From Abel Zwànke, Lafia

Widows across Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba Local Government Areas in Nasarawa State have received food assistance to help alleviate the economic challenges they face, courtesy of a humanitarian collaboration spearheaded by Zumunta Association USA, the Awadzi Center for Empowerment and Education (ACEE Foundation).

The initiative, aimed at addressing the rising cost of living caused by inflation and declining incomes, saw widows receiving 10kg bags of rice to support their families.

In a press statement yesterday after the distribution of the bags of rice on Sunday, the National President of Zumunta Association USA and Founder of the ACC Foundation Sunday Bitrus, emphasized the need to support vulnerable groups, especially widows, who often shoulder the burden of raising families alone under challenging circumstances.

“As a community, we must rise together to support those who are most in need. Widows are often overlooked, yet they carry the burden of sustaining their families under immense pressure,” he said. “This effort is a demonstration of our collective responsibility to support widows and those in need. Zumunta Association USA remains committed to humanitarian causes that uplift our people.”

ACEE Foundation, a key partner in the initiative, reaffirmed its dedication to empowering marginalized groups. A representative of the foundation noted, “Working with Zumunta Association USA has further strengthened our resolve to touch lives positively. This partnership shows the power of collective action in addressing societal challenges.”

Sunday, who is also a native of Nasarawa state further noted that the  “ACEE Foundation is also currently running the SBA Merit Scholarship program for students of computer science, medicine and surgery, and engineering for all students from Nasarawa State who are qualified.”

Beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude for the assistance, describing it as timely and impactful. Mrs. Abigail Audu, a widow from Nasarawa Eggon, shared her appreciation. “This support means a lot to us. It shows that we are not forgotten in these tough times,” she said.

Edward Mary from Akwanga echoed similar sentiments. “The timing of this distribution is perfect. It will go a long way in helping us widows,” she remarked. “I deeply appreciate the Awadzi Foundation for what they are doing during this period.”

Community leaders also lauded the initiative for its focus on meeting the basic needs of widows and their families, particularly during the festive season.

The initiative highlights the critical role of community organizations and partnerships in addressing the gaps left by economic challenges, offering hope and support to the most vulnerable.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly Hon. Adamu Yusuf Gagdi has distributed bags of rice and cows worth N284m to his Christian constituents as part of efforts to enable them mark Christmas celebration.

Fifty-one cows were distributed to various Church leaders and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State Chapter among other well-wishers by the lawmaker.

Gagdi during the distribution exercise at his residence in Dengi on Monday said the gesture is part of his annual support to the Christian faithfuls just as earlier demonstrated to the Muslim community during Sallah celebration.

The Lawmaker called on other lawmakers at the Federal level in the state to demonstrate the same considering the hard times citizens of the country are battling with to enable the Christian community to have something to celebrate the yuletide season with.

According to him, “Today yet again I distributed bags of rice to the Christian community in my Constituency. We have 50kg bags of rice, and some 25kg totaling 5000 bags of three trailer loads of rice.

“We have 1,286 bags of rice allocated to Pankshin LGA, we have 1,086 bags of rice to Kanke LGA, we have 640 bags to Kanam LGA. We have 489 bags of rice for religious leaders consisting of Church leaders; CAN leadership in the state and in my Constituency. While we have 850 bags of 25kg for support groups.

“Also, we have 51 cows for Christian leaders in the state, APC Party Exco in the state and Constituency, Elders Advisory committee devoid of political party, Traditional Institutions, Party flag bearers,” respectively

Gagdi further debunked insinuation that the distribution excised in Dengi is part of a ploy to relocate the headquarters of the Constituency to his LGA.

“I have read in some quarters that I’m planning to take the Headquarters of the Constituency from Pankshin to Dengi in Kanam. This is laughable, because I am the first lawmaker to build a Constituency Secretariat in Pankshin.

“I don’t have a store that will take the entire truck of rice and to be secured at the time. So, it is better I put it here in my house where I am sure it is safe. I have given N6 million to the committee on distribution to ensure that every allocation is delivered to the appropriate persons.” He noted

The former Council Chairman of Kanke Local government area of the state Hon. Henry Gotip expressed gratitude for the gesture while assuring that the allocated rice will be delivered as directed.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

A Nigeria Human rights group, International Society for Civil liberties and rule of law (Intersociety),  have unveiled two special international reports on rights, abuses and violation in the eastern Nigeria, accusing the Nigeria Military and other security forces like police crack squad, DSS, sub State actor killer vigilantes and killer government task forces.

The two special international reports titled “Nigeria: “Ocean of innocent blood flowing in the east” and “Human rights made in Nigeria” were unveiled during a media conference organized by Intersociety in Enugu.

The board Chairman (Intersociety) Emeka Umeagbalasi, unveiling the books said that the two special international reports are built on documented reports, dating back to 2015 or before then, noting that compilation and computation started since middle of May 2024 (past seven months), using in depth research and investigation skills and techniques.

Umeagbalasi explained that the  book ” Ocean of innocent blood flowing in the east” which has 282 pages is a catalogue of how officers and personnel of the armed forces ( army, air force and navy) the police, DSS, joined by the paramilitaries and killer vigilantes used ” IPOB/ESN/BIAFRA terrorism as a pretext to secretly massacre 22,500 unarmed civilians and openly killed 9,800 others (totalling over 32,300) in the past nine years and four months (August 2015- Dec 2024) of military siege and terror in the east.

“Tens of thousands were unlawfully detained and tortured, over 6000 blindfolded or face -bagged and bundled at late night from the east and dumped uninvestigated and untried in secret military locations and prisons in seven northern states of Nigeria, Kogi, Nassarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara and FCT (Abuja) inclusive of thousands dumped to die or subjected to kangaroo trials inside WAWA cantonment in Nigeria State”.

He further explained that the book “Human rights made in Nigeria ” is a compilation of relevant, available local, regional and international human rights, humanitarian aid universal human rights, rule of law compliant legal provisions and safeguards regulating the lawful and unlawful conducts and activities of armed citizens in Nigeria or any part thereof, including armed state actors and armed non State actors and their commanders, leaders, aiders and abettors. He noted that the two special international reports are given out free of charge.

Intersociety in their two special international reports therefore gave 76 recommendations to the government of Nigeria, armed forces and police high command which among them were: Carrying out comprehensive investigations into cases of extra judicial killings and unlawful execution in eastern Nigeria in the past nine years and four months including cases involving torture and other cruel treatment, disappearance of dead bodies of victims of torture.

Abolish and prohibit as a matter of uttermost immediacy all military, police and paramilitary roadblock and custody (barracks) extortions and their racketeering (daily returns) in the South East and South South. Also prohibits all forms of commercialization and monetization of arrest, detention, custodial bail and criminal investigation and prosecution.

Dismantle all military and police roadblocks or checkpoints on all south east and South South roads and have them replaced with CCTV cameras manned by ICT trained police detectives and trackers/monitors and others.