CRIME
Five Arrested in Bauchi for Covid-19 Vaccination Card Racket
By Mohammed Muktar Umar Bauchi
The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, has disclosed that five persons has been arrested by Security and Vigilance Community of the Covid-19 Taskforce, made up security agencies in the state for Covid-19 vaccination card racketing.
Mohammed made the disclosure when Covid-19 Champions, CITAD-supported non-governmental organisation, led by Halima Ibrahim visited the Agency to seek for permission to embark on rural enlightenment campaign about Covid-19 vaccine.
The agency boss said vaccination card racketing and negative effects of social media messages were major setbacks in the smooth administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in the state.
According to him, “In collaboration with the police, army and ICPC, we have been able to arrest some people who were buying the vaccine cards without taking the injection. They are now with the security agencies undergoing investigations.
“Many people who shunned the jab when flagged off by the governor, his deputy and House of Assembly Speaker later contracted the virus.
“Some people who got vaccinated and felt the mild side effects of the vaccine were giving others negative narratives. Some were placing metal and other objects on the spot of the jab to get people to reject it”.
“We carried out a mass campaign on social media and moved to the rural areas for enlightenment.”
Dr Mohammed lamented that many of the state’s health workers and academics are leading in the resistance of the vaccine, submitting that this is serving as a setback for vaccination efforts.
He said that social media was the main cause of setback for the exercise, adding that people were posting unfounded negative insinuations against the efficacious nature of the Covid-19 vaccine.
In his words, “the community, the medical and the university community, the professors and others are the worst in rejection of the vaccine.
“One of the things that is fueling the trouble is the social media. It is a stumbling block to achieving the aim of the vaccination.”
He likened the current resistance to Covid-19 vaccine to similar problem faced during police vaccine campaigns in the state, saying delightfully that despite the resistance then, the state was able to achieve a polio free status today.
“This is not new to us, we faced similar problems during the polio campaign from people we tag ‘the evil doers of vaccination’. They are there everywhere.
“In fact, I was attacked twice, but we endured it and today, we are polio free as we were able to kick polio out of the country,” Mohammed said.
According to him, despite some conspiracy theories again Covid-19 vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved about 35 types for emergency use, though each country was at liberty to develop its own vaccine provided it was safe.
“These vaccines were approved for emergency use, about 35 different types of them, by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency purposes. Each country is free to produce its own but they have to look at the safety and efficiency because initially so many people came up with their theories and there are obstacles that they want to block these vaccines.
“Their major campaign is that the vaccine is for reducing fertility in order to reduce population. The second one is that, there is a fear that these vaccines will even kill a person within two years.
“The third one is the demonstration of using metal to stick to the point of the vaccination in order to scare people,” the BSPHCDA boss said.
He, however, added that, “the main thing causing our own problems is some of the reactions of the vaccines, most especially mild reactions forgetting that each drug has its reaction because of the composition of the body.
“There is antigen, antibody reaction, mild weakness, mild fever when one takes a chemical like this. There is fighting between the immunity and the body itself to take care of the person.”
Dr Mohammed then assured that despite all these, the Covid vaccine is efficient and effective and can be used to protect person from the Covid-19 infection.
He urged people to make themselves available for the vaccination, which, according to him, was ongoing across the state.
He, however, said that, “the vaccines will not be administered to those who are sick; it is only for those who are healthy.”
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
A Student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Modupe Ayandare, was found dead on Monday after attending a church vigil.
The death of Ayandare, who is of the Department of Agronomy, was made known by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
“We express in strong terms our dissatisfaction and agony with respect to the death of one of our students, Miss Modupe Ayandare of the Department of Agronomy.
“According to report, the deceased was said to have committed suicide in the early hours of today at about 4:00am after she returned from a vigil in her church.
“The incident happened beside the church she attended, around Spotless Villa.
“The law enforcement agency has been informed already, and all hands are on deck to get to the root of the situation.
“Be assured that justice will be served and the law enforcement agency will undertake thorough investigation,” Mr Emmanuel Olaogbebikan, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SUG, stated.
He asked anybody with useful information regarding the incident to give to the concerned authorities to come forward.
Also mourning the death of the student, the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS), AAUA Chapter, said the loss deeply affected the department.
Faith Igba, the PRO of the department, said the demise of Ayandare was a profound loss to the department.
Igba urged the members of the department to come together and be of help to one another, asking those going through challenges to seek help.
“During this difficult time, we urge everyone to come together in support of each other. The mental well-being of our members is of utmost importance, and we encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek help.
“Our faculty offers counselling services, and we are here to support you in any way we can.
“Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to Comrade Modupe’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Let us honour her memory by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for all,” he said.
Speaking on the death of Ayandare, Victor Akinpelumi, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said that the institution had confirmed the incident but was yet to know the cause of the death.
Akinpelumi, who sympathised with the family of the deceased, said that the institution would make an official statement known to the public as regards the death later.
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