late. Comrade Elvis Magam.

The corpse of late Comrade Elvis Magam of the University of Uyo who was killed during elections for coordinators of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NANS) – has been recovered and is set to be sent home in Ogoja local government area in Cross River state ahead of his funeral.

The deceased was shot dead during the NANS election held at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa state over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the death of Magam Elvis of the faculty of Law, UNIUYO.

The police also confirmed that they have in their custody eight students including Bayelsa NANS President, Perewari Benjamin arrested for involvement in armed robbery and cultism.

Eid el-Fitr: Sultan Urges Muslims To Look For New Moon Saturday

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged the Muslim Ummah in the country to look for the new Moon of Shawwal on Saturday, June 24.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sultan made the call in a statement signed by the chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali, yesterday.

” This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Saturday, June 24, which is equivalent to 29th day of Ramadan,1438 AH, shall be the day to look for the new Moon of Shawwal, 1438 AH.

” Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Shawwal, 1438 AH, Saturday.

” They should report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head, for onward communication to the Sultan,” he said.

The sultan urged the Muslim Ummah to report the sighting of the new moon to the sultanate council on the following numbers:

0803-715-7100, 0706-741-6900, 0806-630-3077, 0806-548-0405, 0803-595-7392, 0803-596-5322 and 0803-614-9767.

Eid-el-Fitr: NSCDC Deploys 40,000 Personnel, Sniffer Dogs Nationwide –Commandant-General

The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, has directed that 40,000 personnel be deployed nationwide to provide security during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The spokesperson of NSCDC, Emmanuel Okeh, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja.

He said that in addition to the 40,000 personnel, sniffer dogs and specialised units such as SWAT, Special Force, CBRN, Surveillance Monitoring Team, Ambulances/Rescue Officers would also be deployed to strategic areas.

Muhammadu assured Nigerians that adequate preparation had been made by the Corps to protect critical areas.

Sparqlzzz News.

Malaria ‘epidemic’ looms as mosquitoes defy insecticides

MOSQUITOES DEFY INSECTICIDE TREATED BEDNETS… There are growing concerns that emerging resistance to insecticides among Anopheles mosquitoes and to antimalarial medicines among Plasmodium parasites, if left unchecked, could lead to a substantial increase in malaria incidence and mortality.

In recent times there have been many researches towards the elimination of Malaria and it's vector in Nigeria. There have also been huge investments to increase the quantity of insecticides used for malaria control, scale up of the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and use of indoor residual spraying (IRS).

Despite all these efforts, researchers have found that mosquitoes are now becoming resistant to insecticides, which is now a serious concern and threat to malaria control.

There are growing concerns that emerging resistance to insecticides among Anopheles mosquitoes and to antimalarial medicines among Plasmodium parasites, if left unchecked, could lead to a substantial increase in malaria incidence and mortality.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), resistance is known to affect all major malaria vector species and all four recommended classes of insecticides. Since 2010, a total of 60 countries have reported resistance to at least one class of insecticide, with a total of 49 of those countries reporting resistance to two or more classes.

According to a study led by Charles Wondji of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with Kayla Barnes, Gareth Weedall and colleagues in journal PLOS Genetics, genetic analysis of mosquito populations in Africa shows that recent successes in controlling malaria through treated bednets has led to widespread insecticide resistance in mosquitoes.

However, according to the WHO, the understanding of the extent of the problem is incomplete, because: many countries do not carry out adequate routine monitoring for insecticide resistance in local vectors; and monitoring data are often not reported in a timely manner.

Previous researches indicate there are four classes of insecticides- pyrethroid, organochlorine, organophosphate and carbamate) recommended for malaria control of which only pyrethroid was approved for use on LLIN. It has been shown that the loss of this insecticide’s effectiveness will lead to increase in preventable deaths, particularly in most vulnerable groups, hence the need to maintain the effectiveness of LLIN in era of growing resistance.

