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Fear Grips Residents As 15 Prominent Persons Die Within 9 Hours Of Suspected Coronavirus In Kano

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Something not natural is happening in Kano State and this has sent millions of her citizens to live in palpable fears.

Following the unconfirmed spread of the novel coronavirus in the most populous Northern city with many lives believed to have been lost owing to the virus, the call for prompt action has been intensified.

The situation took an alarming proportion on Saturday when the State recorded an unprecedented number of 15 high profile personalities’ death with the report of First Bank of Nigeria Limited confirmed the loss of its employee, Abdullahi Lawal, a top staff with Kano main branch, to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

A statement on Saturday by the bank’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the branch has been closed for disinfection.

It also stated that all staff and customers who may have been in contact with the late banker should follow the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and self-isolate.

Lawal’s death was followed by the announcement of the passage of Prof Ibrahim Alkali Ayagi, an 80-year old renowned Professor of Economics and CEO of Hassan Gwarzo School also on Saturday.

While the state was still grappling with Ayagi’s death, the news of the death of other prominent figures provoked further concern. Those who also passed away include Alhaji Dahiru Rabiu, Former Grand Khadi in Kano; Dr. Musa Umar Gwarzo, father of Mahmoud Gwarzo; Mallam Musa Tijjani, former Editor of Triumph Newspaper; Alhaji Adamu Isyaku Dal, former SUBEB Boss, and Alhaji Salisu Lado.

Other prominent Kano citizens who also died today are Hajia Shamsiyya Mustapha; Hajia Nene Umma; Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge; Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi, Secretary, Student Affairs, NorthWest University; Prof. Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology Department, Bayero University Kano; Alhaji Idi Mai Lemo Sheka and Captain Abdullahi Gyadi of Gyadi Ja’oji Quarters.

With the unexplained mysterious deaths of all these personalities, residents of Kano are now living in palpable fear of likely outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the State but with their leaders living in denial of the spread.

“The Facebook pages of my friends from Kano have become obituary boards, and there’s no way to defend that it’s normal. The mortality rate in Kano seems to have surged, and even though it’s not been linked to any disease yet, it’s important to determine the causes of these deaths,” Gimba Kakanda wrote on his Twitter page to explain the growing concern of every Nigeria as Kano look set to become the epicenter of the global disease.

Already, they have witnessed on a daily basis over 150 people buried in three cemeteries within the state.

 

Culled from OperaNews

BIG STORY

Ikorodu Teacher Arrested For Physically Abusing 3-Yr-Old Boy In Viral Video [SEE VIDEO]

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The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has confirmed the arrest of a teacher following a viral video showing the suspect allegedly physically abusing a three-year-old boy at a school in Ikorodu.

The announcement was made in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

The video, shared by Oyindamola, who identifies as #dammiedammie35, captured a female teacher slapping the child’s face.

The video was captioned, “Footage from Christ-Mitots School in Ikorodu, a teacher named Stella Nwadigo was witnessed mistreating and physically abusing a three-year-old boy, Abayomi Micheal.”

The footage has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our little ones in school.”

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos DSVA issued a statement expressing gratitude to those who brought the video to their attention

The statement reads, “We appreciate everyone who brought the disturbing incident of a teacher who was recorded physically abusing a 3-year-old boy to our attention.

We are pleased to inform the public that the teacher in question has been arrested by Owutu FSU, and an investigation has commenced in earnest.

The agency reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting children, emphasizing that schools must be safe and nurturing spaces.

The statement added, “Indeed, institutions of learning should be safe, warm, and protective environments for all children in their care.

The State Government remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child by enforcing strict regulations, holding offenders accountable, and working with stakeholders to promote a zero-tolerance policy for abuse in any form.”

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BIG STORY

China Development Bank Approves $254m Loan For Kano-Kaduna Railway Project

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The China Development Bank (CDB) has provided a loan of $254.76 million for the construction of the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, the bank stated that the funding aims to support the smooth advancement of the infrastructure project.

The CDB highlighted that the construction is being undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), with financial support from the bank.

“The Kano-Kaduna railway, with a total length of 203 kilometers, is a standard-gauge railway,” the statement reads.

“Once completed, it will provide direct rail connectivity between Kano, an important northern city in Nigeria, and the country’s capital Abuja, offering local residents a safe, efficient, and convenient mode of transportation.”

In addition to enhancing mobility, the bank mentioned that the project is expected to stimulate economic growth along the railway corridor, generating job opportunities and promoting related industries.

“The Kano-Kaduna railway project has been included in the list of practical cooperation projects for the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation,” the CDB added.

The bank stated that the construction is progressing smoothly and reiterated its commitment to collaborating closely with the Nigerian government to ensure the disbursement of funds and effective management of the next phases of the project.

On July 15, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the construction of the Kano-Kaduna railway project.

The rail project is the third phase of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge railway modernization project.

The first phase (Abuja-Kaduna) and the second phase (Lagos-Ibadan) were inaugurated for commercial operations in July 2016 and June 2021, respectively.

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BIG STORY

ICPC Files Money Laundering Charge Against El-Rufai’s Former Commissioner

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Muhammad Sa’idu, a former commissioner during the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna, to court over alleged “money laundering.”

The Kaduna police command arrested Sa’idu over a petition for alleged diversion of public funds.

Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the ICPC’s assistant legal officer, filed the case against the former commissioner on Tuesday at the federal high court in Kaduna.

Sa’idu served as the commissioner of local government affairs, chief of staff, and commissioner of finance during the administration of el-Rufai.

The ICPC dismissed an earlier claim that Sa’idu had been exonerated of all charges after 10 months of investigation.

The former commissioner is charged alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a staff in the ministry of finance.

According to the suit No. FHC/KD/IC/2025, the defendants are charged on a two-count charge of “money laundering.”

“Sometime in March 2022 or thereabouts, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, who at that time commissioner of finance, did accept cash payment of the sum of N155m from one Ibrahim Muktar exceeding the amount authorised by law, which sum you received in cash through proxy to wit: Muazu Abdu, your Special Assistant and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section2(a) and punishable under the Section 19(d) of the “Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the charge sheet reads.

The ICPC also alleged that within the same period, Sa’idu “indirectly took control of the sum of N155m received in cash for and on behalf of you by one Muazu Abdul from Ibrahim Muktar, which he reasonably ought to have known, formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: corruption and you hereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the “Money Laundering(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

The anti-graft agency noted that section 18(3) of the “Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022” states that “any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection(2) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than four years but not more than fourteen years or a fine not less than five times the value of the proceeds of the crime or both.”

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