The Commonwealth Games Federation has allegedly contacted the Nigeria Olympic Committee to provide personal information about the Nigeria athletes and officials who disappeared during and after the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Six Nigeria athletes, two coaches and one of the powerlifting helpers allegedly absconded in the Oceania country.

Top sports ministry allegedly left Australia seething after a woman boxer pulled a fast one on them to disappear at the airport while the Nigerian contingent were waiting for their flight back to Nigeria.

Sources claimed that the boxer breached the strict security measures put in place by the ministry to prevent more athletes and officials from running away after she asked to use the restroom.

“The ministry officials were convinced that the boxer would not run away when she asked to relieve herself because she left her bag with one of the officials,” a source said.

“As she did not appear, the officials decided to look for her in the restroom but she was nowhere to be found.”

Africa was thrust into the spotlight at Gold Coast 2018 for all the wrong reasons after some Cameroon, Uganda, Rwanda and Sierra Leone athletes were reported missing.

Eight Cameroon athletes vanished from the Games Village, some having failed to turn up to their scheduled events.

Rwanda weightlifting coach Jean Nsengiyumva disappeared after he asked to use the toilet.

The CGF and Australian authorities, who condemned the disappearing act, however said the missing athletes and officials hadn’t broken any laws since they are still within their visa conditions. Their visas expire at midnight on May 15.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton warned the runaway athletes and officials to leave Australia before the expiration of their visas, warning them that they would be hunted down and deported.

“The compliance officers will be out there, I promise, tracking these people down and they’ll be deported as quickly as possible,” Dutton had told Macquarie Radio.

Our correspondent learnt that Australian police and immigration are preparing for action against the missing athletes and officials who will become illegal aliens in the country after May 15.

It was learnt that the CGF decided to contact the NOC for information about Nigeria athletes and officials who have yet to leave Australia to aid their deportation if they breach their visas.

However, spokesman for the NOC Tony Ubani denied any knowledge about CGF’s contact.

“I’m not aware of any inquires from the Commonwealth Games Federation,” Ubani told our correspondent on the telephone.

Copyright PUNCH.

 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. </s> WASHINGTON — Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Aquita Brown says they have received reports that two of the Burundi teenagers gone missing after an international robotics competition in Washington have been seen crossing the border into Canada.

She says the whereabouts of their team members is unknown, and that the search for all the teens remains ongoing, but she stresses that police have no indication of foul play in their disappearance.

Brown says the teens in Canada have been identified as 16-year-old Don Ingabire and 17-year-old Audrey Mwamikazi.

Police tweeted missing person fliers Wednesday asking for help finding the teens last seen in the area of the FIRST Global Challenge around the time of Tuesday’s final matches. The missing team members include two 17-year-old girls and four males ranging in age from 16 to 18.

The competition, designed to encourage youths to pursue careers in math and science, attracted teams of teenagers from more than 150 nations. </s> (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The man in charge of Kenya’s computerised voting system has been found dead just days before the 8 August elections.

Chris Msando, an electoral commission IT manager, had gone missing on Friday.

“There was no doubt he was tortured and murdered,” said the commission’s chairperson, Wafula Chebukati.

Tension is high as the presidential election is expected to be a close race between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and long-time opponent Raila Odinga.

Mr Chebukati, chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), said: “In our mind as a commission, the only issue is who killed him and why, and that is the question that must be answered.”

Mr Chebukati demanded that the government provide security for all of his staff. He is now being protected around-the-clock, local media report, with six more police officers assigned to protect him from Monday.

Kenyan newspaper The Star reports that Mr Msando’s body was found with one arm missing./BBC </s> Two members of an African robotics team who were reported missing from an international robotics competition in Washington, D.C. were reportedly spotted crossing into Canada on Thursday morning, authorities said.

The D.C. Police Department said that Don Ingabira, 16, and Audrey Mwamikazi, 17, were seen crossing the northern border into Canada, Fox 5 DC reported. No additional information was available.

The two teenagers were part of a six-member team from the small east African country of Burundi who were in the nation’s capital for the inaugural even of the FIRST Global Challenge robotics competition. They were reported missing late Tuesday night.

WLJA reported the other four teens were reportedly found with family members living in the United States.

On Wednesday, Police said the missing teenagers -- four males and two females -- were last seen in the area of DAR Constitution Hall around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the last day of the three-day competition.

The other teenagers missing were identified as: Richard Irakoze, 18; Kevin Sabumukiza, 17; Nice Munezero, 17; Aristide Irambona, 18. They are in the U.S. on one-year visas.

Officials from the Burundi Embassy in Washington told Fox News on Thursday that they were aware of the situation but did not provide any additional details.

