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MSF: One out of every four children in Shinkafi and Zurmi malnourished.
MSF: One out of every four children in Shinkafi and Zurmi malnourished.
By: Michael Mike
One out of every four children under the age of five is malnourished in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas of Zamfara state, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health have said.
A statement on Thursday by MSF otherwise called Doctors Without Borders, said according to a mass screening conducted in June by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Ministry of Health. Of the 97,149 children screened in 21 different urban and rural locations, 27 percent were found to be suffering from acute malnutrition, with five percent having severe acute malnutrition.
The statement added that: “These concerning figures far exceed the ‘critical level’ threshold established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding malnutrition prevalence. MSF urges health authorities, international organisations, and donors to immediately intensify their efforts to tackle the escalating malnutrition crisis in Zamfara state, as well as whole of Northwest Nigeria – a region not yet included in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan.
“The mass screening held in June in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas further revealed that about 22 per cent of children screened aremoderately malnourished. Currently, the nutritional suppliesessential to treat such children, also known as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), are unavailable, as UNICEF halted its supplies at the start of the year. This current lack of humanitarian response to treat those who are moderately malnourished in Northwest Nigeria risks the lives of these children who, without immediate care, will progress to severe acute malnutrition that threatens their survival and compromisestheir long-term health.”
Abdullahi Mohammad, an MSF representative in Nigeria, said: “The screening results from Shinkafi and Zurmi are nothing short of alarming, revealing a catastrophic malnutrition crisis across Northwest Nigeria,” declaring that: “The response to this overwhelming disaster is grossly insufficient. With malnutrition rates soaring beyond critical levels and no immediate treatment available for moderate acute malnutrition apart from at MSF facilities, we’re effectively letting more children fall into life-threatening conditions. It is crucial we ensure every child receives the medical care they desperately need.”
The statement said MSF currently runs four inpatient and 17 outpatient facilities in Shinkafi, Zurmi, Gummi and Talata Mafara in Zamfara – a state badly affected by malnutrition, noting that across all four inpatient facilities, MSF teams have treated over 7,000 children from January to July 2024. These figures for admissions are 34 per cent higher than for the same period in 2023. In Shinkafi and Zurmi, where MSF conducted the recent malnutrition screening, the increase in admissions is 50 per cent more than the same period last year. At the medical facility in Gummi, admissions in July 2024 were almost double compared to the same month last year.
Alongside the significant increase in malnutrition admissions, MSF teams are seeing high numbers of children with vaccine preventable diseases such as measles. In Zamfara, they have treated at least 5,700 measles cases so far this year. Infectious diseases like measles, malaria, and acute watery diarrhoea, severely compromise the nutritional status of children. In turn, malnutrition makes them far more susceptible to these illnesses, with a higher risk of death.
“When I first brought my son into the hospital, I didn’t know if he would survive,” says Hafsat Lawal, a mother whose child is beingtreated for malnutrition at an MSF facility in Zamfara. “Back at home because of the insecurity we don’t have food. The prices of food have more than doubled. If we had money, we would have bought some grains, but we cannot.”
Communities are facing high levels of violence in Zamfara and have told MSF teams that they are scared to move around the state, taking huge risks to reach functioning healthcare facilities.It is estimated by the health authorities that as of 2023, only about 200 out of 700 healthcare centres in Zamfara are accessible, and the rest are non-functional. One of the reasons being that healthcare workers struggle to reach them.
Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis and facing high levels of insecurity, communities in the Northwest have long been excluded from coordinated humanitarian response. It is essential that health authorities in this area, alongside international organisations and donors, urgently scale up their response.Immediate expansion of health facilities is needed to treat malnourished children to ensure that more hospitals can offer the type of inpatient care desperately needed to save lives. Moreover, UNICEF, as the primary supplier of RUTF, must ensure the consistent and sufficient delivery of these essential therapeutic foods to prevent more children from falling victim to this crisis.
MSF: One out of every four children in Shinkafi and Zurmi malnourished.
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
By: Zagazola Makama
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the Republic of Benin, describing both countries as partners bound by a “common destiny” rooted in history, trade and regional security.
Shettima stated this on Sunday in Cotonou during the inauguration of Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Vice-President said the Tinubu administration views the Nigeria–Benin relationship as strategic to regional integration and democratic stability in West Africa.
“Our presence here in Cotonou underlines President Tinubu’s unwavering, deep-seated commitment to strengthening ties with our neighbours,” he said.
Shettima noted that both countries share deep cultural, historical and economic ties that predate modern political boundaries, stressing that communities on both sides of the border remain closely connected.
“Our border with the Benin Republic stretches across nearly 600 kilometres, spanning six Nigerian states… We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny,” he added.
He said Nigeria and Benin must continue to work together to promote democratic governance, peace and economic prosperity within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“Because of this, we must show solidarity, empathy and active support toward strengthening democracy in West Africa,” he said.
The Vice-President disclosed that bilateral trade between both countries stands at about $2 billion annually, while an estimated five million Nigerians reside in Benin Republic.
He said both countries had strengthened cooperation in border security, trade facilitation, grassroots governance and ae development under regional integration frameworks.
Shettima recalled that Nigeria and Benin formalised a Memorandum of Understanding in August last year to enhance collaboration among border communities, local governments and traditional institutions in tackling cross-border crimes and boosting socio-economic development.
He said the arrangement had improved security coordination and commercial activities in border towns such as Seme, Igbokofi and Ilara, while enhancing opportunities for residents engaged in cross-border trade.
The Vice-President also referenced ongoing regional economic frameworks under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff system, aimed at improving the business environment across member states.
He added that both countries continue to implement the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, which allows citizens to stay within member states for up to 90 days without visa requirements.
According to him, these initiatives remain critical to strengthening regional integration and sustaining peace and prosperity in West Africa.
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
News
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have rescued an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and arrested three suspects following a reported kidnapping and disruption of election-related activities in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Security sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. on May 22 when two groups of suspected kidnappers stormed the venue of ADC primary elections at Wummy Hotel, Ekori community.
According to the sources, one of the groups abducted the INEC returning officer, forced him into a vehicle, and compelled him to transfer ₦70,000 before fleeing the scene.
The second group, operating on a motorcycle, reportedly carted away ballot boxes from the venue.
Following intelligence on the incident, troops in Yakurr Local Government Area laid an ambush on the fleeing suspects, successfully intercepting the vehicle and rescuing the kidnapped INEC official.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation, while one armed suspect reportedly escaped into nearby bush with a pistol, a mobile phone, ATM card, travelling bag and other election materials.
The rescued official, arrested suspects and recovered vehicle are currently in military custody for further investigation and action.
Security forces have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen electoral materials.
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 103 Battalion, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have raided a suspected cultists’ hideout in Achi town, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, arresting three suspects and recovering items believed to be linked to criminal activities.
Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out at about 4:30 a.m. on May 23 following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected cultists and other criminal elements operating in the area.
According to the sources, the troops stormed a residential building suspected to be used as a hideout by the criminal group.
During the raid, three suspects were apprehended, while items recovered include eight motorcycles and two buckets of locally made gunpowder.
The suspects and recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and necessary action.
Security authorities have continued to intensify joint operations in Enugu State and surrounding areas to curb cult-related activities and other forms of violent crime.
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
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