NEWS
Benue: Cholera Outbreak Kills 11, Six Others in Critical Condition
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
A cholera outbreak has reportedly killed 11 persons with six others in critical condition in Apaogbozu community in Apa council ward of Agila district in Ado local government area of Benue State.
The immediate past secretary to the Ado Local Government Council, Dr.
Perpetual Okafor who hails from the area, disclosed this to newsmen on phone in Makurdi.She said the outbreak started about four days ago, had claimed many lives up till eleven and left about six people in bad condition of health which could lead to their death any moment.
“The first day that the cholera outbreak occurred, three deaths were recorded .
Yesterday, about four persons also died and today this evening, we have lost four persons again. As I speak with you, six others who went for church service since yesterday were caught on the web.“They are right inside the church; nobody is there to help us remove them. I had wanted to enter the church but I couldn’t. It was an emergency situation. Our people are dying seriously.
“We wanted to hire private medical personnel to assist us in treating the remaining affected victims who are in critical condition, but we couldn’t because the resource is not there. We have nobody to assist our people.
“Lives have been lost and many down, whosoever knows the agency that can come to our rescue should help us please. It is an emergency situation.
I am calling on the Benue State government and other public spirited individuals to come to our aid so our people will not be completely wiped away by this dreaded disease. The situation is far above our community”, Dr. Okafor lamented.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese confirmed the situation but failed to give the number of casualty (s) recorded so far.
According to him, the situation was only a suspected case from the area, adding that staff of the ministry were already working on it.
“The Deputy Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly drew my attention to it today at about noon of a cholera outbreak in one Apaogbozu
“I called the emergency operation center under my ministry to verify if the claim is true and they told me there is one suspected case.
“From what they said, the person is having diarrhea and is also vomiting. They will move quickly and take samples to see if it’s actually cholera or not.
“That is the information for now. We already have our Public Health staff who are everywhere in all the LGs and they are doing the surveillance. So it’s only a suspect from the area and our staff are working on it.
“They will take samples to see if it’s actually cholera or not. That is the information for now”, Ortese said.
NEWS
Kebbi Gets New Head of Service
The Kebbi Government has appointed Malami Muhammad-Shekari as the substantive Head of Civil Service of the state.The Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, made this known in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.Idris said the appointment had been conveyed to Muhammad-Shekari in a letter dated Nov.
1.He added that the appointment took effect from Oct. 28.“The Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Dr Nasir Idris, FCNA (Kauran Gwandu), has approved the appointment of TPL. Malami Muhammad Shekare (mni) as the substantive Head of the Civil Service with effect from 28th Oct. 2024,” Idris quoted the letter as stating. (NAN)NEWS
APC Stalwart Faults Ex-Kogi Gov’s Trial
All Progressives Congress (APC) Stalwart Isaac Onuh and a former Ambassador to Botswana has faulted the trial of former Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello over corruption charges.In a news conference on Friday in Lokoja, Onuh described Bello’s trial as an “unfortunate witchhunt”.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, on Thursday, asked a Federal High court in Abuja to begin the trial of Bello in his absence.
The anti-graft agency has also filed a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion. But Onuh alleged that the anti-corruption agency was harassing and intimidating the ex-governor.He said that Bello deserved to be respected by government agencies, including EFCC, having served the state for eight years.He alleged that the EFCC had yet to provide ample evidence to substantiate its allegations of financial impropriety against Bello.He noted that Kogi was governed by laws made by the state House of Assembly which established the state anti-corruption commission that consistently gave clean bill to Bello during his administration.But the EFCC insisted that it asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.According to EFCC, Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.It notes that the court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.Pinheiro noted that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.(NAN)NEWS
Ebonyi: Police Arrest 4 Suspected Organ Harvesters, 173 Others
The Nigeria Police command in Ebonyi said it arrested no fewer than 177 suspected criminals for various offences in the month of October, 2024. The Command noted that four out of the 177 suspects were alleged to be involved in human organ harvesting and ritual killings. DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) disclosed this in a news conference in Abakaliki on Friday.
Ukandu explained that officers and men of the command arrested a total of 177 suspects which includes 162 males and 15 females. “92 suspects among them have been charged to court, while others would be arraigned once investigations are completed. “On behalf of the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi Command, CP Anthonia Uche-Anya, I want to warmly welcome you to this press conference “I am here to update you on the Command’s achievements within October 2024 and our relentless efforts to combat crimes and ensure a safe and prosperous environment for socio-economic growth in the State. “The command has employed strategic steps through increased stakeholders engagement to help bring crimes to the barest minimum. “Through this approach, we have been able to reduce the incidences of violent crimes, while operatives of the command are not relenting in our efforts to make the state safe for all. “During the month under review, the command arrested 162 males and 15 females, totalling 177 suspects for various offences. 92 suspects have already been charged in court, while others will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” Ukandu explained. On the alleged organ harvesting and ritual killings, the Command’s Spokesman said that on October 11, Mrs Blessing Chikezie reported to the command of her missing husband, Mr Idenyi Chikezie, who left home on September 9 for a business trip to Lagos. “Command operatives from the Anti-kidnapping unit, through a painstaking investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Innocent Elebe and Eze Elechi; they made useful statements, which led the police to arrest Obinna Nwanguru and Oda Peter. “They confessed to killing Chikezie Idenyi, Chibu Odii and Eze Fabian on different dates while trying to extract their blood/ organs to use it to cure a cognitively impaired person (Down syndrome). “Operatives of the command have recovered the corpses of Chikezie Idenyi and Chibu Odii while effort is ongoing to recover the remains of the third victim,” Ukandu stated. Some other suspects were arrested for kidnappings, murder, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms. (NAN)