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20 Students Die As Deadly Disease Surfaces In Yobe

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A deadly disease suspected of being Meningitis has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 20 students from several boarding public schools in Yobe State.

On Tuesday evening revealed that the disease has spread in Potiskum, Fika, and Fune local government areas of the state.

According to Daily Trust, the latest fatalities occurred in Government Science Technical College, Government Girls Science Technical College, and Federal Government Girls College, all located in Potiskum LG.

A source who confirmed the latest development to journalists revealed that the death toll stands at 20 students, with most of the affected individuals receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Potiskum and showing signs of improvement.

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Responding to the incident, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, revealed the outbreak and the suspected cause of meningitis, stating that 20 students had lost their lives.

In response to the situation, Governor Mai Mala Buni has instructed the state Ministry of Education to temporarily relocate to Potiskum.

The commissioner further verified that a number of students were admitted to Potiskum Specialist Hospital.

He said, ‘‘This disease is from God and you can’t run away from it once it comes, but we must wake up to fight this outbreak to curtail it from spreading to other areas. After this outbreak hit the Government Science Technical College Potiskum and two other secondary schools, I, as Commissioner, my Permanent Secretary, and the Executive Secretary of the state’s Science Technical Board, as well as the chairman of the Teaching Service Board, have been relocated to Potiskum temporarily.

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‘‘I had a meeting with the principals of these three secondary schools to join hands together and fight this disease. We have parked out ambulances in all these schools for emergency cases. We also assigned three teachers to work for three hours in the classes checking the conditions of these students who are not affected.

‘After three hours, another three teachers will take over from them, checking the health condition of these unaffected students, asking them if they are not feeling fine or have new reactions in their bodies. We are doing this 24-hour service as proactive measures to ensure that we curtail this disease.

‘‘At least 17 students have died in two secondary schools belonging to Yobe state government while one lady from the Federal Government Girls College also died as a result of this disease.

‘‘I cannot give you the number of the affected students now because there are students who are in isolation centres in their schools. We also have some students who are currently receiving treatment in the hospital due to their health conditions.

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‘‘We received a report that this disease has spread to some schools in Fika and Fune LGAs, but so far, we have a record of 20 students who died in both primary and secondary schools in the state after finding new cases in Gadaka and Jajere villages which are under Fika and Fune LGAs.

‘His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni had directed the Ministry of Health to send their medical team (doctors and technicians) to investigate the cause of this outbreak and provide drugs and other medication. We thank God they (students) are doing well, we are hoping that things will get better.”

Dr. Idriss highlighted the significance of guaranteeing the welfare of every student and discovering efficient solutions for those impacted. He emphasized the need to establish temporary isolation facilities within schools to offer students immediate medical assistance.

‘We have temporarily relocated to Potiskum until all the students are in good health. We established temporary isolation centres. Ensuring their well-being is our responsibility. So we will not relent in providing all the necessary support,” he added.

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UK police dismiss Nigerian-British officer for ‘biting’ colleague

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By Francesca Hangeior

The Metropolitan Police Service of the United Kingdom has dismissed a Nigerian-British officer, Shola Balogun of Bromley Police Station, for biting a colleague (name withheld) at a birthday party in Bexleyheath, Kent.

This was disclosed in a hearing that was held from October 21-23, 2024, and chaired by a high-ranking officer, Christopher McKay, with IPM Amanda Harvey and Assessor-Detective Superintendent, Kirsty Mead as the panel members.

The document of the hearing notice sighted by our correspondent revealed that Balogun, a Police Constable, had attended a 40th birthday party of another police officer with about 70 other persons in attendance at Goals Sports Bar, stressing that he and the officer (victim) were the two police officers present at the event aside from the celebrant.

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The document also explained that the incident happened on April 22, 2022, as a result of a light-hearted horseplay between them in the past but with no significant falling out.

It read, “On the 22nd of April 2022 about 70 people attended a 40th birthday party for a police officer at Goals Sports Bar in Bexleyheath, Kent. Among those attending were members of her work team, ERT C, who were based at Bromley Police Station. PC Shola Balogun and PC (name withheld) were two of those police officers who were present at the party. The officers knew each other well as work colleagues, having been based at Bromley Police Station together since June 2018.