A recent study carried out by scientists at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, revealed that mosquitoes in 18 states in Nigeria have developed resistance to the LLIN insecticide nets, with Lagos, Ogun and Niger state having the highest incidence of cases.

Other states where the resistance were also detected include Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Osun and Oyo state, with the outcome of the study identified as a major threat to the eradication of malaria in Nigeria by 2030.

The Nigerian National statistics showed that malaria accounts for 60 per cent of hospital outpatients visits, 25 per cent infant deaths, 30 per cent of under-five deaths and 11 per cent of maternal mortality annually, although, currently, the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria is 27 per cent.

The lead researcher and the Deputy Director & Head, Public Health Department, NIMR, Dr. Sam Awolola, in his paper titled: “Need to Mitigate the Effect of Insecticide Resistance in Malaria Control in Nigeria” said, the result of the study meant that Nigeria would record a shocking increase in malaria deaths in the states where mosquitoes had developed resistance to these insecticide nets without swift intervention, adding that over 182 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets have been distributed since 2003 till date recording 16 per cent reduction rate in 2008 to 2011 which have not been sustained.

Awolola who stressed that one of the consequences of the development would be more deaths from malaria, which are imminent in the affected areas, blamed the new trend of resistance to use of some reagents on agricultural products, saying “basically, one of the major factors that contributed to insecticide resistance is the use of some reagents for agriculture globally. Most of the insecticides used in public health are also used in agriculture, which is a major source of resistance.”

He noted that there should be strategic plans and policies to curb the widespread of these insecticide resistances, in which if no pre-emptive action is taken in Nigeria, it will likely, have significant operational impact.

“The LLIN Universal Coverage gap for Nigeria will remain unmet when generic LLINs are deployed in areas with high levels of metabolic-based insecticide resistance, as consequently, the level of efficacy intended might not be met.” He added: “Resistance data needed for evidence-based planning are limited in a number of state Ministries of Health because of the lack of capacity to carry out resistance tests, and if nothing is done in the country, insecticide resistance could eventually lead to widespread operational failure and much of the gains made in malaria prevention and control could be lost.”

Meanwhile, the WHO has recommended an immediate and pre-emptive action to delay resistance, which requires the use of tools with proven optimal efficacy to be deployed rationally as part of an evidence-based Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy,

The search for an alternative measures for the insecticide resistance has gained momentum with NIMR identifying a new generation combination LLIN (PBO-LLIN) and IRS Insecticides (pirimiphos-methyl (acetylic CS) and Ficam to have improved efficacy against the pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes in Nigeria, which was also revealed at the institute.

The Director General, NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Saloko warned that the progress made in combating malaria in the country was under threat due to the discovery.“There is now clear evidence that insecticide resistance has been confirmed in at least 20 states across Nigeria. There is also a gap of in the availability of resistant data in 14 states which requires urgent attention,” he said.

He explained that such resistance could lead to public health crisis, as insecticide resistance could quickly over power the current portfolio of vector control tools being used in the country.

Salako explained that it was high time the country did away with ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, and embrace multiple vector control interventions.“There is need to explore alternative non-chemical base control measures,’’ he said.

He, however, called on the Ministry of Health and the government to support the institute in the area of funding to enable them make more advancement in operational research on the new tools on mosquitoes’ resistance to eliminate malaria for good in Nigeria, also urging the government to empower the institute to explore the use of alternative mosquito control.

“The government as a matter of urgency must designate NIMR as a hub for vector surveillance and insecticide resistance mapping in Nigeria. It must empower scientists to explore the use of alternative mosquito control measures such as the “sterile insect techniques” and “genetically modified mosquitoes” for malaria control,” he added.

Evidence of a multiple insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles funestus in South West Nigeria published in Malaria Journal noted: “This study reports the presence of multiple insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus population from Akaka-Remo in the southwestern Nigeria. Molecular analysis conducted in the course of this research have revealed that this Anopheles funestus population have developed multiple resistance mechanisms to withstand lethal doses of insecticides used in public health.

