NEWS 180221 ROUND-UP

 Stand and face the bandits – Defense Minister

It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and ensure safety when necessary. We shouldn’t be cowards. Sometimes bandits come with about three rounds of ammunition and when they fire shots everybody will run. In our younger days, we stand to fight any form of aggression.

The submission came from Nigeria’s minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd.) during an interview with newsmen after the screening of the service chiefs by members of the Nigeria’s House of Representative on Wednesday, February 17.

“Why should people run away from minor, minor aggressions?’, he asked. “We should stand and face them. If these people know that the people have the competence and capability to defend themselves, they will run away”.

According to his words, the Minister has asked Nigerians not to be cowards and confront bandiuts whenever they come attacking their communities.

Claudia Ardelean, laid off her job for being too beautiful

For being too beautiful Claudia Ardelean has been sacked from her hospital job.

According to media reports she was appointed to work unpaid on the board of the Pneumophthisiology Clinical Hospital in Romania.

The former model and beauty queen, 27, has a double degree in Law and European Ethics, posted a selfie in front of the council building and wrote “I am thankful for the trust and support of the Cluj National Liberty Party”.

However, she soon received criticisms from trolls who claimed she only received the job because of her looks.

Newspaper Click said as a result of the criticisms, she was forced to resign because she is “too beautiful”.

Claudia, who now works as a lawyer in a local firm, has not commented on stepping down from the board.

Cluj council president Alin Tise admitted that she was well qualified and yet nevertheless made a statement saying “I deeply regret the incident.

I requested the resignation of Claudia Ardelean”.

 

Another civil war could break out if the government doesn’t act – Arewa Youth Forum

Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has urged the Federal Government to take urgent actions to douse the tension across the country caused by activities of armed Fulani herdsmen.

The group pointed out that another civil war could break out if government doesn’t act.

The northern youths said this in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Gujungu, Wednesday, February 17, in Kaduna.

They said “The Arewa Youth Forum is worried by the prevailing impasse and rising tension across the country precipitated by the quit notice given to Fulani herdsmen by the Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the actions that had trailed that incident.

“As it stands, owning to the actions of non-state actors and inaction of state actors, mainly the Federal Government and the state governors, the country is fast drifting and action must be taken immediately to stem the drift.

“After keeping silent for a long time, the Federal Government has, again, resorted to its usual rhetoric of issuing statements that over time had not made any impact on the situation of things in the country. Instead, the situation in the country has continued to deteriorate with each region looking within and resorting to sel help as if the centre is no longer there.

“it is in view of this statement that the AYF is calling on the Federal Government to immediately act, on behalf of Nigerians that voted them into power, to prevent another civil war in the country. Many citizens across the country are agitated in view of the prevailing situation”

According to the Arewa youths, unity of the country could only be achieved if government makes haste in dealing with insecurity, poverty, deprivation and endemic unemployment ravaging the people.

The statement continues: “There is a serious need for synergy between the Federal government and the states to achieve all these and many more. State governors should be told that government’s inability to clamp down on criminals should not be an avenue to malign a whole ethnic group or even a group of people.”

 

 I inherited banditry – Governor Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has disclosed that most of the people responsible for criminality in Zamfara are not from the state.

The Governor who however said there is peace in Zamafara State stated also that the issue of banditry was one of the challenges he inherited as Governor of Zamfara State.

You would recall he met with Nigeria’s President Buhari a few days ago over security issues.

“We discussed much about them and I briefed him. All the supports needed from him, he assigned all where to get all the supports. I appreciate his effort for making me proud of what he has been doing for the state.

“In terms of security, particularly in Nigeria, everybody knows what is happening today. But in Zamfara, we thank Allah for giving us that achievement because even today, about 358 special police forces were deployed to the state to tackle some challenges.

“We are on course and I believe that you have heard about it because before, Zamfara was almost in a flashpoint and bad reportage of kidnappings, killings and so on. But today in Zamfara, we are witnessing little peace in the state. We thank Allah for that.

“Banditry is something I inherited, it was ongoing for almost eight years in the state, but due to my initiative of dialoguing with them, now Zamfara is very calm.

“Among them, there is somebody from Yobe State, two people are from Kaduna, two people from Niger State. It is a gang of some criminals. They normally invite their friends to participate in those activities.”

 “I am constructing RUGA for them, like a settlement that can contain some of them because sincerely speaking, if we allow them going round from one place to another, we cannot find a solution to this issue.”, The Governor said about steps he’s taking to ensure piece in Zamfara State.

 

NAFDAC APPROVES AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine FOR USE IN NIGERIA

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in Nigeria (NAFDAC), has approved the use of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine for use in Nigeria.

 At a press conference held February 18, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, says the agency got the dossier of the vaccine a week ago, and the NAFDAC safety committee went to work immediately to evaluate its safety and efficacy for Nigerians.

