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National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday warned traders on dangers of Lassa fever, meningitis and measles, urging them to always take precaution against the deadly diseases during dry season when the diseases were rampant and also dangerous to human beings.
Its North-west zonal Coordinator, Musa Ilallah, who made the call while addressing the village head of Kawo community within the Kawo market in Kaduna state, described Lassa fever as “a dangerous disease” that affects the blood, liver and other parts of the human body.
He said: “It is a disease caused by Lassa fever virus that is carried mostly by multimamate rats. The disease occurs throughout the year but it’s most common during dry season. Cholera is another deadly disease that we think our people need to take precaution from. Other diseases are measles and meningitis all are killer diseases that are rampant in dry season.
“We decided to visit this market because it’s one of the important markets in the state. People from different villages and communities visit this market on weekly basis. So we feel it will be best to meet with the traders face to face to educate them on these diseases mentioned above.”
The coordinator added that there were steps to prevent these diseases which included ensuring proper sanitation and for people to always wash hands after visiting toilet.
“People must learn to always cover their dust bins and toilets; they must avoid eating uncovered food. Traders must learn to always wash hands before and after eating. For meningitis they should always sleep in a well ventilated room and not in overcrowded room. They should also maintain proper sanitation and to avoid contact with infected person.”
The village head of Kawo, Alhaji Yahaya Hassan, thanked NEMA for the sensitisation against the deadly diseases and assured the agency of their total support and readiness to help eradicate the diseases, particularly Lassa fever.
The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone has ended, leaving no confirmed cases of the virus in West Africa, the UN said Thursday, hailing a “milestone” in the fight against the outbreak.
“The World Health Organization joins the government of Sierra Leone in marking the end of the recent flare-up of Ebola virus disease in the country,” a statement said.
The global health body made the announcement after 42 days — or two Ebola incubation cycles — since Sierra Leone’s last Ebola patient tested negative for the second time.
WHO was however careful to warn that a recurrence of cases of the deadly tropical disease remained possible in the three worst-affected countries.
“WHO continues to stress that Sierra Leone, as well as Liberia and Guinea, are still at risk of Ebola flare-ups, largely due to virus persistence in some survivors, and must remain on high alert and ready to respond,” the statement said.
Sierra Leone was previously declared free of Ebola transmission on November 7 last year and Guinea on December 29 while Liberia followed on January 14 — but only after the virus killed more than 11,300 people across the region.
The police have confirmed that 20 persons were injured, two of them in critical conditions, in a gas explosion at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Calabar on Friday.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Mr Henry Fadairo, said that the explosion was caused by gas cylinders in the bank.
Fadairo said that the explosion, which caused panic in the state capital, was not a bomb blast as speculated.
“The team of experts handling the situation confirmed that 18 persons were injured while two others are in a critical situation.
“The explosion was caused by gas cylinders in the CBN. It is not a bomb blast as it is already being speculated in some corners.
“The police, the navy, the army, road safety marshalls and the civil defence were on ground to help the state fire service to bring the situation under control.
The CBN office is currently under tight security with armed policemen deployed in the area.