“The consistent implication of Anopheles funestus in malaria transmission at Akaka-Remo was also established in this study. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine the spread of insecticide resistance and to conduct more investigations on underlying mechanisms of insecticides resistance for improved malaria control strategies in Nigeria.”

The WHO insists that the global malaria community needs to take urgent action to prevent an increase in insecticide resistance, and to maintain the effectiveness of existing vector-control interventions.

The WHO Global plan for insecticide resistance management in malaria vectors (GPIRM), issued in May 2012, is a global plan of action for all stakeholders engaged in the fight against malaria. The document provides comprehensive technical recommendations to manage insecticide resistance in different situations.

The GPIRM calls for the following key actions to be undertaken:
*plan and implement insecticide-resistance management strategies in malaria-endemic countries;
*ensure proper, timely monitoring of entomological and resistance monitoring and effective management of data;
*develop new, innovative vector-control tools;
*fill gaps in knowledge on mechanisms of insecticide resistance, and the impact of current approaches to management of insecticide resistance; and
*ensure that enabling mechanisms (advocacy, and human and financial resources) are in place.

Insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying have been incredibly successful at preventing the spread of malaria, but their widespread use has driven mosquitoes to evolve resistance to these insecticides. By identifying genetic patterns that predict when and where resistance will evolve, scientists hope to mitigate the effects of resistance.

Sparqlzzz News.

JAMB Cancels Examination Result of 59,698 Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has now officially cancelled the results of 59,698 candidates over examination malpractices.

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference at the end of an enlarged meeting with external examiners and other stakeholders in the conduct of the 2017 UTME.

According to him, 1,386 candidates have their results cancelled over examination malpractice; 57,646 results were also affected as a result of centres-induced malpractices while the results of 666 candidates were cancelled due to multiple examinations.

The cancelled results were fewer than the 76,923 initially withheld by the examination body when the results of the 2017 UTME were announced on 31 May. Oloyede had said the final figure of annulled results would be announced after a thorough investigation.

There may be a second chance for some of the candidates to seat for a supplementary UTME, according to Oloyede, especially for those deemed innocent of centre-induced exam cheating.

The Supplementary exam will take place 1 July, mostly for candidates who registered late for this year’s UTME. Oloyede added that some of the candidates whose results were cancelled would also take part in the rescheduled exam.

He listed the categories of candidates whose results were cancelled but would take part in the rescheduled examination to include candidates of centres with mass malpractices but who are deemed innocent, biometric non-verification machine related issues.

Others include technical and log out issues, late registration, incomplete results and candidates who lost examination sessions due to malfunctioning of servers at the affected centre.

The JAMB boss said the decision to allow the candidates sit for the rescheduled examination was reached after a thorough review of all the reports that emanated from their centres.

Oloyede announced the blacklisting of 48 CBT centres found culpable of aiding cheating. He said another 24 CBT centres had been suspended for one year for failing to live up to expectations.

“The (24 CBT) centres will not participate in the 2018 UTME, but they can be reconsidered for 2019 and above.

“The delisting of 48 centres from participating in the board’s examination in future is as a result of serious technical deficiencies, extortion, organised examination malpractices and other damaging infractions.”

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had released at the end of May 1,606,901 results out of the 1,718, 425 that registered for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Sparqlzzz News.

Coca-Cola won’t pay judgement sum after its truck caused three deaths in accident

The Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, on Wednesday urged an Ikeja High Court to dismiss a garnishee order in respect of a N96.8 million judgment in favour of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Obanikoro had in 2010 sued the NBC, bottlers of Coca Cola, Fanta and Sprite, at an Edo High Court for damages over a fatal accident involving his daughter, Abidemi.

