The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and sunshine across the country.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday predicted a sunny atmosphere over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Friday.

The agency forecasted isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kebbi, Zamfara and Kaduna states during the afternoon and evening periods.

According to the agency, sunny skies with few cloud patches are expected over the North-Central during the morning hours.

It said later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Kwara.

The southern region “should be cloudy with spells of sunshine,” with more cloud build-up expected over the coastal parts and chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom during the morning hours.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected over the South-West inland, including the coastal parts of Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

NiMet predicted sunny skies on Saturday with few cloud patches over parts of the North-West and parts of the North-East, which will be sunny and dry during the morning hours.

The agency anticipated isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, and Kaduna later in the day.

According to NiMet, the North-Central area should be sunny with few cloud patches in the morning.

The forecast noted that isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Niger, Abuja, Kogi and Kwara.

The NiMet outlook said the southern region should be cloudy with spells of sunshine. It also mentioned that more cloud build-up is expected over the coastal parts, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Ogun states during the morning hours.

According to the weather report, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated in the afternoon and evening over parts of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

NiMet forecasted sunny skies on Sunday with few cloud patches over the northern region. It envisaged sunny skies with few cloud patches over the North-Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Niger, Abuja, Kwara and Kogi in the morning.

The agency anticipated isolated thunderstorms over parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Abuja and Plateau states later in the day.

The southern region “should be cloudy with spells of sunshine,” the report said, with cloud build-up anticipated over the coastal parts during the morning hours.

Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Bayelsa.

“Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur. The public should take adequate precaution,” it said.

NiMet urged airlines to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

The Nigerian Army has said a minor explosion occurred in a farmland near the Mammy Market within the Ikeja Cantonment in Lagos on Monday.

This is contained in a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, in Abuja.

Mr Nwachukwu said the explosion was suspected to have been triggered by the burning of refuse and other inflammable debris by a farmer who cultivated the farmland.

According to him, no casualty was recorded in the incident.

He said, “However, given that the cantonment was recently cleared and certified free of unexploded ordinances, we understand that there could be concerns among the general public as a result of the historical antecedent of explosion within the cantonment.

The Nigerian army therefore wishes to assure the public that the situation is under control as its Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has cordoned off the area of the farmland to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“We urge residents in the general area not to panic and assure them of their safety,” he said.

The Ogun State Government has said 70,000 persons will enjoy free access to healthcare for one year under its health insurance scheme.

Executive secretary of the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Afolabi Dosunmu, made this known to journalists on Saturday in Abeokuta.

Mr Dosunmu said that in addition to paying their premiums, registered patients would also access the free surgical intervention announced by Governor Dapo Abiodun in January.

He disclosed that over 1000 surgeries had been performed since the beginning of March, adding that the number of patients who thronged the facilities for the screening exceeded the expected average.

He noted that some patients who could not get their surgeries done immediately were referred to another level of care to be operated on at a later date for some reasons.

“The governor had instructed us to enroll 70,000 people for free medical care but he insisted that we gather people that need one surgical intervention or the other and that was how we started that journey.

“Of course, there’s a process; when you get there, they enroll you on insurance; you see a doctor who screens you and look at if that surgery can be done now or later. There are some people with high blood pressure, some with high blood sugar and other conditions and of course we can’t do surgeries for those ones but they’ll get it done at a later date because they already have our card,” he said.

Mr Dosunmu, however, lamented that many prospective or referred patients refused to collect their insurance, which is their guarantee for free medical and surgical services.

He urged patients that registered and were screened but given later dates for their surgeries, to visit the facility to collect their cards.

“We now have issues with the insurance card that we enrolled them with; a lot of people are not coming back and we’ve started calling them but they’ve not come back for those cards. It is because they don’t understand that it is by having those cards that they can be assured that the surgery will be done for them later. The card guarantees that for the next one year, you get free medical and surgical treatment,” he added.

Mr Dosunmu said the state government committed N900 million to state health insurance and free surgical intervention.

According to him, the intervention is basically aimed at eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for the vulnerable population and also achieving universal health coverage.

