Chris Ewokor
BBC News, Abuja

Image source, EPA

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has agreed that Muslim girls can wear a headscarf in government schools in Lagos sate.

It upholds a 2016 ruling by an appeal court that lifted a ban on the hijab.

Girls had previously been barred from wearing a head covering because it was not part of school uniforms.

The decision may finally put to rest a legal battle that has lasted for years.

Nigeria's population is roughly divided between Muslims and Christians, with many of both groups being staunch believers.

The majority of Muslims live in the north and Christians are primarily in the south - though the southern state of Lagos has a more religious mix.

More on this topic:

• Nigeria's war of the religious robes

Former Senegal international Omar Daf quits his job as coach of Sochaux to take over the role at French Ligue 2 rivals Dijon on a two-year deal.

Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom

Image source, AFP

Police in Senegal have blocked off access to the home of the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko.

He had called for demonstrations on Friday to protest against a decision to ban a list of candidates for legislative elections next month - a move that prevents him and other opposition figures from running.

Image source, AFP

Reports say roads leading to Mr Sonko's house in an upmarket district of the capital, Dakar, were closed off by barricades and police in anti-riot gear.

Supporters, who tried to get near the building, were turned away.

Jersey inflict a first defeat on ICC Challenge League B leaders Uganda as they win by 62 runs in Kampala.

Nkechi Ogbonna
West Africa Business Journalist, BBC News

Image source, AFP

Nigeria's state-owned oil company says it lost $4b (£3.2b) to oil theft, at the rate of 200,000 barrels per day, last year.

Vandalism of crude oil pipelines further cost the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation about $1.5bn in the first three months of this year.

Last month, theft caused the country’s average crude oil production to fall to just about a million barrels per day from a mean output of 1.2 million barrels per day recorded in April.

In its monthly oil market report, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) reports that African oil giants like Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea all recorded a decline in May.

This casts doubt on the hopes that African oil producers could benefit from the global supply chain disruptions sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decline in Nigeria’s crude oil production puts the country’s oil revenue at risk, as it accounts for more than 50% of its income.

More on this topic:

• Nigeria's illegal oil refineries: Dirty, dangerous, lucrative

Patricia Oyella
BBC News

The Rwandan army says a soldier from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo has been shot dead after crossing the Rubavu border post and firing at security officers and civilians.

A Rwandan police officer, who shot back in self-defence and to protect civilians, killed the soldier, a statement said.

Two other police officers were injured in the incident on Friday morning.

A group of military experts, who investigate security incidents in the region, have arrived in the area to investigate.

Tensions between the two East African countries have recently escalated, with DR Congo accusing Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, who captured the eastern border town of Bunagana earlier this week.

There has also been a rise in anti-Rwanda sentiment in DR Congo with a protest taking place in the city of Goma on Wednesday.

Kenya has called for the rapid deployment of a new regional military force to stop rebel violence in the region.

A Formula 1 race in South Africa is not an expensive luxury but will provide widespread benefits, says prospective organiser Warren Scheckter.

Ishaq Khalid
BBC News, Abuja

An alleged mass kidnapping in Nigeria, seemingly reported live on Twitter on Tuesday, was fake, police say.

The news of the alleged abductions came from Twitter user @Ameerah_sufyan, who had said she was among the hostages.

In the first tweet appealing for help, external, she said there were 17 abductees, including three pregnant women and two children, being driven away by kidnappers in police uniforms in the capital, Abuja.

That prompted an outcry and public pressure on the authorities to act to rescue them.

But in a tweet on Friday, Abuja’s police spokesman said the story, which went viral, was not true, external.

He said the woman behind the tweets was now “safe in police custody” receiving medical treatment.

No details were given of how and where she was located or what she was being treated for in hospital.

The development is generating a lot of reaction.

Some social media users are demanding more information from the police.

Others are decrying the potential negative impact of fake news on the security situation in Nigeria - especially as it continues to grapple with killings and kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs.

The police said more investigations were taking place into the case and their findings would be made public. Later they added the woman was being questioned.