Mr. Obanikoro’s co-applicants in the suit are his daughter, Abidemi Obanikoro, and Agnes Akele, the wife of his driver.

On May 13, 2007, Abidemi, her friend, Ibukun Adeniyi, Mr. Obanikoro’s driver and a police orderly had set out from Lagos to Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo, Abidemi and Adeniyi’s school.

During their trip, a NBC vehicle which was alleged by the applicants to be driven recklessly crashed into the senator’s vehicle killing all occupants with the exception of Abidemi.

Abidemi, who was badly injured, was immediately flown to South Africa for life-saving medical treatment.

In 2010, Obanikoro sued the NBC for damages at the Edo High Court, Auchi. because the accident occurred within its jurisdiction.

On June 2, 2016, the Edo High Court granted a judgment in favour of Mr. Obanikoro and his co-applicants to the tune of N96.8 million.

The court had ordered that N1.5million should be awarded to Obanikoro as expenses incurred on behalf of his late driver and police orderly.

It awarded 184,236.52 dollars (N76.69 million) as cost for medical expenses for Abidemi’s treatment in South Africa and 48,779.66 South African Rand (N1.07 million) for her hotel accommodation in South Africa.

Former Junior Minister of Defence Musiliu Obanikoro

The court also awarded N10 million to Akele for the pain and suffering over the death of her husband, the driver of the car.

Obanikoro’s daughter was also awarded N10 million as general damages for her pain and suffering while N500,000 was awarded as costs of the action.

Although the NBC appealed the amount awarded in favour of the applicants, Mr. Obanikoro, through his lawyer, Lawal Pedro, had registered the judgment before the Lagos High Court because NBC’s headquarters is located in Lagos.

The one-time senator subsequently got a garnishee order from an Ikeja High Court against five banks where the NBC had accounts and the NBC appealed the order.

During proceedings on Wednesday, counsel to the NBC, Ademola Olawoye, in an application requested that the court should set aside the garnishee order as it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

He argued that any adjudication on the case should be stalled pending the outcome of the appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Olawoye argued that since an appeal had been filed in respect of the judgment delivered by Edo High Court, no other court could adjudicate on the matter.

The counsel to the applicants, Lawal Pedro, however, told the court to disregard the argument of the NBC, noting that there was no evidence before the court that they had appealed the N96.8 million judgment.

He drew the court’s attention the fact that the appeal form which was presented to the court by the NBC as proof that they had filed an appeal at a higher court had no official Court of Appeal stamp and appeal number.

“The order for stay of proceedings purportedly obtained by the judgment-debtor cannot prevent a garnishee proceeding.

“Garnishee actions are separate proceedings and cannot be affected by stay of execution of the judgment obtained from the Edo High Court,” Pedro said.

Mr. Pedro urged the court to disregard the argument of the NBC and allow the garnishee order to be executed.

Justice Kazeem Alogba adjourned the case until July 11 for ruling.

(NAN)

Sparqlzzz News.

Alleged fraud, loyalty to T.B Joshua tear apart Nigeria’s top civil society group, CDHR

One of Nigeria’s foremost civil society organisations, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) is currently embroiled in crisis between its Lagos chapter and the national body.

A report of the Disciplinary and Compliance Committee hearing of the CDHR obtained by the press detailed cases of victimisation, financial impropriety, and indiscipline against executives of the state chapter.

But the Lagos State chapter of the association accused the national body of a witch-hunt because of its refusal to mobilise members to support the founder of The Synagogue Church Of All Nations, T.B Joshua, at the church’s ongoing criminal trial in a Lagos court.

On Tuesday, the chapter responded to an invitation by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, by staging a rally outside the Police Department’s premises insisting they would not succumb to intimidation by the national body.

On Wednesday, the executives of the Lagos chapter of the CDHR received a notice from the national body restricting them from using the “entire facilities” at the national secretariat, including the office spaces allocated to Alex Omotehinse, the chairman, and Muyiwa Kushimo, the secretary who was recently suspended.

