COVID-19 strikes 21 Nigerians dead in one day, cases rise again

 

The dreaded COVID-19 pandemic struck 21 Nigerians dead on Tuesday as new cases rise again after two days of relief.

Figures churned out by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, showed that 21 deaths were reported on Tuesday, with new cases soaring to 1,056, a sharp rise from the 643 cases posted the previous day.

Of the 21 deaths reported, Lagos and Osun recorded eight deaths each.

While the death toll in Lagos stand at 352, that of Osun is now 41.

Edo, Kano, Kwara, Ogun and  Bayelsa reported one death each.

Total National deaths arising from COVID-19 complication is 1,694.

Also, of the 1,056 new cases reported on Tuesday, Lagos topped the chat with 214 cases, Osun, 120 cases and the Federal  Alitalia Territory, FCT, Abuja, 116 cases.

Others are: Plateau (88), Ebonyi (75), Kwara (73), Gombe (70), Ondo (57), Rivers (47), Akwa Ibom (38), Edo (25), Oyo (23), Kano (22), Delta (19) Katsina (18), Borno (16), Nasarawa (13), Ekiti (8), Ogun (8), Bauchi (4), Benue(1) and Jigawa (1).

Till date, 141,447 cases have been confirmed, 115,755 cases have been discharged and 1,694 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” NCDC said.

The 1056 new cases are reported from 22 states.

See figures below

Lagos-214
Osun-120
FCT-116
Plateau-88
Ebonyi-75
Kwara-73
Gombe-70
Ondo-57
Rivers-47
Akwa Ibom-38
Edo-25
Oyo-23
Kano-22
Delta-19
Katsina-18
Borno-16
Nasarawa-13
Ekiti-8
Ogun-8
Bauchi-4
Benue-1

- PM NEWS

COVID-19 vaccine turns people gay, says Iranian cleric

 Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian, an Iranian cleric, says COVID-19 vaccine turns people into homosexuals.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the cleric took to his Telegram account — where he has about 210,000 followers — to make the claim.

He, however, did not provide any proof to substantiate his claim.

“Don’t go near those who have had the COVID-19 vaccine. They have become homosexuals,” he was said to have written.

The cleric is said to have a history of making derogatory remarks about western medicine.

He had reportedly burnt a copy of Harrison’s Manual of Medicine, which provides insight into over 600 topics on internal medicine, for being “anti-Islamic” and “irrelevant” last year.

His latest remark has been greeted by criticisms, with many accusing him of attempting to “scare people away from being vaccinated.”

Sheina Vojoudi, an Iranian dissident, who fled her country for fear of being victimised, said Tabrizian’s comment was symptomatic of the ignorance holding sway among many clerics in Iran.

“Like other clerics in the regime, also Tabrizian relates all the shortages [shortcomings] to sexuality. The clerics in Iran are suffering from lack of knowledge and humanity,” she was quoted as saying.

“Actually, his goal of spreading nonsense is to try to scare people [out] of getting vaccinated, while the leader of the regime and other officials got Pfizer, and they don’t provide it for the people with the excuse that they don’t trust the West.”

Also speaking, Peter Tatchell, LGBTQ+ and human-rights campaigner, accused the cleric of combining “scientific ignorance with a crude appeal to homophobia.”

“He’s demonizing both the vaccination program and LGBT+ people without a shred of evidence. By seeking to scare the public into not getting vaccinated against COVID-19, he is fueling the pandemic and putting lives at risk,” he was also quoted as saying.

“Typical of many Iranian religious and political leaders, his bizarre, irrational claims scapegoat LGBTs and put theological prejudice before scientific knowledge.”

- CABLELIFESTYLE

Fulani herdsmen crisis: Yoruba nation is leaving Nigeria soon – Pastor Giwa

 

The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa has said that the dream of people of the South West region to leave Nigeria would become a reality very soon.

Giwa called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution his Fulani kinsmen from terrorizing Yoruba region and other parts of the country.

Giwa, while speaking with his church members on the state of the nation in Akure on Tuesday, said the body language of President Buhari had further caused disunity, hatred and disharmony among the citizens in Nigeria.

