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Post Date : December 22, 2020

DSS begins investigation into alleged arms, ammunition storage in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Government, Monday, said the Director of State Services, DSS had begun investigation into the alleged stocking of arms and ammunition in the popular Building Materials Market in Abakaliki. Recall that the market was condoned off by security forces last Thursday, following information that arms and ammunition was brought into the market by some miscreants in the state. Briefing Newsmen at the end of an enlarged State Security Council meeting at the new Government House, Abakaliki, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Chief Stanley Okoroemegha noted that 9,000 live cartridges were recovered from the market. According to him, the owner of the shop where the arms were discovered has been arrested alongside other suspects. “The DSS is investigating the matter. The shop owner alongside other suspects have been arrested in connection with the unfortunate incident.” On the issue of killings in the State by alleged cultists, the Commissioner for Internal Security stated that 37 suspects have so far been arrested as the state government has promised to a “special package” for anyone who will volunteer user information that will lead to the arrest of more suspects behind the killings. “We have given 7 days to get the killers; 37 persons have been arrested so for in connection with the cult attack. The DSS are investigating the matter of arms and ammunition that was brought into the building materials in Abakaliki. “The the shop owner has been arrested as 9,000 live cartridges were recovered.”

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

Aisha Buhari now 2 months absent in Aso Rock : Reports

First Lady Aisha Buhari, has been away from the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock Abuja for the past two months. The president’s wife quietly left the country for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a medical check-up, according to one of her aides, Kabiru Dodo. He spoke in Jalingo, Taraba state at the weekend, dismissing reports she left the Villa for fear of insecurity. Her spokesperson Aliyu Abdullahi is keeping mum, the Daily Trust reported. It was gathered that she left shortly after the wedding of one of her daughters, Hanan. Aisha Buhari’s absence became obvious due to her inactiveness on the social media. Besides, different aides have been representing her to distribute relief materials to the needy in various states across the country under the aegis of the Aisha Buhari Foundation. Dodo, who spoke on the latest development while presenting some items to widows on behalf of the president’s wife, faulted the report that the first lady left the country because of rising insecurity. According to Dodo, “The first lady travelled for her medical trip, she did not flee the country because of insecurity. “What people are saying is baseless and worth nothing to be considered. I want to tell the whole world that I do speak to her daily and she is ready to return to the country as soon as she is done with the medical treatment abroad.” On August 22, Aisha thanked all Nigerians for their prayers and well wishes while she was away for medical treatment in the United Arabs Emirates (UAE). Hajiya Aisha had created a similar concern in 2019 when she stayed out of the country for over two months after leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where she had performed pilgrimage for London, the United Kingdom (UK). *~Source: Daily Trust

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

625 Deported Nigerians Returned Via Abuja Airport In 2020 – Immigration

A total of 625 deported Nigerians returned to the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja. The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Sunday James, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He added that 24 other Nigerians were repatriated for various criminal and immigration-related offences abroad. Back in the country, 12 foreign nationals who failed to comply with Nigerian entry requirements were refused admission and returned, said James. He noted that the year witnessed a global pandemic – COVID-19 – which prompted various countries to enforce mandatory lockdown and border closure before their eventual relaxation within the year. The NIS spokesman stated that Nigeria had its fair share of the COVID-19 experience and the Service, as the lead agency in charge of migration control and border management at the airport in Abuja, stepped up personnel protection to insulate them from contracting the disease. He listed some of the measures taken to include the installation of glass shields that separate the operatives from passengers, as well as the use of face masks, hand gloves, hand sanitisers, among others. “No fewer than 239,114 outbound and inbound migrants passed through NAIA, Abuja between 1st January 2020 and 15th December 2020. So far, 73,582 Nigerians and 46,665 non-Nigerians departed NAIA, Abuja for various destinations abroad. “Similarly, 81,277 Nigerians and 37,590 non-Nigerians arrived through NAIA airport within the period under review,” the statement said. James revealed that in the course of the year, 34 Nigerians – predominantly young ladies – were refused departure for non-compliance and violation of immigration regulations and other extant laws. He explained that the young ladies were victims of human trafficking being transported for the purpose of forced prostitution and sex exploitation and were between the ages of 18 to 28. “Their final destination was Dubai, UAE. Upon interception, they were profiled and forwarded to NIS Service Headquarters for further investigation and released to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation. “In the same vein, the change of operational strategy led to the uncovering of the persons recruiting and trafficking these ladies via sting operation where six recruiters/traffickers were apprehended – four males and two females. In addition, the identities of 3 recruiters/sponsors resident in Dubai were equally uncovered,” the statement said. The NIS spokesman disclosed that NAIA Command, within the period under review, received and handed over 100 Nigerians whose offences were not immigration-related, such as drug-related issues, financial crimes, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, to relevant agencies.

