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  • Buhari arrives New York for 76th UN General Assembly (Photos)

    Buhari arrives New York for 76th UN General Assembly (Photos)

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived New York, United States ahead of the 76th United Nations General Assembly.

    The president had departed Abuja for New York on Sunday for the UNGA.

    The theme for this year’s UNGA is, “Building Resilience Through Hope – To Recover from COVID-19, Rebuild Sustainably, Respond to the Needs of the Planet, Respect the Rights of People and Revitalize the United Nations.”

    President Buhari will address the Assembly during the General Debates on Friday, September 24 when he will speak on the theme of the conference and other global issues.

    See photos below

  • Work-related accidents, illnesses kill close to 2m people annually – UN warns

    Work-related accidents, illnesses kill close to 2m people annually – UN warns

    Work-related illnesses and injuries kill nearly two million people annually, largely due to long working hours, the UN said Friday, warning that the pandemic was likely to worsen the situation.

    The first-ever joint assessment by the UN’s health and labour agencies of the global disease and injury burden linked to jobs stretches from 2000 to 2016, so does not include the dramatic shifts in working conditions brought on by the Covid-19 crisis.

    Some 1.9 million deaths worldwide were officially linked to work-related causes in 2016, up slightly from 1.7 million at the turn of the century, according to the report, which cautioned these were almost certainly underestimates.

    Long working hours “are the single deadliest occupational risk factor” World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in a video statement.

    Exposure to long working hours, defined as working 55 hours a week or more, was deemed responsible for some 750,000 deaths in 2016, the report said.

    In all, the study examines 19 occupational risk factors, including exposure to carcinogens like asbestos, ergonomic factors like prolonged sitting and manual handling of loads.

    After long working hours, workplace exposure to gases, fumes and other air pollution was seen as the top risk, responsible for some 450,000 deaths in 2016.

    “It’s shocking to see so many people literally being killed by their jobs,” Tedros said, describing the report as “a wake-up call to countries and businesses to improve and protect the health and safety of workers.“

    The report found that non-communicational diseases accounted for a full 82 percent of work-related deaths in 2016, with the greatest cause of death being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which killed 415,000 people that year.

    That was followed by strokes, at 400,000, and ischaemic heart disease at 350,000.

    Occupational injuries were responsible for 18 percent of all work-related deaths, and were estimated to have killed 360,000 people in 2016.

    “All of these deaths are preventable,” International Labour Organization chief Guy Ryder said in a video message.

    “We can and we must ensure safe and healthy workplaces for all workers.”

    On a positive note, the global death rate from work-related causes shrank by 14 percent over the 16-year-period covered in the report, although a growing global population meant the number of deaths remained about the same.

    The decrease from 39.9 to 34.3 deaths per 100,000 working age people was possibly a reflection of improvements in workplace safety measures, the report said.

    But while there was a sharp drop in the number of deaths caused by occupational injuries, deaths linked to long working hours surged over the same period.

    The death rate from heart disease associated with exposure to long working hours ballooned by 41 percent, while stroke deaths brought on by excessive work rose 19 percent, the report showed.

    While the report did not look at the pandemic impact, the UN agencies have previously warned the crisis appeared to be feeding the trend towards increased working hours, with teleworking blurring the lines between work and home life.

    Friday’s report did not provide estimates of deaths from contagious diseases contracted at work, but the WHO said that aspect might be included in future studies to capture the Covid impact.

    “We need more epidemiological studies that clearly identify the increased risk for death from Covid as a result of working,” Frank Pega, the WHO’s technical lead on the report, told reporters.

  • Buhari to address UN General Assembly Sept. 24

    Buhari to address UN General Assembly Sept. 24

    President Muhammadu Buhari will address the 76th Session of the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

    A provisional list of speakers obtained from the UN headquarters in New York showed that Buhari would be the second speaker on the fourth day.

    The Nigerian leader would deliver his address around 9am (around 2pm Nigerian time) to other world leaders during the morning session.

