Mohamed Bazoum tried to flee from custody with his family, cooks and security, the military says.

Image source, Getty Images

#EndSars is once again the most-used hashtag on social media in Nigeria, on what is the third anniversary of a notorious shooting incident during a protest at a tollgate in Lagos.

People are reflecting on the fortnight-long protests in which tens of thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets condemning police brutality, after a video had gone viral of a man allegedly being killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).

A violent crackdown on the #EndSars protests in October 2020 saw dozens of civilians killed.

The government later disbanded Sars, but instances of police brutality continue in Nigeria.

Some 15 people remain in detention for their role in the 2020 protests, according to the rights group Amnesty International which is calling for their release, external - and says that some have not been tried, and many face "trumped-up charges". Their names are:

• Daniel Joy-Igbo
• Sodiq Adigun
• Sunday Okoro
• Olumide Fatai
• Oluwole Isa
• Shehu Anas
• Akiniran Oyetakin
• Segun Adeniyi
• Onuorah Odih
• Jeremiah Lucky
• Gideon Ikwujomah
• Irinyemi Olorunwanbe
• Quadri Azeez
• Olamide Lekan
• Sadiq Riliwan.

Image source, Getty Images

A clip showing, external renowned Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o looking tearful while criticising a government plan to send police to Haiti is being shared online.

Kenya looks set to deploy about 1,000 officers to lead a multinational peacekeeping mission to quell gang violence in Haiti.

But in the video clip, Prof Thiong’o is dismayed that the Kenyan government could come to such a decision – "this current government in Kenya is really incredible".

"They have agreed to take 1,000 policemen to Haiti. Do you know the history of Haiti? If you know any history of Haiti, any black person would not do that," he says.

"I feel teary… I just couldn’t believe Kenya is doing this. There is something wrong in the mind of such a leader… in the current government," he said.

It’s not clear where or in what context Prof Thiong’o was speaking, in the video which was first shared on Monday then re-shared since on various social media platforms.

"[President William Ruto] is acting like a flower girl, who’s he trying to please? For heaven’s sake the countrymen have more severe issues to deal with & Haiti is not one of them," one user on X (formerly Twitter) said in response.

"[Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's] wisdom should be honoured. The British colonials created the Kenya police. Kenya and other African countries have severe police brutality," another commented.

BBC Focus on Africa podcast

Image source, Valerie Labi

In her quest for cheaper, more convenient, safer transport in Ghana, entrepreneur Valerie Labi has developed an electronic bike that she says can be charged as easily as a mobile phone.

She told BBC Focus on Africa:

Gig economy workers are her team's main focus, as well as women vendors in northern Ghana and Togo.

Ms Labi says she had noticed a gap in the market for small vehicles that could deliver the growing number of online orders, but which don't pollute the air with petrol fumes.

Wahu Mobility's e-bikes cost $2,000 (£1,650) upfront, or customers can pay $30 per week for 24 months after which point they own the vehicle.

"Whilst you pay the subscriptions, we give you delivery demand to make sure you earn enough [money] to take home for you and your family, and pay off the vehicle," Ms Labi adds.

She says production will begin by the end of the year, at a rate of 200 bikes per month.

The egg-laying hens had been imported from South Africa, which is facing one of its worst outbreaks.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to attend a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday, to discuss how to bring an end to the Israeli-Gaza conflict.

He was invited by Egypt's president to join the talks, which will cover "the escalation of conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the urgent need for humanitarian support and make a call for the resumption of the peace process", the South African presidency said in a statement., external

It said that Mr Ramaphosa was “deeply concerned” about the attacks on civilians, the displacement of people and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The South African leader had earlier said he was ready to mediate in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories.

He said his nation could draw on its experience of conflict resolution in Africa and beyond.

A Kenyan woman who drove off with a Nairobi city county officer, who she said had forced his way into her car, says she has now lost her account after she posted a video of it on Tiktok.

Gloria Ntazola told local media that she was forced to do so after the security officer got into her car without her consent, for allegedly violating parking rules.

In a video shared widely, she repeatedly questions the security officer about what she has done wrong. The officer does not respond but requests her not to film him so they can “talk”.

She shouts profanities at him while saying she was going to take him on a “road trip”. “Let’s go on a vacation, baby,” she tells him.

She said she locked him in and decided to drive around “all day” to teach him a lesson for “wasting” her time – later dropping him about 55km (34 miles) away.

Despite apparently losing her TikTok account, Ms Ntazola has told local NTV station that she has ”zero remorse” over the incident, and has asked people to follow her on new account.

The confrontation has elicited mixed reactions, but many appear to support her reaction, accusing the county officers of harassing people and soliciting bribes.

But some have criticised the woman, saying she effectively kidnapped the security officer.

The county has condemned both the woman and its officer's actions.

TikTok has not commented on Ms Ntazola's account status.

Joseph Boakai urges fellow opposition candidates to join the "rescue team for a resounding victory".

Kelvin Kiptum is the marathon world record holder, but he could not buy shoes or travel to a track when he started out.

Image source, Getty Images

Ugandans have been sharing their tributes to a former minister in the Idi Amin government, Henry Kyemba, who died on Thursday from diabetes-related complications aged 84.

He is described as having been a fixture in Uganda's public life, serving in different positions in the governments of Amin and Milton Obote, as well as the current President Yoweri Museveni.

While narrating to local media of his time as Obote's aide, he said he once took a bullet that was meant to assassinate the president.

