Britons to leave Nigeria in three charter flights

 

  The United Kingdom Government has announced three more charter flights for the evacuation of Britons stranded in the country. The flights are scheduled for May 29 on the Lagos-London; June 1, Lagos-London and June 6, Abuja-London routes.

   A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Sunday, disclosed that a UK-organised special internal charter flight would travel from Port Harcourt to Abuja on June 6 to enable British nationals based in or near Port Harcourt to join the flight from Abuja to London.

It noted that more than 1,700 British travellers had already returned to the UK on special charter flights in April and May from Lagos and Abuja. The Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, said Britons in Nigeria would now have access to additional repatriation flights, meaning that hundreds more would be able to fly home.

  “We’ve already arranged for around 1,700 people to return home to their friends and families and continue to support British nationals who remain in the country,” he added. The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, urged eligible UK citizens to book seats on these flights “as they are likely to be the last charter flights available.”

 

Father arrested for defiling own daughters aged 6 and 9 in Ondo

 

 

  A 48-year-old father, Femi Onifade has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ondo State for s.e.xually defiling his two daughters.

   The victims who are aged 6 and 9 lived with him at their No 27 Liberty Hospital Road, Oluwatuyi, Akure, the state capital. Vanguard gathered the suspect, a welder who is presently in the custody of the security agency was apprehended based on intelligence gathering by officers and men of the Anti-Human Trafficking and illegal Migration Unit.

  The officials of the state chapter of the NSCDC effected his arrest at his residence following complaints from his neighbours.Reports had it that the arrest of the suspect was made easy through the efforts and  support of the traditional ruler of Akure land, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.

The monarch according to source was said to have handed the suspect over to officials of the NSCDC after he escaped from the palace. Findings by Vanguard showed that the relationship between the suspect and the mother of the victims became estranged following constant molestation and maltreatment.

    The absence of their mother from the house reportedly gave the suspect the liberty to harass his daughters s.e.xually.  Sources said the suspect was fond of mixing some powdery substances with a bottle of soft drink and give to the girls to drink after which they will sleep off and he would s.e.xually abuse them.

   It was learnt that the cries of the victims attracted his neighbours who reported their ordeal to the palace after which he was handed over later to the officials of the NSCDC in the state. The spokesperson of the NSCDC in the state, Olufemi Omole said that the suspect “always seize the opportunity of his wife’s absence to harass the minors s.e.xually. Omole added that ” He went further to caress the kids and suck their private parts.

    The neighbours reflected on hearing the wailing of the children throughout the night after sending out their mother. “Medical examination from Federal Medical Centre Annex in Akure, however, revealed that both the 9 and 6 years old kids have lost their Hymen and their private part deeply opened.

   Speaking on the arrest of the suspect, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Philip Ayuba said the suspect would be charged to Court after the completion of investigation Ayuba said, “The state government has shown interest in this case and the welfare of the children has been fully guaranteed” He reassured the public of safety and adequate protection of lives and property noting that “the Command is poised to eradicating all forms of criminal tendencies and social vices in Ondo State.

Strange disease kills 11 in Rivers community

   At least, 11 persons have reportedly died of a strange disease in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

  Two of those who died as a result of the strange ailment were identified as Pauline and Fubara. A source in Bonny, who identified himself as Ezekiel, told one of Punch correspondents that while Pauline died on Friday, Fubara died of the ailment on Saturday.

  Ezekiel explained that some officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control moved into the area on Saturday with a view to finding out the cause of the recent deaths in the place. The resident said, “Fubara died yesterday, Pauline died a day before yesterday. Within two weeks, there are up to 11 persons who have died. “As of today (Sunday), the NCDC officials are in town and taking samples from volunteers to test for COVID-19 and will soon make their findings public.

   “A lot of people in Bonny now have malaria and typhoid. Again, over the past one week, many people have lost their senses of smell and taste. That is the worry we have. The next thing we saw after that incident is that some young men started dying.

“For the past two weeks, we have lost 10 men; one of them who worked with Saipem died yesterday; his name is Fubara. It is very painful. We cannot trace this one because the NCDC just entered town on Saturday to ascertain the causes of death and loss of taste and smell.