    The President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro would be the first world leader to present his address to the 76th session as it is tradition, followed by the U.S. President, Joe Biden, the traditional second speaker, being the host country.

    Leaders from more than 80 countries would speak in-persons at the Assembly while other world leaders would speak through pre-recorded video messages.

    At a press briefing, Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr Stephane Dujarric, said strict pandemic rules would be enforced at the Assembly for the 2021 session.

    Dujarric said the enforcement would include mandatory mask-wearing for all participants, required vaccinations for headquarters staff and severely limited access to its 16-acre complex.

    The UN is aiming for at least a partial restoration of the person-to-person diplomacy that its leaders regard as critical for the organisation’s ability to function.

    The 2021 high-level meeting is in contrast to the 2020, when the General Assembly was conducted in a virtual format through pre-recorded video messages only.

    The year 2020 General Assembly, was the first time in the 75 years of the UN existence that the annual high-level meetings were conducted virtually.

    Nigeria’s Tijjani Muhammad-Bande presided as the President of the Assembly throughout the lockdown and was praised for devising novel means for the Assembly to conduct its affairs through virtual means during the pandemic.

    The 76th session of General Assembly opened on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021 with the inauguration of a new President, Abdulla Shahid of Maldives.

    The gavel was passed to Shahid by his predecessor, Volkan Bozkir of Turkey at the closing of the 75th session of UN General Assembly.

  • UN decries global attacks on schools, says dangerous trend must stop

    UN decries global attacks on schools, says dangerous trend must stop

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday call on the global community to say with one voice that “attacks on schools must stop’’ and that schools be safe for schooling.

    Guterres made the call at a virtual event to commemorate the International Day to Protect Education from Attack globally celebrated on Sept. 9.

    “Schools must be places of learning, safety and peace,” he said, lauding education as not only providing knowledge and skills but also transforming lives and driving development for people, communities and for societies.

    Nevertheless, he added, “year after year, this fundamental right comes under attack”.

    The top UN official encouraged the participants to imagine being a child in a classroom eager to learn, or a teacher dedicated to shaping the minds of the next generation.

    “Now imagine the horrors inflicted by conflict on learning”, he said, painting a picture of schools being targeted, destroyed – or used for military purposes – and of children facing violence, exploitation, even being recruited to fight – simply because they want to study.

    The secretary-general cited the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.

    He revealed that between 2015 and 2020, over 13,000 reports of strikes on education, or the military use of educational facilities, had been recorded around the world.

    “And this threat is not lessening, as the horrifying events in Afghanistan are showing us so starkly,’’ he said.

    Guterres reminded that these were not numbers on a page, but thousands of individual lives and individual futures.

    “The loss is incalculable,” he stated.

    The UN called on all countries who had not yet done so, to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration – an inter-governmental political commitment to protect students, teachers, schools and universities, from the worst effects of armed conflict.

    Endorsed by 111 States to date, the Declaration outlines concrete steps for governments to protect schools and learning.

    “We urge Member States to go beyond their commitments under international law and put in place national policies and laws that protect schools and learners,” the UN chief said.

    He flagged the need to “hold perpetrators accountable” by making attacks on schools “unacceptable and punished” in every country and jurisdiction, the world over.

    The UN chief called for increased global support for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who are “working around the clock” to protect education, students, teachers and schools in some of the most dangerous places around the world.

    “While great strides have been made in recent years, more must be done to protect the right to education for all,’’ he said.

    “As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I am proud to stand with you in this important effort, because when we protect education, we protect the future,’’ he said.

  • Only 50% of under 5 children registered at birth in Nigeria – UNICEF

    Only 50% of under 5 children registered at birth in Nigeria – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says only 50 per cent of children under five years in Nigeria have been registered at birth.

    A report released by the UNICEF, reveals that children in Africa have the lowest birth registration rate globally, with Nigeria accounting for 11 per cent of the rate in West Africa.

