Teenager rapes 90-year-old woman

A teenager who raped a woman in her 90s in the hall of her home has been jailed for 16 years at Newport Crown Court.



Lee-Joseph Dixon, 18, forced his way into the house in Ely, Cardiff, as he made his way home from a party at 4am in May.

He “had not one ounce of pity” for his victim in the attack, the judge said.

Dixon, from Ely, admitted raping the widowed grandmother and will serve a minimum of eight years and be on the sex offenders register for life.

As she was attacked, the woman asked him: “Why is a young man like you raping an old woman like me?”

John Lloyd, prosecuting, told the court Dixon has been drinking at the party this year, and began knocking on doors as he walked to his home 300 metres away.

The woman was in her dressing gown and barefoot when she opened the door of the house.

Dixon told her there was an emergency and forced his way into the property as soon as the door was opened.

After the attack, the woman called 999. Officers found her shaking in the hallway still clutching the phone.

The woman was in hospital for two weeks but now lives in a care home as she was unable to return to her home, where she had lived since she was a child.

In a statement to the court, her son said: “I am constantly surprised that this did not kill her.

“We are struggling to come to terms with how a young man can do such an horrific violating act to an old woman in her own home where she is meant to feel safest.”

Judge DJ Hale told Dixon: “You wanted to satisfy your sexual urges and you had not one ounce of pity for your victim.”

He said, “This is a particularly horrifying attack. You have blighted what remains of her life.

“Your victim was a fiercely independent woman who was living alone in the home where she had lived for most of her life, surrounded by her memories and possessions.

“It takes a great deal of courage to live alone at that age. But you ruined that for that night when you rang her doorbell.

“You have caused real physical and psychological harm.”

Dixon admitted rape but said he had no memory of the attack.

South Wales Police Det Insp Stuart Wales said Dixon was arrested within 72 hours of the “dreadful attack” that “understandably caused a lot of public concern, particularly within the Ely community”.

He said, “Stranger attacks on women, such as this one, are extremely rare.

“As with any such similar incident, when they do occur we have specialist officers to investigate these crimes and work closely with partner agencies to provide support to rape victims.

“This has been a life-altering experience but one where the victim and her family have shown remarkable emotional strength in dealing with what happened to her.”

Football federation's headquarters gutted by fire

The headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation in Abuja, the Glass House was gutted by fire on Wednesday.

The office of the NFF general secretary was reportedly razed down, along with those of other principal officers of the federation.

A source in Abuja told NigerianEye that the offices of the President and the accounts department might also be affected by the inferno.


This comes on the heels of acrimonious events leading to the August 26 congress meeting.


Senior federal fire service chief Imo Eyo described the damage as “huge” and said there was no immediate indication of foul play.

“We suspect a circuit fault to have led to the fire but a proper enquiry would be carried out by the authorities,” he added.

Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) technical director Emmanuel Ikpeme said the blaze appeared to have started in the office of a senior accounts manager.

“We thought it was something that could be contained by the fire extinguisher,” he told reporters.

“But before we knew it, the fire spread to the general-secretary’s office and from there, there couldn’t be any control.”

The NFF has been in crisis for several months and FIFA suspended the organisation in July over what it said was “government interference” in its affairs.

That followed a Nigerian court ruling that sacked the NFF high command and the government appointed a sole administrator to run the game.

The ban, which threatened Nigeria’s participation in the FIFA under-20 women’s World Cup this month, was later lifted.

But the NFF executive board then gave a vote of no confidence in president Aminu Maigari and sacked him over allegations of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.

Maigari was however reinstated because FIFA said that correct procedure had not been followed. He returned to work this week.

NFF secretary-general Musa Amadu cautioned against attributing blame for the fire but added: “Thank God no lives were lost but this is sad and unfortunate.”

Ikpeme added: “It’s very sad, more so that Nigerians know that we have been having some challenges in the Nigerian Football Federation.

“When we thought it was all over only for us to come this morning and experience this kind of thing. It’s a very, very serious matter.

“You can imagine, most of the NFF’s sensitive and important documents of the NFF are in the secretary-general’s office and for the fire to destroy the accountants’ office is very sad.