Graft, indiscipline, misconduct

The Press learnt the problem began in mid-2016 when the Lagos chapter suspended its treasurer, Abiodun Nwafor, after she accused its leadership of financial malfeasance.

Mrs. Nwafor had alleged that the state chairman, Mr. Omotehinse, was receiving money from the public and spending the said money without informing her office.

She also accused Mr. Omotehinse of reprinting the union’s forms, selling them, issuing fake receipts and receiving monies to his pocket without proper account.

She further stated that her predecessor, Judith Ogele, refused to hand over to her financial documents more than six months after leaving office.

In response to Mrs. Nwafor’s allegations, the Lagos chapter constituted a committee to investigate her claims.

The committees – a second committee was constituted after the complainant rejected the findings of the first one – reported that the allegations were unfounded and recommended the suspension of the complainant.

But a review of the case by the Disciplinary and Compliance Committee (DCC) showed that the Lagos chapter committee which suspended Mrs. Nwafor acted beyond its brief.

The DCC also established that Ms. Ogele, the immediate past branch treasurer, refused to hand over the books of accounts, receipt booklets, and cheque book to her successor.

“It appears in the eyes of the two committees and the BCC (Branch Coordinating Council) that the aspects of the complaint or allegations that were unfounded constituted the acts of indiscipline; that cannot be correct,” the DCC report, signed by Debo Adeniran, the committee chairman stated.

“Even when the entire complaint is unfounded, it cannot, prima facie, amount to an act that violates the spirit or letter of the CDHR Constitution.

“Or is it that what seems like a call for answerability or accountability amounts to an act of indiscipline in the interpretation of the committees and the BCC?

“We do not see any complaint here that is too extraneous or inappropriate. It puts to question how the committee arrived at a conclusion that the complaints were unfounded.

“If it was held that the allegation of financial misappropriation by some officers was unfounded it does not constitute a fundamental breach of the CDHR Constitution by the maker of the allegation.

“We reprimand impunity in strong terms. A situation where members of CDHR cannot complain of perceived wrongdoing or injustice for fear of victimization must not be encouraged but condemned absolutely.”

While the DCC cleared Mr. Omotehinse of allegations of fraud and financial misappropriation, it reprimanded him against his direct involvement and dealings with finance.

On claims by Mrs. Nwafor that Mr. Kushimo assaulted her and hit her on the chest, the DCC said it was a “serious violation” of the spirit and letter of the CDHR held.

“Kushimo’s conduct is an affront or attack on the respect for the dignity of the petitioner, especially as a woman; the act amounts to gross abuse and violence against a woman; a degrading treatment that is far from expectation by a Comrade,” the report said.

In its final resolution, the DCC recommended that the indefinite suspension handed to Mrs. Nwafor be set aside; Mr. Kushimo and Ms Ogele be suspended for 10 months and six months respectively; and Mr. Omotehinse pen letters of apologies to both the branch and Mrs. Nwafor through the National Executive Committee.

The T.B Joshua factor

Last week, the police invited Mr. Omotehinse for an “interview” in its investigation of a “case of conspiracy, fraud, stealing, threat to life, and indecent assault,” following a petition by Mrs. Nwafor

During the Lagos chapter’s rally on Wednesday, Mr. Omotehinse said the crisis in the CDHR began after he turned down a directive from the national president, Malachy Ugwumadu, to attend court hearings involving The Synagogue Church of All Nations.

The church is currently facing a criminal trial instituted by the Lagos State government before an Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court after a 2014 building collapse in the church killed at least 116 people.

The government sued the church and its engineers in 2015 for criminal negligence, after a coroner’s inquest found that the church failed to secure government approval before adding four additional floors to a two storey guest house in its premises.

“The only problem we have is Malachy, because we refused to mobilize our members to be attending TB Joshua’s (church) trial every hearing,” Mr. Omotehinse told the press.

