Nigeria

ABUJA, June 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian governors have declared a state of emergency over rape and violence against women and children in the country.

This follows a spike in cases of gender-based violence during the recent lockdown imposed in some states to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In a statement, the 36 governors strongly condemned all forms of violence against women and children, and said they were “committed to ensuring that offenders face the maximum weight of the law”.

ABUJA, May 26 (NNN-ENA) – Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, said, peace, along with security, unity, and harmony, is a prerequisite for sustainable development in Africa.

In a message to African leaders, to mark “Africa Day 2020” launched by the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Buhari said, Africa gave the world new hope, by choosing the theme “Silencing the Guns in the Context of the COVID-19” for this year’s celebration.

CALABAR (Nigeria), May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A pastor in Nigeria’s southern city of Calabar has been arrested for breaching lockdown rules by conducting a wedding in his church.

In a video, guests can be seen fleeing as officials entered the building.

The pastor, from the Apostolic Church, was arrested on Saturday by members of Cross River state’s Covid-19 taskforce who were on patrol. They got suspicious after seeing an unusual number of vehicles parked in front of the church.

ABUJA, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria impounded a plane operated by a British company for allegedly contravening a flight ban imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the aviation minister said.

Passenger flights into the country, with the exception of ones to evacuate people or repatriate Nigerian citizens, have been banned for weeks. The ban will remain in place until at least June 4.

Flights for essential services, such as the delivery of food supplies and items for humanitarian use, are permitted.

ABUJA, May 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The authorities in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern Rivers state have demolished two hotels over an alleged breach of lockdown rules intended to contain the spread of coronavirus.

State Governor Nyesom Wike, who supervised the tearing down of Edemete Hotel and Prodest Home on Sunday, said the operators had flouted an order that hotels should be closed.

ABUJA, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Nigeria are investigating a reported rise in deaths in the northern state of Jigawa.

The state government has sent a five-person team to report back before the end of the week after residents said there had been an increase in deaths in some communities.

Local reports quoting residents of Hadejia town say about 100 people were reported dead in 10 days.

Doctors in Jigawa initially attributed the deaths to illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure.

ABUJA, Apr 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A total of 15 hostages held by pirates, in Nigeria’s delta region were rescued by troops, operating in the oil-producing state of Bayelsa, said a military spokesman.

The hostages were held in five speed boats owned by the pirates and were freed by the troops, who were on routine patrol at the Nembe Owelesu area of Bayelsa, Enenche said.

The pirates who abandoned the hostages had fled into the creeks upon sighting the troops, according to the spokesman.

ABUJA, April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria will begin a “gradual easing” of coronavirus-related lockdowns in the federal capital territory of Abuja, and Lagos and Ogun states from May 4, 2020.

The lockdowns had been due to end on Monday night, but President Muhammadu Buhari said they needed to continue.

He also ordered new nationwide measures against Covid-19, including a night-time curfew and mandatory face masks.

The moves would ensure the economy functioned “while still maintaining our aggressive response”, Buhari said.

KANO (Nigeria), April 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bandits killed 47 people in coordinated attacks against several farming villages in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, the president’s office and local police said.

Men on motorbikes carried out “organised and simultaneous attacks”, on the villages, Katsina state police spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement.

The predawn raids Saturday targetted villages in the Dutsenma, Danmusa and Safana districts, he added.

ABUJA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Abba Kyari, one of the closest advisers to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, died Friday after contracting the novel coronavirus, becoming the highest-profile casualty of the virus in Africa’s biggest economy.

Buhari named Kyari, a former chief executive officer of United Bank for Africa Plc, as his chief of staff in August 2015, and renewed his appointment after winning a second term in office.

Behind the scenes, he was regarded as one of the powerful politicians in the country of more than 200 million people.