    According to the UNICEF, these low figures indicate that Nigeria needs to focus attention on addressing the structural, normative, and operational challenges of birth registration.

    “In Nigeria, more than 50 per cent of the births of children under five remain unregistered. Globally, the births of 166 million children under five have never been recorded.

    “Children on the African continent have the lowest birth registration rate in the world, with only 44 per cent of children registered at birth; and millions of deaths also go unaccounted for each year.

    “Nigeria alone accounts for 11 per cent of unregistered children in West Africa.”

    The report stated that birth registration is a very important process as it “gives every child a unique identity and better access to health, education, and social protection services.”

    Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, in the report, urged the Federal Government to ensure every child counts, to enable them benefit from these services.

    “We need to work together to ensure effective coordination to make this happen.

    “Functional systems that allow for the sharing of data across information management databases that are integrated with other vital services are necessary to push the birth registration rate in Nigeria up and make sure every child is counted.”

    The country representative asserted that every child had the right to a name, nationality, and legal identity, therefore, working together remained vital to enable the country to meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) obligation.

    The SDG targets 16.9 calls on governments to ensure legal identity for all including birth registration by 2030.

    The report commended the effort made so far by the relevant agencies in Nigeria to achieve this target.

    These efforts, according to the report, include the establishment of a partnership between the Nigeria Population Commission (NPC), Civil Registration, and Vital Statistics (CRVS), entities with support from UNICEF.

    The report noted that a Roadmap for Digital Universal Birth Registration has been created through the partnership, in Nigeria.

    “The roadmap lays out a clear vision, delineates the roles of different government agencies, builds the government’s capacity to deliver, formulates an action plan, sets a timetable and milestones, and optimises the cost of the digital birth registration process in the country.

    “All of this is in advance of the implementation deadline of the UN SDGs,” the UN body said in the report.

  • Why UN must bar Yoruba Nation agitators – YAF

    Why UN must bar Yoruba Nation agitators – YAF

    The Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF) has urged the UN not to allow the Yoruba Nation agitators to present their petition at its 76th General Assembly.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Chief Adesina Animashaun, on Tuesday in Lagos, YAF said allowing them would escalate insecurity and tension in Nigeria.

    The 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) will open on Sept. 14.

    The YAF addressed the petition to the UN, the European Union (EU) African Union (AU) and other countries across the world.

    It said allowing such petition against the Nigerian Government would send the wrong signal to its citizens and worsen the nation’s insecurity challenges and secession agitations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Ilano Omo Oodua, umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, had petitioned the UN in July over its demand for a separate and independent Yoruba Nation.

    Ilano Omo Oodua led by Prof. Banji Akintoye in July also endorsed a petition by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) urging the Nigerian Government to conduct a referendum.

    YAF, however, said that resort of the group to present a petition against the Federal Government was only part of its strategy to legitimise plans for the dissolution of the Nigerian Federation.

    “YAF will never support any plan that will destabilise the nation and will continue to preach peace and unity of Nigeria.

    “These self-styled unrepentant critics of the Federal Government of Nigeria through their frequent acerbic and destructive outbursts and attacks against the government, coupled with the violence they unleash on innocent Nigerians must be stopped.

    “We are aware these agitators and individuals are behind the recent violence in different parts of the South-West of Nigeria, they have a more sinister objective of destabilising the Nigerian nation for the selfish political end of those bankrolling them.

    “It is very clear that the masterminds of these violence are bent on throwing Nigeria into total chaos to hasten the collapse of governments at both the state and Federal levels to enable them execute their evil plans for Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections.”

    The forum, therefore, urged the various countries also petitioned “to prevail on the UN Security Council to take careful, appropriate and urgent steps to deal decisively with these elements bent on fomenting trouble in the South-West of Nigeria and the country at large”.

    YAF also urged the UN to disregard and discountenance the disguised antics and plans of the unpatriotic self-styled freedom fighters and their cohorts.

