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In this week's issue:
FG apprehends Nnamdi Kanu; Wike says what everyone is thinking
Niger Delta Avengers
Hunters take on Kidnappers
FG still on this social media thing. Still no twitter
El-Rufai still bullying Kaduna
WHO says Lassa Fever is reaching pandemic status, vaccine coming up
IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, Buhari, The UK government
Earlier this week, The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, announced that Nigeria has successfully apprehended Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.
In 2018, Buhari's government labelled IPOB as a terrorist group and Kanu was arrested. But was later granted bail a few weeks after.
While on bail, Kanu fled Nigeria to the United Kingdom, two years ago and had been leading the group from there.Â
According to him, he ran away because soldiers invaded his home.Â
Details around his arrest are still iffy. It was originally reported that he was arrested in the UK, but The British Government confirmed that he was not.Â
Malami said Kanu will remain in custody until his hearing on July 26th. The UK government says theyâre not sure the arrest was entirely legal, and they intend to support Kanu in any way they can.
If no one will say it:
In an interview with Arise TV, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike asked the FG to use the same energy they've given Kanu's arrest to fight all âbanditsâ. âLet people know that youâre not prosecuting him because he comes from a particular section of the country.â
Niger Delta Avengers announce their return.
The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that declared its existence in 2016 with a project they called 'Operation Red', has announced its return.
The group is known for attacking oil-producing facilities in the Niger Delta, which cut down the amount of oil produced in Nigeria since its existence.
In a press release on their website literally titled "HAPPY DOOMED YEAR NIGERIA", they declared that their new goal is to "send Nigeria into a permanent recession."Â
But the president's spokesperson, Femi Adeshina says they're doing too much: "It's curious that the threat is coming 48 hours after [The President] met with [Niger Delta leaders]" to address the issues raised.
The National reports that days later, the Niger Delta leaders collectively asked the government to fix up and vowed to stop being victims of the government's oppression. Maybe the ones who didnât attend
Everyday terrorism
Last week, âBanditsâ murdered a Zamfara State House of Assemblymember representing Shinkafi state constituency, Hon. Mohammed G. Ahmed, along Sheme-Funtua road in Katsina State. No report on if any arrests have been made.
The Defence Headquarters says military troops have arrested a suspected ISWAP member in Ogun state. According to him, Bernard Onyeuko, acting director of defence media operation, Musa was on a mission to Lagos to get stuff for ISWAPâs operations in Maiduguri.
Meanwhile, the UK has pledged ÂŁ12.6 million to support the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. This is in addition to Nigeria's recently approved N800 billion allocated to the military to support the war against Boko Haram.
Also, reports suggest that Boko Haram terrorists have reunited with the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of the insurgent group.
Kogi
Hunters in Kogi killed 2 out of 3 kidnappers while they were on their way to collect a ransom. No idea who they kidnapped and if they have been rescued, but state security say they're looking for the one injured kidnapper.
Oyo
On Saturday, a group of armed "bandits" dressed in military and DSS outfit invaded the Ibadan residence of Sunday âIgbohoâ Adeyemo.
According to a recount on Guardian Nigeria: âthe attackers were asking for each person by name, and they killed five and took away their bodiesâ. They also kidnapped women who live in the house.
The attack was on the same day Igboho held a Yorubaland activism rally in Lagos, to protest the recent "bandit" attacks on Western states. (Police also attacked the people at the rally and allegedly killed a girl)
Communications in chaos
A report by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) revealed that since Buhari became President, the media industry recorded 7 unresolved murders and 300 human rights violations on media workers and media houses.
ICYMI: The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, accused social media of breeding terrorists. Speaking at a UN conference last week, Monguno said terrorist groups like Boko Haram have been using social media as a recruitment tool.
But Buhari says Nigeria's drug traffickers are causing more problems than insurgents and bandits so let's focus on that.
This week in moneyÂ
Oil money
Leadership reports that on Monday, Port Harcourt residents gathered at the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) with a vow not to leave until their demands are met.
Their demands: to stop marginalisation of River's State residents.
An interview with the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, revealed that the protesters believe the company has been sidelining them to redeploy non-indigenes to do jobs that residents are qualified for.