TRANSFERS: Manchester United signs defender Rojo from Sporting Lisbon

Manchester United on Wednesday announced the signing of defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of €20m, with Nani joining the Portuguese club on a season-long loan. Marcos joins on a five-year contract.



Rojo, 24, joined Sporting from Spartak Moscow, having started his career at his home town team of Estudiantes de la Plata. Marcos has played 28 times for Argentina since making his debut three years ago and played six games, including the final, in his country's run to the recent FIFA World Cup final, scoring in the last group game against Nigeria. He was named as one of the defenders in the Castrol Index All Star Team of the tournament.

Marcos Rojo said: "It is such an honour to say that I now play for Manchester United. The Premier League is the most exciting league in the world and to have the chance to play in it for the world's biggest club is a dream for me.

 I am young and am very keen to continue to learn the game, so playing for such an experienced technical coach as Louis van Gaal is a fantastic opportunity for me. I have joined United to work hard with my team-mates to win trophies and I know that the manager shares that ambition."

U.S donates high tech bomb disposal robot /equipment to Nigerian Police

The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba NPM, on August 20, 2014 at Force Headquarters, Abuja, received the US Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, James F. Entwistle.

The US Ambassador congratulated the Ag. IGP on his new appointment as the Police Boss and thanked the Nigeria Police Force for its high level of co-operation and huge partnership with the US Embassy in Nigeria.

 

The Ambassador thereafter presented High tech Bomb disposal robots/equipment to the Nigeria Police Force. He also reassured the Ag. IGP that his country will continue to render relevant supports to the Force in the areas of training and security cooperation.

The IGP, while responding, appreciated the Ambassador’s courtesy visit and thanked the US government for assisting the Nigeria Police Force in areas of investigation, management of scene of crime as well as position of equipment.

Describing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) executed by the Nigeria Police Force and the US government recently as a huge partnership that will improve and modernize Police training in Nigeria, the IGP restated his commitment to continue to drive reforms and transformation of the Force in order to reposition the Force for better service delivery and promised that the newly donated equipment would be put to effective use.

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: Falconet trash North Korea to reach finals

Asisat Oshoala scored four times as Nigeria reached the final with a thumping 6-2 victory over Korea DPR in the highest-scoring semi-final ever seen at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Oshoala also laid on two more goals in a win that leaves the Super Falconets to face either France or Germany on Sunday at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, and the North Koreans to play for third place at the same venue.



Nigeria have had a tendency to score quick goals during their time at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014, and Courtney Dike continued that trend with a goal barely more than a minute after kick-off. Oshoala set the tone by setting it up, releasing Dike in behind Korea DPR’s captain Choe Sol-Gyong before the No8 expertly picked her spot just inside the far post. At the half-way point of the first period, Oshoala doubled Nigeria’s lead, capitalising on a poor touch from centre-half Song Kyong-Hui before rounding the keeper and passing into an open goal. 

Less than ten minutes later, Ri Un-Sim – arguably the North Koreans’ most dangerous attacker throughout the tournament – pulled one back with a great bit of individual skill after receiving a long ball from midfield. Ri beat two defenders on the cutback and finished past Sandra Chiichii with a powerful shot into the top corner. From there, Korea DPR looked inspired in search of an equaliser but the score remained 2-1 at half-time before Nigeria swiftly put the game out of reach within minutes of the restart.

In similar fashion to her appearance and goal in the quarter-finals against New Zealand, Uchechi Sunday came on as a substitute and within a minute scored to restore her team's two-goal lead. Oshoala then put the game out of reach on the hour mark when she hit a stunning shot from 20 yards out that left Kim with no chance as it flew into the top corner. 

Korea DPR had one last glimmer of hope two minutes later when Ugo Njoku handled the ball in her own area, allowing Jon So-Yon to score from the penalty spot. However, Oshoala’s quality shone through yet again in the 68th minute when she completed her hat-trick, beating Song and winning a foot race with Kim to once more fire into an empty net.

Nigeria were not finished there, though, and with five minutes from time the No4 matched the number on her jersey. The goal came as a result of another North Korean defensive miscue less than six yards from goal, resulting in a simple tap-in.

Oshoala had taken the wind out of the Korean sails far earlier in the match and when the final whistle sounded, her Nigerian team-mates surrounded her in celebration, while Hwang Yong-Bong's side trudged off disconsolately.

