Humanity Watch

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday called for global COVID-19 vaccine production in her speech at the Global Solutions Summit 2021. To overcome the COVID-19 crisis, “we need to provide access to sufficient vaccines, medicines and tests for all, including the poorest countries,’’ said Merkel. Meanwhile, Merkel called on G20 countries to support the international campaign ACT-Accelerator to the best of their abilities. She urged them to accelerate the development of tools against COVID-19 and make them available to all countries in a fair manner. According to Merkel, there was a lack of funds not only for vaccine distribution but also for production expansion. Meanwhile, as one of the ACT Accelerator’s largest donors, Germany would support the global initiative with 2.2 billion euros (2.7 billion U.S. dollars). “The world is a community of fate, said Merkel, adding that there’s no lack of major challenges” she added.

  Wanted Ponzi scheme operator Omotade-Sparks Amos Sewanu, who fled from Badagry, Lagos State, has been arrested by the EFCC in Sokoto. Sewanu was the mastermind of the Inks Nation Ponzi Scheme. The suspect who had been at large, was finally arrested on 27 May. He has made useful statement, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said on Friday. Omotade-Sparks was declared wanted by the EFCC in November 2020 after efforts to apprehend him failed. Omotade-Sparks Amos Sewanu ponzi scheme operator declared wanted by EFCC He is the mastermind of a huge pyramid investment scheme through which many citizens were defrauded of monies to the tune of over N32 Million Naira. He had floated a phoney online digital currency called “Pinkoin” which lured many Nigerians to invest between N1,000 to N100,000 with a promise of unrealistic returns. He went ahead to distribute a payment card called “Pink Card” to further confuse his victims. Omotade-Sparks equally made false claims that he was in partnership with t

  Daredevil gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias have reportedly invaded Shikaan Mbagena Kpav community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing 36 people. The incident according to reports occurred on Thursday night when the armed men invaded the community and slaughtered scores of people. According to a source, 36 bodies have been recovered while scores are still missing after the attack. Reports also have it that some students of the College of Education in Katsina-Ala were also killed. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anene Sewuese Catherine said she was yet to receive report of the incident as the time of filing this report. In her words, “I have not received this report from officers on ground yet.” This development has sparked on outrage on social media with users using the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack.

  As Nigeria marks this year's  International Children's Day celebration, the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has marked  the occasion with less privileged children in neglected communities in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Left(from behind) CITAD FCT  State Coordinator  for Youth  Digital Engagement, Mubarak Ekute and  CITAD  Programme Officer, Yesmin Salako(far right) in group photograph with some of the children who celebrated the International Children's Day in Gofidna community in Abuja on Thursday. The International Children's Day, which was  commemorated on Thursday nationwide, was celebrated with support from Actionaid Nigeria in Gofidna, Gwalada and Dakwa communities all in Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC) of the FCT under the Local Rights Programme of the organization. Highlight of the event was an interactive session with children in the communities during the event. The children spoke about  their dreams and aspiration for the  f

  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma on Monday disclosed that over 400 people who caused mayhem or attacks in the state have been arrested and charged to court. This is contained n a statement in Owerri by Uzidunma’s Chief Press Secretary Oguwike Nwachuku. ”Over 400 of those who carried out the threats on the state in the past have been arrested. ”The good thing is that over 70 per cent of them are not Igbo. We will crush anybody that attempts to cause mayhem or attack Imo people again. ”Government cannot surrender to blackmailers, hoodlums, and perpetrators of violence,” he said. He also advised those planning to visit the state with any form of violence to have a rethink as “government is more than ever ready and prepared to keep Imo safe and secured.” Uzodinma  called on the people to go about their businesses without fear of molestation or harassment. ”What happened in the past weeks will never repeat itself again,” he added. NAN

  The Sokoto Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, has died at the age of 62, after a protracted illness. The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Muktar Dodo-Iya, in Sokoto, said that the deceased passed on in the early hours of Monday at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUS) leaving behind two wives and seven children. He said that Tureta was once a member representing Tureta local government area in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, before becoming a federal lawmaker representing Bodinga/DangeShuni/Tureta, Federal Constituency. Similarly, the deceased served as commissioner during former Gov. Aliyu Wamakko’s administration for eight years and was later reappointed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for an additional six years. Meanwhile, preparations for his burial have commenced in his hometown of Tureta.

