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ECOWAS Reaffirms Commitment to Support Vulnerable Communities in Member States

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ECOWAS Reaffirms Commitment to Support Vulnerable Communities in Member States

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing humanitarian support to vulnerable communities in Member States affected by disasters.

The Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, gave the
assurance on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Human Development during the conclusion of a five-day technical mission by the ECOWAS delegation to Cabo Verde to monitor the implementation of the Commission’s aid package to support vulnerable communities affected by the 2023 floods.

Tarfa-Ugbe assured that ECOWAS Commission would remain steadfast in its
support to the vulnerable population in disaster-affected communities in Member States, noting that the Commission’s humanitarian response goes beyond providing immediate relief package .

She said: “Our goal is not only to respond to crises but to ensure that communities are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to recover and thrive. The allocation of $770,143 reflects ECOWAS’ dedication to sustainable solutions that uplift vulnerable populations affected by
disasters in ECOWAS Member States.”

She emphasized the need for improved stakeholders collaboration in delivering effective humanitarian assistance, adding that partnership with relevant national and local stakeholders was critical to ensuring implementation of impactful humanitarian
interventions by the Commission.

Speaking during the closing session of the technical monitoring mission, the Secretary of State for Social Inclusion, the Republic of Cabo Verde, Mrs. Lídia Lima, underscored the significance of ECOWAS’ humanitarian and financial support to the country describing it as a vital complement to Cabo Verde’s national poverty eradication efforts.

In his remarks, the ECOWAS Interim Permanent Representative to Cabo Verde, Mr Jean Francis Sempore, highlighted ECOWAS’ diplomatic engagements in Cabo Verde, the Commission’s long-standing commitment to the country’s humanitarian needs, as well Praia, Cabo Verde,
ongoing efforts towards ensuring that ECOWAS’ support aligns with regional and national development policies and priorities .

According to a statement on Tuesday, as part of its humanitarian assistance programme, the ECOWAS Commission deployed a technical mission to Cabo Verde to monitor the implementation of a $770,143 aid package allocated to support communities affected by the 2023 floods.

Led by Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, ECOWAS Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Human Development, the
mission was carried out in collaboration with Cabo Verde’s Ministry of Family, Inclusion, and Social Development, as well as the local implementing partners.

The objective of the mission was assessing the progress of humanitarian assistance provided to over 200 families, including housing support for 80 families and livelihood assistance for 200 others. Over the course of five days, from January 27 to January 31, 2025, the ECOWAS
team worked closely with the Government of Cabo Verde, implementing partners, and local stakeholders to assess the impact of the Commission’s $770,143 humanitarian assistance package to the country. This funding was allocated to help 560 families affected by the devastating 2023 floods.

ECOWAS Reaffirms Commitment to Support Vulnerable Communities in Member States

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Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

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Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

By Zagazola Makama

Squatters of a grazing forest by a large community of herders in Kaduna State on Sunday afternoon killed one of the Commanders of Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS).

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in Yardoka Grazing Reserve in Kubau Local Government Area, located in Northern Kaduna Senatorial District.

The slain Commander, identified as Saleh Shuaibu, popularly known as Saleh Fiya-Fiya, who is the KADVIS Commander in Kubau Local Government, was killed when officials of the Kaduna State Government visited the area to carry out a government directive in a grazing reserve located at the said Yardoka forest.

The directive, according to a source in Anchau, the headquarters of the local council, was to allocate over 200 hectares of land to a certain company for investment purposes, a move the squatters are resisting due to lack of payment of compensation, while another source said the squatters have been paid but are still demanding more money.

Another source explained that the government officials arrived in the company of armed policemen along with personnel of the Department of State Services but were barricaded from accessing the reserve.

It was while the impasse was going on that the slain KADVIS alighted from a van and was intervening with the irate community members armed with cutlasses and sticks, while one of the protesters stabbed him with a knife and killed him on the spot. A claim Zagazola Makama is yet to confirm.

Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

By: Zagazola Makama

A tragic road accident occurred on Saturday at the popular Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State, when a tipper truck loaded with shaft sand lost control and rammed into a crowd of traders and shoppers.

Zagazola learnt the incident, which happened around midday, resulted in multiple fatalities and left several others injured. The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as emergency responders continue rescue operations and assessment of the scene.

Sourcessaid the truck was speeding when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered into the busy market area, knocking down people and structures along its path.

“It happened so fast,” said Musa Ibrahim, a local vendor. “The truck was on speed and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t control it. It just rammed into the crowd.”

Security operatives and medical personnel arrived swiftly at the scene to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals. The body of the deceased has also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families.

The driver of the truck has been apprehended and is currently in custody as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.
End

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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports
…72-year-old Grandma, Beninese, Ithers Nabbed in NDLEA Raids in Delta, Kwara, Lagos

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former football player Segun George Hunkarin along with his businessman partner Ntoruka Chinedu over attempt to smuggle a consignment of cocaine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu who is a frequent flyer known for conveying clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey, was the first to be arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport last Tuesday, when his carry-on bag was searched, 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes were seen to be concealed therein.

Babafemi said investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.

He said further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin was said to have claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.

Another Europe based businessman Amen Okoro was last Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic 5,000 pills of tramadol 225mg packaged as known malaria drugs such as Lonart, Amatem and Aluktem to Spain.

He was intercepted at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain through Casablanca.

Babafemi said Okoro, who is into freight and logistics business between Europe and Nigeria, claimed that on his arrival in Spain, he would have taken a train to France where he resides and from there send the tramadol consignment to Italy for retailing.

At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a Maputo, Mozambique based bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 17 cardboard size parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.500 kilogrammes and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilogrammes.

He revealed that the 38-year-old suspect was coming from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was interdicted and subjected to a search during which the illicit drugs concealed in bedsheets packed in his bags were discovered.

He noted that another passenger on board the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, 54-year-old Azu Kpodar was also intercepted at the Enugu airport by NDLEA operatives. When Azu, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was searched, a liquid soap plastic container marked YPE, was discovered in his luggage. The substance was promptly taken for analysis at the NDLEA forensic and chemical laboratory, Enugu where the substance tested positive to cocaine.

The substance which turned out to be liquid cocaine weighed 1.250 kilogrammes, the
suspect who is a toy seller in Brinquedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, claimed he purchased while shopping for his wedding ceremony in Nigeria.

NDLEA operatives at the Seme border area of Badagry in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted a 26-year-old Beninese Vode Jean-Luck while trying to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 29.5 kilogrammes from Benin Republic into Nigeria.

In Kwara state, a notorious drug dealer Mary Oladele (a.k.a Iya Nafi) was arrested last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives raided her base in Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government area of the state where various quantities of skunk, tramadol and flunitrazepam were recovered from her.

Babafemi said a 72-year-old grandma Mrs. Christy Ejaro was last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Niger CAT area of Warri, Delta state, with several sachets of skunk packaged in retail size recovered from her.

The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Delta, Kwara, and Seme commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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