29 year old man rapes 7 year old girl, damages her Vigina

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man, identified simply as Julius, for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl (names withheld), damaging her private parts and distorting her urination.

It was learnt that 29-year-old Julius, who lived in a rented apartment on Obafalabi Street, Ojodu Berger area of Lagos, allegedly tricked the little girl into his room on the night of Saturday, July 26, and had illegal carnal knowledge of her.



It was gathered that the victim, a primary one pupil, was the daughter of Julius’s co-tenant. It was further learnt that Julius, who hails from Benin, Edo State, was not married and lived in the apartment with his mother.

Our correspondent learnt that on the fateful evening, the victim’s family, who were Muslims, had gone for prayer in a mosque and expected the child to come with them, but could not find her. However, when the family returned, the girl was said to have sneaked out of the suspect’s room, with obvious signs of pain.

Upon interrogation by her parents, the girl was said to have confessed that she was coming from Julius’s room, where he allegedly asked her to remove her pants, while he climbed on her and raped her. After the confession, the parents were said to have reported the incident at the Ojodu Abiodun Division and Julius was arrested.

When our correspondent visited Julius’s apartment on Tuesday morning, the victim’s mother, a northerner who hails from Kebbi State, revealed that the girl could not urinate properly after the incident, adding that she was being treated at a private hospital.

She said, “On that evening, when we came back from the mosque, she could not bend down properly. I asked her where she went and she initially lied, but later said she had been in his room.

“She said the man asked her to remove her pants, and he put his organ into her, stating that he was just playing with her. I then asked her to repeat the same to her daddy when he came back. But in the morning when we confronted Julius, he denied it. Then we called our family nurse, who came, tested her, and confirmed that she had been raped.

“That same day, we took her to a private hospital where the doctor also confirmed that she had been raped the day before, and on several occasions. So, we reported at the police station. From that day, I observed she could not hold her urine.

“A girl who had stopped bedwetting suddenly began to urinate during sleep. The medical personnel said there was a damage to her private parts that needed to be treated. That was how she resumed treatment at the hospital.”

When our correspondent got to the hospital where the victim was being treated, her medical report, which was signed by a doctor, identified simply as Dr. Sanni, stated among other things that there was a breach of hymen and the absence of labia minora.

One of the nurses, who craved anonymity, said the girl had been coming for treatment for about two weeks.

At the rented apartment, Julius’s room was locked, while his mother staying with him could not be reached for comments as of the time of this report. Also, she could not be reached on the phone number supplied by the co-tenants.

The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, confirmed the arrest of the suspect, and added that the case, because of its severity, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

He said, “The suspect was arrested by the Ojodu Abiodun Police Division in connection with the rape of a seven-year-old girl who had some wounds on her and could not urinate properly.

“But the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for further investigation. The suspect is presently being detained at the SCID.”

"I Could Quit Like Benedict Or Even Die By 2017" - Pope Francis

Pope Francis has suggested that he might one day resign the papacy like his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI did last year, which would make him the second consecutive Pope to do so after almost 600 years.

He said this yesterday while speaking with reporters on his way back to Rome after his state visit to South Korea.

“Some theologians may say this is not right, but I think this way. Let us think about what [Benedict XVI] said, “I have gotten old, I do not have the strength”, it was a beautiful gesture of nobility, of humility and courage.


 But you could say to me, if you at some time felt you could not go forward, I would do the same.”
Asked about his immense popularity, the Pope, 77, joked that he would probably die in the next 2/3 years so should not get too proud:

“I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then to the house of the Father.” he said

FOOTBALL: I will never bite anyone again - Suarez

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said he has received professional help after receiving a four-month ban for biting an opponent for the third time in his career when he clashed with Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

Suarez made his debut for the Catalans in a 6-0 friendly win over Mexican side Club Leon on Monday, but will not be able to play a competitive game for Barca until late October after his appeal against the ban was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week.



“The suspension is what it is and I have to accept it, it is a personal matter but I have worked with the adequate professionals,” the Uruguayan said at his first press conference as a Barca player on Tuesday.
“I have tried to forget this game and this situation as well. It is a difficult moment for me and I would say to all the fans to not worry because I am not doing that anymore.”

