News
Boko Haram Controls Eight LGAs In Borno
Minister of Sports, Hon. Tammy Danagogo (left), with President, Market Place Apostles and organiser IC BEC2014, Pastor Uche Onoche (right), during the 4th International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference in Port Harcourt recently.
The Borno State Governor, Mr. Kashim Shettima has expressed worry on how Boko Haram had taken over eight out of the 27 local government areas of the state.
Shettima who disclosed this yesterday while receiving members of the Federal Government Sub-committee of the Victims Supporters Fund in Maiduguri. He said that the continued attacks on communities in the state had created hardships on the people.
He said, “The insurgents have taken over nearly eight LGAs in the state. “They have taken over Gamboru-Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Askira-Uba and part of Konduga local government areas. “The insurgents have also carried out recent attacks in Abadam, Kukawa”.
Shettima, however, expressed optimism that the insurgency would end in a short while, saying “I strongly believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. ‘We are going to bounce back very soon by the grace of God”.
Speaking earlier, the sub-committee chairman on data collection, Retired Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep has commended the governor for his supports to insurgency victims.
‘We commend the responsible leadership of Shettima for what he has been doing in helping victims of insurgency in the state,” Wuyep said.
He said that the state alone could not be able to effectively provide help to victims of insurgency, especially with the renewed attacks on villages.
Wuyep said, “The Federal Government will step in to provide supports to the IDPs. The sub-committee was set up to gather data on the number of IDPs and infrastructure that were destroyed for government to intervene. “Our sub-committee was set up to get the details on the ground so that government can intervene”.
He said that the sub-committee decided to visit Borno fist because of the enormity of damage done by the insurgents in the state.
Meanwhile, members of the Boko Haram, have instituted Shara law in Mubi, Adamawa State which captured last week.
The insurgents were also said to have amputated the hands of 10 residents said to have been found guilty of sundry offences, including looting of property of fleeing residents.
Sources in Mubi town said they saw the terrorists parading 10 persons whose hands were said to have been amputated.
The victims were said to been amputated in the presence of residents the insurgents asked to converge to witness the enforcement of Sharia law.
An eye witness account indicated that two imams were dragged out from a mosque and beheaded for allegedly preaching against Boko Haram. The insurgents also advised all Christians in the Mubi Local Government Area to relocate to other areas except they were prepared to be islamised or be killed.
The source further said that the Emir’s palace in Mubi had been converted to the residence of the ‘Amir’ and that the insurgents hoisted their flags to signify that they were in control of the palace.
Our correspondent learnt that the most affected by the development in Mubi were students of the Adamawa State University and the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi.
The students were said to have gone through torture before some of them reportedly escaped through the border between Nigeria and Cameroun. Some of them were said to still be in the bush.
“I must give thanks and praises to God almighty for spearing my life; I saw as people were being slaughtered like goats. I am to happy to see myself alive”, a female student of the Federal Polytechnic, told our correspondent in Yola on Sunday.
The insurgents said their mode of prayer was different from what Muslims in the twon were used to and that they were “in Mubi to restore Islamic indepdence to the people and anybody who does not follow us must be killed”.
“We are not to hurt anyone but to free the people from religious salavery”, a source quoted the insurgents to have said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, AlhajiZanna Mustapha, has said that the Federal Government needs to adopt more stringent measures against Boko Haram in the North-East.
Mustapha told journalists on Monday at the Government |House, Yola, that the state governments of Adamawa, Borno and yobe had raised the alarm over the future of their states as a resulf of rising occupation of towns and villages by Boko Haram.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
