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Hon. Onyejeocha Seeks Investigation Into Extrajudicial Killings During Lockdown [VIDEO]

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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2

The House of Representatives has condemned the extrajudicial killing of Friday Arunsi of Ebem Ohafia, Abia state, and 17 others as well as human rights abuses especially by security operatives in the enforcement of the lockdown ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, and governors.

At the plenary on Tuesday, the House especially resolved to “condemn in its entirety the abuse of the fundamental rights, especially brutalization and extortion, and the killing of innocent Nigerians by security operatives enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown across the country.

Also Read: Police Killing: Damage From Ohafia Protest Terrible, Unimaginable — Abia CP, Mourns Victim

The House requested Buhari to direct heads of security agencies implicated in the human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings to immediately fish out the perpetrators for prosecution and punishment according to the law.

Also, the House mandated committees with oversight over the security agencies implicated, including the House Committee on Human Rights, to investigate the abuses and killings.

These resolutions were passed following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by the Deputy Chief Whip, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

Also Read: Hon. Nkole Mourns Victim of Ohafia Shooting, Tasks Police On Professionalism

Moving the motion, Onyejeocha recalled that on March 29, 2020, the federal and some state governments declared a 14-day lockdown in Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun States to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

She further recalled that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the military, and para-military agencies were saddled with the responsibility of enforcing compliance with the lockdown within the limits of their rules of engagement.

The lawmaker partly said, “The House regrets that within the initial period of the lockdown, security operatives had, according to the National Human Rights Commission, extrajudicially killed 18 innocent Nigerians in Abia, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Katsina, and Niger states. The House further regrets that as of April 13, 2020, when the lockdown was extended for another two weeks, that figure was more than the total number of Nigerians killed by the virus.

“Out of the 18 deaths, the Nigeria Correctional Service was responsible for eight, Nigeria Police Force was responsible for seven, the Nigerian Army was responsible for two, while the Ebonyi State Task Force on COVID-19, Afikpo South LGA, was responsible for one.

Also Read: COVID-19: Security Agencies, Task Force Should Treat Nigerians With Dignity ― Hon Onyejeocha

“The House further notes that besides the killings, security operatives have also physically assaulted and brutalized innocent Nigerians in the name of enforcing COVID-19 lockdown directive, as evident in the case of one Ms. Tola Azeez who was physically assaulted and brutalized by Inspector Ikuesan Taiwo and Constable Abass Ibrahim in Iwo, Osun State, in early April.

“Security operatives have also intimidated and extorted money from innocent Nigerians as in the case of Mrs. Nwabuabo Obiajulu and her son, Chukwuweiki, from whom officers of the Nigeria Police extorted the sum of N120,000 on Friday, April 17, 2020, for flouting the lockdown directive in Delta State.”

According to Onyejeocha, Sections 34, 40, 41, and 42 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life, the dignity of humans, and freedom from abuse.

She said, “The House is worried that the actions of the security agencies amount to an abuse of the rights of Nigerians and gross violations of the provisions of the Sections 34, 40, 41 and 42 of the Constitution.

https://youtu.be/ImAvRMg4fe4

Bala Lau Demands ₦100 Million From Sahara Reporters For Reporting His Death

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

The national leader of the Jama’at Izalat al Bid’a Wa Iqamat as Sunna (JIBWIS), also known as the Izala Society, Sheikh Bala Lau, has demanded ₦100 Million compensation from Sahara Reporters for announcing that he had died.

They had reported (on May 10th) that Sheikh Bala Lau had died and that social distancing guidelines were not adhered to at his funeral.

The online news platform had posted pictures and videos of a crowded funeral as evidence that he had died and that social distancing guidelines had not been adhered to.

Many Twitter users that responded to the tweet condemned northern Nigerians for disobeying social distancing rules.

However, many people that responded to Sahara Reporters’ tweet stated that the video and pictures were old and they accused Sahara Reporters of publishing fake news.