“There had been light-hearted horseplay between them in the past but no significant falling out. Both describe a good friendly working relationship. The victim said he arrived at the party at about 9 pm after meeting other officers in a nearby pub. PC Balogun arrived after the victim and he admitted that had been drinking alcohol before his arrival. There is a dispute about the incidents that took place between them during that evening.

“The victim says that at around 23.30 he walked up a flight of stairs from the dancefloor and found PC Balogun in front of him. PC Balogun was about an arms-length away when he reached out and grabbed the victim’s spectacles off his face and dropped them on the floor. This surprised the victim and he claimed to have then approached PC Balogun in a friendly manner whereupon PC Balogun responded by pushing him with his right hand to the victim’s throat area. When the victim then complained about PC Balogun’s actions in a conversation at a time when they were only a foot apart because the music was so loud, PC Balogun is alleged to have leaned forward and bitten the victim on the right side of his face.”

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However, Balogun’s account of the event was different from that of the victim as he claimed to have only knocked the victim’s glasses off by accident.

He also denied pushing the victim or biting him in the face as alleged but medical reports and diagnosis revealed that the victim was bitten.

The findings in the document read, “The Regulation 30 Notice alleges that by acting in the way described PC Balogun brought discredit to the police service and undermined public trust in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). This is alleged to have been a breach of the standard of Discreditable Conduct.

“Discreditable Conduct is explained in the College of Policing Code of Ethics as not behaving in a manner, whether on or off duty, which brings discredit to the police service or undermines public confidence in policing. This is further explained as being a requirement that police officers must keep in mind at all times that the public expects police officers to maintain the highest standards of behaviour. Police officers are instructed to always think about how a member of the public may regard their behaviour, whether on or off duty. The Panel is satisfied that PC Balogun breached this standard by biting the victim. Assaulting a fellow officer is clearly unacceptable and discreditable behaviour.

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Meanwhile, the panel claimed to have spoken to people including an inspector who had been his line manager for close to five years about Balogun’s behavioural history and they all spoke highly of him and his qualities as a police officer, adding, “To counter-balance the evidence of his good character the Panel has received evidence of his previous disciplinary history.”

“The Panel bears in mind the words of Lord Justice Maurice Kay in the well-known case of Salter v Chief Constable of Dorset [2012] EWCA Civ 1047 when he said, ”As to personal mitigation, just as an unexpectedly errant solicitor can usually refer to an unblemished past and the esteem of his colleagues, so will a police officer often be able so to do. However, because of the importance of public confidence, the potential of such mitigation is necessarily limited.”

The panel further agreed on dismissal without notice as the outcome of Balogun’s action.

“In the present case, PC Balogun does not have an unblemished past and the previous misconduct proved against him is serious. In the present case, he committed a deliberate assault on a colleague without any explanation or justification. He humiliated PC Final Written Warning is not appropriate in this case. The only appropriate and proportionate outcome in this case is Dismissal Without Notice,” the document added.

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Man Spotted Eating Roadside Sacrifice Amid Economic Hardship (Video)

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A video of a man eating a roadside sacrifice amid the worsening economic crisis has stirred mixed reactions on social media

In a viral TikTok video, a driver noticed the man eating the sacrificial offering left by the roadside and began recording the unusual scene.

As he got closer, the driver humorously encouraged the man to “keep enjoying” his meal.

The video shows the man standing by the offering, taking food from it with his hands.

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The clip quickly spread on social media, with many concerned viewers sharing their thoughts in the comments.

Watch Video Below;

https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7430400213013072645?refer=embed

 

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Fear as bandits take over military camp

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Bandits have taken over the Nagwamase Military Cantonment in Kontagora, displacing about 23 communities and causing alarm in Niger State.

The cantonment, a key Nigerian Army artillery training site, now hosts at least eight bandit camps, presenting severe security threats to nearby villages.

During Tuesday’s plenary, Hon. Abdullahi Isah of Kontagora II raised a motion about the ongoing attacks and reported that some residents remain captive.

He said the presence of bandits has led to incessant attacks on “communities within the camp”.

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Isah said the military camp, which extends from Kontagora local government to part of Mariga local government, has been “taken over by terrorists who are said to have established at least eight different camps in the area”.

He said the situation poses a big security challenge to communities within the camp.

The Niger State House of Assembly urged the government to work closely with military authorities to dislodge the armed groups and restore security to the region.

Legislators also emphasised the need for increased military support to secure the camp.

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