A suit seeking fresh investigations into the murder of a late governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Funsho Williams, was on Monday reopened before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The applicant, Bashir Junaid, approached the court again after the same suit had been struck out on April 29, 2015 by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for want of diligent prosecution. The judge however allowed the suit to be returned onto the cause list after entertaining a fresh motion and argument from the plaintiff’s counsel, Tunji Adesheye, on Monday. Junaid, a cemetery attendant, who was arrested and detained by the police during preliminary investigation into Williams’ murder, filed the suit seeking a mandamus order compelling the Inspector General of Police to conduct fresh investigation with the possibility of a fresh trial. The applicant, who is seeking N5bn as exemplary damages, joined a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and 10 others as the respondents. Williams, who was strangled to death in his Dolphin Estate residence, in Ikoyi, Lagos, on July 27, 2006, was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Junaid, in his 48-рaragraph ѕtаtеmеnt of сlаim, alleged that the police disregarded his freely made statement, which could have assisted them to know who killed Williams. He claimed that the concrete evidence that he tendered was diѕcarded by the Federal Central Invеѕtigаtiоnѕ Dераrtmеnt, Alagbon, Lagos. Junaid, who alleged that Tinubu used his influence with the police to exonerate himself, equally accused the police of compromise by allegedly allowing the legal adviser to the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire, to change his statement after he had been cautioned. At the Monday’s proceedings, Adesheye informed the court that in compliance with an earlier order of the court before the suit was struck out, his client had ensured personal service of the concurrent writ of summons on the defendants that were outside the court’s jurisdiction. The lawyer urged the court to grant the motion seeking to re-list the suit in the interest of justice, saying the defendants would not be prejudiced in anyway whatsoever if the request was granted. But counsel for the 1st and 4th defendants, Kingson Uwandu, while opposing Adesheye’s submission, pointed out that the plaintiff had yet to pay the N25, 000 fine placed on him by the court when the matter was struck out. Uwandu said it was improper for the plaintiff, who had failed to comply with an order of the court, to turn around seeking a favour from the same court. But when probed by the court on when the order for the payment of the N25, 000 fine was made against the plaintiff, Uwandu said he could not remember because he was not with the case file. Ofili-Ajumogobia, who eventually vacated the earlier cost of N25, 000 made against Junaid, also granted the prayer to enlist the suit. Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till September 29, 2015.
Over 120 passengers, including the Director, Muslim Rights Concern, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Friday evening escaped death as an Aero Contractors Airline Flight 180 from Lagos to Kaduna developed technical fault mid-air. The aircraft was said to have suddenly lost altitude, 20 minutes after it departed the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, forcing the aircraft to wobble in the air for over one hour before it was eventually diverted to Abuja. Akintola, who broke the news to New Mail, said the flight took off from Lagos at exactly 6.30pm. He said 20 minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost altitude and the passengers had to make use of the oxygen masks as the plane continued to wobble, while dropping steadily. Akintola said, “The plane lost altitude 20 minutes after takeoff. We had to make use of the oxygen masks. We saw smoke outside the plane, probably coming from the engine compartment. “At this time, the whole plane was thrown into commotion. Many passengers screamed and some fainted. Prayers upon prayers were offered. Some shouted Allah , others Jesus.” Akintola said it was in the midst of the commotion that the crew, whom he commended for their professionalism and unusual calmness, announced that the plane would be diverted to Abuja. He said, “While the pilot was making the announcement of the flight diversion, I noticed that his voice was trembling. He told us that Abuja was 120 miles away and that we would land in 25 minutes. But we were not sure we would make it. “In fact, I quickly recited the Kalimah (the Quranic invocation of the oneness of Allah), believing that the end had come,” Akintola added in messages to New Mail. He said that the plane finally touched down in Abuja at about 9.00pm and upon landing in Abuja, the officials of the airline told the devastated passengers that the fault would be hurriedly repaired and that the plane would proceed to take them to Kaduna, their original destination. As of the time he spoke with New Mail at about 9.30pm, he said he was already in a taxi taking him from Abuja to Kaduna as he could not risk being “flown in the same aircraft that was divinely saved from crashing.” Akintola said, “As I am talking to you, I am now in a taxi taking me to Kaduna. They said they wanted to repair the plane and that we should wait so it takes us to Kaduna. Allah forbids. They asked how many of us wanted to disembark and almost everybody came out.”
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| Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade |
The fighters of the Boko Haram Islamic sect attacked Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Tuesday.
An intelligence source said on Tuesday that the attackers attempted to overpower a unit of soldiers without success around Barkin Dutse.
The source said that the insurgents were still involved in a gun duel with troops as of 2.20pm when our correspondent filed this report on Tuesday.
It was learnt that the soldiers had an upperhand against the insurgents while some troops were drafted to the Cameroonian side of the border to block it.
The source stated also that soldiers surrounded all the exit points to and outside Madagali to prevent the insurgents who invaded the area from fleeing.