“They called us that they need our members, at least 100 members, that they’ll be giving them N1,000 each, that every hearing date that we must be appearing with our members, and we should carry placards, that TB Joshua’s trial is persecution.

“And we say it’s not possible for a group like us. Let him honor court first, if he honors court, if truly we discover they are trying to persecute him, we’ll rise for him.

“Our members mobilized counsels to the court, even some of them that went with him were complaining that they were not properly briefed. But we, as a group, we cannot attend such trial. That’s why he became hostile, began to instigate members against us.”

Mr. Omotehinse admitted that although Mr. Joshua is currently “the main financier” of the CDHR, his philanthropy – which included a donation of a bus in 2013, N9.5 million in 2016, and bags of rice at Christmas periods – was not enough to call out members.

“We sympathize because of his philanthropy, but it does not mean that because you’re a philanthropist and we’re a beneficiary of your kindness, we’d now support you,” said Mr. Omotehinse.

But Mr. Ugwumadu told the press that the national body’s actions were based on the report of its disciplinary committee and had nothing to do with Mr. Joshua.

“Don’t forget this is an organization led by Beko Ransome-Kuti, Professor Iyayi, Femi Falana, the integrity of what we do is at the heart of the organization,” said Mr. Ugwumadu, a lawyer.

“So all those things they are saying… it’s too cheap when a person will hear that.

“It is on the basis of some very serious fraudulent activity that we now had to set up a disciplinary committee to try some of them, and it is in response to that they are now trying to turn the narrative and give the impression that there is anything other than the investigations against them.

“They became violent and attacked some of our members who insisted they must obey NEC decisions. That is what led them to Panti, I mean, you don’t go to Panti to write about T.B Joshua, you go to Panti when there are criminal allegations under investigation against you.”

Sparqlzzz News.

Cross River set to host Acting President Yemi Osinbajo today.

Add Cross Rivers Governor Ben Ayade.

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday said the stage was set to receive Acting President  Yemi Osinbajo.

Ayade spoke in Calabar on Wednesday, while fielding questions from reporters on the planned visit of Osinbajo today.

“We are working day and night to ensure that the Acting President takes a guided tour around the pharmaceutical industry and the Ayade industrial park, Calabar International Convention Centre, Monorail and Power plant among others to see all we have accomplished within two years and the galaxy of our achievements within the limits of what we have,” the governor said.

Continuing, Ayade said: “As we are running up and down in preparation of the visit, it gives us an opportunity to calibrate our efforts and look at what we have done and see where we need structural changes and certain framework that we need to institute, while we prepare for his reception.”

He added that his administration would continue to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

Ayade also said: “We can’t be tourism service suppliers, we want to be tourists ourselves in our state. That means we must commoditise government to bring money as well as add value,” pointing out that, “we must bring in areas of core needs of the Ayadesian theory, not just putting food on your table, but putting a hoe in your hands.”

He appreciated God for sparing the nation and keeping it together as an indivisible entity as Nigeria marks 18 years of uninterrupted democracy. Ayade enjoined those in governance to do all they can to gain economic democracy.

Sparqlzzz News.

Russia assures Nigeria of support in battling Boko Haram

The Government of Russian has reassured Nigeria of its support to end the activities of Boko Haram.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lav­rov, gave the reassurance on Tuesday in Mos­cow, Russia during an official meeting with his counterpart from Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey On­yeama.

He said his country would continue to sup­port Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

The Russian minister told journalists at a joint briefing with his Nigerian counterpart shortly after the meeting, that Russia was pre­pared to improve military cooperation with Ni­geria and also support steps put in place by the government of Nigeria in the fight against ter­rorism.

He said, “We will continue to support steps taken by Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram.”

Russia, he stressed, will continue to cooper­ate with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

The minister further revealed that Russian government was consistently promoting solu­tions to African problems, we want to eliminate instability in the African continent.”