Suarez was believed to have been a long-term target for Barca’s eternal rivals Real Madrid. However, Barca’s sporting vice-president Jordi Mestre said the player’s desire to come to Catalonia had allowed the club to negotiate a fee of 81 million euros (£65 million, $109 million) with Liverpool, £10 million less than the player’s £75 million release clause.

“There were options from other teams, but when the option of Barca became clear I didn’t have any doubts because it was a dream for me,” added Suarez.

“I still can’t believe it. It is something I have dreamed about but I never imagined such a beautiful dream would come true.”

Suarez could even make his competitive debut against Madrid should their first clash of the season be scheduled for Saturday, October 25 or the following day and he is determined to ensure he is as fit as possible when that game comes around in case coach Luis Enrique calls on him to start.

“It’s not the same but I had a similar situation last year at Liverpool, I started to play on September 20. It is a long time but if you keep focused with your teammates in training it helps.”

Barcelona already have a wealth of talent available in attacking areas with four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Brazilian star Neymar, meaning Suarez is likely to be forced into a role on the right side of the attack.

However, he insisted that won’t phase him as he dovetailed with Daniel Sturridge last year to form a deadly partnership that nearly delivered Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 24 years.

“I am prepared to play any position in attack. This last year I played on the left and on the right because Sturridge played as the number nine. I don’t have any problem playing in any position and adapting myself to what the coach demands.

“The quality that Leo and Ney have is amazing, they are players you admire. Yesterday I was watching them in the first half and they make you want to stop and applaud.”

Top Nigerian doctor who treated Patrick Sawyer dies of Ebola virus

Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the senior consultant endocrinologist who became infected with the deadly Ebola virus while treating the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, died Tuesday, medical authorities said.

Ms. Adadevoh died in an isolation facility of the Mainland Hospital, Lagos, bringing to five the number of Nigerians killed by the highly contagious virus.

Her death followed those of Mr. Sawyer, two nurses, and a protocol officer for ECOWAS who attended to Mr. Sawyer as he arrived the Lagos airport.



All of Nigeria’s fatalities are those who had contact with Mr. Sawyer, the man who brought Ebola to the country.
The Federal Health Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement Tuesday that a “female Nigerian doctor has died at the Ebola Emergency Treatment Centre in Lagos”.


The statement by Dan Nwomeh, spokesperson for the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, did not identify Ms. Adadevoh, beyond stating that the victim was one of the primary contacts with Mr. Sawyer, and the most senior doctor who participated in treating the Liberian.

The description fits Ms Adadevoh, who was erroneously reported to have recovered and discharged a few days ago.

Her cousin, Kwami Adadevoh, tweeted shortly afterwards saying, ” I’d like to thank you all for your prayers. Sadly my darling cousin has been called home. She has finished her course and now rests with God.”

Condolences immediately began to pour in torrents.

While Nigeria has recorded some successes in the fight against Ebola– five people infected with the virus recovered– the country has also suffered heavy losses to the virus within two weeks.

The death of Ms. Adadevoh, like the nurses, would be deeply heart-breaking given her sacrifice to treat Mr. Sawyer, and an unsuccessful attempt by the Nigerian government to have her treated with Zmapp, the experimental drug used by the United States to treat two of its doctors who contracted Ebola in Liberia.

The Americans turned down the request saying the drug was not yet available in enough quantity and that African nations needed to adopt alternative strategies to combat the virus.

The manufacturing firm of Zmapp said last week they had run out of stock of the drug.

Sources say Dr. Ameyo died Tuesday afternoon after nearly a week in coma.

Suspected Boko haram militants slaughter 10

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed 10 people who had fled their homes to escape repeated attacks by the insurgents, after hunting them down in a nearby village, witnesses said on Monday.

Residents of Krenuwa village fled to nearby communities after a Boko Haram raid last month that left seven dead and saw the extremists raze a military camp, police station and several homes.



About a dozen militants stormed the villages of Durwa and Maforo in the Marte district on Sunday, where some of them were seeking refuge.

“They came on motorcycles and gathered people before singling out their victims who moved in from Krenuwa after it was attacked”, said Usman Ari, a Durwa resident.

“They shot six of them dead and slaughtered four,” said Ari, who fled to the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) away after the attack.

