News
20 Medical Students Kidnapped In Benue Rescued – Security Sources
Security sources say 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State have just been rescued.
The operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.
Security agencies – the police, DSS and military personnel and equipment were involved in the operation, with the support of the Benue State government.
Though the student have regained their freedom according to security sources, details of the rescue operation are still sketchy at the moment.
News of the abduction of the students hit the media space last Friday, attracting reactions from Nigerians who condemned the rising rate of kidnapping in the country.
The victims were said to be on their way to Enugu State, passing through the Otukpo Local Government area in Benue before they encountered bandits.
They were en route to Enugu for a programme when they ran into the kidnappers around Otukpo.
The students were said to be travelling in a convoy of two buses and were coming from the northern part of the country when they ran into the ambush on Thursday evening at about 5:30 pm.
A few days after their abduction, their captors had established contact with the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million to secure the release of their hostages.
IGP orders rescue
Responding to calls for the rescue of the students, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, immediately ordered the rescue of the victims.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, the IGP condemned the kidnapping of students.
Egbetokun described their abduction as “truly appalling, callous, and unacceptable”.
He said, “In a display of unwavering commitment to the rescue, safety, and well-being of the young Nigerians, the IGP has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command and ensure the swift rescue of our beloved students. This initiative encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.
“The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.
“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the zeal of the force to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the perpetrators and others alike, as the Nigeria Police Force is determined to sustain the fight against crimes and criminality, most especially kidnapping of Nigerians.
“The IGP equally appeals to the general public to provide useful information and actionable intelligence that may aid the ongoing investigation and the rescue operation. Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to contact the nearest police station the state’s command control number or the FHQ via [email protected] and other helplines.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and it will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law throughout the country.”
Kidnapping In Benue
In the past six years, the federal highway from Otukpo through Ugbokolo in the Okpokwu Local Government Area down to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu Local Government Area has become one of Nigeria’s dangerous roads to travel due to the notorious kidnap syndicate controlling the thick forests and vast ungoverned spaces.
Some weeks ago, the management team of the Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, led by the Rector was kidnapped on that axis.
This was aside from several other victims including Catholic priests and many other kidnapping cases of motorists with little or no effort to tame the menace.
News
Edo 2024: Govt Declares Friday Work-free Day
The Edo Government has declared Friday, Sept. 20, a work-free day to enable workers and others to travel to their voting areas ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
A statement by Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), reassured that security measures had been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
According to Eboigbe, it is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day.
“This is to enable workers and other electorates to travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State.”
“Government wishes everyone to journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election, ” he said.
News
NAFDAC alerts Nigerians About fake Dettol soap
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has alerted Nigeria to the sale of a fake soap labelled as “Dettol Health Fresh Soap” in the market.
Ad revealed on NAFDAC’s website on Thursday, the manufacturer of Dettol Antiseptic products confirmed that the soap is fake as it does not have any product by the name “Dettol Health Fresh Soap.”
“The Marketing Authorization Holder and manufacturer (Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited) of Dettol Antiseptic products, received a consumer complaint regarding the above-mentioned product. The product was reported to have caused skin irritation to the complainant.
“The MAH has confirmed that the product is fake as they do not have any product by the name “Dettol Health Fresh Soap”. Dettol Antiseptic products are widely used in Nigeria for household disinfection and personal hygiene to prevent illnesses from germs (bacterial infection),” it said.
It added that details of the complaint product were not provided by the complainant except for the name of the product “Dettol Health Fresh Soap.”
The agency noted that the illegal marketing of NAFDAC-regulated products or fake products poses a risk to people’s health, and since they do not comply with the regulatory provisions, the products’ safety, quality, and efficacy are not guaranteed.
It said all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the fake product if found within the zones and states.
“Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of the fake product. All medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical products to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: [email protected].
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on [email protected]
“Furthermore, note that this notice will be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System,” it concluded.
News
LP Crisis: Nobody Unseated You, The Constitution Did, Sheathe Your Sword — Obi Tells Abure
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections has asked the party’s former Chairman, Julius Abure, to sheath his sword.
He urged him and others to join hands with the National Caretaker Committee to rebuild the party.
Obi, who was represented by Datti Baba-Ahmed, stated this at the inaugural meeting of the caretaker committee of the party held in Abuja on Tuesday night.
He stated categorically that nobody but the constitution of the party unseated former chairman Abure after the expiration of his tenure.
Obi said: “Listen, my friend, no governor unseated Abure, the constitution unseated him. Abure’s time elapsed. Nobody unseated him. As of today, Abure is our good friend and a loyal member. We want him back in the fold; we have roles for him to play.
“We didn’t have crisis. We managed a transition that was a bit bumpy and that was it. I tell you, no other political party of our size could do that in the time and manner that we did.
“We are a political party who went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming our 10 million votes. They were only able to give us six million votes. So we are a force to contend with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before. When PDP came, they had the military. We had nothing.”
Obi noted that the opposition party was ready to repeat and surpass the feat recorded during the 2023 elections in 2027 by producing a majority in the National Assembly and winning the presidential seat in 2027.
Earlier, the chairman of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, assured party members of the committee’s determination to rescue the party from the current challenges and restore and rebuild it as a veritable alternative platform for Nigerians.
She assured of the committee’s readiness to lead the party on the path of reconciliation within the short time of its assignment.
Usman stated: “We are on a rescue mission, not just for the Labour Party, but I tell you for our dear nation, Nigeria. The interest this committee has generated extends beyond party lines.
“The number of telephone calls I have received not just from Labour Party members, but people from other political parties who told me that if we get this thing right, we will walk together. So we have a huge task.
“Our party, by the grace of Almighty God, will become a platform for all disenfranchised and unhappy Nigerians. People who are not happy with the way things are going, we are going to be the platform for them by the grace of God. Therefore, we must view this as a significant national assignment.”
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