Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 9th May 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 09/05/20
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Nigeria Records 386 New Cases Of Coronavirus
COVID-19 Test
Nigeria has recorded 386 new Coronavirus cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
In a post on Twitter on Friday evening, the agency said, “176-Lagos, 65-Kano, 31-Katsina, 20-FCT, 17-Borno, 15-Bauchi, 14-Nasarawa, 13-Ogun, 10-Plateau, 4-Oyo, 4-Sokoto, 4-Rivers, 3-Kaduna, 2-Edo, 2-Ebonyi, 2-Ondo, 1-Enugu, 1-Imo, 1-Gombe, 1-Osun.
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“3912 cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria, Discharged: 679, deaths: 117.”
386 new cases of #COVID19;176-Lagos65-Kano31-Katsina20-FCT17-Borno15-Bauchi14-Nasarawa13-Ogun10-Plateau4-Oyo4-Sokoto4-Rivers3-Kaduna2-Edo2-Ebonyi2-Ondo1-Enugu1-Imo1-Gombe1-Osun3912 cases of #COVID19 in NigeriaDischarged: 679Deaths: 117 pic.twitter.com/IUWL9ROjqQ— NCDC (@NCDCgov) May 8, 2020
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Bandits Attack Katsina Communities, Kill One, Injure Several Others
Gunmen have killed at least one person and injured several others in an attack on six villages in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A witnesses told SaharaReporters that the armed bandits numbering about 200 invaded the towns on motorcycles on Friday.
He listed the affected villages as Yandaka, Salihawar Duba, Garin Goje, Watangadiya and Dutse Maizane.
He further said the bandits blocked roads linking to those areas and shot sporadically to pave way for their operation.
“The bandits killed one Alaramma Kabiru Kano at Garin Goje Village, injured several others, rustled our cows, and carted away undisclosed sums of money from the residents,” the source said.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Gambo Isa, confirmed the incident.
He said the bandits laid ambush for the joint forces of military and police, which led to heavy exchange of fire.
The attack is coming less than 24 hours after Governor Aminu Masari said many people in the state do not see Coronavirus as a problem but banditry.
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COVID-19: Media Group Calls For Increased Welfare For Journalists
Journalists
Media/civil society groups have demanded increased welfare of journalists during the outbreak of COVID-19.
The groups also called for special protection and support for journalists covering the outbreak of the virus in Nigeria.
The groups made the demand following a survey to assess the support available to journalists for their safety in covering the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Nigerian Times
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Enough is Enough, International Press Centre, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, commissioned the survey following perceptions that journalists were being exposed to danger in the course of covering the pandemic.
The survey, filed by 463 journalists — correspondents, reporters, editors, freelancers and presenters from 73 print, broadcast and online media across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory – revealed that there has been a poor attention to the needs, safety and welfare of journalists covering the pandemic.
Drawing from responses from the survey, the media/civil society groups have urged media proprietors to ensure that reporters on the field are adequately insured and financially empowered as they urged media outfits owing salaries to immediately pay their journalists.
They also demanded that media organisations should, “Establish workplace policy and follow the same to equip their journalists with specialised and personal protective equipment including for observation of social distancing while on the field.
“Provide training to journalists on how to crowd source information for their stories without having to necessarily go to the field; and explore technological options for interviews while in-house infrastructure should be put in place to ensure the safety of employees and guests (particularly for broadcast media) in line with the safety advisory of the government and health authorities.”
They also enjoined freelance journalists to take advantage of reporting grants and other opportunities to procure personal protective equipment while covering the pandemic.
Following the outbreak, media outfits are beginning to introduce reduction in salaries, with organisations citing economic importance as reason for the deduction.
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COVID-19: Ogun Extends Lockdown For One Week
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has extended the lockdown in the state by another week.
The governor announced this on Friday while briefing journalists in the state.
The governor frowned at the flouting of social and safety guideline to ensure the eradication of the virus in the state.
He noted that the lockdown extension was a precautionary method, adding that residents must wear face masks.
He said, “Reports reaching us have shown that many of our people are showing utter disregard for the precautionary guidelines, international best practices and safety measures rolled out, especially, during the window of relaxation of the lockdown.
“We have heard and seen the havoc that COVID-19 continues to wreck in other lands. Let us learn from these experiences.
“Now, to preserve the lives of our people, we are persuaded to extend the currently modified lockdown, which has been slightly eased, for another one week alongside the current guidelines.
“Wearing a face mask is mandatory. It is important to note that we have provided, and continue to provide, facemasks to public servants, groups and association.”
Abiodun said the test had intensified its contact tracing and would continue to test and treat people suspected or infected with the virus.
He added, “As of today, we have screened over 10,000 people and tested over 700. In addition to that, we have intensified our contact tracing capacity and have traced over 551 contacts of the COVID-19 positive patients.
