President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent murder of five staff of humanitarian agencies in Borno State.

Buhari in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, sympathised with the families of the five aid workers.

He prayed that God will comfort them for their irreplaceable loss.

The President assured the families that his government will continue to do all it can to ensure that “every remaining vestige of Boko Haram is wiped out completely from northeastern Nigeria and that the perpetrators of this atrocity will face the law.”

Buhari further condoled with the State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, and International Rescue Committee, whose staff have suffered this gruesome fate.

He thanked them for their continued dedication and service to the victims of Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria. He assured them that security agencies in the state will work closely with their organisations to implement measures to ensure that no such kidnapping of staff occurs again.

Boko Haram attacks aid helicopter in Borno State killed two civilians including a five-year old child

The United Nations says 2 civilians including a five-year old child have been killed in an attack on its aid helicopter by Boko Haram.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday in Damasak, Borno State, a town bordering Niger Republic.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon in a memo seen by AFP, said the fatalities were on the ground, and that others were also injured.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has suspended humanitarian operations in Nigeria’s North-East following the deadly Boko Haram attack on the aid helicopter.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon in a statement, urged the Nigerian authorities to continue to protect aid workers by tackling the terrorists.

Task Force to engage governors after Borno, Gombe, Zamfara, Adamawa Reopened Mosques and Churches

 

Borno, Gombe, Adamawa and Zamfara on Thursday reopened Mosques and Churches.

It was a major easing of the lockdown imposed to curb Coronavirus spread.

The Federal Government frowned at the situation having not been consulted as expected, in line with the COVID-19 protocol.

Besides, the Federal Government believes that the situation of the virus spread had not reached the stage of lowering the guard.

Coronavirus cases in the country last night surpassed the 5,000 mark, with close to 200 deaths recorded.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Control has resolved to engage with the governors.

Minister for Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “We are always working together with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). We believe that the governors won’t do anything that will put in jeopardy all we have achieved in the last few weeks of lockdown. So, I think it is better that we continue the engagement and I am sure that the chairman of the taskforce who is constantly in touch with the governments will take up this matter and we hope that he will be able to give a feedback.”

Read Also: Cleric cautions churches about reopening

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya said places of worship could be opened, only when members wear face masks, keep social and physical distance, as well as maintain regular hands washing and the use of hand sanitizers.

Yahaya said members of aid groups in Mosques and the Boys Brigade in Churches would be trained to ensure full compliance and the enforcement of the protective measures.

He warned that any violation of the measures would force him to reverse the decision to ease the lockdown, because “he would not afford to compromise the health of the people of the state”.

The Adamawa State Government also as lifted the ban on religious congregations with immediate effect.

Press Secretary to governor, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, in a statement said: “Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has eased the restriction on worship places and social gatherings earlier imposed on the state, following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Churches, Mosques and the international cattle markets under lockdown can now reopen.”

The Borno state government has also announced an indefinite suspension of lockdown for COVID-19.

The government also approved religious gathering in strict adherence with social distancing and use of facemasks.

Umar Kadafur, said the state has recorded significant progress in the fight against COVID-19 over the last three weeks

The Deputy governor, who is also the COVID-19 Response Committee Chairman in the state disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to him, “All churches shall conduct church services as recommended by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno Chapter in strict adherence with social distancing and use of facemasks.

“The ban on the sales and consumption of liquor and other intoxicating substances is still in force. Defaulters will be dealt with severely in accordance with the liquor law,” he said.

Bello Matawalle also lifted the ban on congregational prayers in Mosques and Churches.

Matawalle, in a radio broadcast, said: “I want to commend the people of the state for supporting government in our effort to frustrate the spread of coronavirus in our dear state by complying with the lockdown orders.

“In the light of this, therefore, we are suspending restrictions on congregational prayers in Mosques and Churches while appealing to people not to converge in large numbers at the same time.” he said.

The governor said urged the people to continue to observe social distancing when they meet as well as use face masks to prevent spread of the virus.

Borno State Government Suspends Lockdown Indefinitely, Asks Mosques, Churches To Resume Congregational Gatherings

The Borno State government has suspended the lockdown in the state indefinitely while also lifting the ban it placed on Friday and Sunday congregational prayers due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Borno, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has so far recorded a total of 188 cases of COVID-19.

But a statement posted on the official Facebook page of Governor Babagana Zulum said the state had recorded, “significant progress in the fight against COVID-19 over the last three weeks.”

The statement was signed by the state’s deputy governor and chairman of its COVID-19 response committee.

The state government however announced the restriction of other public gatherings, especially burials and weddings, to a maximum of twenty people, among other new measures.

The committee announced the following resolutions: “The lockdown be suspended indefinitely to study the situation for the time being. However, where the situation escalates, government should revert to status quo.

“The use of facemasks by the public be made mandatory and enforceable.

“Government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and opinion leaders should enforce social distancing, especially in public gatherings/worship
places.

“There should be restrictions on public gatherings, especially funeral processions/rights, weddings, naming ceremonies, etc to not more than 20 people,” it said.

The committee noted that, “all medical consultations by pharmacies and patent medicine stores that are related to COVID-19 or similar ailment shall be referred to government hospitals as defaulters of this direcive will be prosecuted. On no account government hospitals should reject any patient whether because of COVID-19 or other ailments.”

It said the state government would study the federal governments’ agreement with health unions and implement it at the state level.

According to the committee, “Henceforth, Jumma’at prayers and five daily prayers shall be observed in all mosques as recommended by the Borno State Council of Ulamas in strict adherence with social distancing and the use of facemasks.

“All Churches shall conduct Church services as recommended by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno Chapter in strict adherence with social distancing and use of facemasks.”

The committee also restated that alcohol and other intoxicating substances remained banned in the state.

The state government also asked civil servants on grade level 1-12 to continue to work from home pending a review of the directive.

The government further said it had adopted the recommendation of the Borno State Council of Ulamas not to permit public gathering for Eid prayers.

Are u an eyewitness?

And you want the scene to be published

Send your stories to:

Whatsapp number:- +2348161164458

Email:- olamipaul@gmail.com