Read Also: COVID-19 Vaccine Won’t Be Ready Until 2021 – PTF Boss

A follower of the Izala Society then posted a video of his video call to Sheikh Bala Lau in which the sheikh confirmed that he is alive.

Sahara Reporters later deleted the tweet and the article from its website without publishing a retraction. They later published a story that another Izala leader had died, but they didn’t mention social distancing guidelines in that story.

The Sheikh, through his lawyers, has now demanded a compensation of ₦100 Million from Sahara Reporters.

This is a link to the original story of Sheikh Lau’s death. https://secure.saharareporters.com/2020/05/10/leader-izala-society-sheikh-bala-lau-dead

This is a link to the story that Sheikh Lau is alive. http://saharareporters.com/2020/05/10/leader-izala-society-sheikh-bala-lau-alive

Bala Lau Demands ₦100 Million From Sahara Reporters For Reporting His Death

Bala Lau Demands ₦100 Million From Sahara Reporters For Reporting His Death

Bala Lau

Dangote Truck Carrying About 30 Travellers To North Intercepted In Abia [Photos, Video]

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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1

No fewer than 30 travellers to various states of the North were on Wednesday intercepted along Aba road by Azikiwe road in Umuahia, Abia State by officers of the State Police Command, ABN TV reports.

The travellers who claimed to live at various locations in the neighbouring Akwa Ibom were said to be lying flat in a Dangote truck, violating the social distancing protocol.

Dangote Truck Carrying About 30 Travellers To North Intercepted In Abia

Also Read: NIGERIA’S BORDER CLOSURE NOT MEANT TO PUNISH OUR NEIGHBOURS – BUHARI 

Upon interrogation, the driver whose identity could not be ascertained as the moment of the report said the travellers pleaded with him to convey them to the various states of the North to celebrate Sallah with their loved ones.

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State command, CP Janet Agbede in a chat with ABN TV said after deliberation with the Commissioner for Homeland Security the travellers were sent back to Akwa Ibom where they came from.

Also Read: Don’t Come Home For Now, Ikpeazu Warns Abians Outside State, Vows To Close Down Mortuaries If…

Recall that Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu had in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 placed a ban on interstate movement in the state in addition to the lockdown that has recently been partial eased.

Dangote Truck Carrying About 30 Travellers To North Intercepted In Abia

https://youtu.be/qckrRCPvPmI

COVID-19 Vaccine Won’t Be Ready Until 2021 – PTF Boss

By
Alex Enemanna
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2

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha has urged Nigerians to abide by the PTF guidelines to fight COVID-19 as a vaccine won’t be ready until 2021.

Mustapha said, “Ordinarily, from the little literature I have read on COVID 19, we are not expecting any vaccine to be on the shelves until towards the end of 2021. That is for industries that have perfected the processes of manufacturing of this vaccine.”

The PTF boss also challenged the private sector to continue to support the government in order to fortify the health system and infrastructure against present and future pandemics.

Read Also: FG Approves Hazard Allowances For COVID-19 Health Workers

Responding to a question, the PTF boss said hotels accommodating Nigerians evacuated from abroad would be decontaminated after 14 days isolation of the returnees before receiving a new batch.

Also, the National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, lamented that large movements of people across state borders were frustrating efforts aimed at containing the pandemic.

He appealed to security agencies to rise to the challenge and stop the trend, except for essential services.

FG Approves Hazard Allowances For COVID-19 Health Workers

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government, FG had signed a deal approving hazard allowances for health workers involved in the COVID-19 containment.

He said the agreement had been forwarded to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Ehanire noted that the Nigerian Medical Association and other stakeholders were present at the signing of the deal approving hazard allowances for health workers, which had also been forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Read Also: Pathologists Deployed To Probe Strange Deaths In Bauchi, Jigawa, Others – Ehanire

Pathologists Deployed To Probe Strange Deaths In Bauchi, Jigawa, Others – Ehanire

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

The Minister for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has deployed pathologists to probe the strange deaths in Bauchi, Jigawa and other states where strange deaths were recorded recently.

