ONE of the worst locust infestations to hit West Africa in 15 years has reached northern Nigeria, where authorities are battling the swarms with insecticide sprayed from crop-dusting airplanes.

AN Islamic high court in northern Nigeria yesterday rejected an appeal by a single mother sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock, but her death was delayed until her baby is weaned in January 2004.

An Islamic high court in northern Nigeria today rejected an appeal Monday by a single mother sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock.

Members of the European Parliament have appealed to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, asking him to stop the stoning of a woman sentenced to death for having premarital sex.