The Ogun State Police Command has announced that a member of the Celestial Church of Christ, Oriyarin Parish, Mowe in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state, Oladapo Oluwaseyifunmi, who was kidnapped on Thursday, has regained his freedom.

The police had, two days ago, confirmed the abduction of Seyifunmi and Oluboboye Abiola who were kidnapped from the church when some gunmen invaded the worship place.

Earlier, through the command’s X account, Police spokesperson in the state, Omolola Odutola, said “report at my disposal 28/3/2024 at about reveals that unidentified gunmen, invaded a Celestial Church around Oriyarin village, Mowe and abducted one Oladapo Seyifunmi, Oluboboye Abiola, and escaped through the thick forest behind the Church”.

Also on the command’s Facebook page, on Saturday, the command’s publicist announced that one of the two kidnapped worshippers had been freed.

She said, “We are pleased to inform members of the public that one Oladapo Oluwaseyifunmi, Shepherd of the Celestial Church kidnapped, has been rescued through the relentless combing of the forest by policemen, hunters, VGN, Amotekun. He has been reunited with his family”.

The police was, however, silent on the second abductee.

When contacted on the whereabouts of the second person, Odutola said, “The second person has not been released and we are on the trail of the kidnappers.”

Four persons have lost their lives in an auto crash at Rinji village along the Bauchi-Jos road in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Three others sustained severe injuries in the said accident involving eight people which occurred last Saturday.

The state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Patrick Ikaba disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, adding that only one person survived the crash.

He said the collision involved a Mercedes Benz and a commercial Opel Vectra vehicle, resulting in the death of three males and one female.

He added that a total of N1.6 million was also recovered from the bodies of three deceased persons.

Ikaba said, “During the rescue operation, a substantial sum of money was found on the bodies of three occupants of the vehicles. Regrettably, these funds were discovered on the deceased individuals.”

He detailed the amounts found, noting that one of the victims was carrying N1,648,500.

According to him, following proper identification, the money was handed over to the relatives.

The Sector Commander assured that other belongings, besides the recovered money, have also been returned to the next of kin of the deceased.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, Aminu Yahaya, a relative of one of the deceased, confirmed receiving a total sum of N1,648,500 from the FRSC on Monday.

He said, “I want to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to the FRSC especially, with their quick response to the crash which led to the recovery of the money and other items before people with bad intentions got there.

“I collected the money and handed it to the wife of the deceased who has three children, two boys and a baby girl.”

The police in Cross River State have launched a manhunt for “one chance” syndicate across Calabar metropolis.

The state Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, who frowned at the increasing rate of the menace, made this known in a statement through the command’s spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo.

In the statement on Tuesday, the commissioner said the measures included increased patrols on public transport, increased surveillance, and harsher penalties for those caught.

Mr Grimah said that the aim was to make it more difficult for the groups to operate, and to deter others from joining them.

The CP noted that the one syndicate operated by luring unsuspecting victims into vehicles under false pretences, only to rob them of their belongings or even subject them to violence.

“This criminal activity has not only caused fear among residents but has also tarnished the state’s reputation. As a result, we have deployed additional resources and intensified surveillance efforts across the state, especially this Easter season.

In the same vein, special operations targeting known hot spots and routes frequently attended by the syndicate are underway,” he stated.

The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities promptly.

He emphasised the commitment to ensure the safety and security of residents.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to dismantle this criminal network and bring those responsible to justice,” he said.

The CP also called for collaboration and support from the public, urging residents to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies and provide valuable information that could lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators.

The Ijaw National Congress declared on Sunday that the law must take its course in the killing of officers and men of the Nigerian Army at Okuama, Delta State.

Some persons in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta ambushed and killed 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on a peace mission to the community on March 14.

Those killed were the battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. AH Ali, two majors, a captain, and 12 soldiers.In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, stated that in a country like Nigeria, a constitutional democracy, the killing of the military men was condemnable.