After the attack in Durwa, where six were killed, the suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed nearby Maforo and killed four, said Hassan Goni, another Durwa resident, who also fled to Maiduguri.

“We are afraid they are going to come back for more attacks which is why we left, he added.

After the attack on Krenuwa village, a counter-offensive by soldiers killed five insurgents and captured five more.
Krenuwa resident Abba Kolomi said Boko Haram had also killed six people from the village who sought refuge across the border in Chad.

The Marte district was one of the areas where Boko Haram chased out the government last year, forcing President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in the region and a military offensive to crush the uprising.

A scorched-earth military response reclaimed the territory but deadly Boko Haram raids on towns and villages in the area have continued unabated.

24 Reasons Nigerian Medical Doctors Are On Strike

1. The post of Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) has been circularised and operational. Rather than abolish it, the NMA hereby demands that four (4) DCMACs for teaching hospitals and three (3) for the Federal Medical Centres be appointed forthwith to assist the CMACs whose statutory responsibilities are too heavy for any single individual to handle. Directors in other government agencies are supported by several Deputy Directors, why not the CMAC who is also a Director? Such a DCMAC must have same qualifications as the CMAC.

2. The NMA is opposed to the appointment of Directors in the Hospitals. This position distorts the chain of command in the hospital, induces anarchy and exposes the patient to conflicting treatment and management directives with attendant negative consequences.

3. The NMA demands that grade level 12 (CONMESS 2) in the health sector MUST be SKIPPED for medical doctors. Consequently no medical/dental practitioners should be on that grade level anymore.

4. The title “CONSULTANT” in a hospital setting describes the relationship between the Specialist Medical Doctor and his patient. It will be a source of confusion if the title is applied to any other health worker who statutorily does not own patient. NMA, therefore, declares with unmitigated emphasis that if “non-doctor consultants” are appointed, it will lead to chaos and anarchy in the health sector. This should not happen.

5. Relativity in health sector is sacrosanct. The NMA hereby demands for immediate implementation of the January 3rd, 2014 circular. The NMA also demands the immediate payment of the arrears of the corrected relativity for 22 years during which her members were short changed.

Much as we are not against salary increase for any category of workers, either in health or elsewhere, the NMA demands for immediate adjustment of the doctors’ salary to maintain the relativity as agreed and documented once CONHESS is adjusted.

6. That Government should expedite the passage of the National Health Bill (NHB), and extend Universal Health Coverage to cover 100% of Nigerians and not 30% as currently prescribed by National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

7. Surgeon General of the Federation MUST be appointed with immediate effect.

8. The entry point of the House Officer should be corrected to CONMESS 1 step 4 as originally contained in MSS/MSSS while the Registrar/Medical Officer is moved to CONMESS 3 step 3.

9. Clinical duty allowance for Honorary Consultants should be increased by 90% of CONMESS

10. Adjust the specialist allowance as contained in the 2009 collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, ALL doctors on CONMESS 3 and above MUST be paid specialist allowance or its equivalent that is not less than 50% higher than what is paid to other health workers.

11. Hazard allowance MUST be at least N100, 000 per month for Medical Doctors.

12. Immediate release of the circular on rural posting, teaching and other allowances which MUST include house officers.

13. Immediate withdrawal of the CBN circular authorizing the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) to approve licenses for the importation of In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs).

14. Immediate Release of Circular on retirement age for Medical Doctors as agreed with the Federal Government (FG)

15. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health should formalise and implement the report of the interagency committee on residency training as well as release the uniform template on appointment of Resident Doctors in line with earlier agreements. Moreover, a concrete Funding framework for residency training must be established. The Overseas clinical attachment must be fully restored and properly funded in the interest of the nation.

16. That in the interest of harmony in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri the government should pay the salaries of our members in the centre as agreed on 21st October, 2013.

17. Immediate concrete steps must be put in place for the reintegration of our members back into the IPPIS platform.

18. All attempts to coerce house officers not to join NARD must stop.

19. The orchestrated intimidation, harassment and physical assault of our members in departments of Pathology (Laboratory Medicine) by Laboratory Scientists which is being tolerated by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) must stop.

20. The Endless circle of incomplete salary payment to our members in many hospitals in the name of shortfalls in personnel cost must stop.