Adeyeye said that the vaccine can be stored at 2 to 8 – degree centigrade. According to the DG, there are three additional vaccines undergoing evaluation, but the evaluation on Astrazeneca shows that the vaccine is effective. Against the UK variant of the virus which has been reported in Nigeria. She disclosed that the South African variant has not been reported in Nigeria and that the agency has over 30 herbal medicine undergoing review for listing.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, also known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or AZD1222, is a viral vector vaccine. Scientists used an adenovirus, originally derived from chimpanzees, and modified it with the aim of training the immune system to mount a strong response against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

Nigeria is expected to get the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccines by the end of February.

 

GOVERNOR FINTIRI EQUIPS OVER 3000 HUNTERS WITH TOOLS TO FIGHT INSURGENCY

Thirty Hilux vans Hilxu vans and 10 Motorcycles have been presented to Hunters across the 21 Local Governments of Adamawa State by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as part of their operational tools, reports TVC News.

This is as the state police command arrested 40 suspects for various crimes including kidnapping cattle rustling.

According to the report, the state also trained 300 hunters at the police college Maiduguri and is set to send another 600 for training to compliment security agencies in ridden the state of crimes. Adamawa State has been confronted with many security challenges including Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, herder/farmers conflict, inter border crime and communal conflicts.

The chief security of the state, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri is synergizing with security agencies to make the state crime-free.

At this ceremony, the Governor presented another set of thirty Hilux vans IVM to the twenty one local government council chairman for distribution to hunters in their respective areas.

He charged the hunters to utilize the vehicles to tackle kidnappings, cattle rustling, and “Shilla” boys among other security threats.

The governor used the forum to announce the plan to send 600 hunters for training at Police College in Borno State.

The State Chairman of All Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Jingi Rufai and the State Chairman of Nigeria Hunters Association, Mohammed Usman Tola thanked governor for the gesture.

They are optimistic that the vehicles will facilitate the hunters’ operations in maintaining peace in the state.

Meanwhile, the State police command has paraded 40 suspects who committed various crimes including cattle rustling, kidnapping and culpable homicide.

Parading the suspects at the state Police command Yola, the commissioner of police, Aliyu Adamu Alhaji said the police in collaboration with local hunters achieved the feat in coordinated operations across the state.

Event watchers believe that with the working tool and training of over 3000 hunters by Adamawa state government, the security challenges bedeviling the state may soon be over.

  

WALDRUM SIGNS OFFICIAL AGREEMENT TO MANAGE SUPER FALCONS

New Head Coach of the Women’s National Team of Nigeria, Randy Waldrum, has formally signed his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as he begins work with the Super Falcons, reports Channels.

The simple ceremony took place at the team’s Emir Hotels abode in Antalya, Turkey.

According to the report, the Super Falcons are in Turkey to compete in The Turkish Women’s Cup Tournament, also known as the Alanya Gold City Cup. It is Waldrum’s first assignment with the reigning African champions.

President of the NFF, Amajuu Melvin Pinnick, affirmed the belief of the football-governing body in the ability of the 64 – year old American to propel the Super Falcons to a higher level in women football’s global ranking.

 

KAGARA ABDUCTION: WE MUST STOP REWARDING CRIMINALITY – ATIKU

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday said Nigeria must stop rewarding criminality, warning that doing so will result in more crimes being perpetrated, reports Channels.

In a statement he personally sighned, Abubakar lamented the deteriorating state of insecurity in the country, describing the menace as alarming.

While nothing that a situation whereby children and minors  were being kidnapped, the ex-vice president asked the Federal Government to tackle cases of abductions by ending what he calls the reign of impunity.

 

“I’M DONE’: SERENA WILLIAMS WALKS OUT IN TEARS AFTER SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT

Serena Williams broke down in tears and cut short her post-match press conference after another failed bid to equal Margaret Court’s record Grand Slam haul, calling her defeat to Naomi Osaka “a big error day”, reports Channels.

The veteran American’s quest to reach a ninth Australian Open Final and Match  Court’s 24 major singles titles ended in a 6-3, 6-4 semi-final mauling by the Japanese third seed.

Williams, 39, according to the report broke early for 2-0 lead before Osaka reeled off five straight games to leave her shellshocked.

“The difference today was errors. I made so many errors,” said the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

 

Why I prayed that COVID-19 should not end – Apostle Suleman

The General overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, says he bought his third jet during the raging COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed the country into recession, reports Punch Newspapers.

Suleman said this in a recent sermon. Althogh the date of the sermon could not be verified, the video has gone viral on social media.

According to the report, the cleric further stated that he was praying for the pandemic not to end because he was prospering and resting.

He said, “In COVID (pandemic) I bought a jet; the third one. I have three. I was praying for COVID-19 not to end because I was resting. While people were complaining, my wife asked, ‘Can Life be this sweet?” Am I talking to somebody here? (sic).

“No stress. I read on the internet that there’s a rumour going around that I have a machine that prints money. I like that rumour. They say, ‘He should be investigated. He has a machine that prints money’.

“Somebody asked if it’s true and I said it is true. They said, ‘It’s risky o’. I said I didn’t know it’s risky because I already bought the machine. When you speak in tongues, you’re printing money”.

Suleman has been enmeshed in adultery scandal in recent times with one of his former pastors, Mike Davids, accusing him of sleeping with his wife, an allegation which Suleman has denied.