Competition organizers learned Tuesday night the team's mentor couldn't find the six students who participated in the competition, and FIRST Global President Joe Sestak, a former congressman, made the initial call to the police, according to a statement from the organization.

AFGHAN GIRLS COMPETE IN ROBOTICS CONTEST AFTER FINALLY ARRIVING IN US

“Security of the students is of paramount importance to FIRST global,” FIRST Global said in a statement. “FIRST Global ensures that all students get to their dormitories after the daily competition by providing safe transportation to the students staying at Trinity Washington University who are always to be under close supervision of their adult mentor and are advised not to leave the premises unaccompanied by the mentor.”

In each report, the team's mentor told police the teens “went missing after the competition and he does not know where [they] could have went.”

According to the police reports, authorities attempted to contact an uncle of one of the missing teenagers but received no response.

Burundi, bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda and Lake Tanganyika, has been plagued by sporadic violence since April 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term led to street protests.

Nkurunziza won another term in disputed elections in July 2015 and remains in power, but Burundi has stayed unsettled. At least one armed group has announced a rebellion and sporadic violent attacks have sparked fears of a return to civil war.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning in late June about the African nation, advising Americans of “political tensions, political and criminal violence, and the potential for civil unrest.”

The warning also stated that rebel forces, ex-combatants and youth gangs from the Democratic Republic of Congo reportedly crossed into Burundi and attacked and kidnapped civilians; armed criminals have ambushed vehicles.

The competition in Washington, designed to encourage youths to pursue careers in math and science, attracted teams of teenagers from more than 150 nations. A squad of girls from Afghanistan drew the most attention after they were twice rejected for U.S. visas and President Donald Trump intervened so they could come to America.

The competition's webpage about Team Burundi shows the six team members posing with a flag and says team members were selected from schools in Bujumbura, the capital city. The team's slogan in Kirundi is "Ugushaka Nugushobora," meaning "where there is willing is also the ability," according to the page.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> A senior Kenyan election official has been found dead three days after he went missing, prompting fears of potential disruption in national elections in August.

The chairman of Kenya’s electoral commission said he had helped identify the body of Christopher Msando at the city morgue, adding that it appeared to be a murder because of injuries to his neck and head.

Msando was the head of information, communication and technology for the electoral board, in charge of managing information technology systems.

Wafula Chebukati, the electoral commission chairman, said he was crucial to the running of the vote scheduled for 8 August. Kenya will be using biometric technology to identify voters and electronic transmission of results, which reduces the chances of fraud.

The opposition has accused the president, Uhuru Kenyatta, of wanting to rig the elections, which his office has denied.

Analysts have warned that violence could mar the vote, in which Kenyatta is running again. </s> WASHINGTON (CBS News) — Six teenage members of the Burundi robotics team were reported missing after competing in an international competition this week in Washington. Police later confirmed to CBS News that two of the missing teens were seen crossing into Canada and that there was no indication of foul play.

Police tweeted missing person fliers Wednesday asking for help finding the teens last seen in the area of the FIRST Global Challenge around the time of Tuesday’s final matches. The missing team members include two 17-year-old girls and four males ranging in age from 16 to 18.

The competition, designed to encourage youths to pursue careers in math and science, attracted teams of teenagers from more than 150 nations. A squad of girls from Afghanistan drew the most attention after they were twice rejected for U.S. visas and President Trump intervened.

Competition organizers learned Tuesday night that the team’s mentor couldn’t find the six students who participated in the competition and organization President Joe Sestak made the initial call to the police, according to a FIRST Global Challenge statement.

“Security of the students is of paramount importance to FIRST Global,” organizers said, noting that they ensure students get to their dormitories after the competition by providing safe transportation to students staying at Trinity Washington University. The students “are always to be under close supervision of their adult mentor and are advised not to leave the premises unaccompanied by the mentor.”

The mentor said the teens traveled from Burundi for the competition and have one-year visas, according to police reports. The mentor said they disappeared after the competition, but he doesn’t know where they went. The reports say police tried to contact one missing teen’s uncle but got no response. The reports state police canvassed DAR Constitution Hall, where the competition was held.

The competition’s webpage about Team Burundi shows the six team members posing with a flag and says team members were selected from schools in Bujumbura, the capital city. The team’s slogan in Kirundi is “Ugushaka Nugushobora,” meaning “where there is willing is also the ability,” according to the page.

Police tweeted images of the teens Wednesday, saying they are looking for 17-year-old girls, Audrey Mwamikazi and Nice Munezero; 18-year-old men, Richard Irakoze and Aristide Irambona; Kevin Sabumukiza, 17; and Don Ingabire, 16. Police told CBS News on Thursday that Audrey and Don were seen crossing into Canada.

