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UN Allocates Additional US$5 million to Respond to Flood in Borno, Bauchi, Sokoto

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UN Allocates Additional US$5 million to Respond to Flood in Borno, Bauchi, Sokoto

By: Michael Mike

The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$5 million to scale up the flood response and address critical needs in three of the most flood affected states in Nigeria – Borno and Bauchi in the north-east, and Sokoto in the north-west.

The announcement followed the increasing impact of floods on people’s lives, livelihoods, and food security across Nigeria at the peak of the rainy season.

Report has it that more than 300 people have lost their lives, with at least 1.2 million people affected by flood in 31 states. MNational Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) also reported that thousands of hectares of cropland have been damaged ahead of harvests.

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall said: “Floods across Nigeria have created a crisis within a crisis,” adding that:“Millions of people were already facing critical levels of food insecurity before the floods because of economic hardships that have made it exceedingly difficult for the most vulnerable to feed themselves and their families. The floods have compounded people’s suffering.”

A statement on Wednesday by United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: @As of mid-September, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that crop losses due to floods in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states were equivalent to an amount of food that could feed 1.4 million people for six months. Nationwide crop losses could feed 8.5 million people for six months. To mitigate the flood impact, there is a need for extended lean season support and a scale up of emergency agriculture activities, where possible.

According to the statement, the CERF funds will help humanitarian partners reach 280,000 people in Borno, Bauchi and Sokoto states with food, clean water, sanitation, and shelter support. The funds will also help to rapidly mobilise resources to bolster access to healthcare, including efforts to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera. The response will include the use of multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) and cash for work programmes to help affected people earn an income.

The funding will also enhance protection services, including support to women and girls and services for gender-based violence (GBV), as well as support to people living with disabilities.

“This CERF allocation is a much-needed boost to the joint efforts of humanitarian partners in Nigeria in support of the Government-led response. However, the CERF funds and the previous allocation from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) are insufficient to meet the scale of needs. What is required right now is the immediate mobilisation of additional resources by donors, development partners and the private sector as the emergency response transitions to the recovery phase in some affected areas.”

The CERF funds complement a $6 million allocation from the NHF for the BAY states, where more than half a million people have been affected by floods. In addition to the flood impact, the BAY states are experiencing cholera outbreaks that have claimed dozens of lives at the height of a food security and malnutrition crisis that is projected to affect five million people through October. The NHF funds and resources from the US funded Rapid Response Fund, managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are supporting interventions in water and sanitation hygiene, shelter, and non-food items as well as MPCA in Borno. Other ongoing UN assistance includes food and nutrition assistance, emergency healthcare (including mass cholera vaccination campaigns and sexual and reproductive health services), emergency shelter and family tracing and reunification.

In Borno, which is the State most impacted by flooding, more than 400,000 people, many of them vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) were displaced at the peak of flash flooding in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local government areas (LGAs). A section of the Alau Dam collapsed in the middle of the night on 9 September forcing people to flee their homes with few if any belongings. This was in addition to displacement due to torrential rains and windstorms starting in August that affected tens of thousands of IDP shelters.

While the flooding has receded in MMC and Jere, there is an urgent need for protection services and sustained lifesaving assistance especially food, and clean water, and sanitation support amid cholera outbreaks for people who remain in emergency shelters. Recovery and livelihood support especially for farming households are required for those returning to their homes. Many areas experiencing ongoing flooding, such as Dikwa local government area in Borno, also need an immediate emergency response.

UN Allocates Additional US$5 million to Respond to Flood in Borno, Bauchi, Sokoto

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Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja

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Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja

By: Zagazola Makama

A phone shop operator, Idris Yakubu, was on Tuesday stabbed to death during a robbery at his shop and residence in Dakibiyu Village, Abuja.

Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. when a group of unidentified assailants reportedly broke into his premises, stole several mobile phones, and fatally stabbed him on the left side of his back.

He was later rushed to the Gwarinpa General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed him dead on arrival.

Sources close to the family said the assailants targeted valuable phones before attacking Yakubu, who was believed to have tried to resist the robbery.

Upon receipt of a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer of Jabi Division swiftly dispatched a patrol team to the scene.

A police sources said that the victim was found lying in a pool of blood and was rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead on arrival.

The family of the deceased requested the release of the body for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, and the request was granted after due documentation.

The sources said investigation is ongoing to recover the stolen phones and track down the fleeing suspects.

Phone shop operator killed in armed robbery in Abuja

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Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna

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Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna

By: Zagazola Makama

A 25-year-old man, Usman Mohammed, has died after being stabbed during a confrontation over his girlfriend in the Barikin-Sale area of Minna, Niger State.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred late on Monday night when Usman went to visit his girlfriend, Halima Usman, at Deeper Life Upper Base in Barikin-Sale.

While they were seated outside chatting, three young men identified as Barafi, Ayya, and another yet to be identified approached them and allegedly attempted to woo Halima.

According to eyewitnesses, the men offered Halima ₦5,000 to go out with them, which she declined. The situation escalated when the men became violent, leading to one of them stabbing Usman in the back with a dagger.

Usman was rushed to the General Hospital in Minna, where he was admitted for treatment. However, he died from his injuries in the early hours of Tuesday at about 2:30 a.m.

One of the suspects, identified as Ahmed Mohammed, has reportedly been apprehended, while efforts are ongoing to locate the other two individuals believed to be involved in the attack.

Police officers visited the scene and took photographs of the deceased before depositing the corpse at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

One of the suspects, Ahmed Mohammed, has been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining culprits currently at large.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Man stabbed to death over girlfriend in Minna

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Boko Haram terrorists attack herder, rustle 28 livestock in Borno

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Boko Haram terrorists attack herder, rustle 28 livestock in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked a herder and rustled livestock in Burum Village bush area of Damboa Local Government Area of Borno state, police authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

Zagazola Makama was reliably informed by sources that the incident occurred on June 9 at about 6:00 p.m. when the assailants, armed with machetes, attacked 20-year-old Riskuwa Ibrahim while he was grazing his herd.

The father of the victim, Ibrahim Buba, reported the incident stating that his son sustained grievous injuries to the head, hand, and back during the attack.

The terrorists reportedly made away with twenty-eight (28) sheep to an unknown destination.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was recovering.

Boko Haram terrorists attack herder, rustle 28 livestock in Borno

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