He also stressed that the problems in Africa and other troubled region could only be fully resolved through inclusive dialogue.

Sparqlzzz News.

10 die as Navy, Police clash in Calabar

Over 10 persons were feared killed and several others injured when Naval personnel and police men clashed in Calabar, Cross River State Akim police Station opposite a military Barracks.

A policeman, who escaped death by the whiskers told Daily Sun that the police station, including the armory was completely razed.

He said trouble started yesterday afternoon when a police traffic warden  stopped a Naval officer who got angry and ordered his boy to beat him.

He said: “As the Naval personal were battering the traffic officer, a deputy Superintendent of Police who was passing by tried to settle the dispute, but the naval personnel descended on him as well.

“A senior police officer contacted the commander in charge of the unit. We thought the matter was over until around 8.pm when some Naval personnel stormed Akim police station and started shooting at officers and visitors at the station.

An eye witness Mr Denniz King reported that:

It all started close to the Naval Barracks where police and civilians had a brawl (Keke Man).
So the centary in the barracks came out and told them to move away from the barracks and settle elsewhere, But nobody paid attention to him. So at that he fired a shot at the air to alert them they were in a barrack and they shifted.

On hearing the shots, the police pounced on the naval officer and a shot was fired at him. So then on that the officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Naval officers now matched to Akim station to inquire and know why they would do such an act, but note at this time they weren't with weapons. O reaching the station the naval officers were chased by the police men and also fired shots at them.

After that the naval officers now called for backup and it was then they advanced towards the station and shots were exchanged rapidly from both parties with that of the naval officers dominating that of the police officers.
And it was also said that the SARS caused the whole issue because they came as backup and for the police and fired at the naval officers and that was what triggered them. But so far the rumors of seven people being dead, that i am not sure.

What i'm sure of is one police officer was shot dead. Because while the whole thing was hitting up he came out and was shouting "where dem dey..? Who be Navy?" and a bullet hit him just immediately after the whole chanting from him and he fell and for over 30mins he was on the ground without any movement noticed from him.

A Benz car was burnt by the gate in the station and also a police van that was shot definitely at the fuel tank exploded and caught fire that also burnt part of the front of the Station.
And also the traffic stand at the stadium was burnt.

“The Naval personnel did not stop at shooting at people, they set the police station, including the armory and suspects in the cell ablaze.

“ Over 10 persons were killed. I know of three policemen who were confirmed dead. Many suspects in the cell died in the inferno. I narrowly escaped death. Few of us who took to our heels survived but many others sustained injuries of varying degrees.  A witness, John Bolus said: “It was like a war-torn zone. I thought it was another civil war. I was hearing the cacophony of gun shots and I took to my heels. I think the government should do something about it. The Navy should submit to the constitution.”

When contacted Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said he had not been briefed. Meanwhile, the Naval authorities said, last night, only one person was shot. According to them, it was a minor incident involving a Naval officer and  a policeman, which was later resolved.

Sparqlzzz News.

Northern Senatorial District Ladies Celebrating 2 years of friendship with Cross Rivers State Governor and first Lady

Cordinator of  Northern Senitorial District Ladies Brr. Theressa Mogbor in a meeting with her excellency Dr. Lynda Ayade 

Northern Senatorial District Ladies celebrating 2 years of friendship with the digital governor and his beautiful wife prof. Dr. Mrs. Ben Ayade.

We wish you and your deputy prof. Ivara Isu God's protection and guidance to take Cross River State to the next level.

Happy Democracy Day your Excellency Prof. Ben Ayade and Prof. Ivara Isu

Watch Video Below..

God bless Ayade.. God bless Cross River State.. God bless Nigeria!!!

Sparqlzzz Tv.

Fayose has become a legend in Nigerian politics – Shekarau

Former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, says “the humane nature and policies” of Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has endeared him to the people while “his political achievements have made him a legend.”