More on Nigeria's kidnapping crisis:

• Why Nigeria wants to jail those who pay ransoms
• 'I was kidnapped and now only travel by train'
• Kidnappers demand millions for a child's life
• Outrage at Nigeria's brazen bandit attacks

Image source, BBC Pidgin

A mass funeral is taking place in south-western Nigeria for victims of the shooting earlier this month at a Catholic church in the town of Owo in Ondo state.

Image source, BBC Pidgin

Image source, BBC Pidgin

At least 40 worshippers were killed and dozens of others wounded when gunmen opened fire at St Francis Xavier Church.

Ondo State Govnerno Rotimi Akeredolu has joined friends and families of the victims at the emotional gathering in a nearby hotel, BBC Pidgin reports.

Image source, BBC Pidgin

Image source, BBC Pidgin

The Nigerian government said the extremist group known as Islamic State West Africa Province carried out the massacre - though local officials say it is not clear who is behind the attack.

No-one has been arrested in connection with the attack.

Nigerian security forces are struggling to contain deadly attacks across the country by jihadists, kidnappers and suspected secessionists.

Image source, BBC Pidgin

Image source, BBC Pidgin

• Nigeria's Owo church massacre: Who are the victims?

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Reuters

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has tested positive for Covid-19, but with no symptoms, the monarch's personal doctor says, according to state news agency MAP.

Thursday's statement from Dr Lahcen Belyamani, quoted by MAP, said that the monarch would take a few days of rest.

The independent English-language website Morocco World News noted that royal doctors were likely to "keep a close eye on the monarch's health", noting his previous heart condition appeared to have "improved significantly over the past two years".

The pro-monarchy outlet also noted that Covid-19 infections had risen in the country in the past month from a few dozen cases daily to 1,568 infections recorded in the previous 24 hours.

Remembering some of the 40 people killed in an attack on a church which shocked Nigeria.

Image source, Ejiro Otarigho

Nigeria's Delta state has honoured a man who was hailed a "hero" for risking his life by driving a burning fuel tanker away from a densely populated suburban area.

Ejiro Otarigho sped off in the burning tanker to safety before onlookers dragged him away from the ball of fire.

The Delta state government has given him a cheque of 2m naira ($4,800; £3,900), a plaque and a letter of commendation "for his display of heroism".

He was also praise for "his bravery and heroism in averting a major disaster that could have resulted in the death of many in the area".

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

The US embassy in Mali has issued an alert over a possible terror attack in the capital, Bamako, that could target key government facilities and public places.

This is the third alert issued by the US embassy in Mali since March 2021.

The latest advisory came days after 22 civilians were killed in Mali's northern Menaka region by suspected militants.

Malian media reported that armed men who staged the attack were affiliated to the Islamic State group.

Mali's military-led government heightened security in Bamako after militants killed six soldiers in the central Mopti region on 24 April.

The rising insecurity in northern Mali has been attributed to the withdrawal of French forces from the country.

More on this topic:

• Why are French troops leaving Mali, and what will it mean for the region?

International criticism about Rwanda's plan to receive asylum seekers from the UK is "insulting", according to government spokesperson Yolande Makolo.

She said critics should travel to the eastern Africa country to see the progress it had made.

"The narrative that living in Africa is a punishment is insulting for those who live here and are working hard to build our countries. We want Africa to succeed. Rwanda has made tremendous progress. People should come and see," Ms Makolo tweeted.

She attached a video clip of South African comedian Trevor Noah criticising the reaction to the asylum plan:

The first flight due to take UK asylum seekers to Rwanda was cancelled on Tuesday evening after an intervention by the European Court of Human Rights.

The Rwanda asylum plan, announced by the UK government in April, intends to take some asylum seekers on a one-way ticket to Rwanda to claim asylum there instead.

The UK government has said the scheme will discourage others from crossing the English Channel.

More on this topic:

• Why are asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda and how many could go?