  • UN, FAO raise alarm: Food insecurity looms in Northern Nigeria

    UN, FAO raise alarm: Food insecurity looms in Northern Nigeria

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Global Environment Facility (GEF) said the United Nations (UN) – Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had warned that people in northern Nigeria are at risk of acute food insecurity.

    The UN-FAO projected that an estimated 13 million people in the area face the risk of acute food insecurity in the next few
    months.

    Ms Rhoda Dia, Project Manager, UNDP – GEF, in charge of Resilient Food Security Project, gave out this information on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Dia who spoke on phone with NAN said the warning had become imperative because the country was facing growing levels of acute food insecurity due to decades of insecurity across the country.

    She said the insecurity had resulted in increasing poverty and economic crises.

    According to Dia, the situation has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and recently, the series of clashes between farmers and herders.

    She stated that, women, girls and the elderly were the most vulnerable groups to climate change, adding that it was because they were highly exposed to climate risks.

    Dia said that the adaptive capacity of these groups was low, which according to her was constrained by poor quality of access to, and control of resources.

    She added that they were more likely to live in poverty, as they were traditionally excluded from the decision-making process at local, national, and international levels.

    “Food production requires the use of valuable resources such as land, ecosystems, water, energy among others and its wastage results in high water and carbon footprint losses,” Dia said.

    She said that the global estimate of agricultural waste produced yearly was approximately 1,000 million tonnes with a current market size for waste to energy of 30 billion dollars at a rate of 4.4 per cent.

    The Project Manager said that, Nigeria’s palm oil production industry alone generated over 90 million tonnes of effluent annually.

    “The country is also generating 4.34 million tonnes of rice straw and 0.9 million of rice husk, and has an estimated 19.5 million cows which also generate waste.

    “With the increasing Nigeria population, it is projected that the quantity of agriculture waste generated in the country will triple in coming decades,” she said.

    Dia said that with respect to agricultural waste, there existed the potential of resourcefully reusing the materials to reduce environmental harm and boost soil fertility and farm productivity.

    She said that the time was ripe for northern regions to tap into the potential present in converting agricultural wastes to energy as well as other economically viable re-purposed products.

    Dia said it was against this backdrop that Sonvisage Nig. Ltd. in collaboration with the UNDP- GEF- IAP Project was training extension agents from project communities.

    She said the training was on Waste-to-Wealth that is, rice and groundnut waste re-purpose for self-reliance training.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNDP-GEF is currently training extension agents in Kano on how to turn waste to energy (briquettes making) and waste to animals feed (livestock and poultry).

  • COVID-19 pushes 124 million people back to poverty, chronic hunger – UN report

    COVID-19 pushes 124 million people back to poverty, chronic hunger – UN report

    The United Nations, UN says COVID-19 has magnified the challenges of making the world meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as between 119 to 124 million people have been pushed back into poverty and chronic hunger.

    SDGs Report 2021, launched on Tuesday at UN Headquarters in New York, showed the toll that the COVID-19 pandemic had taken on the 2030 Agenda.

    The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that launch of the Report coincides with the annual High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on SDGs.

    According to the report, the world is not on track to meet the 17 SDGs before COVID-19 struck, and now the challenge has been magnified many times over.

    “It indicated that countries must take ‘critical’ steps on the road out of the pandemic during the next 18 months.

    “In addition to the almost four million deaths due to the coronavirus, between 119-124 million people were pushed back into poverty and chronic hunger, and the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs were lost

    “The pandemic has halted, or reversed, years, or even decades of development progress. Global extreme poverty rose for the first time since 1998,” said UN Under-Secretary-General Liu PCC new Chief Commissioner pledges to resolve complaints, during the launch.

    Moreover, disruptions to essential health services have threatened years of progress in improving maternal and child health, increasing immunisation coverage, and reducing communicable and non-communicable diseases.

    Around 90 per cent of countries are still reporting one or more significant disruptions to essential health services.

    The report also indicates that the pandemic has exposed and intensified inequalities within and between countries.

