Wednesday, May 15

Delay in Disbursing Cash to Poor Households Leads FG to Terminate Contractors
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Delay in Disbursing Cash to Poor Households Leads FG to Terminate Contractors

Two payment service providers (PSP) have been sacked by the federal government due to their failure to disburse conditional cash transfer (CCT) to poor households in four states according to the agreement.   The Minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Farouq, confirmed the contract termination with Data Mining Company and Innovative NIPOST, stating that it was in compliance with the World Bank procurement guidelines to ensure that payments started on or before April 28.   Sadiya further revealed that the affected states are Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Zamfara.   She stated;    “The Federal Government cannot accept delays in the current payment round of N20,000 stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households under any excuse ...
Read More
COVID-19: Videos of Nigerians being 'targeted' in China do not potray the true narrative of what transpired – Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyema
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

COVID-19: Videos of Nigerians being 'targeted' in China do not potray the true narrative of what transpired – Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyema

COVID-19: Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyema's Reaction to Videos Showing Nigerians 'Targeted' in China Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the claims made in viral videos depicting the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in China.   Last week, various videos emerged showing Nigerians being ejected from their hotels and compelled to undergo isolation as a precaution against the novel Coronavirus. One of these videos captured the Consul-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, Mr Anozie Madaubuchi Cyril, confronting Chinese officers and accusing them of targeting Nigerians and other Africans.   During a press briefing in Abuja with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian on April 14, the Minister re...
Read More
Police officer’s hand chopped off with a sword while enforcing Coronavirus lockdown
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Police officer’s hand chopped off with a sword while enforcing Coronavirus lockdown

An incident occurred where an Indian policeman was attacked with a sword while he and his fellow officers were trying to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules at a checkpoint.    Harjit Singh, an assistant sub-inspector with the Punjab Police, was patrolling outside a vegetable market in Patiala when seven men belonging to the Nihang Sikh warrior sect attacked him and his colleagues.    Footage from the scene shows the terrifying moment a truck carrying the warriors rammed through the barricades before they came down from their vehicle and launched an attack with traditional Sikh blades.   During the attack, one of the warriors chopped off Singh's arm, removing his left hand from his wrist. The officer was seen in the video screaming in pain as he tries to stop the flow of blood with ...
Read More
Police Rescue Teenage Boy Falsely Accused of Spying for Cultists in Lagos (Photo)
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Police Rescue Teenage Boy Falsely Accused of Spying for Cultists in Lagos (Photo)

On Monday, April 13th, the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos state police command rescued a 12-year-old boy from a mob after he was wrongly accused of being a spy for suspected cultists attacking residents of Lagos and Ogun border communities. Residents of Iju in Lagos state confronted the teenager, who was loitering in the area, and accused him of working as a spy for the Awawa boys cult group, which was alleged to have carried out various attacks in the area since the lockdown began. Before the mob could harm the boy, a patrol team arrived, intervened, and rescued him. During interrogation, the boy explained that he had fled his home after a disagreement with his mother. "Our officers on patrol along Iju came across this 12yr ...
Read More
Army’s Rebuttal of Allegations of Civilian Casualties in Borno Airstrike
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Army’s Rebuttal of Allegations of Civilian Casualties in Borno Airstrike

Denying the allegation of killing civilians in an airstrike in Shokotoko village, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State on Thursday April 9, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) stated that the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole did not engage in actions resulting in civilian casualties.   An earlier report had claimed the deaths of 13 civilians, including children, in the Borno village due to the airstrike.   However, according to Coordinator Defence Media Operation, Major General John Enenche, the attack helicopter involved in the mission was accompanied by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to ensure accurate targeting and prevent collateral damage.   Enenche's statement read as follows:   “The attention of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) ha...
Read More
Man brought before court for alleging Osun government imported COVID-19 for financial motives
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Man brought before court for alleging Osun government imported COVID-19 for financial motives

An individual named Akinloye Saheed faced charges in a Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State for making accusations on social media claiming that the state government deliberately brought the novel Coronavirus into the area to obtain funds from the federal government.    Akinloye was arrested for spreading what is deemed fake news and was presented in court on April 14.     During the arraignment, the police prosecutor, John ldoko, quoted the accused person's statement as: “When I accused Osun Government of importing COVID-19 patients into the state just to access fund from the FG many didn’t believe. The said imported patients are now Negative. APC, You Are Not Doing Well.”    The police prosecutor informed the court that the accused person's actions violated the COVID-19 Laws o...
Read More
California Governor Gavin Newsom Faces Lawsuit from Pastors Over Restrictions on Gatherings
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

California Governor Gavin Newsom Faces Lawsuit from Pastors Over Restrictions on Gatherings

A legal action has been taken against California Governor Gavin Newsom by a group of pastors in federal court over the restrictions imposed on gatherings due to the Coronavirus, which have prevented people from attending church services.   Filing the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California are The Dhillon Law Group, a firm led by conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon, on behalf of four plaintiffs, three of whom are pastors.   As per LA Times, the clergy members have alleged that Governor Gavin's administration is “criminalizing the free exercise of religion” through stay-at-home directives that have restricted individuals from attending church services.   The other plaintiffs include a churchgoer from San Bernardino County, a pastor from San Bernardi...
Read More
“`html Chief Victor Ikwuemesi, Chairman of Sosoliso Airline, passes away in London due to COVID-19
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

“`html Chief Victor Ikwuemesi, Chairman of Sosoliso Airline, passes away in London due to COVID-19

Chief Victor Ikwuemesi, the Chairman of the now-defunct Sosoliso Airline, passed away today in London, United Kingdom, just a few days after being diagnosed with the devastating COVID-19. According to a family source, Ikwuemesi was admitted to a hospital in London after a brief illness and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. He had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) receiving oxygen support since his arrival at the London hospital. The source added: "However, when the oxygen assistance was paused for him to eat, he was unable to breathe independently." "As a result, he was put on a ventilator and sadly passed away shortly after." ```
Read More
Irish Political Leader Mary Lou McDonald Tests Positive for COVID-19
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Irish Political Leader Mary Lou McDonald Tests Positive for COVID-19

Confirmation has emerged that a prominent Irish political figure has been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.   Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of the left-wing Irish nationalist party, Sinn Fein, underwent testing on March 28 and received the positive result following a prolonged period of illness.    Two weeks ago, the 50-year-old divulged that she had woken up with a head cold and would be staying at home. Earlier, Ms. McDonald's children had to go into isolation after a case was detected at their Glasnevin school last month.   Ms. McDonald stated in a release on Tuesday, "Yesterday afternoon, I received a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 having been tested on Saturday, 28th March."   She added, "The Public Health Doctor has advised me that I am no longer carrying the infection ...
Read More
Police apprehend notorious car snatching syndicate and arrest female weapons keeper (see photos)
14Apr By Jide SalamiNo Comments
Archive

Police apprehend notorious car snatching syndicate and arrest female weapons keeper (see photos)

The Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police has dismantled a two-person car theft gang headed by 34-year-old Bashir Isiaku, known for stealing cars from the car park of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).   A statement by the police force spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, released today on April 14th, disclosed the arrest of Bashir, a graduate of a Federal Polytechnic, after extensive efforts and investigations by STS operatives. Bashir and his partner, Aminu Yakubu, specialized in using a customized master key crafted from a screwdriver to unlock and start vehicles. Police investigations revealed that they targeted cars lacking special security features such as pedal or steering locks.   A total of twenty-one (21) vehicles have been recovered from the syndicate and their...
Read More