Rhoda Odhiambo
BBC West Africa correspondent

Image source, AFP

The World Health Organization (WHO) says plans by the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) to have the power to declare public health outbreaks within Africa require further discussion.

The health body says it is likely to lead to confusion and have a huge impact on trade and travel.

The Africa CDC says its push for a stronger role will help it contain the spread of diseases much faster.

Currently, only WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom can declare a public health emergency of international concern.

The Africa CDC wants to focus on Africa alone.

The head of WHO’s regional office for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, says such a declaration could have huge implications on African countries.

She cited last year's emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus that saw Western nations isolate the continent with travel bans.

"WHO believes a careful reflection on the interfacing between the declaration of a public health emergency of continental security and the global process would be of benefit," Dr Moeti said in a statement, external.

Earlier this year, Malawi and Mozambique declared wild polio virus outbreaks following the death of two children in the two southern African countries.

In May, Sierra Leone also declared an outbreak of anthrax.

BBC World Service

Image source, AFP

Doctors in Sudan say the security forces have shot dead a protester during the latest rally against last year's military coup.

The pro-democracy group, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, said the demonstrator died after taking shots to the chest and stomach during a protest in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum.

The committee says more than 100 people have been killed in such rallies since the military takeover in October.

Since then Sudan has descended into deepening unrest together with rising prices, food shortages and ethnic clashes.

The United Nations, the African Union and regional bloc Igad have been trying to facilitate talks to resolve the crisis.

More on this topic:

• Sudan alarm at return of Bashir loyalists and the NCP
• Sudan protesters: Ready to die for freedom
• Sudan's feared secret police make a comeback
• Viewpoint: How Sudan's generals betrayed my generation

AI and robotics are leading to significant healthcare advances in South Africa.

Kalkidan Yibeltal
BBC News, Addis Ababa

A gruesome video of an unarmed man being shot by uniformed men in Ethiopia has sparked outrage online, with some calling it an execution.

The incident reportedly happened in the western city of Gambella where fighting between armed groups and government forces has left dozens dead.

In the video, the man is seen with his hands tied behind his back and uniformed men shooting at him multiple times.

The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Gambella Liberation Front had earlier in the week launched attacks in the city, the capital of Gambella region.

Regional authorities have declared that they are in control of the city, but the OLA said it had concluded its "joint operation" after "meeting its objective".

In a tweet on Thursday, the OLA spokesperson accused security forces of targeting "anyone they suspect of being [ethnic] Oromo" after the clashes.

But the regional government spokesperson, Ugato Ading, dismissed the accusation calling it "propaganda".

Mr Ugato told the BBC that normalcy had returned to the city on Thursday.

He added that security forces were still capturing members of the armed groups who were hiding among the public.

In recent years Ethiopia has seen an increase in videos of killings of unarmed individuals - mostly by security forces.

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Uganda's military says it has discovered bomb-making material at what it called a training facility west of the capital, Kampala.

It said it belonged to the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan militia that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The authorities recovered nails, wires and bullets from a tunnel dug in one of the rooms of a house.

Three people have been detained - police say they had already bought a car and were planning an attack.

The ADF has been blamed for a series of bomb attacks in Uganda late last year.

More on this topic:

• Inside view of the IS-linked ADF rebels

Rhoda Odhiambo
BBC West Africa correspondent, Lagos

Image source, AFP

A mass funeral service is to take place in south-western Nigeria later for victims of the shooting earlier this month at a Catholic church in the district of Owo.

At least 40 worshippers were killed and dozens of others wounded when gunmen opened fire at the church.

Most of the dead were the bread winners for their families. Four were children.

The government said the jihadist group known as Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) carried out the attack, though Ondo state officials have cast doubt on this, saying it is not clear.

A grieving community is struggling to understand what happened, and with no arrests, questions remain about whether the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

The funeral service will take place in a nearby hotel, with increased security, as the church is still not operational.

After the service, the families will collect the bodies and finally lay them to rest.

Nigeria's security forces are struggling to contain deadly attacks across the country by jihadists, kidnappers and suspected secessionists.

More on this topic:

• Blood on the altar