society
‘Relentless’ Violence Worsening Plight of Children in DRC’s Ituri province
A recent spike in inter-community violence in the eastern province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is worsening the plight of children there, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said on Monday, urging greater international support.
A UN statement said UNICEF and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about the violence, which includes machete attacks and sexual assaults.
Jean Metenier, UNICEF’s Senior Coordinator for Eastern DRC, said the agency will continue to raise the alarm to prevent the world from becoming numb to what he described as a desperate humanitarian crisis.
“Every day, children and their rights are undermined through relentless violence and grave rights violations, displacement, rising food insecurity, and lack of access to pretty much every basic service, including schooling,” he stated.
“We say it over and again: we need the international community to step up, as our work is barely scratching the surface of needs.”
UNICEF said nearly 175 grave violations have occurred across Ituri since January, such as recruitment of children into armed groups, killing and maiming of children, sexual violence and attacks on schools and hospitals.
In most cases, humanitarians were denied full access to the areas most affected by violence in Djugu and Irumu territories.
The attacks have displaced a large number of people, UNICEF said, and more than 275 children, including 118 girls, have been separated from their parents.
Ituri has a total population of 5.7 million people. It is estimated that more than 1.6 million people across the province are displaced, and 2.8 million are in need of some form of emergency assistance.
UNICEF’s data on the full extent of the crisis there show that more than 100,000 children under five suffer severe acute malnutrition: a direct consequence of food insecurity that is affecting nearly 800,000 people, while attacks on schools have affected around 400,000 children aged six to 11.
The statemen said although the UN agency has provided non-food and hygiene items to more than 8,000 people in South Irumu territory – and is mobilising partners in areas such as child protection, water, sanitation, and health – these efforts will not be enough to meet the immense needs.
UNICEF called for aid agencies and donors to continue supporting response in the DRC, noting that its 2021 humanitarian appeal for $384.4 million is less than 20 per cent funded. (PANA/NAN)
…..JTF Exhumes Remains of 74-Year-Old Man
David Torough, Makurdi
A security Joint Task Force (JTF) known as Operation Zenda, led by Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Dr. Justine Gberindyer, reportedly discovered and exhumed the remains of Simon Ankau, a 74-year-old retired school principal and the biological father of Reverend Father Jacob Terkaa Ankau, the Parish Priest of St.
Peter’s Parish Ayati in Ukum LGA of Benue State.It is reported that the victim was kidnapped on April 18, 2023, in Chito in Ukum Local Government Area. He was subsequently killed and buried in a shallow grave near Gaya town, on the border between Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas.
Sources indicate that Simon, being an elderly man, could not survive the trauma of the kidnapping and passed away after a few days in the kidnappers’ den. He was then buried in a shallow grave.
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The kidnappers demanded a ransom from the family, and when Mr. Simon’s wife and son brought the ransom, they were also taken hostage.
In May 2023, members of Operation Zenda successfully searched for and rescued the wife and son who had gone to pay the ransom.
The persistent search for Mr. Simon led the members of Operation Zenda to discover the shallow grave in Gaya village, located on the border between Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs.
CSP Justine Gberindyer, the commander of Operations Zenda JTF, has reiterated the Benue State government’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of criminality. He emphasized that there was no place for criminals or their activities in Benue State.
However, he did not disclose whether any arrests were made in connection with the kidnapping of the 74-year-old.
The two LGAs of Ukum and Katsina have witnessed numerous criminal activities in recent times.
Marriage
By Yakubu Uba
Maiduguri, July 22, 2023 (NAN) Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Muhammadu Buhari, Aliko Dangote, serving and former governors were in Maiduguri on Saturday to grace the wedding fatiha of Gov. Babagana Zulum’s son, Mohammed.
The serving governors at the event include that of Lagos, Yobe, Kwara, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina, Ogun, Niger, Jigawa and Niger.
Other dignitaries include National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Mohammed Indimi, Mele Kyari, Nasir El-Rufai, Abdullahi Ganduje, members of the National Assembly, and traditional rulers from within and outside Borno, led by the Shehu of Borno.
The marriage, at Maiduguri Central Mosque, was conducted by Chief Imam of Borno, Zanna Laisu.
Former President Buhari stood in as the groom’s representative (Wali). (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Pandam National Wildlife Park in Plateau State, recently upgraded, is facing a severe threat once again, as hundreds of globally endangered species of trees are being indiscriminately cut down and transported out of the park.
Within just 10 days, numerous trees have been felled, particularly in the tourists’ village area, which holds the majority of the remaining large trees within the reserve.
This follows a previous incident in 2015, when the park was subjected to plunder and exploitation by a Chinese expatriate.An anonymous source within the park revealed to DAILY ASSET Newspaper that the large-scale logging operation is being orchestrated by the local governing authority of the park, with their retirement set for the end of July 2023.
“The situation in Pandam is dire; hundreds of trees have been cut down within 10 days. The reserve no longer has sizeable trees left to be cut down. The logging primarily targets trees of economic importance that are large enough to produce wood,” the source disclosed.
The targeted species of trees include “Lannea shimperi, Prosopis africana Trees of economic importance, Parkia biglobosa, Vitex doniana, and Vitelleria paradoxa.”
“These species are globally endangered, and a significant number of them have been chopped down. The logging is concentrated around the tourists’ village, where most of the remaining large trees in the reserve are located.”
Efforts to reach out to the Park Management were unsuccessful, but Chuwang Pwajok, the newly appointed General Manager of Plateau State Tourism Corporation, confirmed the unfortunate development, stating that necessary steps are being taken to address the situation.
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