“Some are saying that the loss of taste and smell is associated with COVID-19. Besides that, the rate of pollution in Bonny has increased. In fact, you cannot drink our underground water because the pipes that enter the water have polluted the water. There is fear everywhere.”

Anambra denies blocking Niger Bridge entrance

The Anambra State Government on Sunday said the report that it blocked the entrance of the Niger Bridge was false and mischievous.

Benedict Okoro, the Personal Assistant to the state Commissioner of Transport, claimed that a viral video purporting that was concocted.

He also described social media reports on the development as misleading and mischievous.

He said: “The information contained in the picture, currently trending on the social media and other online platforms are misleading, concocted and mischievous.

“The purveyors of the falsehood, in their haste to misinform the public, and discredit the administration of Governor Willie Obiano, claim that the Anambra State Government had used concrete slabs as setbacks to prevent movement to and from the state.

“This false information, led the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Christain Madubuko and his team to visit Onitsha Bridgehead.

“It was discovered that the viral picture was not only the figment of the corrupt imagination of the creators, but also that vehicles bearing essential commodities as well as persons on special assignments are enjoying unfettered access.

“It is pertinent however to note that the two pedestrian walkways at the bridgehead had to be barricaded to ensure proper identification by the security personnel.

“The Ministry of Transport therefore enjoins the general public to discountenance the pernicious falsehood and continue to observe necessary protocols aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.

“Fifth columnists should not be allowed to distract the state and federal governments as they work with experts to protect the lives of Nigerians.”

RIPPLES NIGERIA

Southeast governors, IG clash community policing plan

  

 

   The South East Governors Forum has expressed dismay that the Inspector General of Police allegedly reneged on its agreements on practice and composition for establishment of community policing in the zone. The Chairman of the forum and Ebonyi Governor, Chief David Umahi made the disclosure at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Sunday.

The chairman said that the recent communication from the IG, Mr Mohammed Adamu, did not conform with the initial agreement reached with him during his visit to the Zone. ‘The South East Governors and their leaders request the IGP to revert to our initial agreement reached on Community Policing at Enugu.

“The forum agrees that all South East States House of Assembly should commence the process of enacting the state security laws in line with the South East Joint Security Programme. “In the circumstance, we cannot begin implementation of it until the programme reflects our earlier agreement,”  he said.

On COVID-19, the governors urged Igbos nationwide to stay safe and obey all directives to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). According to him, the forum have directed all Igbos living outside Igbo land to obey all existing COVID-19 orders, Presidential directive on inter-state movement, World Health Organisation (WHO).

He said they should obey the Nigeria Centre of Disease and Control (NCDC) hygiene protocols, presidential Task Force and directives of South East Governors and directives of all Governors where they live. The governor said that the forum agreed to further engage the NCDC to scale up testing of Coronavirus in South East States.

The governors commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Works and the Governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano on the extent of work at the second Niger Bridge,” he said.

On the economy, Umahi said the forum agreed to set up committees at the various states to work with Federal Government, World Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) on repositioning the economy in the zone.

He said they would work in their various programmes lined up to rejig the economy, especially in areas of Agriculture, Small and Medium Enterprises and solid minerals.

The Chairman said it agreed also to hold a virtual meeting with the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the issue of linking South East State capitals with pipeline.

This, he said, should be done along with the pipeline programme of the Federal Government running from Imo to Lagos State.

Umahi disclosed that the forum agreed that Ohaneze should submit a working document in their next meeting on setting up of South East Stabilization Fund.

The forum also commended President, Minister of Aviation, the Governor of Enugu State and other governors of South East and the Committee headed by Mr Chris Okoye on the extent of work at Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

“We assure our people that with the progress of work at the site, we are hopeful that the Airport will reopen soonest subject to COVID-19 Federal Government Programme, “ Umahi said.

The governor he said that the next Executive Committee meeting of the South East Traditional Institution shall be hosted by Ebonyi State.

NAN reports that Governors of Imo, Hope Uzodinma and Enugu State attended the meeting while Gov Okezie Ikpeazu Abia was represented by his deputy, Mr Ude Oko-Chukwu and Anambra State governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Nkem Okeke.

Other notable personalities at the meeting were Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Oh Anezi President General, Nnia Nwodo and some traditional and religious leaders.

THE NATION