Tanzania’s government, which has been criticised for its handling of the pandemic, has no plans to rollout Covid vaccines, the health minister says.

The comments come days after President John Magufuli warned officials against acquiring vaccines saying they could harm people, without giving evidence.

Critics have accused him of playing down the threat posed by the virus.

Millions of people have already been inoculated in many countries after the vaccines were given emergency approval.

Vaccines are rigorously tested in trials involving thousands of people before being assessed by health regulators. They look at all the data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines before approving them for use on a wider population.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Tanzania to consider inoculating its population.

Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to not publish any data on Covid-19 cases. It last did so in May, when about 500 cases and 20 deaths were recorded. The following month, Mr Magufuli declared Tanzania “coronavirus-free”.

Last month, the president said some Tanzanians had travelled abroad to take the vaccine but “ended up bringing us a strange coronavirus”. The comments were seen as an apparent admission that the virus may be circulating in the country.

At a news conference on Monday, Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima said: “For now the government has no plans to receive the Covid vaccine being distributed in other countries.”

The minister urged Tanzanians to take precautions and to use traditional medicine as a way of dealing with coronavirus, although their efficacy to combat the virus has not been scientifically confirmed

Two FBI agents have been killed and three others have been wounded during a shootout in Florida while serving an arrest warrant, according to the FBI.

The gunfire began around 06:00 local time (11:00GMT) in the city of Sunrise as agents were investigating a child abuse case, US officials say.

The suspect has also been killed. Asked how many bullets were fired, a police official replied: “Too many to count.”

The gunfight took place at an upscale gated community north of Miami.

“A team of law enforcement officers were there to execute a federal court-ordered search warrant in furtherance of a violent crimes against children case,” a statement from the FBI said.

The statement added that two of the agents had been transported to hospital and were in a stable condition. The deceased agents have not yet been named.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to name a new Inspector-General of Police as the incumbent police chief, Mohammed Adamu, is due to take a bow out of service on Monday, multiple sources told Daily Trust on Sunday.

As the president’s action is being awaited, prominent socio-cultural groups and civil society organisations have called on the president to do the right thing and stick to the rule of law in taking his decision.

While the IGP’s days in the police are officially up, on account of attaining 35 years in service, the president has the prerogative to extend his stay.

But informed sources told our reporters last night that the president is unlikely to give Adamu the fiat to stay beyond his statutory service age.

A top source at the Presidency treveals that Adamu is expected to hand over to the most senior police officer, in the event no announcement was made before the end of Monday.

“This is a post that has limit. If a position like that is given to you, the expectation is one leaves at the due date except if there is an instruction to the contrary. Right now there is no such communication,” he said.

Multiple sources told one of our reporters that Adamu’s fate was sealed on Wednesday after the president was briefed on the vacancy in the police top post by Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dingyadi, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

It has been gathered that the minister presented a shortlist of Deputy Inspector-Generals (DGIs) and Assistant Inspector-Generals (AIGs) to the president for his consideration.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ehisienmen Osaigvo, did not respond to a request for comments on this story last night. Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, declined comment when contacted by our reporter.

But a credible security source explained that the presidency had directed the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Department of States Security (DSS) to prepare confidential briefings on seven senior police officers on the rank of DIG and AIG.

Course mates of IGP Adamu, serving in various positions in the Police Force, had reportedly vacated their offices as of Sunday night.

Sources in Abuja and other places said the IGP’s mates, including a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), DIG Ibrahim Lamorde, DIG Michael Anthony Ogbizi, and AIG Mohammad Mustafa, have emptied their offices in preparation for quitting the Force on Monday.

Despite these developments, Adamu is said to be still staying foot in his post with some of his promoters calling for a six month extension for him.

Checks Sunday night indicated that Adamu was still occupying the IGP’s official residence in Maitama, Abuja, while he was yet to vacate his office.

A source at the Ministry of Police Affairs told one of our reporters that the presidency would announce a new acting inspector general of police on Monday.

“Everything is concluded, you should just wait for the appointment from the Villa,” the source who asked not to be named for fear of sanctions explained.

BIOCRITICAL INFORMATION ON IGP ADAMU

Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (born 17 September 1961) is a Nigerian police officer who is currently the 20th Inspector General of Police of Nigeria. He was appointed by PresidentMuhammadu Buhari on 15 January 2019 replacing Ibrahim Kpotun Idris (rtd) of Niger State. Mohammed Adamu hails from Lafia, in Nasarawa State.

A gun battle between militant Islamists and Somali security forces at a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, is now over.

At least five people were killed in the attack at the Afrik Hotel, which began with a car bomb on Sunday.

Al-Shabab said it was responsible. The group, which is linked to al-Qaeda, regularly carries out attacks against the government.

At least four attackers also died – according to AFP news agency three were shot and one blew himself up.

A car hit the hotel’s front entrance and detonated before gunmen stormed the building, according to officials and others at the scene.

“The blast made the hotel tremble as we sat inside and were talking. We were panicked, confused,” eyewitness Ahmed Nur was quoted by Reuters as saying.

“The operation is over now. Nine people, including four attackers, died and over 10 civilians were injured. There is no electricity,” a police spokesman told reporters from the scene and via Facebook.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble said in a statement that among those killed was a former military general, Mohamed Nur Galal.

The militants targeted the Afrik Hotel despite the fact that it is in a heavily guarded area near the city’s main airport, the BBC’s Bella Sheegow reported from Mogadishu.

The hotel is known to be a gathering place for Somali government officials. A local police captain said a number of lawmakers and senior military officials were inside at the time of the attack.

Footage on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising across the city earlier on Sunday.

Our reporter says it was one of the most devastating recent attacks in Mogadishu. Al-Shabab also targeted the beachside Elite hotel last year resulting in a seven-hour battle with police and security in which 17 people were killed.

The violent siege comes just weeks after former US President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of some 700 troops who had been supporting local security forces against militant groups, including al-Shabab.

There are fears the withdrawal could lead to further instability in the country, which is due to hold elections next month.