Nigerian Army confirms outbreak of Lassa Fever in Kaduna reference hospital

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1 year ago

February 22, 2024

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The Nigerian Army has confirmed “suspicious” outbreak of acute Viral Hemorrhagic disease, popularly known as Lassa Fever, in the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (NARHK), Kaduna.

Army spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement released on Thursday, February 22, said the entire hospital facility has been disinfected, while immediate closure and evacuation of the Accident and Emergency ward of the 44 NARHK has been ordered to allow for thorough fumigation, decontamination and emplacement of other measures of Infection Prevention Control (IPC).

He said;

“In line with best practice in managing such a situation, contact tracing to what is believed to be the index case has been made to a non-military patient who was referred to 44 NARHK from a peripheral medical facility.

“The suspected index patient was managed but subsequently died two weeks ago in the hospital. Sadly, three medical staff of the hospital that had direct contact with the suspected index case have also died within the past 48 hours.

“In response to the suspected outbreak, directives have been passed that Prevention Control (IPC) measures in and around all military health care facilities in Kaduna be stepped up as part of measures to curtail further spread and loss of lives. In this way, all medical staff of the hospital, their family members and other patients on the contact tracing list have commenced appropriate management and so far nothing of concern has been observed.

“As a responsive and responsible organization, the Nigerian Army has also escalated the development to other relevant national and state agencies.

“As of the time of this statement, samples have been taken from suspected contacts and the deceased and sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for analysis. Similarly, the Kaduna state Epidemiologists have been invited to help in unraveling the unfolding development.”

Nwachukwu said all Nigerian Army medical facilities in Kaduna and environs have been put at alert on the “need to employ necessary IPC measures and closely monitor patients, staff and family members.”

He urged the public to not panic, as adequate measures have already been put in place to contain the suspected outbreak.

The disease has already resulted in the death of three medical staff serving in the hospital and a patient, with some in critical condition.

Soldiers should arrest civilians wearing military uniform, not assault them – Nigerian Army official

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55 minutes ago

April 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Major Gen. Gold Chibuisi, has told Nigerian soldiers what to do to civilians dressed in military uniform.

Speaking during a chat with journalists on Saturday night in Abuja, Chibuisi also said that it is against Nigerian law for non-military personnel to wear military uniforms.

According to him, soldiers must act professionally and lawfully when handling such cases.

He, however, revealed that many soldiers had been sanctioned for assaulting Nigerians who wore military camouflage.

Chibuisi said: “I’m surprised that in most briefs we give in our programmes, we always talk about this uniform issue because it keeps recurring.

“It’s against the law of the land. If you are not in the Armed Forces, please don’t use our uniform, whether you love it or not.

“But that is one part of it. Let people stop it. The other part is what we do, what our troops do when they see somebody dressed in a military uniform.

“You are supposed to just get the person to remove it, arrest the person and hand him over to the police, basically for prosecution.

“All these other things that come with it are not right. And we are doing sensitisation on them.

”Those that we find and there is evidence that they did that, we always sanction them sternly. And we will continue to do that.”

Kidnappers attack Shanono community in Kano

Published

1 hour ago

April 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Kano

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Armed kidnappers attacked Shanono Local Government Area late Saturday night, attempting to abduct a prominent businessman and his two children.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants stormed the town around 2:20 a.m., heavily armed with guns and other dangerous weapons. Residents reported hearing continuous gunfire near the victim’s residence as the kidnappers tried to seize him and his children.

However, the businessman and his children managed to escape the attack, frustrating the kidnappers’ efforts. One of the victims was injured during the incident and has been rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

This latest attack comes less than ten days after gunmen invaded Faruruwa town, also in the Shanono area, where they killed two people and abducted another.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Shanono Local Government Area, Hon. Abubakar Barau, through his spokesperson, Comrade Ammar Shanono, said security operatives have been deployed to the area to investigate the attack and ensure the safety of residents.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as efforts to track down the perpetrators continue.

Fresh explosion kills over five persons in Rivers

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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At least five persons lost their lives in an explosion in a residential area in Omoku, headquarters of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State, on Saturday.

Fyneface Dumnamene, an environmentalist and executive director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

It was gathered that the blast was said to have occurred in one of the rooms in a residential area used for storing illegally refined petroleum products.

According to Dumnamene, the occupants of the residence where the explosion occurred usually buy illegally refined kerosene and other products, store them, and resell them to members of the public.

The statement partly reads, “The incident occurred in the late hours of Saturday, April 26, by about 11 am, killing five persons, four females and one male, burnt beyond recognition.”

The Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, also confirmed the incident and casualties.

She explained the cause of the explosion.

According to her, “What really caused the fire was that a resident brought a cooking stove to the place and was preparing noodles, which ignited the fire.

Recall that in March two explosions rocked Rivers State.

The first explosion was at the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The second was at a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa community, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Thereafter, President Bola Ahmed Tinubudeclared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator on March 18, 2025.