"We are here because the Agip Oil Company is not treating the host communities very well"
This protest came a day after the Senate passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) where they ruled that oil companies are to pay 3% of their profit to host communities. Indigenous stakeholders had originally proposed 10%, so this was not well received.Â
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is planning to borrow $3.8 Billion from financial institutions to actualise its agenda of acquiring a 20 per cent stake in Dangote Refinery.
Nigeria so far owes N12.47 Trillion to financial institutions, treasury bills, pensions more.
El-Rufai
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai 3 weeks to appease students protesting the hike in tuition in Kaduna.
Students in Kaduna gathered to peacefully protest the rise in fees recently implemented by Kaduna Governor El-Rufai.
According to recounts, the protest got dangerous when security personnel arrived. The Nation reported that security personnel fatally shot a student of Kaduna State College and left others with gunshot injuries. No word from El-Rufi yet.
In March, El-Rufai said the tuition hike was to "ensure quality education". But he also suggested that the best way to stop school kidnappings was to move schools closer to army barracks.
In Nasarawa, the governor has decided to use attendance registers to determine who gets paid this month. He said only workers who did not participate in the strike to protest outstanding promotions, unfavourable working conditions and other issues would be paid.
Fraud MoneyÂ
A House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Banking and Currency revealed that Nigeria lost about $30 billion between 2005 and 2019 to revenue leakages.
They attributed it to banking, oil, engineering, procurement, construction, marine transportations, telecommunications, where they noticed inconsistencies in foreign exchange and revenue. Citibank is accused of hoarding foreign currency and assets meant to be transferred to the CBN as foreign reserves.
The Supreme Court in Abuja has resumed its hearing on a case involving the CBN, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) and an oil and gas company â Petro Union, over an alleged ÂŁ2.556 billion fraud attempt.
Some Petro Union staff are also facing criminal charges in Lagos on the same matter. The EFCC explains it as an attempt to defraud UBN, the CBN and by extension, the federal republic of Nigeria of ÂŁ2.556 billion.
Health News
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified Lassa fever as one of the top emerging pathogens likely to cause severe outbreaks. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has secured funding to develop a vaccine for trial in Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to curb the risk.
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. Human-to-human transfusion is rare. It is transmitted only if you are exposed to the body fluids of a carrier.
Fatality rate among patients hospitalized with severe cases of Lassa fever is 15%. Reports estimate that 1% of severe infections result in death.
As of May 2021, 14 states have recorded at least one case and over 2,000 suspected cases. The majority of patients reported are from Edo and Ondo.
Symptoms are varied and nonspecific, so clinical diagnosis is often difficult.
No dates have been announced for the start of the trials.
COVID-19
WHO says the 3rd wave of COVID is spreading faster in Africa than the others did.
The Ministry of Health says with rising numbers and no access to external vaccines, Nigeria will soon start manufacturing its own COVID vaccine.
The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said Bio-Vaccine Nigeria Limited, a joint-venture between the Nigerian government and a private firm, is working on manufacturing vaccines for the country.
Nigeria has also extended the ban on travels from Turkey, India, Brazil By 4 Weeks.
Foreign News that might interest you
South African Court Jails ex-President Jacob Zuma over abuse of power while in office (Leadership)
UK bans Binance, orders the cryptocurrency financial institution to stop all activity and issued a warning to all consumers (AriseNews)
Sexual Assault: US Supreme Court Frees Bill Cosby. He served 3 years in prison for drugging and raping or sexually assaulting over 60 women.
Other news
Delta State House of Assembly member slumped and died at a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (Leadership)
#EndSARS: Lagos Panel Awards N83m To 12 Victims (Leadership)
Last week, The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) demolished illegal trading stalls and homes in FESTAC. They say they're keeping it that way (Leadership)
An expose by Premium Times reveals that marriage is a scam. Jk, they found out that the officials at Lagos' Ikoyi registry have been scamming couples and inflating costs.
Several rural communities in Osun State are still without electricity.
Recommended read
Itâs Not Just Britney. In the U.S., those deemed âmentally illâ can easily lose basic rights (The Cut)