  There was shed loads of emotions and tears as the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo visited the wife and family of late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru. Mrs Osinbajo who paid a visit to seven of the families, all of whom reside in Abuja, conveyed the message of the President and First Lady. She was among early callers at the residence of the COAS on Friday soon after the news got out. Since then reports say she has been visiting the relatives of the departed everyday. In what was a very emotive scene, Mrs Osinbajo could be seen embracing the wives of the departed officers. When she arrived at the residence of Mrs Attahiru, she was received by Mrs Victoria Irabor, the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor. She assured Mrs Attahiru and family that both the President and his VP would ensure that the memories of the COAS and all the military officers involved would not be forgotten. She was then accompanied by leaders of the Defence and Police Of

  Daredevil gunmen on Sunday attacked Dong Community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau killing seven persons . “At about 8 p.m. on Sunday, we received a distress call that gunmen invaded Dong Village and killed seven persons, police spokesman in Plateau, ASP Ubah Ogaba, said in a statement issued on Monday in Jos. “A combined team of policemen, personnel of Operation Safe Haven, and Vigilance operatives raced to the scene but the hoodlums had fled into the bush. “Investigation is ongoing, frantic effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects. “Meanwhile security has been beefed up in that area to prevent escalation of violence or reprisal,’’ he added. Ogaba called on members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the criminals to report to security agencies. He also advised residents of the community to be law-abiding, insisting that the security agencies would do everything to fish out the perpetrators.

  Anambra State Police Commissioner, Chris Owolabi said there were no police casualties in the attacks launched by hoodlums against its ‘B’ Division and the office of INEC on Sunday night in Awka. On the contrary, he said four of the gunmen who attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were shot dead during gun-battle. Owolabi said: “It was a 95 percent success for us on Sunday because God was on our side. The attack on our charge room at B Division was a decoy to attack INEC office. “We demobilised their three vehicles, recovered six pump action guns, one AK -47 and one General Purpose Machine Gun from them. “It was unfortunate that they succeeded in burning collation centre of INEC and four vehicles, but it was a huge success for us. We didn’t record any casualty but investigations are still going on and after it, we give you full details.” Owolabi spoke at a press conference in Awka Monday, according to a report monitored on Anambra Broadcasting Ser

One of the artistic creation by CITAD and Actionaid Nigeria Team at the event on Saturday. Photo credit: Humanity Watch The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has taken it advocacy for neglected communities in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria to another dimension. CITAD is a non-governmental organisation that is committed to the use of information and communication technologies for development and promotion of good governance.  With supports from Actionaid Nigeria which is working to ensure social justice, equity and good governance in the society, the organisation has resorted to the use of visual arts as part of strategies to draw attention of government at all levels, non-governmental organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to the plight of these communities. Work in progress. Photo credit: Humanity Watch   At an event tagged: ‘Artistic Creation,’ put together by the organisation on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in Abu

  Hoodlums suspected to be bandits on Monday morning attacked a Mosque in Kwata, Jibia Local Government Area of Kastina State. The bandits in the attack abducted over 40 worshippers. According to report, the incident occurred at about 12am on Monday morning during the Laylatul  Qadr prayers. The Laylatul Qadr prayer which is the Night of Decree or Night of Power is one of the most sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. Confirming the attack, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Gambo Ishaka said that 30 of the abductees have been rescued by the joint security operatives. Ishaka said “The report is true. Hoodlums attacked a Mosque in Kwata and abducted over 40 persons but we were able to rescue 30 of them. “But these remaining ten, I can not vividly say they are kidnapped or probably ran somewhere within the location for safety during the attack. “It was after we conducted headcount this morning that we discovered that about ten villagers are still missing. “But hopeful

  As the world marks this year’s World Lupus Day on Monday, Arise Monalisa Foundation (AMF) has embarked on a sensitisation campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the danger of Lupus disease and the need to adopt healthy lifestyles as measures to prevent it. Founder of the Foundation, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, who addressed residents briefly after a two-kilometer sensitisation walk to raise awareness on Lupus in Abuja at the weekend, said the campaign was necessary in order to draw the attention of stakeholders in the health sector to the sufferings and debilitating impact of lupus on people suffering the disease, with a view to address the need for improved healthcare services to the patients and as well increase research into the causes and cure for Lupus. Lupus, which is an emerging disease, occurs when the body system attacks its own tissues and organs, resulting in inflammation that may affect various body organs including the skin, kidneys, brain, blood cells, lungs, heart and the joint

  As part of the activities to mark the second year anniversary of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration in Oyo  State, the state government has concluded plans to install not less than fifty mobile toilets in strategic locations in the metropolis to eradicate open defecation. Speaking on behalf of the governor, the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Abdulateef Oyeleke  at the weekend said the mobile toilets would be situated at locations for the conveniences of pedestrians, passengers and travellers in an attempt to ensure that the environment was not polluted. “The mobile toilets will be placed in strategic locations across the State to assist in promoting personal hygiene of the citizens and maintaining a healthy standard in the State, which will not only stop the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, but also check other ravaging diseases that are threats to human existence. “The toilets will be placed in locations like markets, garag