“As we speak now, the Boko Haram members are attacking Madagali. They attempted to overpower a military unit at Barki Dutse area but the soldiers responded sharply to the attack.
“They have not been overpowered completely; they are still fighting but soldiers have been deployed to all the exit points from Madagali.
“Troops have also gone to block the Cameroonian side of the border to prevent them from escaping.”
It was further gathered that a suicide bomber killed nine people at Garkida, in Gombi Local Government area of Adamawa State.
It was learnt that the suicide bomber detonated the Improvised Explosive Device at the Garkida Market when activities were picking up in the market on Tuesday.
It was further gathered that some members of a youth vigilante group apprehended another set of two suicide bombers who were caught with unexploded IEDs wired to their bodies.
The two terror suspects were said to have confessed that six of them were involved in the mission to unleash violence on the Garkida Market.
They were also said to have told their interrogators that the whereabouts of three of the suicide bombers was unknown while one died in the suicide attack on the market.
“A suicide bomber has killed nine people in Garkida Market today (Tuesday). You know today is the market day and the bomb went off when the people were selling their wares in the market.
“I can’t say the exact time it happened but it was in the morning. Two of the suspects who had bombs strapped to their bodies were apprehended.
“The two who were arrested confessed that there were six suicide bombers who were sent to the market but three escaped and one died in the explosion.”
Our correspondent could not get the Director Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the story as calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.
Also Olukolade did not respond to a text message on the issue as of the time of filing the report.
Meanwhile, the troops of the Nigerian Army said they have killed a large number of insurgents in an encounter with the terrorists’ elements at a location in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Investigation revealed that the soldiers and the insurgents had a long-drawn battle on Saturday in a hilly hamlet between Paulka and Gwoza.
A security source who confided in our correspondent said that the troops of the 121 Special Forces battalion carried out the military action that culminated in the killing of over 50 of the insurgents.
It was learnt that the soldiers who were deployed in the hilly mountains of Gwoza close to the nation’s border with Cameroon sighted a large number of the Boko Haram insurgents and engaged them in a gun duel.
The source said that the insurgents were moving out of the Sambisa Forest to get food items in a particular location when they were sighted and the gun battle ensued.
It was gathered that a soldier who was hit by the insurgents’ bullets was quickly flown to Maiduguri for urgent medical attention.
The soldiers of the 121 Special Forces Battalion last week encountered many insurgents between Paulka and Gwoza. Several of the insurgents were killed in the attack.
“Our guys who were drafted to the top of the hills spotted the terrorists while they came out of their hideouts in the Sambisa Forest to look for food.
“They were not expecting the attack, so we got them seriously. One of the soldiers who sustained bullet wounds was immediately moved to Maiduguri for urgent medical action.”
Our correspondent could not get Olukolade to comment on the development also as calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.
He also had not responded to a text message on the issue as of the time of filing this story.
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| Director of Defence Information(Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade) |
The Director Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops have destroyed 10 more terrorists’ camps in the Sambisa Forest stronghold of the insurgents.
Olukolade also said that the soldiers who carried out the raid killed an unspecified number of insurgents in the operation.
However, Olukolade said that a soldier died and two other sustained injuries from land mines during the operation.
Olukolade, whose comments were contained in a statement on Sunday, said that one of the most prominent camps of the terrorists, the Dure Camp, was among the camps that fell to the superior fire power of the troops.
According to him, three of the camps were newly established by the insurgents before the commencement of the onslaught on the Sambisa and four others at a place called Iza in the forest.
He said, “An unconfirmed number of terrorists died on Saturday as 10 additional camps used by terrorists were overrun in the continuing offensive operations against the terrorists in Sambisa Forest.
“The Dure camp, which is one of the most prominent camps in the forest, witnessed the fiercest battle as the Special Forces descended heavily on it before it finally fell.
“Four of the camps were located in a place called Iza within the forest while three others were noted to be recently established by the terrorists before the assault began.
“One soldier died from one of the land mines encountered in the operation while two others were also wounded.
Olukolade added that the troops captured several vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armoured vehicles from the insurgents.