He specifically said the president should expect events that would disintegrate Nigeria any time soon.

The cleric also noted that politicians had failed to fulfill their campaign promises to the people over the years.

This, Giwa said had made Nigerians not to have trust in their political leaders

He, however, advised Yoruba people to stand firm and unite with a view to getting their freedom from fulani government.

He said,” Yoruba people must unit if they really want to get their freedom from fulani leaders. I am sure some events will come naturally that will turn things around in Nigeria.

“Maybe you are wondering why everything is turning upside down in this country, ask the president and his political party.

“A bad tree cannot produce good fruits; APC is a party dominated by miscreants. Within five years, look at what the party has brought upon Nigerians.

“They brought calamity, hunger, insecurity among others to Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language has continued to give a certain ethnic group power to take over land that does not belong to them.

“Despite the fact that they have no vision for Nigerians, they are encouraging and motivating Fulani herdsmen to kidnap and be killing our people.

“Yoruba people should expect events that will reshape the entire region any moment. Read your Bible as Christians. Who told you disintegration is a sin?

“There was division in the early Christian church, and there is still division among the churches today.

“We have Agape Church of God, Winners, Redeemed Christian Church, CAC, Awaiting Gospel Church among others. We all worship the same God, but different doctrines.

“Please, read Genesis Chapter 13 and tell me what happened between Abraham and Lot when their herdsmen were fighting each other.

“In the last 60 years, they have continued to share the resources meant for the poor among themselves.

“Division does not mean I cannot travel to the East, North or anywhere in the country. It’s just that each region will have its president and constitution because what they presently refer to as1999 constitution is a ruse.

“Nigeria can only be restructured through disintegration, and anything aside that is a waste of time.

“If they want the progress of Nigeria, they will make the citizens happy. What are they doing to convince us that they mean well for us?

“If we could have different churches today with different doctrines, what stops Nigeria from having three or more regions?

“They have turned most of our young graduate women to harlots in the streets. Parents can no longer send their children to schools anymore.

“If I have a Yoruba president in my region and he fails to fulfill his electoral promises, I will storm his office and challenge him.

“Can you travel from Akure to Abuja to challenge president Buhari who doesn’t understand your language?

“If a Yoruba president performs woefully, it is left to the people of that region to hold him responsible and accountable.”

- DAILY POST

N32b cocaine from Brazil seized at Tincan Island Port, clearing agents arrested

 

Forty parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, with an estimated street value of over N32 billion have been intercepted at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

The cargo came from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) at the port, Mr Sumaila Ethan disclosed this in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs,Mr Jonah Achema in Abuja.

Ethan noted that the agency has continued its offensive against drug barons and cartels in Nigeria with the latest seizure.

He said that the consignment containing the illicit drug was put under surveillance by operatives of the Tincan Island Command of the NDLEA for some days until two clearing agents showed up on Feb. 8, to clear it.

Ethan said the two clearing agents have been arrested and the consignment, which was brought into Nigeria from Brazil on board a vessel marked MV SPAR SCORPIO, properly searched.

“After a thorough search, we discovered 40 compressed parcels, which after laboratory investigations tested positive to cocaine.

''The two clearing agents have been taken into custody while we continue with the investigation.

“The seizure is no doubt an attestation to the renewed vigour in the operations of the agency.

“We appreciate our Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, who provided guidance all through the operations”, the commander said.

Ethan stated that the Tincan Island port seizure was coming on the heels of similar ones at the Lagos and Abuja airports as well as from the FCT, Edo, Katsina State, Nasarawa State and Benue state Commands in the last three weeks.

He commended the commander, officers and men of the Tincan Port Command for the operation.

“We’ll continue to do our best to motivate the officers and men of the agency, and we expect full commitment, dedication to work and discipline in return so that we can collectively achieve the goal of ridding our nation of illicit drugs”, he stated.

- PM NEWS

CORRUPTION SHOW BIZ !! EFCC to arraign Stella Oduah for ‘fraud’

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Stella Oduah, former minister of aviation, for alleged financial fraud.