21. Universal applicability of all establishment circulars on the remuneration and conditions of service for doctors at all levels of Government must be guaranteed.

22. Government should as a matter of urgency set up a health trust fund that will enhance the upgrading of all hospitals in Nigeria.

23. The position of Chief Medical Director/Medical Director must continue to be occupied by a Medical Doctor as contained in the Act establishing the tertiary Hospitals. This position remains sacrosanct and untouchable.

24. The NMA henceforth shall not accept the continued violation of any of the terms of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is exemplified by the payment of Medical Physicists and Optometrists with OD (who are on CONHESS) call duty allowance using the CONMESS Circular. Similarly, the phrase “Ministries, Departments and Agencies” (MDA) in the said agreement should replace “Federal Ministry of Health and other Federal Health Institutions” as contained in the 2009 CONMESS Circular.

Mixed fortunes for Nigeria, 3 new Ebola cases discovered, 4 patients discharged

It was a case of mixed fortunes for the nation, yesterday, in the management of the Ebola Virus Disease as three fresh cases were discovered, while four of those earlier admitted at the isolation centre in Lagos were discharged.

Lagos State Health Commissioner, Dr. Jide Idris, who confirmed the emergence of three new cases, remarked: “As at yesterday, (Sunday), we had three new suspected cases. One of them is a blood sample from Kaduna State, while the two others are from Lagos and they are primary contacts. A reason for this was that they do not have the laboratory to test for the virus.



“What we have now is that, there are four people dead, including the index (Mr. Patrick Sawyer). We have eight in the isolation ward before Saturday when we released the doctor, and this doctor was released after testing negative and going through the World Health Organisation, WHO and Centre for Disease Control, CDC, procedures for discharge.

Four more discharged

Four additional confirmed patients of Ebola Virus Disease have been discharged from the isolation centre of the Mainland Hospital in Lagos.

The discharged patients, including two male medical doctors, one female nurse and another patient, have been managed successfully and are now disease-free and ready to resume their normal life activities.
The development brings to five the total number of patients diagnosed with Ebola who have now been discharged from hospital, following the discharge of the first EVD patient over the weekend.

Announcing the development yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the three participated in the treatment of the first case of Ebola in Nigeria, the late American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer while the fourth person was a female patient at the time the index case was on admission.
In Lagos, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who briefed newsmen along with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said the patients would be released yesterday (Monday).

“We have 12 confirmed cases and that includes the index (first) case and all the other cases that we have confirmed positive and those who have died. And today, we have four more patients ready for discharge, and they have gone through the same protocol — the protocol is that before we release anyone or certify him or her negative, he or she has to be symptoms-free for over three days. Also, we had to test their blood and the result proved negative of the virus.

“They will be released today (yesterday) after they have completed their counselling exercise being conducted by our psycho-social team, but they will come periodically for check-ups; though they are okay.”

Three others in Isolation

Assuring that everything was under control, the commissioner said the new cases were being closely monitored.

“The other three patients are still being monitored at the isolation centre. Once they get better, they will be released too.

“The lady who ran to Enugu is still in isolation and has tested positive to the virus. She is among the three still under isolation.”

Treatment of patients
On the nature of treatment being accorded Ebola virus disease patients, Idris explained that there was no specific treatment per se.

“We treat the patients based on the presentation. For instance, if the patient shows symptoms of diarrhoea, he or she has to be treated with electrolyte and others. If the person shows signs of pain, he or she will be given pain-relieving drugs. We have enough drugs to take care of them.

“If they require intensive care, we will do that. This is part of the equipment that has been brought in. They will be provided with such.”

More medical personnel

Giving an update on medical personnel available to care for the patients, Idris remarked: “At the moment, we have more medical personnel to care for the patients. We have eight doctors and nine nurses and some health workers who have gone through the training. We have also been joined by infectious disease experts from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. All these people have gone through the training. Though the number is not enough; we need more.”

Expert reacts

Reacting to the development, the Director of Communication and Community Mobilisation for Ebola in Nigeria, Professor Adebayo Onajole said that the country has been able to contain the spread through increased surveillance at the country’s borders (air, land and sea), increased awareness and less disinformation about the disease in the country.

Onajole, a consultant public health expert noted that universal health precautions and personal hygiene are currently being encouraged, a situation which has helped halt the spread of the disease.

