them to bring the perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice,” Dujarric said.

The UN’s humanitarian teams on the ground described the situation as dire, with an estimated 90,000 displaced people living in Barsalogho as of 2023.

The region is struggling with severe hunger and limited aid access, as insecurity has made it difficult to deliver relief. Helicopter transport has been the primary means of reaching the area since 2022.