    As of 17 June, around 68 vaccine shots were administered for every 100 people in Europe and Northern America – compared with fewer than two, in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Millions of children risk never returning to school; while rising numbers have been forced into child marriage and child labour.

    With trillions of tourist dollars lost during the pandemic shutdowns, the collapse of international tourism has disproportionally impacted struggling Small Island Developing States.

    “The poorest and most vulnerable continue to be at greater risk of becoming infected by the virus and have borne the brunt of the economic fallout,” Liu said.

    While an economic recovery is under way, led by China and the United States, in many other countries, economic growth is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels before 2022 or 2023.

    Meanwhile, global flows of foreign direct investment fell by 40 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019. The report shows the pandemic has brought immense financial challenges, especially for developing countries – with a significant rise in debt distress.

    “This report paints a worrying picture regarding the state of the SDGs. Yet, it also highlights stories of resilience, adaptability and innovation during the crisis, which indicate a brighter future is possible,” Liu noted.

    He added that there were signs that countries were taking steps under their recovery plans that could improve SDGs action and that the next 18 months are critical.

    According to the report, to get the SDGs back on track, governments, cities, businesses and industries have to use the recovery to adopt low-carbon, resilient and inclusive development pathways that will reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources, create better jobs, advance gender equality and tackle growing inequities

    “We are at a critical juncture in human history. The decisions and actions we take today will have momentous consequences for future generations. Lessons learned from the pandemic will help us rise to current and future challenges.’’

    The Under-Secretary General explained that the upcoming months will determine whether the COVID-19 crisis serves as a ‘much-needed wake-up call.

    “The global community, first and foremost, needs to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. This is a critical step that can truly spur a decade of action,” the official said.

    The 2030 Agenda, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

    At its heart are the 17 Global Goals, to improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

    The launch of the 2021 SDG report coincides with the start of the HLPF on Tuesday and the event is the core UN platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.

    The meeting will continue through July 15th, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This includes the three-day ministerial meeting that started today.

    The ministers will discuss ways to ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 that puts the world on track to realise the 2030 Agenda.

    43 countries will also present their voluntary national reviews of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

    The meeting will put the spotlight on nine Global Goals this year: ending poverty, zero hunger, improving health, decent work, reducing inequalities, responsible consumption and production; climate action, sustaining peace, and building partnerships.

  • SERAP drags FG, Kogi Govt to UN over ‘arbitrary detention of activists Larry and Victor’

    SERAP drags FG, Kogi Govt to UN over ‘arbitrary detention of activists Larry and Victor’

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent “an urgent complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention over the arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of activists Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka simply for peacefully exercising their right to protest in Kogi state.”

    SERAP said: “The arrest and continued detention of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka is an egregious violation of their human rights. The Nigerian and Kogi state authorities have violated the following rights under the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended) and international law in continuing to detain Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka: the right to be free from arbitrary detention; the right freedom from torture and ill-treatment, and the right to due process of law.”

    In the complaint dated 25 May, 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The detention of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of their liberty because it does not have any legal justification. The detention also does not meet minimum international standards of due process.”

    SERAP is calling on the Working Group to “initiate a procedure involving the investigation of the cases of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka, and urgently send an allegation letter to the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities inquiring about the case generally, and specifically about the legal basis for their arrest, detention, and ill-treatment, each of which is in violation of international law.”

    SERAP is also urging the Working Group to “issue an opinion declaring that Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka’s deprivation of liberty and detention is arbitrary and in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and obligations under international law. We also urge the Working Group to call for the immediate release of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka.”

    According to SERAP, “We urge the Working Group to request the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to investigate and hold accountable all persons responsible for the unlawful arrest, continued detention, and ill-treatment of Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka in Kogi state.”

    SERAP is also calling on the Working Group “to request the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to award Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka adequate compensation for the violations they have endured as a result of their unlawful arrest, arbitrary detention, and ill-treatment.”