He said: “Efforts are currently ongoing to scale up and strengthen all aspects of response, including contact tracking, public information and community mobilization, case management and infection prevention and control, and coordination. There is now increased disease surveillance system in a bid to monitor, control, and prevent any occurrence of the disease,” he concluded.

Five committees have been set up in the country to halt the spread of the disease, investigations reveal. These committees include contact tracing – responsible for tracing contacts of infected persons; case management unit – responsible for managing established cases; and point of entry unit which is charged with the responsibility of examining persons entering Nigeria from various borders.

Three quarantined in Makurdi

Meanwhile, two missionary workers and their driver have been quarantined at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, the Benue state capital, on suspicion of infection with Ebola virus.
Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Professor Orkurga Malu, who disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi, dispelled rumours that the quarantined persons were infected with the virus.

Malu explained that Benue indigenes who hitherto resided in Monrovia for a year where they engaged in missionary work, relocated from the Liberian capital in the wake of the Ebola outbreak.

“There is no truth that some Benue indigenes from Monrovia, Liberia are victims of the deadly Ebola virus. What happened is that since some airlines have shut down operations to Liberia, the couple and their driver had to take a connecting flight from their base to Accra, Ghana where they stayed for a week before travelling to Nigeria.”

While refusing to disclose the identity of the persons concerned, Malu said, on arrival in the state, they were quickly admitted in the hospital and have been kept under close observation.

“They have not shown any symptoms of the disease because at every stage their temperature is checked and tested right from Monrovia before they boarded the plane to Ghana and then Nigeria.
“Since they came in here on Thursday, we have been testing them on a daily basis and there is no evidence of temperature rise or any of the symptoms of the virus.

“So we are 99.9 per cent sure that they do not have Ebola virus. But just in the remotest case of 0.1 percent, we have kept them to ensure they do not have the disease,” he stated.

The CMD who urged the people of the state not to panic assured that the hospital has adequate facilities to cater for any victim of the virus.

Ebola manufactured by Satan - T.B Joshua

By Ihechukwu Njoku

Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) declared in his church service on Sunday 17th August 2014 that the killer disease Ebola currently ravaging West Africa is from ‘the pit of hell’.


According to Joshua, who led his congregation in prayer for the nations and individuals affected, time was up for the ‘strange ailment’ and life would soon return to normal for the affected countries.

“The so called strange ailment coming from three nations – Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia… satan is the manufacturer, the source,” Joshua defiantly declared to the faithful.

“Begin to capture the covenant of that strange sickness,” the cleric then enjoined the congregation. “Command that strange ailment to come out and go to the pit of hell, in the name of Jesus Christ!”

“Because of Christ, people of Liberia, Sierra Leona, Guinea, you are released,” Joshua bellowed, accompanied by the vibrant congregants in a service allegedly viewed by millions worldwide through Joshua’s Christian television station Emmanuel TV.

The controversial pastor boldly declared that God had spoken to him to pray for the nations affected by Ebola as its reign of fear was close to closure.

The pastor, cited to be one of Africa’s most influential individuals, decried the toll Ebola had taken on society, especially in the areas of kinship and kindness.

“People are no longer their brother’s keepers because of this strange disease,” he lamented, adding that if someone publicly collapsed from any form of sickness, people would likely abandon the invalid as opposed to lending a helping hand.

“Once satan takes love out of people, he has taken life. Satan is not happy that we are one; he is against oneness. He knows when we are not one, we can be defeated,” he fumed.

“The weapon satan is afraid of is love,” Joshua continued. “Satan can fight anything but he cannot fight love.”

The cleric then cited a poignant question asked by Jesus in Luke 18:8: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

He added that the prayer Jesus offered for His followers’ faith not to fail indicated challenges would arise in the last days which would make many ‘abandon their faith’, Ebola being one such challenge. 

Joshua made headlines this week in local and international media for sending 4,000 bottles of ‘Anointing Water’ to the Ebola stricken nation of Sierra Leone on the request of the government, alongside $50,000 in humanitarian aid.

Last week, Joshua had to debunk a rumour attributed to him that went viral in Nigeria claiming that bathing in salt water would prevent the disease. With over 1.2million followers on Facebook and 90,000 YouTube subscribers, it is easy to understand why Joshua is touted to be among Africa’s most influential individuals currently.