“We are doing this to detect and treat people who are already infected rather than leaving them undetected which will be more detrimental because this will increase community transmission.”
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E2%82%AC5m-foreign-fund-ngo No Evidence That Shekau Received €5m Foreign Fund From An NGO
Boko Haram Terrorists
Fact-checkers at HumAngle online newspaper have described a news report published on Opera News that Abubakar Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram was in disarray after it received a donation of five mIllion euros from an “unidentified” international non-governmental organisation as false.
The publication claimed that senior members of the group have also turned against each other over how the fund should be shared within the group.
The story claimed that a military source said “Shekau is getting blind as such only the very close ones of his aides have access to him. The issue of €5m is causing serious disaffection in their camps.
“Shekau has been receiving such funding in the past and he was never able to build his terror infrastructure beyond what is currently being dismantled. Our commanders are not concerned that he is still defrauding those sponsoring him, if there is any concern it is that we should be able to capture him before his own fighters kill him,” the military source said as claimed by the news report.
Boko Haram Terrorists
But according to HumAngle newspaper, the Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, when contacted to verify the claim said he was not aware of either the “verified intelligence reports” or the claim that Shekau received five million euros foreign fund through an NGO in the North-East.
The newspaper also said it searched autogist.com, the blog that the news was attributed to but could not find the story published on the blog.
“Fact-checkers at HumAngle contacted the Director of Nigerian Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, to confirm the veracity of the claim and he said he was not aware of either the “verified intelligence reports” or the claim that Shekau received five million euros foreign fund through an NGO in the North-East.
“We searched autogist.com, the blog that the news was attributed to but could not find the story published on the blog. Also, no reliable medium reporting terrorism published the story. Other conflict and insurgency reporters were contacted by HumAngle but none was aware of the “verified intelligence report”.
“As the name of the NGO was not disclosed, it became difficult to trace its operation history.
“However, Nigeria’s military had suspended several NGOs from operating in the North-East following allegations of collaborating with the terrorist organisation. But no NGO has ever been charged to court by the authorities and the suspended NGOs were later allowed to resume operations in the region.
“Scholars and experts on Boko Haram have suggested different methods of terrorism financing, from state sponsorship to external support by other terror groups like ISIS and Alqa’eda. But Shekau’s faction of Boko Haram relies on self-funding streams through fishing, farming, crowdfunding, extortion, taxation, raids and ransom taking to finance its operations,” the newspaper published.
Quoting a report on Boko Haram sources of funding, it continued, “Much of Boko Haram’s funds are transported through human cash couriers, which are able to move rather easily between the porous borders of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad… very little evidence of either Gulf or other foreign funding exists,” a report on Boko Haram sources of funding concluded.
“Due to the strict surveillance of monetary operations to avoid terrorist financing in Nigeria, financial regulations have forced Boko Haram to avoid remittances of funds online. Such a huge amount is not possible to be transferred without its being intercepted by international and local intelligence platforms.”
The newspaper further said Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit follows any suspicious transaction with the aim of curbing terrorism financing.
“It collates information of all beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance to avert financing of terrorism through covert operations, thus making it impossible for any NGO to follow “previous channels and beneficiaries’ templates” of funding terrorism as claimed by the report.
“Humanitarian organisations work hand in hand with EFFC Department of Special Control against Money Laundering (SCUML) to checkmate their activities to curb terrorism financing, according to Abdurrashid Ibrahim a worker at the financial unit of an NGO in the North-East.
“Any transaction from five million naira must pass through a special control unit against money laundering (SCUML) clearance process be it for individual or corporate organisation,” he said.
Furthermore, there is no evidence that an NGO was allowed to operate after the military discovered that “Shekau has been receiving such funding in the past” as claimed by the news.
According to HumAngle findings, Abubakar Shekau does not operate or rely on an advisory council (Shura).
He is reported to be ruthless and brutal to any opposition within the group, making it unlikely for any Boko Haram commander to disagree with the leader.
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My Uncle Died Of Coronavirus Symptoms, His Wife Now Sick But NCDC Failed To Respond, Kano Resident Says
A resident of Kano State has accused the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control of ignoring calls made to their lines since she lost her uncle, who was exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on Thursday night.
The resident, identified as @Nabeeylarh2, said the NCDC in Kano State had refused to move in to test or evacuate those, who might have been infected despite so many calls to their hotlines.
@Nabeeylarh2 said, “My uncle died last night of COVID-19 symptoms and his wife, my aunt, has been exhibiting symptoms as well. We have contacted NCDC since morning to come to her but we haven’t seen anyone.
