189 persons killed, 63 health workers infected by Lassa fever
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that about 189 deaths were recorded in the country in 2022 from Lassa fever. Also, 63 healthcare workers were infected by the disease in the year under review. According to the situation report released yesterday by the Centre, confirmed cases for last 2022 stand at 1,067 across 112 Local Government Areas and 27 states.
The report showed that 72 per cent of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from three states of Ondo, Edo and Bauchi while 23 per cent were reported from 24 states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. It further revealed that of the 72 per cent of confirmed cases, Ondo State reported 33 per cent, Edo 25 per cent, and Bauchi 14 per cent
The 52nd-week report from December 26 to January 1, 2023, showed that the suspected cases were 8,202. The report read in part, “In week 52, the number of new confirmed cases decreased from 17 in week 51, 2022, to 12 cases. These were reported from Edo, Ebonyi and Benue States. “Cumulatively from week 1 to week 52, 2022, 189 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 17.7 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2021 (20.0 per cent).
“In total for 2022, 27 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 112 Local Government Areas. The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years (Range: 1 to 90 years, Median Age: 30 years). The male-to-female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:0.8″.
“The number of suspected cases has increased compared to that reported for the same period in 2021. No new Healthcare worker was affected in the reporting week 52. National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.” According to the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
Source: Guardian
UPDATED: Scores abducted from Edo train station, many injured
Barely a year after terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train from Abuja, at a place called Katari in Kaduna State, the Edo State Police Command said scores of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen on Saturday evening. Many of the travellers were also reportedly injured.
The Edo Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement. The statement claimed that the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush. The Command added that many of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, assuring that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with an aim to rescue those the kidnap victims herded into the bush.
The statement read, “This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated”, Nwabuzor stated. The March 28, 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack resulted in the death of about 14 passengers and while 63 others were officially declared abducted.
Source: Punch
Atiku to Tinubu: Involving Buhari in your campaign won’t help
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation has mocked the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for dragging President Muhammadu Buhari into his campaign. The PDP Campaign said Tinubu’s attempt to use Buhari to launder his image will fall flat.
This was contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, yesterday. He said, “It is indeed ludicrous that Asiwaju Tinubu who is badgered with narcotic and many corruption allegation stains is now seeking President Buhari’s presence in his campaign after he had boastfully claimed that he (President Buhari) had no political relevance and could not become President until he (Tinubu) came to his rescue.
“Nigerians watched as Tinubu’s publicity derided, scorned and disparaged President Buhari and even demonstrated how, according to him, President Buhari cried after losing the election thrice until he (Tinubu) picked him up, wiped his tears and made him President. “Nigerians are therefore wondering what roles Tinubu, who disparaged Buhari as not having political weight, now wants President Buhari to play in the campaign for which he is forcefully dragging him to the arena, if not to smear Mr President with his putrid stains.
“Nigerians are wondering what President Buhari, with his professed aversion to corruption and drug-related issues, will be saying while presenting Asiwaju Tinubu to the electorate in rallies, if he ever does. “Will President Buhari be explaining to Nigerians the link the APC Presidential Candidate had with narcotics for which a Court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America ordered the forfeiture of a gargantuan sum of $460,000 found in Tinubu’s account as proceeds of illicit transactions?
“Will Buhari be apologising to Nigerians for approving, as a military Head of State, the execution of a set of Nigerians for a drug-related offence only to now be presenting someone that forfeited money in a narcotic-related matter as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
Source: Vanguard