The Defence spokesman added that several of the insurgents who were fleeing the attack were killed in an ambush as they tried to escape from the forest.
He said that the fleeing terrorists were involved in suicide missions at Bitat and had encounters with troops at ‘Kiseru across the border with Niger.’
He stated that the fighter pilots of the Nigerian Air Force were maintaining effective aerial surveillance to track the movement of terrorists in the ongoing operation.
“The Operation to clear the terrorists in Sambisa and other forests is continuing as troops in all fronts have been alerted to be on the lookout for fleeing terrorists.”
Blues legend BB King has died in Las Vegas at the age of 89, his attorney has said.
King, who inspired a generation of mainstream guitarists, died late on Thursday, triggering shockwaves across social media, with stars from the music world lining up to pay tribute.
The 15-time Grammy award winner was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and influenced a generation of rock guitarists from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, having released more than fifty albums and sold millions of records worldwide.
Riley B King was born on September 16, 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
Authorities said on Thursday that Wednesday’s accident at El Tunel mine in the northwestern town of Riosucio was likely triggered by an explosion or power outage that disabled pumps used to extract water and supply oxygen to work crews as deep as 27 metres below ground.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from the scene, said: “Over 40 hours into the rescue operation the rescue teams have not Been able to reduce the level of the water.
“That’s because the water from the river is filtering into the mine from underneath. The rescuers say it is very unlikely to find anyone alive.”
Yeison Gutierrez, 34, said he was able to save several colleagues because he was one of the few miners who knew how to swim. But one co-worker slipped through his hands and didn’t make it above ground.
“I swam to the surface fighting against the water and the air pressure, that’s how we were saved,” Gutierrez told the AP news agency from the mine where he was assisting rescuers.
President Juan Manuel Santos called on rescuers to “spare no effort” in the search.
Family members huddled near the mine through the night as crews used pumps to remove water that had raced into three vertical shafts from the adjacent Cauca river.
Authorities said it could take at least three days to clear the mine.
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Forty-five people have died in a huge blaze at a footwear factory in the Philippine capital and 26 others remain missing, authorities said on Thursday, as grieving relatives described sweatshop conditions and poor fire safety standards.
Rescue workers pulled dozens of corpses out of the ruins of the two-storey building in Manila, many of whom were believed to have been trapped on the second floor after the blaze broke out just after noon on Wednesday.
“Many of those retrieved were reduced to skulls and bones,” national police chief Leonardo Espina said during an emotional press conference, as city authorities confirmed that 45 bodies had so far been found.
“Someone will definitely be charged because of the deaths. It doesn’t matter if it’s an accident, people died. Right now, we are investigating to clearly define what happened. For sure, someone will be charged.”
Sparks from welding equipment used to repair a broken gate are believed to have caused the fire when they ignited flammable chemicals stored nearby.
The building, among a long row of factories in the rundown district of Valenzuela on the northern edge of the Philippine capital, made cheap slippers and sandals for the local market.
The footwear had names such as “Havana” that sound like well-known global brands, company employees said.
– No safety standards –
The factory workers toiled for as little as 300 pesos (US$6.70) a day routinely surrounded by foul-smelling chemicals and were not aware of fire safety standards, survivors and relatives said.
“The families can’t help but be angry about what happened. We will never forget this,” Rodrigo Nabor, whose two sisters were inside the factory and remain unaccounted for, told AFP.
Nabor was among relatives of factory workers waiting for body bags at a village hall that had been converted into a makeshift morgue.
“I’ve lost hope that they survived,” said Nabor, 31, who works at a nearby plywood factory.
“I can’t explain how I’m feeling. I didn’t sleep at all last night. I just kept walking around the factory hoping for news.”
Nabor said his sisters, Bernardita Logronio, 32, and Jennylyn Nabor, 26, often complained of foul-smelling chemicals in their workplace.
“They said they keep an electric fan on to drive some of the smell away,” he said.
Nabor said their pay depended on how many sandals they finished, which could be as little as 300 pesos a day. Nabor’s sisters each had a young child.