Hundreds of people have been killed in violence in Burundi since April 2015 following a failed coup attempt, according to the United Nations, and rights groups accuse Burundi’s security forces of carrying out serious rights abuses, including killings and disappearances.

Burundi’s government often dismisses the allegations, saying they are based on false information supplied by the regime’s opponents. </s> The Argentine striker was heading to his new Premier League team Cardiff City before the light aircraft he was in disappeared

PORTLAND, UK – A body recovered by British investigators from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel has been identified as that of footballer Emiliano Sala, police said on Thursday, February 7.

The Argentine striker's body was first spotted by rescuers with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on Sunday close to where the plane went missing near the island of Guernsey.

It was recovered on Wednesday and brought to the Isle of Portland in southern England on board the Geo Ocean III offshore supply ship on Thursday for formal identification by coroners, who investigate deaths in Britain.

The light aircraft was carrying the 28-year-old footballer to his new Premier League team Cardiff City when it disappeared near Guernsey on January 21, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson.

"The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified... as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala," police in Dorset, the county where the body was taken, said on Twitter.

"The families of Mr. Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all," police said.

After his body was identified, retired Argentinian football star Gabriel Batistuta paid tribute to the talented young player whose disappearance had prompted an outpouring of grief.

"What sadness, this is the worst news. Rest in peace warrior," he tweeted.

Argentinian President Mauricio Macri also offered his condolences to Sala's family following the "painful news." "We are with you," he added.

While the small Argentinian town of Progreso, where the footballer lived for most of his childhood, was left "very affected."

"Since we found out, it's all anyone can talk about," said local restaurant owner Oscar Heymo, a friend of Sala's father Horacio. "He was very much loved and admired by all."

Sala's disappearance prompted an outpouring of grief across the footballing world, including at his former club Nantes in France where the plane was flying from.

The initial search operations to trace the plane were suspended in the days after it went missing, but a shipwreck hunter hired by Sala's family with funds donated by football stars such as Lionel Messi found the wreckage.

Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), then coordinated the recovery and the rescued body was taken to Portland Harbour earlier on Thursday and was seen being stretchered into a silver van.

"In challenging conditions, the AAIB and its specialist contractors successfully recovered the body previously seen amidst the wreckage," the AAIB said Wednesday.

"The operation was carried out in as dignified a way as possible."

The AAIB was unable to recover the plane due to bad weather and as a result was closing down the operation.

"The weather forecast is poor for the foreseeable future and so the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close," it said.

It said that extensive video footage captured by a remotely operated vehicle is expected to "provide valuable evidence for our safety investigation," adding that it intends to publish an interim report on the accident later this month.

The plane, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, vanished from radar around 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Guernsey, with Ibbotson the only other person aboard.

After the official rescue team gave up their search, saying there was little chance of finding anyone alive, Sala's family raised more than 370,000 euros ($422,000) in an online campaign to pay for a private hunt.

"Had that not happened, I don't think anybody would have searched for the plane," shipwreck hunter David Mearns, whose private company found the plane, told AFP.

The discovery of two seat cushions on the French coast last week revealed that the plane had broken apart, he added.

Sala had been flying in to join up with his new club Cardiff City in what was the most expensive signing in the Welsh club's history.

Nantes have consulted lawyers to explore legal options to ensure Cardiff pays the transfer fee for Sala, a source close to the French club revealed on Wednesday.

According to the source, the first instalment of the 17-million-euro ($19.3 million) deal for the Argentine striker has yet to be paid, despite the transfer being finalized before the accident.

Earlier this week the footballer's father, Horacio, acknowledged that there was no prospect of finding his son alive.

"There's no longer any hope," he told Fox Sports. – Rappler.com </s> A body recovered by British investigators from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel has been identified as that of footballer Emiliano Sala , police said on Thursday. The Argentine striker's body was first spotted by rescuers with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on Sunday close to where the plane went missing near the island of Guernsey. It was recovered on Wednesday and brought to the Isle of Portland in southern England on board the Geo Ocean III offshore supply ship on Thursday for formal identification by coroners, who investigate deaths in Britain.

The light aircraft was carrying the 28-year-old footballer to his new Premier League team Cardiff City when it disappeared near Guernsey on January 21, along with 59-year-old pilot David Ibbotson.

"The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified... as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala," police in Dorset, the county where the body was taken, said on Twitter.

"The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all," police said.

After his body was identified, retired Argentinian football star Gabriel Batistuta paid tribute to the talented young player whose disappearance had prompted an outpouring of grief.