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

BREAKING: Three die as Customs, youths clash in Ogun

Three persons were feared killed by stray bullets in Ayetoro , Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, The Punch reports. The incident happened at the Kikelomo area in Ayetoro early morning on Tuesday. The men of Nigeria Customs Service had reportedly stormed the area following a tip – off of smuggling activities. The stray bullets were allegedly fired by customs men who stormed the area to evacuate the alleged smuggled bags of rice. More to follow….

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

We’ll never cover-up sex scandal allegations against our lecturers ― UNILAG VC

Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has vowed that the university would never sweep under the carpet the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against two lecturers of the university, Professor Segun Awonusi, a lecturer in the Department of English Language and Dr Igbeneghu, a former sub-dean of Faculty of Art by a former female student and a self-styled admission seeker sometimes ago respectively. He also said the university would continue to be transparent and prudent in its spending. He gave this indication on Monday at a media interactive event with newsmen on campus during which AVASTECH (verification and authentication data solution) was also launched. Professor Ogundipe said investigations into the two sexual harassment allegations cases are certainly much on course even as the two dons involved are still on suspension. According to him, the case against Professor Awonusi was being delayed because of the inability of the accuser and any other with useful evidence to come forward to testify before the probe panel handling the matter while that of the latter was simply because of the COVID-19 lockdown “But I want to assure the public that UNILAG under my leadership will never cover up anybody nor sweep any of the cases under the carpet. We will surely get to the root of the matter and justice will be served accordingly. But I will not preempt what the outcome of the probe panels could be,” he explained. He reaffirmed that UNILAG had a zero-tolerance for sexual harassment and other forms of untoward practices by both the staff members and students. Speaking about his administration, he said the administration is open to questions, corrections and advises from any relevant quarters who are interested to know about its financial and other activities, adding that such would certainly help the university to move forward. He said the recent crisis which led to his suspension and that of the former chairman of the governing council of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin, had grievous consequences on the university, especially as regards various losses incurred during the period including up to £40 million research grants by the faculty members. While declaring that UNILAG would continue to re-brand for improvement and make it a global model, he lamented that the university would certainly face with the problem of payment for electricity use on campus when the students return, particularly to hostels. He said the university before the coronavirus lockdown was paying between N61 and N62 million as electricity bill monthly and now with the increment in tariff would definitely be paying more than N90 million monthly by the time the students resume and return to hostels. In addition to this, he pointed out, the university also spends up to N45 million on diesel procurement within three to four months. “And where to get these huge amounts of money for electricity consumption on campus will certainly be a serious problem for the university, by the time we resume fully with students in hostels,” he stressed.