He said, “The INC has made a series of statements condemning the senseless, brutal and cold blooded killing of military officers performing their legitimate duties in Delta. It is the unalloyed position of the INC that those found culpable should be apprehended, properly investigated and subjected to the dictates of the law. The INC is unequivocal in its demand that the law should be allowed to take its course.

’’The INC cautioned that innocent Okuoma community people should not be lumped together with culpable community members, stressing that it was only the culpable that should be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The INC president also debunked a story which he stated was circulating that ljaw youths were planning attacks on security and oil installations.

The INC president stated, “The INC appeals that this information be dismissed as wicked and malicious falsehood intended to cause trouble and unwarranted crises in ljawland and by extension, in the Nigeria Delta. The Ijaw ethnic nationality is not at war with the Federal Government or with any other ethnic nationality.’’

He explained that the operation was in conjunction with other security agencies.

According to the PPRO, one AK47 rifle, 2, 000 rounds of live ammunition and three vehicles were also recovered.

He said, “The command, acting on credible intelligence in a joint operation with sister security agencies on March 21, stormed a suspected gunmen’s hideout in a forest within Omini community in the Izzi LGA of Ebonyi State.

“The hoodlums, sighting the operatives, opened fire on them but in the ensuing gun duel, three members of the gang were neutralised, five arrested while others escaped.

“Three Sienna Vehicles, snatched from different individuals and used by the hoodlums to perpetrate heinous crimes, were recovered from the camp. The exhibits recovered from the den indicate that the gang is responsible for the recent attacks and killing of police officers in the state.

“Exhibits recovered in the course of the operation include; One AK47 rifle with 16 rounds of live ammunition. A bag containing 2,000 rounds of live ammunition. A police warrant card among others.’’

The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Augustina Ogbodo, commended the officers involved in the operation for their gallantry.

Mr Ukandu said the CP assured residents that the command would not relent in its fight against crime, and would be committed to the protection of lives and property in Ebonyi State.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has pardoned 96 inmates from various correctional facilities across the state.

The amnesty, granted under the Constitution of Nigeria, includes payment of fines and transportation allowances totaling over N20 million.

According to the governor, only inmates with minor offenses and those unable to pay fines, were selected for the amnesty program, adding that he refused to grant amnesty to those serving long terms for capital offences in order not to encourage the commission of such offences.

Mohammed then announced that each of the pardoned inmates will receive the sum of N100,000 to start a new business to sustain themselves and become good citizens.

He charged them not to see themselves as prisoners but to be free to reintegrate into society and to behave well henceforth.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy who doubles as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan U. EI-Yakub, SAN disclosed that the Advisory Council received a total of 106 applications from convicts seeking mercy, pardon, or clemency from the Executive Governor.

He stated that, after thorough scrutiny and consideration, 96 deserving inmates were selected and recommended for approval, adding that the governor swiftly endorsed the council’s recommendations, demonstrating his compassion and benevolence.

The breakdown of the inmates by location is as follows: 17 inmates are from Bauchi Correctional Centre, 7 inmates are from Alkaleri Correctional Centre, 10 inmates are from Azare Correctional Centre, 6 inmates are from Bogoro Correctional Centre, 8 inmates are from Ningi Correctional Centre, 8 inmates are from Burra Correctional Centre.Othere are 3 inmates are from Misau Correctional Centre, 7 inmates are from Darazo Correctional Centre, 3 inmates are from Jama’are Correctional Centre, 9 inmates are from Tafawa Balewa Correctional Centre, 5 inmates are from Toro Correctional Centre, 4 inmates are from Gamawa Correctional Centre, 2 inmates are from Shira Correctional Centre, and 7 inmates are from Zaki Correctional Centre.

The Lagos State Government has vowed to look into the activities of thugs imposing N100 levy on pedestrians using bridges in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on his official X handle on Wednesday.

Peoples Gazette reported a viral video shared by The Guardian on Instagram which showed an unidentified Lagos thug at two separate occasions collecting N100 levy before allowing women with luggage to use a bridge in the Yaba area of the state.

