Bandits release abducted lecturer
One of the abducted lecturers of the Abia State University Uturu, ABSU, Don Chris Afulike of the Department of Mass Communication, has regained his freedom according to a university source.
Public Relations Officer PRO of the institution, Mr Chijioke Nwogu who confirmed this to Vanguard in a telephone interview, said the lecturer regained his freedom on Friday night.
He however declined further information on how the abducted lecturer was freed but simply said the university community was happy that the victim was out of captivity.
The university spokesman, however, noted that the other victim, Rev. Professor S. O. Eze of the Department of Industrial Chemistry was yet to be freed.
The lecturers along with other commuters were on Thursday evening abducted by suspected Fulani bandits terrorising motorists on the Uturu/Isuikwuato Road.
They were travelling to Item for a religious programme when the incident occurred.
Their abductors were said to have marched them into the bush after forcing their vehicles to a halt following the sporadic shooting.
Abduction for ransom by Fulani bandits has persisted along Isuikwuato/Bende axis despite assurances by security agencies to confront the situation.
Source: Vanguard News Nigeria
Twenty-six killed, 2,000 houses destroyed by floods in Kano: SEMA
No fewer than 26 persons have been killed while 2,000 houses and 95 farms have been destroyed by flooding across eight local government councils in Kano, says the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Dr Sale Jili, Executive Secretary of the agency, disclosed this on Sunday in Kano, saying properties destroyed are worth over N1.5 billion.
Mr Jili said that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted flooding in 25 LGAs of the state due to expected heavy rainfall.
“About 26 persons were killed, 2,026 houses destroyed, 95 rice farms washed away and 19 persons injured due to flooding in the state,” he said.
Mr Jili named the affected LGAs to include Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni, Doguwa, Rano, Ungogo, Tudun Wada and Tsanyawa.
“We have visited Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni and Doguwa to distribute relief materials to the victims as a measure to alleviate their sufferings.
“The items distributed include food items, bags of cement, roofing sheets, mats and blankets,” he said.
Mr Jili said the agency had deployed personnel to Tudun Wada LGA which was badly affected by the disaster to assess the damage to enable it to develop comprehensive data.
He said that the state government in collaboration with the Federal Government has set up an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp furnished with mattresses and beddings for flood victims that can accommodate over 700 persons.
Mr Jili urged residents of the state to report any disaster to their ward heads and warned them against dumping of refuse on waterways and clear their drainages to avert flooding.
Source: People’s Gazette
Several killed near Kabul airport as thousands of Afghans flee prospect of Taliban rule
Seven people have been killed in the crowds near Kabul airport, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said on Sunday, as thousands of people try to flee Afghanistan and the threats posed by a new Taliban regime.
“Our sincere thoughts are with the families of the seven Afghan civilians who have sadly died in crowds in Kabul,” the UK defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible.”
Tens of thousands of Afghans were still racing to flee on Sunday as the United States warned of security threats at Kabul’s airport gates.
At least 20 people have been killed in and around the single-runway airfield since last Sunday, a NATO official said Sunday.
But terrified Afghans continue to try and flee, deepening a tragedy at Kabul airport where the United States and its allies have been unable to cope with the huge numbers of people trying to get on evacuation flights.
Source: France24