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

New COVID-19 variant in UK found in Nigeria – Experts

The new variant of the coronavirus currently causing panic and concern in the United Kingdom and the European Union has been identified in Nigeria by scientists at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at the Redeemers University in Ede, Osun State, Premium times reports. The new variant, detected in the UK in September and dubbed “lineage B.1.1.7” has triggered the current exponential spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the larger path of the United Kingdom, leading to a travel ban on the UK by some countries and a stay-at-home tier-4 level restriction in the affected paths of the country. Now, scientists at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Ede, in South West Nigeria, said Monday, through a publication in Virological, a website for the global Genomics community, that they found the same variant “lineage B.1.1.7” existing in Osun State Nigeria since August 3rd when the first sample was collected. Another sample, also from Osun State, collected in October, correspondingly showed the presence of this new variant. According to Christian Happi, Professor of molecular biology and genomics who is also the Director at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), “the B.1.1.7 lineage we found in Nigeria, predating the one described in the UK, has also been observed to rise rapidly in the UK over the past four weeks, indicating the plausible increased spread of the virus by specific non-synonymous mutations in the spike protein.” Although Nigeria has in December recorded a rise in the number of cases and an increase in deaths, Mr Happi told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview that he cannot credit the new variant for this rise as it was last seen in October and at the time, there was no surge in the number of cases. “We however haven’t observed such rapid rise of the lineage in Nigeria and do not have sufficient evidence to indicate that the B.1.1.7 lineage is contributing to increased transmission of the virus in Nigeria,” he said. Should this be a case for panic and worry for Nigerians? Mr. Happi’s team made a case for caution, warning that although the new variant might not be responsible for the rise in cases, that could change when new samples are sequenced. “At the moment, only about 1% of the genomes from Nigeria belong to the new SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.7 lineage) and one of them predates the first description in the UK. However, this might change in the next few weeks when we sequence more samples from the recently reported surge of covid-19 in Nigeria” they announced, noting that, “other reported mutations such as the N501Y, A570D, and the HV 69 – 70 deletion in the spike protein have not been detected in our genomes yet, this could also be associated with the non-increase of the lineage in Nigeria currently.” “In as much as the full effect of this mutation isn’t known yet and it is still being studied, the importance of a robust genomic surveillance system cannot be overemphasized as we can identify and report changes in the genomes of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 that are of public health interest,” the report said. From the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Director General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a tweet on Sunday, said, “while we study data in Nigeria and await additional guidance from @WHO on new strains causing COVID19, travelers MUST implement travel protocol.” Federal authorities responded to the development by ordering the immediate closure of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants across the country. The number of guests at weddings, conferences, among others have also been limited to 50 persons, according to the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, while speaking at its briefing on Monday. Also following the announcement of the identification of the new variant of the coronavirus in the UK, countries have begun to issue travel bans in varying degrees. These countries include the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Switzerland and Canada as the most recent as of the time of filing this report. The BBC reported that top health officials said that there was no evidence the new variant was more deadly or would react differently to vaccines, but it was proving to be up to 70 per cent more transmissible. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the new strain “was out of control. We have got to get it under control”, admitting that this was “an incredibly difficult end to frankly an awful year”, the report said. The BBC has also reported that it was first detected in September. In November around a quarter of cases in London were the new variant. This reached nearly two-thirds of cases in mid-December. The WHO has said it is in close contact with the UK adding that the same strain has been identified in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia. There are rising concerns on whether the mutation in the virus will affect the vaccines. Scientists, however, have said the new variant will have no effect on the vaccine although a close watch has to be kept. It stands to reason that this mutation isn’t a threat, but you never know. We still have to be diligent and continue to look,” said Nelson Michael, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. A presentation by David Robertson, from the University of Glasgow, on Friday, concluded: “The virus will probably be able to generate vaccine escape mutants.” Vaccine escape happens when the virus changes so it dodges the full effect of the vaccine and continues to infect people. Additionally, “the amount of evidence in the public domain is woefully inadequate to draw strong or firm opinions on whether the virus has truly increased transmission,” said Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham. The European Council meeting of government representatives is expected to take place Tuesday at 10:00 GMT. The