One survivor, Janet Victoriano, signalled lax fire safety standards may have contributed to the high death toll.
“I had never been involved in a fire drill ever,” Victoriano, who had worked at the factory for five years, told DZMM radio.
Victoriano said she was able to escape because she was near the front door when the blaze started.
“The building was totally damaged, the roofs caved in and portions of the second floor collapsed,” the city’s fire marshal, Senior Superintendent Rico Kwantiu, told AFP.
Valenzuela mayor Rex Gatchalian told reporters that rescue workers would continue scouring the building on Thursday for the 26 people still missing, while also checking to see whether they had escaped.
“The city government is still praying and hoping some of them must have gotten out,” Gatchalian said.
Deadly fires regularly rip through the poor shanty areas of the Philippine capital, where there are virtually no fire safety standards.
In the deadliest fire in Manila in recent times, 162 people were killed in a huge blaze that gutted a Manila disco in 1996.
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| The Suspects |
Four suspected members of a robbery gang that unleashed terror on the Lekki area of Lagos on Thursday, March 12, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspected robbers ─ Duke Odogbo, 38, said to be the gang leader; Lawrence Kingsley, 31; Ebi Tosan, 20; and 30-year-old Ekelemo Kuete ─ were arrested in Delta, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos states.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Friday, March 13, that three policemen and a fish seller were killed by the gang which stormed the First City Monument Bank Limited on Admiralty Way in the Lekki area.
It was also reported that the robbers, numbering about 13, arrived at the bank, wielding AK-47 rifles and shooting sporadically for 30 minutes, during which the 14-year-old fish seller, Sarah Ibikunle, and three policemen were killed.
Our correspondent gathered that after the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, met with all commanders of the command’s combat units and assigned the task of fishing out the gang members to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by SP Abba Kyari.
It was learnt that six decoy teams of SARS were deployed to arrest the suspects from Lagos and the other three states.
Speaking on Wednesday, Odogbo, from Warri, Delta State, said they killed the policemen because the gang was prepared to deal with every resistance.
He added that they came with seven AK-47 rifles and carted away over N15m in the operation.
He said, “I am an Ijaw man living in Delta State. I was invited to Lagos to take part in the operation. I am not the gang leader, but only an expert. We were initially at a hideout around the Langbasa River till about 4pm.
“When it was time to move, we entered into two speedboats. I wore a military uniform and we entered into Lekki from the riverside. When we got to the bank, I was the first person to enter.
“We were 11 in number, and we had seven guns. In the banking hall, I asked for the bank manager, but they said they could not find him. We found some little cash ─ about N15m─ in a sack.
“While the operation was going on, others were outside, shooting to secure the area. It was on our way back that I found two rifles with them. They told me they collected them from the policemen they killed.
“What happened was that the policemen were in a van, and were passing by. They thought they came for us and we could not take chances.
“So, they shot them and took their guns. On our way out, we tried to open the Automated Teller Machines, but when they did not open on time, we took the machines with us.
“I was arrested in Warri. I got N500,000 for my part in the operation.”
Also, Ekelemo, who reportedly drove the speedboat, said they took off from the Majidun area. He, however, denied that he was one of those that shot the policemen.
He said, “I was the driver of the gang. I drove the speedboat. I am also an Ijaw man. I stay around the Arepo area of Ogun State. It was my brothers who called me to participate in the robbery. We call one of the gang leaders, O.C. We had taken off on that Thursday from the Majidun area.”
Our correspondent gathered that the police recovered a Honda Accord, 2008 model, bought with the proceeds from the robbery. Two smart phones, stolen from the bank workers during the operation, were also recovered from the gang, as well as 130 rounds of ammunition.
The police identified the three deceased officers as Inspector Bethel Agbobu, Sergeant Odehohwo George, and Corporal Imoisiu Ikechukwu.
The CP said efforts were on to arrest the remaining members of the gang, adding that residents of the state should trust the police to guarantee safety of lives and property.
He said, “The incident was a serious security breach in the Lekki area. It captured the attention of all because five lives, including three of our officers, were lost. I made a promise that we were going to get these hoodlums, and we have done that.
