The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called for severe punishment for individuals involved in charging the 76 minors with terrorism, treason and arson for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.

In a statement by the Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Ricers) also demanded for adequate compensation for the children and their families for the trauma.

Chinda commended President Bola Tinubu for being responsive to calls by Nigerians, and the Iinternational community for the termination of the suit and the release of the children.

“While we commend the President for the timely intervention, the caucus strongly canvass the possible  investigation, prosecution, and discipline of individuals, and government agencies involved in the despicable, callous, and inhuman action that has led to national disgrace, and global condemnation.

“Anybody, and institution that played roles in the hounding of the children into cells for about 95 days when they should be at their respective schools, trades, and vocations must be brought to book for necessary public umbrage, and punitive measures discharged to serve as detterent to others.

“Conscious of the psychological trauma, and health challenges the children may have experienced, we appeal that quality reformatory therapy sessions, and medical support be advanced to them as they unite with their respective families.

“Also, we call for immediate reparation packages to the children and their families to ameliorate the untoward hardship, pain, and emotional torture suffered during the period of unlawful incarceration,” he said.

The #EndBadGovernance protest which began in Aug. 1,  and lasted for 10days, was characterised by destruction of public and private property and some protest in north were seen hoisting Russian flags.

The security agencies in attempt to bring the situation under control, arrested and detained some protesters which included children.

The minors’ arraignment sparked public outrage and criticism of the government after they were paraded in court .

President Tinubu directed that all minors detained during protests against the rising cost of living in August be freed and treason charges on Monday.

Report says that on Nov. 5, the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out the treason charges against the minors.

The trial judge, Obiora Egwatu, struck out the case after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation  M.D. Abubakar, announced the withdrawal of the charges.(NAN)

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has released relief items to victims of flood in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers.

Mr Adebiyi Razak, South-South Zonal Coordinator of the agency handed over the items to the state government at Akanima in Ahoada West.

Razak said the items represented federal government intervention and response to the plight of the numerous households displaced by the disaster.

”We have handed the items to the state government through the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Sam Anya, and we are optimistic that the distribution will commence immediately since there is an already established flood committee in the area.

”The committee has the itinerary items and names of persons in each of the camps, with this record, every household consisting of six family members is entitled to a basket of various items.

”The items include a 50kg bag of rice,1 bag of garri, cooking oil, sanitary wares, camping foam, blanket, bucket amongst others,” Razak said.

Receiving the items, the commissioner thanked the federal government for the intervention and sustained support to the state.

Anya assured beneficiaries of judicious distribution of the items.
The commissioner said that the state would embark on massive dredging of waterways and desilting of drains to curb flood impact in the state.

One of the victims, Mrs Codilia Festus also thanked the federal government for the intervention which she said would go a long way in reducing their suffering. (NAN)

The Nigerian Prosthetist, Orthotist and Orthopaedic Technology Society (NPOOTS) has donated prosthetic limbs
to a victim of the 2014 Nyanya bomb blast and one other person to aid mobility and improve their lives.

The National President of NPOOTS, Dr Onwukamuche Chikwado, disclosed this in an interview on the sideline
of the group’s third scientific conference on Friday in Abuja.

Chikwado said the initiative is to ameliorate the sufferings of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) using biomedical engineering tools to provide relief and improve their lives.

He added that the conference was an opportunity for members of the organisation to network, update their knowledge, and practice the skill of online interaction, in line
with global trend and to perform their work efficiently.

He said “we are here to sharpen our skills, improve our knowledge, update ourselves with latest technologies, to appraise our skills and make sure we do the right thing so that we can deliver our best to those that need our services.

“Between the last time we had our conference and now, there has been a lot of technological innovation and advances, so, we intend to position ourselves in a strategic place
to acquire these latest developments so that we can take it back to our different places.”

While emphasising the group’s focus to assist PWDs, he urged government and stakeholders to support them in improving their lives, especially for the less privileged ones in the society.

He said “we are available, and we are telling government that we are ready to contribute our quota as Nigerians to impact positively on the lives of PWDs.

“But our impact might not be fully felt without support from government so that we can reach out to them, discuss ways of impacting on these persons.”

Dr Tochukwu Ugorji, a lecturer at the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, noted new technological innovative methods that replace traditional ways of treating and rehabilitating PWDs.

The lecturer, who spoke on “Modern Techniques in Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice”, said “we have new ways of designing and fabricating prosthetic and orthotic devices that have almost replaced the traditional ways of doing it.

“So, as prosthetic and orthotic practice evolve in Nigeria and globally, new technologies and ways of doing it better keep emerging on a daily basis.

“This conference will offer participants the opportunity to cross breed ideas because we have technical sessions where people will present research works they have done in recent times in this field.”

Mr Aharanwa Francis-Obinna, the National Secretary, NPOOTS, said: `we select people who are eager to walk but lack the financial will to get themselves rehabilitated and that is why we stepped in at zero cost.”

Sanusi Usman, a beneficiary from Katsina State, said his legs were amputated due to injuries sustained during the bomb blast at the Nyanya bridge in Abuja in 2014.

He said “I am a victim of the Nyanya bomb blast of 2014. I am so happy and I appreciate the organisation for giving me the prosthetic limb as it will enable me to move around and source for my livelihood.”

Another beneficiary, Christopher Iliya, also thanked the association, adding that the prosthetic limbs would ease his movement and make him less dependent on others.

He said “I lost my limbs after an accident in 2009; my Church gave me prosthetic limbs but I outgrew it. I really appreciate the opportunity of having another one,
which will ease my movement.”(NAN)