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

IPOB’s security outfit —The beginning of manifestation of its proscription

By Ibe Pascal Arogorn To prioritise the safety of people in the southeast —Leaders in the region have failed in this crucial task, now it has cone through wrong dragons. Operation Amotekun (Leopard) was established on 9 January 2020 by the six state governors of all the South Western states of Nigeria, namely; Lagos State, Oyo State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun State and Ekiti State.The establishment of the security outfit was subject to the decision by all the six state governors at the regional security summit held in Ibadan , Oyo State, Nigeria on June 2019 through Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN).In support of the outfit, all the six state governors contributed 20 vehicles each, except Oyo that contributed 33 vehicles, in order to assist the operatives in carrying out their duties, making a total of 133 vehicles for the startup, they also procured 100 units of motorcycles each, making a total of 600 motorcycles. The members of the outfit were drawn from local hunters, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and vigilante group. Amotekun, which is a Yoruba word, is Leopard in English The operatives of the security outfit assist police, other security agencies and traditional rulers in combating terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping and also help in settling herdsmen and farmers contentions in the region. For the startup, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti states, recruited 1,320 operatives for the operation, while they will carry dane guns like local hunters, operating in about 52 deadly blackspots all over the southwest region. Perhaps, Southeast leaders have not realized the bizarre terrorist herdsmen have caused to Igbos. Being in the throne of power, they always slept with their eyes closed and well secured. On April 23, 2016. The intelligence was promptly reported to security agencies who met accordingly. However, at about 5.15 am on April 25, 2016, the armed herdsmen numbering over 500 struck killing 40 people. The following day, April 26, 2016, six more bodies were recovered and 14 victims were lying critically ill at Royal Cross Hospital, Nsukka , Nsukka District General Hospital and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka . During the raid, a church,known as Christ Holy Church International, (AKA Odozi-Obodo), at Onu-Eke and 11 houses were burnt by the marauders. As a result of the insecurity, displaced natives fled to neighboring communities of Nkpologu and Uvuru, (Uvuru-Agada ) even as indigenes of those communities also fled to Nsukka in fear of further attacks. Invasion of Ukpabi-Nimbo community, known as “Enugu Massacre”, by roaming Fulani herdsmen followed similar massacre of hundreds of natives in another farming community, Agatu , Benue State by the same herdsmen, just a little over a month. There was invasion of neighbouring Abbi, another Uzo Uwani community, where a brother and sister-Fidelis and Mercy Okeja were reportedly killed on the spot earlier in February 2016. 19 persons were declared missing whilst seven houses and motocycles were raised down. It was reported the invasion was carried out by 30 masked Fulani herdsmen. It is not Surprising on how southeast leaders sabotage the efforts of efficient security in the region. On the Nimbo attack, According to Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi , the terrorism at Nimbo may have happened due to inability of security agencies to successfully act on the counter intelligence report about herdsmen grouping at neighbouring Odolu in Kogi State in preparation for attack. Just Imagine about this compromise by the southeast governors,They have in their responsibilities long ago. On February 18, Indications emerged that the need to avoid confrontation with the Federal Government necessitated the dumping of the idea of establishing a joint security outfit by governors of the South-East zone. At the height of insecurity in the zone last year, the governors who met in Enugu on July 28 had resolved to set up a regional security outfit to be co-ordinated by its joint security committee headed by Maj.-Gen. Obi Umahi (rtd). At another meeting held in Enugu on February 9, this year, the governors had reassured on the planned joint security outfit, when they declared after the meeting that they were “satisfied with all the arrangement that will lead to South-East Houses of Assembly to enact a law to back up the security programme with a name to the outfit.” Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, disclosed after the meeting that they had written the Federal Government on the development and that at an appropriate time, “we shall be inviting the Federal Government to note the details of our joint security programme.” However, on February 12, exactly three days after, residents of the zone who thronged the zone’s security summit called by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, were disappointed as the governors retreated and rather endorsed and adopted the Federal Government’s community policing model. The adoption of the community policing idea came after several hours of closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu, involving the IGP and the five governors, including Umahi (Ebonyi); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo), who was represented by his deputy, Placid Njoku. Although residents were not comfortable with the community policing idea, being that it had been on in the zone for some time now, the governors were however said to have accepted the model based on the need to maintain cordiality and maintain the same stand on security matters with the Federal Government. A source in the meeting stated that it would amount to an affront on the Federal Government should the zone insist on toeing a different security approach, adding that taking a different security measure could lend credence to the erroneous belief that the Federal Government was incapable of handling security challenges of the country. It was further gathered that the governors were made to believe that a joint security outfit may be mismanaged and in the process create the leeway for members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

