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Nigerian Army confirms outbreak of Lassa Fever in Kaduna reference hospital

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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.

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Aisha was divorced from Buhari before he died – Farooq Kperogi

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A Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Farooq Kperogi, has alleged that Aisha was no longer married to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kperogi made this claim in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, Aisha had dropped Buhari as her surname and reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.

He further alleged that Aisha was reluctant to travel to the United Kingdom to care for Buhari when he became ill.

Kperogi was reacting to quotes attributed to Aisha, which claimed Buhari had asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.

Although Kperogi said he could not confirm the authenticity of the quotes, he maintained that the couple were no longer married.

He wrote: “They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu. If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office.

“Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna. In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for him, she reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife.”

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Empowerment or Embarrassment? Abia Rep Member Hon. Ibe Okwara Sparks Backlash After Distributing Buckets to Women in His Constituency.

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In what was intended as a gesture of grassroots empowerment, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has come under fire after distributing plastic buckets to women in his constituency as part of an empowerment programme.

The event, which took place in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, drew immediate reactions from both residents and social media users, many of whom described the gesture as “demeaning,” “insulting,” and a stark departure from the expectations of meaningful representation.

Photos from the event showed women, some elderly lining up to receive branded plastic buckets, sparking a flurry of criticism over what many perceived as a tone-deaf approach to empowerment in a region grappling with youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship.

“This is not empowerment; it’s embarrassment,” a resident of Elu Ohafia told our correspondent. “We sent a representative to fight for opportunities in Abuja, not to bring us buckets as if we are refugees.”

Another community youth leader questioned the priorities of the lawmaker: “With all the constituency funds allocated, is this the best Hon. Ibe Okwara can offer the women of Arochukwu and Ohafia? Is this how he plans to reduce poverty, one bucket at a time?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over what constitutes meaningful empowerment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Critics argue that symbolic or tokenistic gestures have replaced genuine development efforts, with many elected officials resorting to the distribution of trivial items under the guise of empowerment.

Attempts to reach Hon. Ibe Okwara for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, aides close to the lawmaker defended the initiative, describing it as “a modest intervention aimed at reaching out to rural women with useful household items.”

Still, for many constituents, the optics of the event speak louder than the intention.

 

Political observers warn that such missteps may have long-term consequences, especially as constituents become increasingly vocal about demanding transparency, impact-driven representation, and measurable development.

 

As the 2027 elections approach, residents say they will no longer be pacified with handouts, but will demand leaders who can deliver policy-driven progress and tangible infrastructure.

“This is 2025,” a frustrated youth from Abam lamented. “We can’t be clapping for buckets anymore.”

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One dead, many missing in fresh herdsmen attacks on Benue communities

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Tragedy has struck Guma Local Government Area of Benue State following fresh attacks by armed herdsmen, leaving one person confirmed dead and several others missing.

Ekwutosblog gathered that the attackers invaded Tsekar village in Ukohol, Nyiev Council Ward, where a resident identified as Mr. Tyough William was killed.

In a related development, the armed herdsmen reportedly ambushed a group of Tiv travelers along the Yogbo-Gungu Aze road. The victims were said to be returning from Yogbo to Ortese community when the assailants struck.

According to local sources, one of the travelers, Mr. Udam Dogo, is still missing. Concern grew among relatives when calls to his phone were answered by an unknown herder, raising serious fears for his safety.

However, the total number of casualties and missing persons is yet to be officially confirmed.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Udeme Edet, said she was not aware of the incident at the time of the report.

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