“We did (called NCDC) they weren’t picking at first and when they finally did around 9pm they told us they would come but no one came. We called again around 4pm and they told us they would come but they don’t know when. We have been waiting ever since. My uncle died last night of covid-19 symptoms and his wife my aunt has been exhibiting symptoms as well we have contacted @NCDCgov since morning to come to her but we haven’t seen anyone— Nabeeylarh (@Nabeeylarh2) May 7, 2020
“Please, we need your help urgently @NCDCgov. My aunt is deteriorating every passing minute. Help needed urgently.” Please we need your help urgently @NCDCgov my aunt is deteriorating every passing minute her name is Maryam this is her address Medile Kano. Tilba junction. Help needed urgently!!!!— Nabeeylarh (@Nabeeylarh2) May 7, 2020
Kano has recorded over 300 cases in the past weeks, causing many deaths.
The state is the second highest hit state with 482 COVID-19 cases so far.
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Nigerians Suggest Lockdown Extension As Lagos Records All-time Daily High Of 183 COVID-19 Cases
Some Nigerians are piling pressure on the federal and Lagos State government to place a fresh lockdown on Lagos to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.
On Thursday, Lagos recorded an all-time high of 183 cases of COVID-19 in a single day.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari last week after the outrage that greeted the lockdown.
Since the lockdown was lifted on Sunday, the state has recorded 423 cases.
While calling for the extension of the lockdown, some Nigerians are however, urging the government to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown.Using the hashtag, #extendlockdown, many Nigerians took to Twitter to ask the government to do something before it gets out of hand.
@Irunnia_ said, “When I saw 183 cases in Lagos, I thought my eyes made a mistake. Please, the government should #extendlockdown before we turn to Italy.”
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BREAKING: Lagos Projects 120,000 COVID-19 Cases By July, August
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@Danny_Walterr tweeted, “The idea of #extendlockdown is brilliant if this government provides palliatives for people just as in other countries but asking people who feed daily from sales to stay at home with nothing and eat what? sand?”
@ezraallen14 said, “183 cases in Lagos. At this rate, if the government doesn’t call for a second total lockdown of the nation, I’m afraid the number will increase drastically within days. How can the government see this happening and still decide to keep quiet?”
@debbietolz said, “183 cases in Lagos and the lockdown has only been lifted for four days. We don’t need a prophet to tell us what would happen if Lagos isn’t locked down. Everyone, please stay at home.”
@bimboro1 tweeted, “183 cases in Lagos! Very impressive! Is this government clueless? Another way to kill Lagosians. Numbers are now getting to this point and no one can think clearly that you should #lockdownLagos now.”
@toyinobaterulp said, “Once upon a time, the total number of cases was less than 300, now we are recording 381 cases in a day. God help us! #lockdownlagos.”
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JUST IN: Delta Discharges Third COVID-19 Patient
Delta State has discharged another person infected with COVID-19 after treatment.
This was disclosed by the state government via its official Twitter handle, with the latest discharge bringing the total number of persons discharged in the state to three.
The state now has 11 active cases after recording 17 cases with three deaths and three persons discharged.
The state government has in place a dusk-to-dawn curfew to restrict movement and contain the spread of the virus.
Also, wearing of face mask has been made compulsory for anyone, who goes to public place.
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E2%80%94boss Nigeria At Community Transmission Phase Of COVID-19, Lockdown, Curfew Violations Dangerous —Boss Mustapha
Boss Mustapha
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has said Nigeria was at the community transmission phase of Coronavirus where violations of guidelines could portend danger for the country.Mustapha made the comments during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Friday.He said, “The outcome of our surveillance still points to the fact that violations are still rampant and as I have always pointed out, portends a very dangerous trend.
Boss Mustapha
“Nigeria is presently at the community transmission phase and yesterday – Thursday 7th May, 2020, we witnessed the highest single-day number of 381 confirmed cases. This could be considered worrisome but for the fact that this rise is associated with our increased testing capacity, which has provided an opportunity to detect hitherto hidden cases“However, this increased testing does not translate to higher fatality rates as in the last few days, we have witnessed a good number of discharges and a continually reducing daily fatality rate.”The SGF added that Nigeria was running out of bed space for positive cases.He said, “We have also received reports from the states, which suggests that the treatment centres are running out of bed spaces. “As we assess the situation, the PTF shall also begin to examine our peculiar circumstances, modify the strategies for care management, and consider viable alternatives, where necessary. At the appropriate time, the guidelines and protocols shall be unfolded.”
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Ebonyi Records Two New Coronavirus Cases
Governor David Umahi
Two more cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Ebonyi State, bringing the total number of cases in the state to seven.
David Umahi, governor of the state, on Friday said the cases were a couple, who recently came into the state despite restrictions on movement.
Governor David Umahi
He said, “The man and wife have tested positive for Coronavirus.
“The man is 26 years old while the wife is 19 years old and they are from Ezza Inyimagu in Ekwulegu community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
“They have been moved to the treatment centre but no cause for alarm, we are on top of the situation.”
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