He is also well-known for his book, State of Blood: The Inside Story of Idi Amin, which he wrote after he fled to exile in 1977 while serving under the dictator.

The book detailed a first-hand account of experience during Amin's brutal government, exposing the atrocities and human rights abuses committed by the regime.

The state-owned daily, The New Vision, says his work is considered an important historical document providing "insight into a dark period in Uganda's history".

Kyemba returned to Uganda in 1986, long after Amin had been deposed in 1979, and after the takeover by the current president.

"I am sorry to hear of Henry Kyemba's passing. He was a fixture in Uganda's public life: advisor to presidents Obote and Amin; dedicated civil servant; courageous critic of Amin's brutality; custodian of memory," Derek R Peterson, an American historian specialising in East Africa's cultural history said on X.

Uganda's deputy parliamentary speaker Thomas Tayebwa described Kyemba as a "renowned statesman" who served in different regimes "without blemish".

"He leaves behind one of the celebrated legacies this country will ever have. Rest in Peace statesman," he added.

Image source, AFP

The US has urged Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to stop shelling residential areas, saying it was "deepening the suffering of the Sudanese people".

"The United States calls on the RSF to immediately cease shelling of civilian neighbourhoods and to protect civilians in Nyala, Omdurman, and throughout Sudan," the State Department said in a statement., external

The RSF and the Sudanese military have been fighting since April in a conflict that has killed more than 5,000 people and displaced over five million from their homes, according to the UN.

The RSF recently intensified attacks on military-controlled areas in Omdurman, using artillery and causing civilians deaths. The group has also continued besieging military bases in Nyala in the western Darfur region in a bid to capture the city.

The US reiterated its call for the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to immediately stop the fighting and resume talks to end the conflict.

It reminded both of their commitments under the 11 May declaration in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to protect civilians, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access.

The US has already imposed sanctions on firms associated with both the RSF and the army, as well as on two RSF leaders accused of human rights abuses.

US and Saudi Arabia-led peace talks between RSF and the army collapsed in July.

Image source, afp

Zambia's government has evacuated 77 nationals from Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militants.

The evacuees, who returned to Zambia on Wednesday, include 72 students.

Zambia's Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo said on Thursday that 172 Zambians, including 143 students, live in Israel, but some of them had declined the government's evacuation offer and opted to stay behind.

“For those who have chosen to remain in Israel, be rest assured that the ministry will maintain close collaboration with the Zambian embassy and the Israeli foreign ministry to take any necessary actions that will ensure their continued safety,” he was quoted as saying by the Anadolu news agency.

He added that no Zambian had died in the war.

Image source, EPA

Liberia's main opposition presidential candidate Joseph Boakai is rallying the support of other smaller parties ahead of a likely run-off against incumbent George Weah.

Provisional results from 99.9% of the country's 5,890 polling stations show that none of the two leading candidates has garnered more than 50% of the votes to be declared the winner.

Mr Weah currently has 43.8% of the vote with Mr Boakai on 43.5%, following elections on 10 October, provisional results show.

The National Elections Commission is yet to declare a runoff.

In a press conference on Thursday, Mr Boakai urged fellow opposition candidates to join the "rescue team for a resounding victory".

"We are reaching out to our brothers and sisters in the opposition and Liberians in general to join us in this noble mission of making our country breathe freely again," he added.

None of the 18 other candidates received more than 3% of the vote.

A run-off is expected to be held on 7 November after the announcement of official results.

Mr Boakai, who served as vice-president in the government of then-President Ellen Johnson, waged his campaign under the slogan "Rescue".

Mr Weah says his government made huge strides in its first term, including introducing free tuition for university students.

Our proverb of the day:

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A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.

Honeymooners Celia and David Barlow were killed along with a national park guide in Uganda.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team - we'll be back on Friday morning.

Until then you can find the latest updates at BBCAfrica.com and listen to the Focus on Africa podcast for stories behind the news.

A reminder of Thursday's wise words:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

We leave you with this picture of Dutch King Willem-Alexander at the apartheid museum in Johannesburg during a visit to South Africa:

Image source, EPA

Danai Nesta Kupemba
BBC News

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South African police got a snappy surprise after discovering a 3.3m (11ft-) crocodile lurking outside their offices on Wednesday night.

The reptile was lounging near a police building in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Frightened officers called private company IPSS Search and Rescue to investigate.

Dylan Meyrick from IPSS told news site IOL, external that upon arriving the IPSS team “found a large adult crocodile”.

Due to the “unique situation” the team asked a local with experience in capturing crocodiles to assist.

The community effort led to the safe capture of the cold-blooded creature, and it was loaded into a waiting vehicle.

IPSS Search and Rescue said the crocodile would be relocated to the Hluhluwe area.

The company suspect the crocodile wandered over from the Tugela River which is nearby.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says it has withdrawn its surgical team at a hospital in the south of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, as it has been prevented from bringing in surgical supplies for more than a month.

As a consequence, its team is unable “to perform life-saving surgeries, including trauma surgery and c-sections” at Bashair Hospital.

Now six months old, the civil war has shut many of Khartoum’s medical facilities and many are desperate for treatment.

“Blocking the medication and materials needed to perform surgery deprives people of the healthcare they so desperately need,” MSF said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable that doctors are forced to turn away patients for the want of supplies that are sitting in a warehouse less than 200km (125 miles) away.”

Read more on the Sudan conflict:

• Sudan conflict: Risking lives to bury the dead in Omdurman

About 20 trucks may cross into Gaza, but aid organisations warn it is not enough.