“Lagos is not a place where criminals can hide; we are going to continue to ensure safety of lives and property.
“Meanwhile, efforts are on to arrest other members of the gang.”
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, the US Geological Survey has said, but authorities have not issued a tsunami warning and there were no immediate reports of damage.
The quake struck at 6:12am (21:12 GMT Tuesday) off the east coast of Japan’s Honshu island in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 38.9km, according to USGS.
Japan’s meteorological agency said there was no immediate tsunami threat from the earthquake, which hit 33km southeast of the nearest city of Ofunato.
Large areas jolted by the latest tremor were among those damaged by the 2011 quake and tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant.
Wednesday’s earthquake did not damage any of the nuclear reactors in the region, including those at the crippled Fukushima facility, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said.
All of Japan’s reactors have been off-line since the Fukushima disaster.
Train services in the region, including “Shinkansen” bullet train operations, were temporarily suspended following the quake, officials said.
The Counsel for 12 soldiers condemned to death by a General Military Court Martial for alleged mutiny, Enokela Onyilo-Uloko, has cried out to Goodluck Jonathan and the Chief of Army Staff,Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.
Onyilo-Ukoko told our correspondent on Sunday that the soldiers who were sentenced to death by hanging on September 16, 2014, were being denied access to their family members and counsel.
He said this was contrary to an order of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Onyilo-Uloko said those in charge of the Army facility in Lagos had ignored the directive of the court that the soldiers be allowed access to their wives, parents, other relatives and counsel .
He claimed that he was in possession of information that the soldiers were unable to carry out their responsibilities as bread winners to their families.
Onyilo-Uloko, who added that the soldiers were being deprived of drinking water, explained that he was appealing to the President and the COAS because the military authorities might not be aware of the degrading conditions the soldiers were being held.
He said, “When the Court of Appeal granted a stay of execution of the Court Martial, it also granted an order that the 12 soldiers should be visited by their wives, parents and other relatives but there seems to be a deliberate inhuman treatment of these people.
“The President and the COAS should please intervene. I am making this call because the COAS may not be aware of this development.
“I know that the COAS could not give such orders to humiliate the soldiers. It could be the work of some overzealous people in charge of the detention facility. We appeal to the COAS and the President to take a look at it.”
He said that the appeal court would hear the motion for stay of execution May 21 and 22, 2015.
When our correspondent contacted the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, he asked for time to verify the claims of the lawyer.
“Today is a Sunday. Is it possible for you to give me a few hours to get the facts that you are looking for so that we can give you what you are looking for?,” he said.
An Egyptian judge has ordered the detention of a policeman on trial for the January killing of a female protester taking part in a peaceful demonstration in downtown Cairo.
Yassin Hatem Salahedeen, a 24-year old police lieutenant, is facing a manslaughter charge over the death of Shaimaa el-Sabbagh, a 32-year-old mother of a small boy.
The policeman had been free on bail, but Judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah on Sunday ordered his detention in the trial’s opening hearing.
Video clips widely shared on social media show el-Sabbagh collapsing in a colleague’s arms with her head, chest and back soaked in blood after a masked policeman fired birdshot in her direction.
Rights lawyers and witnesses have also said the police hampered efforts to save el-Sabbagh’s life by preventing an ambulance from passing through the cordon.
Defence lawyer Mohammed Abdel-Aziz said Sunday’s hearing lasted nearly six hours, during which a video clip submitted by the prosecution as evidence was shown.
The video, according to Abdel-Aziz, showed a masked policeman firing at el-Sabbagh from a short distance with a shotgun, then swapping the weapon for a tear gas launcher held by a police recruit.
Salahedeen acknowledged to the judge that it was him firing the rifle in the video, said Abdel-Aziz, who represents el-Sabbagh’s family and attended Sunday’s hearing.
The court was also shown a total of 120 photographs chronicling what happened during the brief demonstration on January 24, the eve of the fourth anniversary of the uprising.