The arraignment which was initially scheduled for Tuesday was stalled owing to the absence of the former minister.

Oduah, now a senator representing Anambra north senatorial district, is to stand trial alongside eight others in a suit with the number: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/20.

The anti-graft agency is alleging that Oduah misappropriated public funds while serving as a minister.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Hassan Liman, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that the former minister was yet to be served with the court processes.

He asked the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution to serve the defendant.

“My lord, the matter has been set out today for arraignment but I have been informed by the commission that the first defendant (Oduah) is yet to be served,” he said.

“In view of that my lord, may I humbly apply for a very short date.”

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, emphasised that it is the responsibility of the prosecution to bring the accused persons to face trial.

The judge then adjourned the matter to February 22 for the arraignment of the defendants.

- THECABLE

70-year-old man with HIV allegedly rapes 5-year-old girl in Benue

 

A 70-year-old man identified as Nicholas Akeh, has been arrested by Benue Police Commmand for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in the state

The suspect, who is HIV said to be positive, was arrested in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

He was transferred to the Police Headquarters in Makurdi on Tuesday for further investigation.

The suspect confessed to the police that he lured the minor and gave her garri to drink, then raped her.

He confessed to have been living with HIV for 20 years and since his wife abandoned him, his only option was to get young girls to satisfy his sexual urge.

Spokesperson of the command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirming the incident, said the “suspect is in police custody and investigation is in progress”

“ The suspect has been detained at Benue police headquarters while further investigation is ongoing

“He will be charged to court within the week.”

- DAILY POST

Lagos landlord shoots tenant over rent

 

A landlord, identified simply as Afuye, has been arrested in Lagos for shooting at his tenant over rent.

Afuye was nabbed by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly shooting his tenant, Olaoluwa-Daniel Yaya, over outstanding rent at their place of residence on Mosalisi Street, Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro, Yaya said that he pleaded with his landlord to give him more time to make the payment, but after he left for work on Saturday, he received a call from his wife that Afuye and his wife were making trouble with her.

Yaya alleged that when he returned home and went to meet the landlord, he suddenly brought out a gun and shot at him six times, adding that his wife collapsed at the sound of the gunshot.

He said, “I owe my landlord, Mr Afuye, for one year and three months, and I already appealed to him to give me more time to make the payment. I am the chairman of motorcycle operators in Sango; on Saturday, I was at work when my wife called to inform me that my landlord and his wife were making trouble with her because of the indebtedness.

“I rushed back home and met other tenants at my apartment and they explained that they were the ones who prevented the landlord and his wife from beating up my wife. I went upstairs to meet my landlord and told him he should have waited for me before doing anything.

“I later left him, came downstairs and was approaching the door of my flat when my landlord suddenly rushed down the stairs with a gun and shot at me six times. It took the grace of God that none of the bullets hit me, but the wall of the building is filled with bullet holes. The gunshots made my wife to collapse and while rushing to her rescue, my landlord quickly took some of the spent bullet cases and went back upstairs.”

Angered by the development, Yaya said upon recovering a pellet, he proceeded to the police station to lodge a complaint against Afuye.

He further explained that policemen were detailed to arrest Afuye and recover the gun, adding that while conducting a further search on his landlord’s apartment, two other guns were recovered by the cops.

In his words, “I was fortunate to see one of the bullet pellets and I took it to the police station and filed a report. Policemen followed me home, arrested him and recovered the gun. While being questioned by the Divisional Police Officer, Afuye said he had only one gun, but because the DPO was not satisfied with his explanation, some policemen were instructed to go back to search his house and they recovered two other guns.

“When the DPO asked why he had guns and why he shot at me for owing him rent instead of issuing me a quit notice, he said he had stayed abroad for over 50 years and that he purchased the guns there. He has been in detention since, while my wife is being administered with drip at home because she is hypertensive.”

When contacted by The PUNCH, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said, “The man (Afuye) has been arrested and transferred to the SCIID for proper investigation. His arms and ammunition were recovered from him. We are looking into the matter. We will update you as and when due.''

- PM NEWS