The Federal Ministry of Health assembled and trained pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kano states who were thereafter sent to probe the strange deaths in the states.

He said, “With regard to the investigation in Kano (deaths), it is going to be a very scientific investigation and they will sit down to collate a report.

“They are trying to ensure that there is no room for error. I have not seen it yet, but it is in the pipeline.

“I have told the teams to bring pathologists to these states which are reporting these deaths.

“We have brought pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano and others to develop a protocol and training by which they can now carry out this investigation.”

He said the ministry had developed a protocol for accreditation of hospitals, adding the protocol had been given to many states.

Read Also: PTF Advise Governors To Suspend Interstate Movements Of Almajirai

He also said some hospitals, including private and public facilities, had been accredited to treat the virus.

The minister stated, “The team that was sent to Kano has already been to four other states. The Federal Government and state hospitals; some private hospitals in Lagos, have been accredited by the accreditation team.”

He appealed to each state government to provide at least 300-bed spaces as isolation centres.

Ehanire also spoke about a COVID-19 patient at the National Hospital, Abuja, who allegedly insisted on her tests being conducted by the World Health Organisation officials.

The minister said, “On the lady at the National Hospital whom we have been engaging with. The history is already known that she came from the United Kingdom and has had three tests. She is due for another test, which she has refused to take.

“We strongly believe that she is by now negative but we have to be able to document it because we also work with guidelines released from the WHO.

“So, I called her on the phone and persuaded her to let them take the test.

“First, she gave me conditions that they (officials) must give her all her tests from the past. I gave instruction and they took all her results, photocopies and gave them to her.”

PTF Advise Governors To Suspend Interstate Movements Of Almajirai

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

The Presidential Task Force, PTF also advised governors to suspend interstate movements of Almajirai so as not to frustrate efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Governors’ Forum, in a statement issued after its meeting on April 21 unanimously decided to ban the Almajirai system of education.

They decided that the children should be sent back to their parents or states of origin.

States, which have been repatriating the Almajirai back to their states of origin include Kano and Nasarawa.

But some of the children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. For example, On May 2, the Kaduna State Government said 21 out of 61 Almajirai deported to the state from Kano tested positive for the virus.

Besides, some of the children are being hidden in vehicles carrying food and brought to the South, a development southern states have frowned upon.

Read Also: Nigerians Pick Face Masks From Dumps And Sell Them – PTF

Expressing concern about the development, the SGF said, “This is not the time for the interstate movements of Almajirai because of interstate lockdown.

“If you say interstate movements are banned, I don’t think that movements of Almajirai are essential movements.”

Mustapha urged state governments to align their actions and enforcement with the guidelines provided by the PTF.

“The virus does not respect boundaries neither does it respect status.

“All state governments are, therefore, urged to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement machinery in collaboration with the security agencies,” he stated.

Nigerians Pick Face Masks From Dumps And Sell Them – PTF

By
Alex Enemanna
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2

The Presidential Task Force, PTF on COVID-19, has raised the alarm over an unhealthy practice of some Nigerians who pick face masks from rubbish dumps and sell them.

The Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who raised the alarm at the PTF press briefing in Abuja, warned that such a practice would worsen the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He said, “The unhealthy practice of picking disposed masks for whatever purpose is harmful to both the individual picking them and whoever procures them later.

“The PTF has become aware of the ongoing practice of sharing masks and picking of masks for recycling from dump sites. This places a lot of responsibility on all of us to be self-educated and to educate others.

“The following points are emphasised: ​Except for fabric masks, every disposable used mask is a​ hazardous medical waste and should be disposed of properly, preferably by burning.

He also said northern state governments, which had been evacuating the Quranic school pupils, popularly known as Almajirai, to their states of origin should suspend it.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanaire, also at the press briefing, said pathologists from Sokoto, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Kano had been trained, adding that they were investigating deaths in the states.

