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Nigeria: EU allocates €1 million to fight diphtheria outbreak
Nigeria: EU allocates €1 million to fight diphtheria outbreak
By: Michael Mike
The European Union (EU) has released €1,000,000 (about N847 million) in humanitarian funding to fight the spread of diphtheria disease and assist the most affected communities.
According to a statement on Tuesday, this latest funding is in addition to €150,000 which the EU allocated to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in March 2023 in an effort to help control the epidemic.
The statement said this new EU funding will enable UNICEF and the medical NGO ALIMA to contribute to the response by providing technical and staff support to frontline health agencies to enhance surveillance and case detection, treatment of cases, community awareness raising, and to assist with the procurement of vaccines.
Nigeria is currently facing the world’s second largest diphtheria outbreak with 10,322 confirmed and 16,616 suspected cases since the beginning of the year. Kano State in the Northwest represents the outbreak’s epicentre with 8,447 confirmed cases and 589 deaths. The most affected states are Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, and Kaduna which collectively account for 96% of all suspected cases.
Despite control efforts since the start of the outbreak in late 2022, the disease has gradually spread to other states in the Northwest and Northeast. Children aged 1 to 14 years represent 72% of all confirmed cases. Analysis of the vaccination status reveals that over 60% of all suspected cases have not been vaccinated.
According to the statement, this funding is part of the EU’s Epidemics tool, created to provide rapid funding in case of a disease outbreak. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection transmitted between humans. It causes an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can lead to breathing difficulties and suffocation. Those most at risk are children and people who have not been fully vaccinated against the disease.
The European Union, together with its Member States, is the leading donor of humanitarian aid in the world. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.
The European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. Through its headquarters in Brussels and its global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people based on humanitarian need alone.
Nigeria: EU allocates €1 million to fight diphtheria outbreak
Troops arrest suspected cattle rustler in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested a suspected cattle rustler in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 4:20 p.m. on April 15, 2026, at Anule community.
According to the sources, troops of Sector 1 OPWS deployed in the area arrested the suspect during ongoing security operations.
The suspect is currently in custody, while further investigation is underway to determine possible links to cattle rustling activities in the area.
Troops arrest suspected cattle rustler in Benue
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover motorcycle in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have arrested a suspected terrorist during an operation in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 5:19 p.m. on April 15, 2026, following intelligence on the presence of a suspected criminal hiding in Tse Atu community.
According to the sources, troops of Sector 1 OPWS deployed at Anguhah and Umbagbo swiftly responded and conducted a targeted operation in the area.
During the operation, one suspect was apprehended, while a motorcycle believed to be linked to the suspect was also recovered.
The suspect and the recovered item are currently in custody, while further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the suspect’s involvement in criminal activities.
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover motorcycle in Benue
Army distributes fertilisers to farmers in Benue to boost security, livelihoods
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army has distributed fertilisers to farmers across various Local Government Areas of Benue State as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at enhancing food security and strengthening civil-military relations.
The event, held on April 15, 2026, was conducted by the Commander, Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Brig.-Gen. K.O. Bukoye, under the Army Headquarters Corporate Responsibility Project.
The initiative, themed “Using Agricultural Support to Improve Farming for Sustained Security,” is designed to support local farmers while promoting stability within the Joint Operations Area.
Security sources said the programme brought together community leaders, farmers, and other key stakeholders, alongside representatives of the OPWS Commander.
They noted that the intervention is part of ongoing efforts to foster cooperation between security forces and local communities, while addressing underlying factors contributing to insecurity.
Army distributes fertilisers to farmers in Benue to boost security, livelihoods
Troops arrest suspected cattle rustler in Benue
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover motorcycle in Benue
Army distributes fertilisers to farmers in Benue to boost security, livelihoods
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