Mr Wahab in the statement said, “I have been inundated with calls from concerned Lagosians about a viral video of some miscreants collecting money from people using a pedestrian bridge in Yaba, Lagos State. This is quite unfortunate and condemnable.

“Pedestrian bridges are meant for Lagosians to use freely without any hindrance, neither does it require payment to anyone. Environmental nuisance and lawlessness of any kind will not be allowed in Lagos State.

“I appeal to the general public to be calm as the government is already taking action on the unfortunate incident. We remain committed to a safer, healthier and cleaner Lagos State.’’

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has arrested a pregnant woman, one Mrs Rosemary Ubah, for allegedly conspiring with one Walter Ezeala to fake her own kidnap.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters.

Igweh explained that the two suspects were nabbed on March 11 after Rosemary’s husband, Chiedozie Ubah, reported to Gwagwa Police Division that his pregnant wife who left home for a scan, failed to return.

He said Chiedozie later received a call through his wife’s phone number telling him that she has been kidnapped.

The caller demanded N2 million ransom for her release.

“He transferred the sum of two (2) million naira into his wife’s account as instructed by the kidnapper. He later brought his wife to the station after her release.

“During interrogation, the wife freely confessed to having conspired with one man named Walter Ezeala ‘m’ living in the same street with them at Saburi to extort money from her husband.

“The said Walter was arrested and he confessed that his own share was eight hundred thousand (N800,000) naira and the lady took one million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000).

“The sum of Seven hundred and ninety three thousand five hundred naira (N793,500) cash, two (2) FCMB ATM cards and two android phones was recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”

The wife of Kebbi governor, Nafisa Nasir-Idris, has distributed cash and bags of rice to 500 women as Ramadan feeding support in the state.

She distributed the items during a lecture tagged: “Kebbi Women Ramadan Lecture”, which was organised by the governor’s wife and held in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Mrs Nasir-Idris said the effort was meant to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.

She enjoined women to use the holy month of Ramadan to remain prayerful for the sustenance of peace and progress of the state and the country in general.

“I call on you to be supportive to your husbands and instill morality as well as good values in your children to raise decent families that can uphold admirable societal values,” she advised.

The governor’s wife stressed the need for women to respect and support their husbands, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, to maintain permanent peace at home as prescribed in Islamic religion.

“We have to respect, honour and support our husbands because we are all under them; we should train our children with good morals, we should give our children both religious and western education to nurture good homes.

”Our Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has enjoined us to marry and regenerate so that we can raise a disciplined family and good children, not miscreants.

“Women are good home trainers; we, therefore, need to closely monitor our children and give them sound training,” she urged.

Mrs Nasir-Idris reiterated her call on women to be united and steadfast in prayers for the development of the state and Nigeria in general.

The governor’s wife thanked the Islamic scholars who delivered papers at the lecture, saying that she and her husband were receptive to meaningful advice from the public to facilitate good governance.

Earlier, the commissioner for women affairs, Halima Hassan-Kamba, commended the wife of the governor for organising the Ramadan lecture and providing empowerment to women in the state.

The commissioner expressed gratitude to the Islamic scholars for their insightful presentations to educate women on various topics in the month of Ramadan.

Islamic scholars who delivered papers at the occasion included Malama Juwairiyya Bintu-Usman, Shiekh Aminu Hassan, Malama Zainab Jafa’ar-Adam, and Malama Hauwa’u Abubakar, who dwelt on the ethical values and benefits of Ramadan fasting in Islam.

Highlights of the event included questions and answers, recitation of the Qur’an, as well as presentation of cash and assorted grains to 500 women by the wife of the governor.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, has said it has arrested one Muhammad Munzali, 35, for allegedly sneaking into a female hostel at the Skyline University, Kano.

Its Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kano.

He said that NSCDC operatives attached to critical national assets, on March 10, arrested the suspect while sneaking into the female hostel of Skyline University situated in Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

“The suspect disguised as a woman and was found with charms round his body,” Mr Idris-Abdullahi added.