Read Also: In Africa, We Marry For Children Not Love – Enugu North Senator

The task force, shortly after the President, Muhammadu Buhari, in his national broadcast on April 27 ordered the gradual reopening of the economy, gave guidelines that would assist in flattening the COVID-19 curve in the country.

Among the guidelines are the compulsory use of face masks and maintaining social distance in public places.

The government also banned a gathering of over 20 people and interstate movements.

Bio-Data Of Buhari’s New Chief Of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

Professor Ibrahim A. Gambari, CFR, OCORT, a scholar-diplomat, is the Founder/Chairman of the Board of Directors of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, a non-governmental think-tank on research, policy studies, advocacy and training on the nexus between conflict prevention and resolution, democratization and development in Africa.

He has had an illustrious career, spanning academia, government, and international diplomacy, culminating with his appointment as the first United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa (1999-2005). He was the Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid (1990-1994) and on Peace-Keeping Operations (1990—1999). He was Head of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (2005-2007) and also operated as UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Cyprus, Zimbabwe, and Myanmar and Special Representative in Angola.

Also Read: BREAKING: SGF Announces Prof. Gambari As New Chief Of Staff To President Buhari

Earlier, he was Minister of External Affairs (1984-1985) and subsequently Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (1990-1999). Professor Gambari also served as Joint AU/UN Special Representative in Darfur and Head of UNAMID (2010-2012). He is currently a Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Professor Gambari attended the Provincial (now Government) Secondary School, Ilorin before proceeding to the Floreat Collegium Kings College, Lagos. He received his BSc (Econs) degree from the London School of Economics (1968) and his MA and Ph.D. in Political Science/International Relations (1970, 1974) from Columbia University, USA. He has taught at universities in the United States, Nigeria, and Singapore and has to his credit the authorship of a number of books.

Also Read: House Of Representatives Approve Buhari’s N850bn Loan

He has received several academic and national honours, including the “Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” (CFR), and the “Order of the Champion of the Oliver R. Tambo” (OCORT) of South Africa. He is the Pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Ilorin, Nigeria, as well as the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano (BUK). He is married with children and grandchildren.

In Africa, We Marry For Children Not Love – Enugu North Senator

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

Chukwuka Utazi, senator representing Enugu North, says in Africa, people do not marry for love, but to have children.

Utazi made the comment while contributing to a debate on a bill seeking to prevent, control and manage sickle cell anaemia in the country, on Tuesday.

The bill is being sponsored by Sam Egwu, senator representing Ebonyi north.

While making his point, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator said it is painful to realise that an individual cannot marry his or her choice because of blood group.

“This bill is taking me down the memory lane because I’m an AS carrier and when I was about getting married, several years ago, I moved into this orbit and I know what I went through because I was in love. I knew the trauma. After that incident, for five years I didn’t come out of it,” he said.

Read Also: Princewill Osarojiji: PDP Expels Youth Leader Whose Hotel Was Demolished By Wike

“So I am speaking from experience and I know how it pains that you have made a choice and you discover that the choice can’t work. Because in Africa, we marry for children, we don’t marry for love.”

At this point, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan interrupted, saying: “Senator Chukwuka Utazi, I think you should be speaking for yourself.”

Continuing, Utazi said: “In the developed world, particulars of a child’s blood group is given at birth.

“A test is done to show the blood group, the genotype before leaving. In the birth certificate of the child, all those things are put in place.

“We should not be waiting for when people want to go and marry, that is when they will start checking their genotype and their blood group, it shouldn’t be.”

Also speaking on the subject, Biodun Olujimi, senator representing Ekiti south, asked Nigerians to look at ways of addressing health needs.

“The time has come for us to look inwards to solve some of these health needs and also support institutions that are doing so. Going forward we need to take serious blood testing for intending couples,” Olujimi said.

“We will not allow love take away the best part of our marriages.”

The bill passed second reading after it was put to a voice vote by Lawan.

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