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NIDCOM Advised Nigerians to be Conversant with Laws of Countries they are Traveling

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NIDCOM Advised Nigerians to be Conversant with Laws of Countries they are Traveling

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has advised Nigerians to be familiar with the laws of the countries they are visiting.

The advice was given on Friday at the backdrop of the harrowing experience of a Nigerian medical doctor, Andrew Etsetowaghan at the Geneva Airport for carrying a presentation pointer in his hand luggage.

The Chairman/ CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa told Nigerians travelling through Switzerland to avoid carrying laser pointers as its usage has been ban in that European country.

Etsetowaghan, Chief Party, USAID Funded Accelerating Control of the HIV Epidemic in Nigeria, (ACE) C4 Project, narrating his ordeal at the airport in Geneva, said he was delayed at the airport for three hours because of laser pointer.

He said the use of laser pointer was ban in June 2019. The aim is to prevent people being injured or dazzled in a hazardous way by the beam from dangerous laser pointers.

The laser pointers is a hand-held laser that can be used to point to things, for amusement (as a toy or in hobbies) to scare off animals or to drive away other people.

Most times it is used to deliver lecture where slide is used. The most used laser pointer is the one carrying markings

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, noted that many immigrants might be unaware of this regulation and urged Nigerian travelers to exercise caution to avoid similar incidents.

Etsetowaghan, a public health expert and Project Director at the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria, was detained on May 25, 2024, after attending a United States Department meeting in Geneva.

Etsetowaghan , who was part of an official delegation ,recounted his ordeal: “Upon going through security at Geneva Airport, I was informed that my presentation pointer was not allowed in Switzerland.

He said he never knew of the law before leaving Nigeria and all through his short visit to Switzerland.

He said there was no notification even at the Geneva airport to warn travellers until he was called aside by the immigration and later joined by the police.

He said he was taken to cell for hours and it became a to and frot and was made to sign some documents in French even when he did not know what the contents are.
The Chief Party, who was worried not to miss his flight, said he was told bluntly that he would not be flying that day.

“I was detained, had my belongings and documents seized, and was subjected to several hours of interrogation and solitary confinement in a cell.

“Despite my compliance, the treatment I received was inhumane, including limited access to bathroom facilities and being forced to sign documents in French under duress.”

He called for measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
He called for a review of the procedures and better awareness of the banned items to ensure travelers are well-informed.

Reacting to the incident, NiDCOM emphasized the importance of raising awareness about such prohibited items in Switzerland Airports and urged Swiss authorities to enhance theircommunication on such regulations, describing Dr Etsetowaghan ordeal as “ avoidable “

NIDCOM Advised Nigerians to be Conversant with Laws of Countries they are Traveling

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Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe

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Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe state police command has arrested prime suspect Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years for the gruesome killing of Lawan Adamu, 28 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu, Yobe state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, MNIPR, disclosed this to newsmen in a crime update report. He said the command has condemned the gruesome killing of a young man, Lawan Adamu, at the outskirts of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.

“On September 15, ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters Damaturu received a distress call reporting a corpse with deep cuts. Police arrived to find the victim with deep throat cuts and multiple stab wounds; a bloodstained knife was recovered at the scene.

The body was removed to General Hospital Damaturu, where it was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue.

Deliberate efforts by the Division led to the arrest of the prime suspect, Yunusa Isa, AKA Abba, 24 years of Nayi Nawa bypass, Damaturu.

Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed detectives to expand their investigation to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.

He further assures the public that the investigation will be swift and thorough, as justice will certainly be served accordingly.

Police arrest suspect for killing 28-year-old in Yobe

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Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims

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Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims
…Acknowledges Donations from Agric Ministry, NEMA, NNPC

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating Maiduguri flooding taking refuge in about 36 camps across the state capital Maiduguri and environs.

Maiduguri and parts of Jere and Konduga local governments were left submerged in water as a result overflowing water from Alau Dam due to massive rainfall, leaving about 2 million people displaced and properties put at several billions of Naira destroyed.

The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday, at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.

The relief materials shared include a bag of 25kg of rice, a carton of pasta and N10,000 cash.

Speaking to journalists at the venue of the distribution, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are troupling to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth distribution of the palliatives to the people who were actually affected.

He said: “We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are troupling to the camps.”

In addition to distributing relief materials, the governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions.

He stated: “So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.

“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”

Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the governor for his leadership.

He said: “Let me commend the governor for providing leadership since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people. I also joined His Excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims.”

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.

She said since the flooding started the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.

Meanwhile, Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of a food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.

The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.

Maiduguri Flood: Zulum Flags off Distribution of Relief Materials to Victims

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Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother

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Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother

By: Our Reporter

Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, has condoled with Sen. Musa Mustapha, over the death of his senior brother, Alh. Tijjani Mustapha.

Gov. Buni who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Baba Malam Wali Mni, described the passage of late Tijjani as a very sad loss.

He said the death of Alh. Tijjani is a huge loss not only to the family but his community and the state.

Gov. Buni prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased “May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Al Jannatu Firdaus.

“May He grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” Governor Buni further prayed.

The SSG was accompanied by the the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs, Ustaz Babagana Malam Kyari, Permanent Secretary Protocol Alh. Kashim Kalli, the PPS Alh. Liman Ibrahim and DG Press Malam Mamman Mohammed.

Gov. Buni Condoles With Sen. Musa Mustapha Over Loss of Brother

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