    The complaint addressed to Ms. Elina Steinerte Chairman/Rapporteur of the Working Group, read in part: “As set forth in this Individual Complaint, the Nigerian and Kogi State authorities are arbitrarily depriving Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka of their liberty and continues to arbitrarily detain them. Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka are citizens of Nigeria and have been detained since 5th April, 2021. They continue to be detained without access to the outside world.”

    “Pursuant to the mandate of the Working Group, the “Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council” and the publication “Working with the UN Human Rights Programme, a Handbook for Civil Society”, SERAP, a non-governmental human rights organization, can provide information on a specific human rights case or situation in a particular country, or on a country’s laws and practices with human rights implications.”

    “SERAP therefore argues that the case adequately satisfies the requirements by which to submit an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.”

    “SERAP respectfully requests the Working Group to initiate the procedure involving the investigation of individual cases toward reaching an opinion declaring Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka’s detention to be arbitrary and in violation of international law. To this end, SERAP will pursue the regular communications procedure before the Working Group in order to have the ability to provide comments on any response by the Nigerian and Kogi State authorities.”

    “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international law to protect the safety and rights of protesters and create an environment conducive to a diverse and pluralistic expression of ideas and peaceful dissent from government policy.”

    “The wave of protests against repression by both the Federal and Kogi state authorities illustrate a broken social contract between the authorities and Nigerians. The authorities have been failing to meet the demands of Nigerians to respect human rights, end restrictions on civic space, obey court orders and ensure the rule of law.”

    “The failure to hold to account those responsible has continued to increase the vulnerability of protesters and activists in the country.”

    “SERAP is seriously concerned that the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities have so far failed and/or neglected to address or redress the attacks on the peaceful protesters, despite growing calls on the authorities to investigate the attacks and bring perpetrators to justice.”

    “We urge you to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to take all feasible measures to protect peaceful protesters demanding the release of all prisoners of conscience, and full respect for the rule of law.”

    “We urge you to put pressure on the Nigerian and Kogi state authorities to make clear that they will not tolerate violent attacks on protesters. The authorities have a responsibility both to respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to protect protesters from violent attack.”

    “Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka’s social activism and calls for peaceful protests led to escalating government harassment and their eventual arrest and detention. They are two of several youths who have been protesting against the Federal government.”

    “There was no warrant for Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka’s arrest and they have been in detention for over forty days without bail, which has become a recurring pattern of the Nigerian authorities’ disdainful, illegal arrest and detention of protesters, journalists and activists”

    “According to their lawyer, Benjami Omeiza, he has no access to Emmanuel Larry and Victor Anen Udoka and that while he was negotiating for their release, Kogi State quickly arranged for a Magistrate to order their detention in Prison, ex-parte (without notice). They have been in Prison for over forty days afterwards. They have not been formally charged nor arraigned before any competent court of jurisdiction; neither have they been released.”

    “The attacks are coming on the heels of similar violent attacks by the military and the police on the #EndSars protesters demanding proscription of the erstwhile dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and violation of human rights by security agents in October, 2020 and the other protesters in March, 2021.”

  • BREAKING: Boko Haram forces UN to suspend humanitarian work in Damasak, Dikwa

    BREAKING: Boko Haram forces UN to suspend humanitarian work in Damasak, Dikwa

    The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria (UNOCHA) said it is putting on hold operations in Dikwa and Damasak in Borno State.

    Edward Kallon, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria disclosed this in a statement made available to TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) on Sunday.

    According to Kallon, the decision is due to the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist groups in the two communities. He said the UN is forced to safely relocate the humanitarian staff to other locations.

    “I am deeply concerned about the recent attacks on humanitarian operations in Dikwa and Damasak, affecting humanitarian assets and personnel.

    “We have temporarily suspended operations in these areas in order to safely relocate humanitarian staff and are closely monitoring the situation.

    “We intend to resume operations as soon as possible, so that civilians affected by the conflict continue to receive the assistance they need.

    “I condemn in the strongest terms attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure which may constitute violations on International Humanitarian Law,” Kallon said.