Some 40 members of a left-leaning party gathered in downtown Cairo that day with the intention of marching to nearby Tahrir Square, epicenter of the uprising, to lay wreathes in memory of the protesters who fell during the 18-day revolt.
The trial will resume May 14, when the court will begin hearing prosecution witnesses.
Egyptian police consistently maintain they do not use birdshot against protesters despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
In el-Sabbagh’s case, a senior police officer insisted in a news conference shortly after her death that forensic tests showed she was shot by rounds not used by the police force – implying the involvement of an unknown third party.
The killing has struck a nerve with many Egyptians, mostly because of the wide distribution on social media of the images of el-Sabbagh after she was shot, being lifted off the ground by a colleague with blood running down her face.
Her death also has stoked anger over the perceived brutality of the police and called into question the validity of a law adopted in December 2013 that bans all street protests without prior permits.
Many of those who participated in the January protest, in addition to at least one witness who testified to prosecutors on the day’s events, are facing a separate trial for breaking the law on street demonstrations.
That trial opened this weekend and will resume on May 23.
No fewer than 100 people, including a pastor and three soldiers, were killed at the weekend and Monday in Plateau and Taraba states.
Seventy of the deaths were recorded in Karim Lamido and Takum local government areas of Taraba State and 30 in two villages at the Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
It was learnt that suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Vat and Zakupang , killing Pastor Luka Gwom of the Church of Christ in Nation and 29 others in the early hours of Monday.
Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.
He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the attacks.
The Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Emmanuel Lomang, who also confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos, said the attackers killed 17 people in Vat and 13 others in Zakupang, where the Minister of Water Resources, Serah Ochekpe, hails from.
Lomang decried what he called “incessant attacks” on his people and challenged the security agencies, especially the Special Task Force to arrest the perpetrators.
The village head of Kapwen in Foron District, Gwom Ishaku Pam, confirmed Gwom’s death.
He added that a lady, Pualina, who got married two weeks ago, was among those killed by the herdsmen.
Pam said the series of attacks on the villagers had been causing them sleepless nights.
Efforts to contact the state Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abuh, proved abortive as his telephone could not be reached.
The latest Plateau incident came as the Taroh people in Wase condemned the invasion of three of their communities by soldiers on reprisal on Saturday.
The soldiers were said to have arrived Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata in about 40 vehicles following reports of alleged killing of six of their colleagues at Angwan Nanmi in Karin Lamido LGA.
Although Iweha said that 28 people were killed, the traditional ruler of Kadarko, Lot Nde, put the figure at 39.
The STF spokesman added that the soldiers, who destroyed an armoury in Kadarko, had succeeded in flushing out militiamen that had been terrorising people along the Plateau -Taraba border.
He said, “I want to give you an update on the military operation to flush out militia from Kadarko. I wish to let you know that the operation is completed and soldiers killed 28 of the militia. One soldier was killed in the encounter. Our men also destroyed an armoury used by the militiamen in Kadarko.
“The incident actually started on April 28 when the militiamen ambushed and killed six soldiers. The manner these soldiers were killed was dehumanising because their eyes were plucked out; heads decapitated and their bodies severed.
“Four of our men are still missing. All these prompted the 3 Armourd Division and STF to carry out an operation to flush out these militiamen.
“We have now completed the exercise and calm has been restored to the area. We implore residents to cooperate by giving us information that can help us to do our job.”
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Beni Lar, condemned the invasion , saying it was a conspiracy against the Taroh.
Lar, in a statement in Jos on Monday, vowed to report the incident to the United Nations, the International Criminal Court and the National Human Rights Commission.
“This attack is a serious violation of human rights to and an attack against humanity,” the lawmaker added, calling on relevant government agencies to investigate it.
Like Lar, the Secretary General of Ngwang Ishi ‘O’ Taroh, Pastor Nanlir Napbut, described the killings as genocide against the Taroh.
In Karim-Lamido LGA of Plateau State, 27 people also lost their lives following a reprisal by the military on Saturday.