He said that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

The officer quoted the Corps’ Commandant in Kano, Mohammed Lawal-Falala, as charging officers and men of the command to be extra vigilant.

The commandant also urged them to intensify surveillance in and around public and private educational institutions to protect students from criminals.

Felix Gbolade, zonal commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has assured of the agency’s readiness to partner with NAFDAC in tackling product adulteration and counterfeiting in the North-West zone.

Mr Gbolade, in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, stated this during his visit to NAFDAC coordinator Garba Adamu on Tuesday in Sokoto.

While commending NAFDAC for its extensive services, he said that NSCDC would continue to collaborate with the agency toward achieving the mandates of the two organisations.

With the extensive network of intelligence and enforcement officers in the zone, the command is willing and ready to partner with NAFDAC in safeguarding the health of the nation,” he said.

Mr Gbolade said that the visit aimed to strengthen the existing partnership and discuss some areas to fine-tune some harmonious activities.

Responding, Mr Adamu thanked the NSCDC chief for the visit, saying it would further motivate them to rejuvenate joint activities in accordance with their respective mandates.

He acknowledged NAFDAC’s commitment to fighting the circulation of counterfeit, adulterated, unregistered, and banned products in the interest of people’s health and the country’s safety.

President Bola Tinubu has urged wealthy individuals to assist the indigent in society to alleviate their suffering particularly during the Ramadan fast.

Mr Tinubu made the call on Sunday in Kano while inaugurating the distribution of 140 truck-loads of rice donated by Senator Abdullahi Yari in honour of the President.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Mr Tinubu commended the gesture.

He said that it was aimed at supporting individuals who were in need at this critical time.

“All over the world, leadership belongs to more than one person. There is a need to always help the vulnerable in society. Let us come together, unite as a country and forge ahead for a better Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Tinubu commended Mr Yari for donating the 140 trucks of rice labelled with his name and picture for distribution to the less-privileged.

He also said that the commodity would go a long way in easing the hardship faced by many at this time.

The [President, however, called on Nigerians to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the country during the holy month of Ramadan.

Earlier, the representative of Mr Yari, Dr Abubakar Danburam, said the 140 trucks contained 50kg of 84, 000 bags of rice.

Mr Danburam revealed that it would be distributed to at least 500,000 households in the North.

He said that the gesture was to complement Mr Tinubu’s efforts of supporting the needy and other vulnerable in society.

Mr Yari enjoined Nigerians to pray for relief from the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company attributed the current state of the power supply within its franchise area to several factors, including low supply of gas to generating companies.

Spokesperson for IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State, said that the low supply of gas to generating companies had resulted in gradual decrease in available generation into the grid.

According to her, the development has contributed to the disruptions and inconveniences currently being experienced by residents and businesses within its franchise area, namely: Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and part of Kogi, Niger and Ekiti states.

Ms Tunwase also said that this had significantly reduced the power available on the transmission grid for onward supply to IBEDC, thus hindering the company’s ability to provide power to customers within the area.

She said, “Scheduled maintenance activities conducted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria in January and March, 2024 also necessitates planned outages in specific areas of our network. While these measures are essential for ensuring the long-term reliability of electricity infrastructure, we recognise the inconvenience they may cause and sincerely apologise for any disruption experienced by our customers.’’

The spokesperson also mentioned vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure as other major issues negatively impacting power supply.

She specifically mentioned the vandalism of TCN towers in Ogun in May 2023 which resulted in over seven months of darkness for many customers.

She said that IBEDC had been confronted with the escalating cases of vandalism, with over 40 incidents already recorded since the beginning of the year.

She added, “The theft of valuable assets, such as transformer oil, cables and aluminium conductors, pose a significant challenge to our operations, as communities affected are thrown into extended periods of outage, depending on the severity of the act.

Energy theft through illegal connections, meter bypass and illicit meters are also major issues affecting adequate supply of power to customers, because they result in revenue losses and liquidity problems for the electricity value chain. We have also noticed an alarming upsurge, with over 1,450 identified cases of energy theft between January and February 2024.’’

