COVID-19 Lockdown: Where Are The Mega Religious Concerns? This is The Opportunity To Win Souls Through Actions!

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Food For Thought:

 ‘’And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins’’. Bible: 1 Peter 4:8

Preamble: On Monday, March 30, 2020, President Buhari abruptly ordered a two-week lockdown of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the world. The lockdown came into force on Monday night meaning there was little time for people to prepare, buy foodstuffs etc. Even if there was enough time, many Nigerians don't have the wherewithal to stockpile essential commodities because many depend on subsistence income to eke out a living. Few days into the stay-at-home directive, a crisis within a crisis – hunger virus or HUVID-20 is emerging in Nigeria. Nigerians are confronted with hyper-inflation in the prices of food and essential commodities. A paint container of garri hitherto sold for N500 in most parts of Lagos state now goes for as much as N1,500, a 300% increase. Same applies to other food items. People are struggling to feed, pay bills and survive. The butterfly-effect will be potential increase in crime. We hear folks are stealing foodstuffs. Folks reportedly broke into the office of the LCDA Chairman at Oké-Odo, Lagos state and carted away COVID-19 relief materials. 

Nigeria Issues Lassa Fever Healthcare Worker Advisory

Lassa fever is a major public health challenge in West Africa, with Nigeria bearing the highest burden. It is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) caused by the Lassa virus. The natural reservoir for the virus is the Mastomys natalensis rodent (commonly known as the multimammate rat). Other rodents that carry the virus have also been identified.

How Trafficked Nigerians Fall Victims Of Organ Harvest In Europe

With the targeted airstrike at a migrants’ camp in Libya, it is clear the migrant crises is taking a new dimension. A good number of the victims are Nigerians but before that, Nigerian migrants trying to reach Europe have for long been falling victims to organ harvesting as our correspondent reports.

Security Risk Analysis: Kidnapping Hotbeds in South West Nigeria

Introduction: The first tranche of this series titled ‘’Security Risk Analysis: Kidnapping Hotbeds in Nigeria (1)’’, summed up data on reported kidnapping incidents and hotspots across Nigeria. Granted there are one-off incidents, but research indicates that many kidnapping incidents reoccur within some geographical swathes, along major highways in Nigeria. The kidnapping almost always entails an ambush usually at bad portions of the road and usually take place early in the morning or evenings.

NAFDAC Intercepts 21 Containers of Damaged Frozen Fish in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 21 containers of spoilt frozen fish at Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

Maritime Security: 5 Indian Sailors Kidnapped in Bonny Nigeria Freed

Five Indian sailors who were abducted from a ship in Nigerian waters, near Bonny, have been rescued after over two months in captivity, India’s Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday.

Maritime Security: Pirates Attack Cargo Vessel in Calabar, Nigeria

A sea pirate attack has been recorded at the Eastern part of the country as a cargo vessel ‘M.V Esther’ was attacked en-route Cameroon with some cargo including the ship captain, abducted.  

Cybersecurity: Nigeria Loses N3.133trn To Cybercrime Annually

Nigeria Loses N3.133trn To Cybercrime Annually

The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, said yesterday, that Nigeria loses about N3.133 trillion to cybercrime and foreign software annually. 

Insecurity: UK Warns Citizens Against Travel To 21 Nigerian States

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom has warned British nationals against travelling to about 21 states in Nigeria over security concerns.

Nigeria Anti-Narcotics Agency, NDLEA Uncovers Illicit Drug Factory in Enugu

Anti-narcotics operatives of the Enugu State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on March 17, uncovered an illicit drug factory where one of the world’s most deadly substances, methamphetamine, was being produced.

Gunmen Kidnap Top INEC Official in Jigawa State

A senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Mahadi Hassan, has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen in Jigawa State.

Important Questions For Nigeria’s Democracy Aftermath of 2019 Elections

Nigeria recently held both presidential and gubernatorial elections in the span of a few weeks. The elections were replete with logistical failures and delays, misconduct, voting irregularities, and violence that resulted in the deaths of at least 58 people since the presidential elections began, and approximately 600 people since the start of campaigning in November 2018. Authorities and civil society groups are now seeking to determine how credible the results of the elections were and how and whom to hold accountable for any misconduct—questions which have significant bearing on Nigeria’s democracy in the coming years.

Zamfara Bandits Better Equipped Than Nigeria Military, Says Governor Yari

Governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari on Tuesday raised the alarm that the armed bandits terrorizing the state and other states in the North West have more sophisticated equipment than the Nigerian military.

Boko Haram Landmine Kills Eight in Borno, NE Nigeria

No fewer than eight people were reportedly killed in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, near the border with Cameroon on Monday when a vehicle hit a roadside mine, security sources told AFP.

Health Security: Nigeria Improves On HIV Ranking — Now ‘Fourth Most Affected’ Globally

A recently published report says at least 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV/AIDS, making it fourth most affected country in the world.

Cybersecurity: Nigeria Climbs To Third Position in Mobile Malware Attacks in 2018

No fewer than four African countries made the list in terms of top 10 countries by share of users attacked by mobile malware; Nigeria climbs from fifth place in 2017 to third in 2018.

Gunmen Kidnap Mother of Super Eagles Player, Kalu, Demand N50M Ransom

Samuel Kanu

The Mother of Super Eagles Star Samuel Kalu has been abducted in Aba, Abia state, southeast Nigeria by kidnappers who are demanding for N50m ransom. 

Another Opportunity For Nigeria Go Get Counter-terrorism Right

 

Aftermath of Nigeria's presidential election, much is anticipated regarding the new leader’s strategy to end the deadly Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s north-east. The new administration cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of previous administrations or ignore lessons learnt since the Boko Haram crisis began 10 years ago.

Boko Haram Insurgency: UN, Others Concerned Over ‘Forced Return’ of Nigerian Refugees To Rann

Tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees are being forced to return to a remote town repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram, despite lacking security, food, water and shelter, aid agencies said Friday.

Will Terrorism Continue To Ebb in 2019?

Lost in the headlines, rapidly accelerating news cycles and the pervasive fear generated by terrorist threats is the fact that terrorist attacks worldwide have actually been declining – in some areas substantially.