NYSC denies suspension of orientation course in crisis-prone states

NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, weekend, debunked a media report that the orientation course for prospective corps members deployed to crisis-prone states has been suspended due to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.
The scheme urged prospective corps members to ignore the report, saying orientation course for corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states was still on course.
A statement by the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relation, Mrs Olubunmi Aderibigbe, described the report as misleading, asking corps members to report to their various camps for proper documentation.
The statement read: “The attention of the NYSC Management has been drawn to a news report aired on AIT to the effect that the orientation course for prospective corps members deployed to Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states has been suspended due to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease.

Nigerian tested in Spain, kept in isolation

The Mailonline also reported that the Nigerian was tested after going to San Juan Hospital in Alicante with the tell-tale signs of the EVD.

Officials of the hospital said the unnamed Nigerian, who is in his 30s, was being kept in isolation until the results of the tests were known.

The officials were said to have activated the Ebola protocol after he complained of the flu-like symptoms associated with the onset of the virus.

Paramedics wearing protective suits and masks transferred him from Alicante General Hospital to nearby San Juan.

His condition on Sunday was described as “stable.”

FG to meet hospital owners , orders arrest of fake hand sanitiser sellers

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said he will meet with leaders of the Association of General Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors of Nigeria over reports that some private hospitals were refusing to treat patients suffering from malaria and fever.

There were media reports last week that such private hospitals were doing so because of fear of contracting the Ebola Virus Disease.

Chukwu, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, however attributed the action by such hospitals to inadequate information on the nature and mode of spread of the EVD , which claimed its first victim in Nigeria, Patrick Sawyer, in a private hospital in Lagos.

The hospital lost its matron and a nurse who were among health workers that handled Sawyer’s case to the disease.

Another nurse, who was also involved in the treatment of the Liberian-American is currently being quarantined at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba, Lagos after she tested positive to the virus.

The doctor that attended to Sawyer on his arrival at the private health facility, also contracted the virus but she survived after 22 days in the IDH.

Chukwu said, “I am meeting with the leadership of the Association of General Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors of Nigeria, this week. The two bodies control private practitioners.

“Part of the reason we want to meet with them is due to reports that the private hospitals were turning back patients suffering from fever and malaria for fear of contracting EVD through them.”

He said with proper education, the country would be able to contain the spread of the disease.

The minister, therefore, urged the media to confirm from him, any rumoured case of Ebola anywhere in the country before publishing.

Chukwu said, “The media should help the ministry to reduce panic in the society over the issue of Ebola, what we need is continuous education of our people. For instance, we have clinical case definition, that is crosschecking cases through laboratory testing.

“That was why, when we went to Abia State, we used the laboratory test to convince everybody that the woman suspected to have Ebola did not have it.

“But because a section of the media did not confirm the true status of the woman from me or from the National Centre for Disease Control, they escalated panic in Abia by publishing that an Ebola case had been reported in the state. That is the only reason why the woman’s blood was taken for testing.”

On fake hand sanitisers and gloves allegedly being sold to the public, he said the ministry had directed the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control to begin investigation and bring all the culprits to book.

The minister said, “NAFDAC will continue to monitor but we strongly believe that the fake versions of hand sanitisers are being produced and sold by some people .

“NAFDAC will continue to do its job and we hope that very soon, those perpetrating the crime will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Chukwu also denied mentioning the name of the female doctor who treated the late Liberian – American. The doctor was discharged from the isolation ward on Saturday.

Chukwu, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, on Sunday, said he did not refer to the doctor as Dr. Adedevor , as quoted in the media.

The statement read in part, “It has been brought to the attention of the minister that the first Nigerian to be diagnosed of EVD, is being reported in some section of the media to be one Dr. Adadevor.

“The minister wishes to clarify that the name of the patient is not Dr. Adadevo. This should be noted. The minister’s statement on Saturday while indicating that it was a female doctor did not indicate the name of the patient.”

Sahara Reporters later quoted Chukwu as having said in a statement that five EVD patients being treated at the IDH had almost fully recovered.

He was said to have also confirmed that Nano Silver, an experimental drug, had failed to meet the required standards and therefore would not be used on Ebola patients.