It was gathered that suspected Fulani gunmen had ambushed and killed six soldiers between Amar and Kambari villages in the council. Three other soldiers were reported missing after the incident but their bodies were later found in bushes.
The soldiers were said to be on a routine patrol of the area when they were ambushed and killed.
The Chairman of the LGA, Bobboi Bendu, could not confirm the casualty figure, but he said there was an exchange of fire in the area.
“Two villages were razed but I can’t tell the exact number of casualties at the moment. The report I am getting indicates that some persons were killed,” he added.
In Takum LGA, 21 people were killed on Sunday by suspected Kuteb youths.
The youths were said to be also on a revenge mission over the killing of 13 of their kinsmen along the Takum-Katsina-Ala Road and Takum-Kashinbilla Road by gunmen on Friday and Saturday .
It was gathered that while the soldiers were in search of their missing colleagues, suspected gunmen opened fire on them but they replied, killing over 27.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji,who said he was not aware of the killings in Karim Lamido, stated that nine people were killed in Takum following a clash between the Tiv and Kuteb.
Tension is however said to be mounting in Takum and its environs as the Kuteb youths are alleged to be attacking the Tiv.
The development made the council Chairman, Caleb Babafi, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the town.
Meanwhile, a group known as the Concerned Taraba Tiv Youth Frontier, has condemned the killings in Takum and its environs.
The group, in a statement by its Vice- Chairman, Kater Amah, called on the state government to quickly intervene and ensure the protection of lives and property.
It called on both parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace in the interest of unity and development of the council and the state.
A Federal High court in Port Harcourt on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining the commission of inquiry on political killings from operating in the state.
The commission, which was set up by the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on April 16, 2015, was expected to begin sitting on Monday, May 4, 2015, having received memoranda from members of the public.
But the Peoples Democratic Party in the state had, a suit no. FHC/PH/FHR/256/2015, moved against the setting up of the commission.
The presiding judge of the court, Justice H.A. Nganjiwa, gave an order restraining the respondents from taking further action in connection with the sitting of the panel pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction that was filed by the 10th respondent (Amaechi) pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Nganjiwa stated that in view of the urgency attached to the matter, the court had abridged the time for the respondents to file their response within three days upon service.
“An order restraining the respondents from taking further steps in connection with the sitting of the commission of inquiry instituted by the 10th respondent (Amaechi) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
“That in view of the urgency attached to this matter, time is of essence, the court has abridged the time for the respondents to file their response within three days upon service,” he said.
The Kano State Police Command said that it had started investigation into the cause of the collapsed bridge that killed seven persons in Kano on Sunday.
Also, the state Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said the government would force the contractor handling the project to pay for the medical bills of the injured victims.
The contractor, the governor added, would also be forced to pay compensation to families of those who died in the incident.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, said that the police was interested in knowing the cause of the collapse in order to stop recurrence of such a tragic incident.
He explained that initial reports showed that the driver of the ill-fated cab driver’s disobedience to an instruction by workers at the site not to drive under the bridge was responsible for the tragedy.
Asked whether the contractor handling the project would be invited for questioning, the PPRO said further probe would determine that.
While sympathising with the families of those who lost their lives, the state governor also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, who were receiving medical attention at the hospital.
In a press statement, signed by Ibrahim Dantiye, who is the Director of Press to the Governor, Kwankwaso, vowed to ensure that the company handling the project adequately compensated the victims and their immediate families.
The governor also called on the public to be patient and continue to obey law and order so as to avoid disasters.
Kwankwaso also called on other companies handling construction works in the state to execute their projects in such a manner that would ensure minimum discomfort to road users.
The Kano Police Command had on Sunday confirmed the death of not less than seven persons, following the collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Dorayi quarters in Kano metropolis.
Majiya, who confirmed the collapse of the pedestrian bridge, disclosed that the incident happened around 4.45 pm on Sunday when the bridge, still under construction, caved in and collapsed on the ill-fated taxi.
“It should be noted that the workers on site forewarned motorists not to use the bridge as construction work was ongoing but the driver of the taxi was said to have ignored the warning,” he said.
Source: Punch
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