Ex-NNPC deport manager vandalises wife’s house over divorce

A mother of three , Mrs Chinyere Uzowulu , has cried for help over the alleged vandalism of the family house by her husband , Chief Afam Uzowulu , who is a retired depot manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, for challenging the divorce from him and refusing to vacate the house with her children . According to The Punch, Chinyere, who addressed journalists shortly after conducting them round the vandalised duplex located at No . 1/3 Uzowulu Street, New GRA , Enugu, disclosed that she was challenging in court his divorce and ejection from the premises with her children . She said the case was pending before the Supreme Court in suit No . SC/CV /895/2020. While describing the destruction of her residence in a matter before the court as unlawful , Chinyere regretted that thugs aided by the police carried out the vandalism in her absence on Friday, December 18, 2020. She stated that she did not have any police case with her estranged husband , adding that the house she lives in with her children was a family residence and “ we are presently in the Supreme Court over the house and divorce . ” She said that trouble started when Afam voluntarily left the house in 2012 “ after demanding for 50 per cent of my earnings as a condition for peace . ” “ When I refused , he went to court for divorce and to eject his three kids and I from the house. I opposed it because I contributed financially to the building of the house. I am also challenging the divorce and his sending of the kids to the street, ” she added . Chinyere, who showed journalists a stay of execution on a lower court judgement , which granted Afam divorce and an ejection order , said that all her belongings and those of the children, whom the father allegedly abandoned for eight years, were destroyed and looted. “ I am calling on the Enugu state Governor , Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is the chief security officer of the state, and civil society organisations fighting for the right of women and children to come to my aid as the police in the state have compromised and allowed his impunity to continue. My life and my children’ s lives have been exposed to danger, ” she lamented. Our correspondent observed that the roofing of the house had been removed, while the doors, furniture and kitchen accessories were destroyed and clothes scattered all over the premises, with the perimeter fence and gates pulled down. When contacted , Afam confirmed that he carried out the vandalism of the house. “ I sued her for a divorce and to vacate the house, and the court ruled in my favour. Since the judgment , she has refused to vacate the house. Although the court granted her custody of the children , she cannot stay with them in my house. So , I went to enforce the judgment of the court and take possession of the house, ” he stated. Asked if he knew about the stay of execution, Afam said , “ I know she has gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the lower court , but she has yet to obtain the stay of execution. So , I applied for an execution order and the Chief Registrar of the Customary Court of Appeal refused to approve the execution and didn ’ t give me any valid reason for not signing the order . In the absence of a stay of execution order , I had to use every available means to execute the judgment of the court . ” When contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Daniel Ndukwe , denied any police involvement in the vandalism of the house and declined further comments.

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Post Date : December 22, 2020

Kaduna killings: 3 more bodies discovered in Zangon Kataf LGA

Three more corpses have been recovered during clearance operations at Ungwan Jatau Boto and Ungwan Gimba general areas of Zangon Kataf local government area in Kaduna state. According to the latest operational feedback from the military to the Kaduna State Government on Monday, the decomposing bodies estimated to have been dead for three or more days are of citizens from the sides involved in the recent spate of violence, attacks, and reprisal killings. The Kaduna government is yet to disclose the identities of the decomposing bodies. However, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, Abubakar Hassan, alongside officials of the agency, visited displaced citizens at Zonkwa and Ungwan Idi in Zangon Kataf and Kauru local government areas. The visit was for the purpose of assessment, and to provide some relief materials to displaced citizens, in compliance with Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s directives. The State Emergency Management Agency has also drawn the government’s attention to the swelling number of displaced citizens following the killing and counter-killing in the two local government areas. To this end, the issue is receiving attention for immediate intervention. However, citizens have been assured that the Kaduna State Government will continue to work assiduously for the peace and security of the State.

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Post Date : December 21, 2020

Senators Express Doubt As FG Unveils Plans To Buy N400bn COVID-19 Vaccines

Senators on Monday expressed reservation over the preparedness of the Federal Government to manage the COVID-19 vaccination in the country. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and his colleagues spoke at a meeting with the Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire and Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed. The ministers were in the Senate to brief the leadership of the Red Chamber on the Federal Government’s plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines worth about N400bn. Lawan said it was a good bargain to spend N400 billion to protect Nigerians from the deadly virus but expressed reservations over the availability of facilities and manpower to manage the vaccine. “I have not been convinced with your presentation that we are ready to bring in the vaccines. “You have to do much more to convince me that we are ready. This is a matter of life and death. I am not only a doubting Thomas, I am also doubting Ahmad” The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, also joined in expressing doubt in the ability of the health officials to guarantee the safety of the vaccines. He said, “I am a doubting Omo-Agege also.” He expressed worry that the government so far had made preparations for only four cold chains for the vaccines, in Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Lagos and asked why the entire South South region was not included in the plan. The DSP also expressed worry that the vaccines may lose its efficacy on transit to the South South if no facility was provided. Other senators also expressed doubts over the presentations of the officials from the Ministry of Health on the facilities that had been put in place to ensure adequate storage protection for the vaccines. But the health minister insisted that the government was substantially ready for a successful COVID-19 vaccination exercise for its citizens. He maintained that the country, which has successfully fought polio, would use the same storage facilities (cold chains) to store the COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the federal government was in talks with manufacturers and had trained staff as well as put the right cooling infrastructure in place to store the vaccines when they are acquired. The minister said about N400bn would be required to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigerians 211 million population, at $8 person. He said N156bn would be needed in 2021 while N200bn in 2022.

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