Ms Tunwase added that payment apathy from customers was another major challenge to adequate supply of power.

She, however, said that IBEDC had partnered with security agencies to reduce energy theft and vandalism, even as she urged customers to remain vigilant, protect electrical infrastructures within their communities and report any suspicious activity promptly.

She noted, “Unfortunately, across our customer segments, we have different mindsets that electricity is a social service and should not be paid for; some only pay part of the bill, while others don’t pay because they haven’t received their preferred hours of supply.

“To all our customers, our appeal is simple: please pay for whatever hours of supply you have consumed, in addition to the outstanding bills to enable IBEDC survive and become sustainable, as this is the guarantee for improved power supply.”

Ms Tunwase, however, said that in spite of the challenges, the company remained optimistic that poor supply would soon become a thing of the past, as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had taken urgent steps to address the gas supply issue.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered drugs hidden within the engine compartments and tyre tubes of commercial vehicles.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, shared this information via his X account on Sunday, along with a video showcasing the intercepted contraband.

He expressed concern over the increasing desperation of drug traffickers and questioned whether passengers should now inspect vehicle components before boarding.

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Wednesday began a three-day warning strike after a patient’s relative assaulted a physician.

In a statement, the president and vice-president of ARD-UCH Ibadan, John Oladapo and Sunday Adegbite, respectively, said they were demanding a public apology in two widely read national dailies.

They also said there must be, in addition, an admission of wrongdoing by the assailants. The association’s members also demanded that the security architecture of the hospital be improved.

“On Sunday, one of our members was the target of a deliberate, premeditated, planned rage and furious assault by a patient’s relation. The doctor was seeing a known sickle cell patient in a painful crisis at the emergency department when the two men accosted him in the consulting room and started beating him up.

“The mother of the patient being seen who tried to intervene was also beaten up in this assault. In the doctor’s attempt to escape, the men chased him down and beat him up,” said the statement.

It added, “The security officers of the hospital intervened and rescued our member, but not before he sustained injuries to his body, as well as mental health and esteem.

“These assailants, friend to the father of a patient who died on Saturday, were awaiting the death certificate of the patient to be written while settling outstanding bills.

“Our members, who received a call from the emergency department concerning the Sickle Cell patient, explained this emergency call to the patient’s father, obtained his permission to save the living and attend to the death certificate later.”

The doctors’ association explained that the assailants were enraged and said the doctor was wasting their time and attacked him.

This attack is the latest in a long history of attacks on medical doctors in UCH,” the association noted in its statement.

It added that the police had, however, arrested the assailants — Olaniyi Dauda and Hammed Surajudeen — and charged them to court.

“However, the ARD-UCH Ibadan has embarked on a strike today (Wednesday), and this will last for a maximum of 72 hours,” the statement noted.

The Ogun command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) decorated three senior and three intermediate officers and five junior marshals with new ranks on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

Speaking during the ceremony, Anthony Uga, the sector commander, said the decorated officers benefited from the 2023 promotion exercise.

Mr Uga said the officers were decorated with the ranks of deputy corps commander (DCM), assistant corps commander (ACM), superintendent route commander (SRC) and route commander (RC).

He expressed his appreciation of the FRSC management for the promotion and urged the officers not to disappoint the corps for the reposed confidence in them.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to reducing road traffic crashes to the barest minimum.

Jigawa State government has confirmed the outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in six local government areas of the state.

The state director, Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (PHC) Dr. Shehu Sambo disclosed this during the flag off of 2024 Polio eradication campaign at the palace of the emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu on Saturday.

According to him, “an outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis cases has been recorded in some local government areas of this state.”

According to him “the local government areas are sharing direct boarder with the Niger republic”.

They include: Babura, Birniwa, Malam Madori, Maigari, Kaugama and Suletankarkar local government areas.

Sambo noted that the cases had been isolated in the affected local government areas and medical teams had been dispatched to start immunizing the target population in the affected areas.

He advised people to take precautionary measures by sleeping in a ventilated room and avoid over crowding in rooms.