Almajiris
Femi Falana: President Buhari’s government defending killer-herdsmen
Human rights activist Femi Falana has accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of defending killer-herdsmen which was why the issues continued. He said it has come to a point where the people needed to defend themselves as the Buhari-led government had failed the people. According to Falana, that was why he had accused the Buhari administration of portraying itself as defending herders and not other Nigerians because Almajiris have been deported, beggars and the destitute deported, but that the President never defended them. “The government never raised any constitutional issues. My position is that the government can stop the citizens from taking the law into their own hands to assure the people in concrete terms of the security of their lives and property. It is a simple and ...
Kano quarantines over 2000 almajiris
Kano state government has quarantined over 2000 Almajiris to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state, the second hotspot of the virus after Lagos State. The Kano state Commissioner of Health Ibrahim Tsanyawa confirmed this to newsmen that a team of rapid response experts have been trained to manage the Almajiris at their quarantine centres. Tsanyawa revealed that the trainees were selected from medical doctors, nurses, community health workers and laboratory scientists to test and screen the Almajiris at their in their camps in Kiru, Gabasawa and Karaye Local Government Areas of the state. He explained that the Almajiris, including those that had been repatriated from other states to Kano, would be tested for COVID-19. He added that those who have tested positive for the virus would be ta...
SMBLF asks Nigerian government to declare ‘invasion’ of South, Middle-Belt by Almajiris illegal
Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on the Federal Government to publicly declare the invasion of the South and Middle-Belt by teenagers, including Almajiris from far North, in spite of the ban on interstate movements imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as illegal and direct the security agencies to immediately flush them out and ensure that they do not return. SMBLF made these demands on Sunday in a joint statement signed by Chief E K Clark for PANDEF, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on behalf of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Ohaneze) and Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle- Belt Forum). The group, while making the demands, expressed outrage at what it termed complacency on the part of Nigerian security forces at the invasion of their areas by teena...
Kano evacuates 1, 213 almajiris to their home state
Kano State Government on Sunday said no fewer than 1, 213 Almajiris have been evacuated to their state of origin. Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, Chairman, Kano State Almajiri Evacuation Committee told newsmen in Kano that “due process and proper screening are the hallmark of the ongoing evacuation exercise.” Garo who is also the Commissioner for Local government revealed that the Committee worked with the state Ministry of Health to ensure that Almajiris taken out of Kano to their respective states of origin are in good health. He said Kano has so far, received over 200 Almajiris returnees from Kaduna, Plateau and Niger states respectively. Garo stressed ‘as I speak to you, they are being quarantined in Kiru Reformatory Institute, where they are being provided with free feeding and medication b...
PTF: NAFDAC screening local cures for coronavirus
The Federal Government said yesterday it has evaluated claims by local researchers that they have manufactured curative drugs for COVID-19. It explained that having met preliminary requirements, the drugs had been forwarded to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, for listing. National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force for COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, had restated the federal government’s position on Wednesday that no cure had been found for the disease. The government also expressed worries over the continued repatriation of Almajiriai by states, saying the development could fuel a spike in infections. On compliance with general safety protocols put in place against the virus, the federal government asked security agencies not to cut corners, addi...
Cross River orders five truckloads of almajiris back to destination
Cross River State government on Thursday ordered five truckloads of almajiris including other passengers from the northern part of Nigeria back to its destination. Newsmen learnt that a border patrol team, comprising of Peace Corp members, civilian Vigilantes, Border COVID-19 Taskforce had intercepted the trucks yesterday night at the Gakem border town in Bekwara LGA of the state near Benue State. A source who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the team was led by a Commissioner who said it was the result of intensive search and blockade of interstate vehicular travels, which his team was poised to enforce. “After a thorough check on the five trucks we discovered that most of the passengers, aside goods, were almajiris who did not meet COVID19 protocols, we had to force them to return,” ...
Nigeria extends ban on all flights by another two weeks
The Presidential Task Force on the control of the pandemic has announced a two-week extension of the ban of all flights in Nigeria which is due to expire on Thursday. Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said at its briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He said: “Tomorrow (Thursday) marks the last day for the enforcement of the closure of Nigeria’s airspace to flights. We have assessed the situation in the aviation industry and have come to the conclusion that given the facts available to us and based on the advice of experts, the ban on all flights will be extended for an additional four weeks.” The Task Force has also alerted that the outcomes of the modeling it has adopted suggest that dangers lie ahead for the country. He said...