"What sadness, this is the worst news. Rest in peace warrior," he tweeted.

Argentinian President Mauricio Macri also offered his condolences to Sala's family following the "painful news". "We are with you," he added.

While the small Argentinian town of Progreso, where the footballer lived for most of his childhood, was left "very affected".

"Since we found out, it's all anyone can talk about," said local restaurant owner Oscar Heymo, a friend of Sala's father Horacio. "He was very much loved and admired by all."

Sala's disappearance prompted an outpouring of grief across the footballing world, including at his former club Nantes in France where the plane was flying from.

The initial search operations to trace the plane were suspended in the days after it went missing, but a shipwreck hunter hired by Sala's family with funds donated by football stars such as Lionel Messi found the wreckage.

Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), then co-ordinated the recovery and the rescued body was taken to Portland Harbour earlier on Thursday and was seen being stretchered into a silver van.

"In challenging conditions, the AAIB and its specialist contractors successfully recovered the body previously seen amidst the wreckage," the AAIB said Wednesday.

"The operation was carried out in as dignified a way as possible."

The AAIB was unable to recover the plane due to bad weather and as a result was closing down the operation.

"The weather forecast is poor for the foreseeable future and so the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close," it said.

It said that extensive video footage captured by a remotely operated vehicle is expected to "provide valuable evidence for our safety investigation", adding that it intends to publish an interim report on the accident later this month.

The plane, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, vanished from radar around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Guernsey, with Ibbotson the only other person aboard.

After the official rescue team gave up their search, saying there was little chance of finding anyone alive, Sala's family raised more than 370,000 euros ($422,000) in an online campaign to pay for a private hunt.

"Had that not happened, I don't think anybody would have searched for the plane," shipwreck hunter David Mearns, whose private company found the plane, told AFP.

The discovery of two seat cushions on the French coast last week revealed that the plane had broken apart, he added.

Sala had been flying in to join up with his new club Cardiff City in what was the most expensive signing in the Welsh club's history.

Nantes have consulted lawyers to explore legal options to ensure Cardiff pays the transfer fee for Sala, a source close to the French club revealed on Wednesday.

According to the source, the first installment of the 17-million-euro ($19.3 million) deal for the Argentine striker has yet to be paid, despite the transfer being finalised before the accident.

Earlier this week the footballer's father, Horacio, acknowledged that there was no prospect of finding his son alive.

"There's no longer any hope," he told Fox Sports. </s> The Latest on Burundi teenagers gone missing from international robotics competition in Washington, D.C. (all times local):

Organizers of a robotics competition say six teenagers from Burundi who went missing at the conclusion of the event may have "self-initiated" their disappearance.

The team members' chaperone filed missing-person reports after the teens could not be found at the conclusion of the international event Tuesday evening in Washington.

On Thursday, a statement from the event organizer, FIRST Global, said the chaperone was caught off guard. First Global said the group may have self-initiated the disappearance, noting that the students had taken all their clothes from the dormitory where they had been staying.

Police say two of the six were seen crossing the border into Canada and that they have no indication of foul play.

Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Aquita Brown says they have received reports that two of the Burundi teenagers gone missing after an international robotics competition in Washington have been seen crossing the border into Canada.

She says the whereabouts of their team members is unknown, and that the search for all the teens remains ongoing, but she stresses that police have no indication of foul play in their disappearance.

Brown says the teens in Canada have been identified as 16-year-old Don Ingabire and 17-year-old Audrey Mwamikazi.

Police tweeted missing person fliers Wednesday asking for help finding the teens last seen in the area of the FIRST Global Challenge around the time of Tuesday's final matches. The missing team members include two 17-year-old girls and four males ranging in age from 16 to 18.

The competition, designed to encourage youths to pursue careers in math and science, attracted teams of teenagers from more than 150 nations.

Six teenage members of the Burundi robotics team were reported missing after competing in an international competition this week in Washington.

Police tweeted missing person fliers Wednesday asking for help finding the teens last seen in the area of the FIRST Global Challenge around the time of Tuesday's final matches. The missing team members include two 17-year-old girls and four males ranging in age from 16 to 18.

The competition, designed to encourage youths to pursue careers in math and science, attracted teams of teenagers from more than 150 nations. A squad of girls from Afghanistan drew the most attention after they were twice rejected for U.S. visas and President Donald Trump intervened.

Competition organizers learned Tuesday night that the team's mentor couldn't find the six students who participated in the competition and organization President FIRST Global President Joe Sestak made the initial call to the police, according to a FIRST Global Challenge statement.
Kenyan boxer Brian Agina goes missing as his team prepares to return from the Commonwealth Games in Australia.