Shekarau, also a former Minister of Education, said the affection the governor shows to the people can be seen in the “numerous humane policies and projects Fayose is executing in the state.”

According to a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to Fayose, Idowu Adelusi, Shekarau spoke during a visit to Ado-Ekiti.

Shekarau, who was taken round some projects by Fayose, said he was overwhelmed by the close relationship between Fayose and the people of Ekiti.

He charged Nigerian leaders to emulate the Ekiti governor by identifying with their people and meeting their needs.

His words: “I am not surprised by the great performance of Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti State.

“We were governors at the same time in 2003, though we were in different political parties, he did wonderfully well then too.

“I am impressed by the projects being executed by the governor despite the recession in the country and the small statutory allocations coming to the state”.

Similarly, Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Charles Yau Ilya, said he was happy at the projects and that what he saw on ground confirmed that the Ekiti governor was a true and real friend of the common man.

“This is my first visit to Ekiti State and I have heard a lot about Governor Ayodele Fayose.

“I am really happy that the governor is a living legend, whose love for the people of the state is duly reciprocated by the people who are showing their love for him too,” he said.

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The many reasons that people are having less sex

The average sex life appears to be dwindling – and it may reflect some troubling anxieties at the heart of modern society, says Simon Copland. We live in one of the most sexually liberated times of human history. Access to new technologies over the past 40 years, whether it is the contraceptive pill, or dating apps such as Grindr and Tinder, have opened a new world of possibilities. As the sexual revolution of the 1970s matured, societal norms shifted with it, with increasing acceptance of homosexuality, divorce, pre-marital sex, and alternative relationships such as polyamory and swinging.
Despite this, research suggests that we’re actually having less sex now than we have for decades.

In March, American researchers Jean Twenge, Ryne Sherman and Brooke Wells published an article in the Archives of Sexual Behavior showing that  Americans were having sex on average nine fewer times per year  in the early 2010s compared to the late 1990s – a 15% drop from 62 times a year to just 53. The declines were similar across gender, race, region, educational level and work status, with married people reporting the most significant drops. 
While it could be easy to dismiss this as a one-off, or a symptom of the challenges of researching people’s sex lives, this is another point in a growing trend across the world. In 2013,  the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) found  that British people between ages 16 and 44 had sex just under five times per month. This was a drop from the previous survey, released in 2000, where men were recorded to have sex 6.2 times a month, and women 6.3 times.



In 2014  the Australian National Survey of Sexual Activity showed  that people in heterosexual relationships were having sex on average 1.4 times per week, down from 1.8 times 10 years earlier. The situation is perhaps most severe in Japan,  where recent data has shown  that 46% of women and 25% of men between the ages of 16 and 25 ‘despise’ sexual contact. Why is this happening? While there are many simple conclusions available, BBC Future dug deeper and found a situation that is quite complex. 
Porn blame An easy first conclusion to make is that increased access to technology is to blame. Two technologies are usually targeted: online pornography and social media. With the growth of online pornography, researchers have focused on its addictive potential, with  some trying to label ‘internet sex addiction’ as an official psychiatric disorder. 

As an addiction, it is argued that porn acts as a replacement for real-life sex, limiting our sexual desire in the bedroom. Porn is also blamed for its unrealistic imagery, with researchers arguing this can create symptoms such as  ‘sexual anorexia’, or  ‘porn induced sexual dysfunction’. In 2011,  a survey of 28,000 porn viewers in Italy  found that many engaged in an “excessive” consumption of porn sites. The daily use of porn, researcher Carlo Foresta argued, means that these people became inured to “even the most violent” images. According to this theory, these unrealistic images found in porn make it difficult for men in particular to get aroused when encountering the real thing,  resulting in them becoming ‘hopeless’ in the bedroom. Some researchers have even argued there is a link between porn and marriage rates.  In a study in 2014, researchers Michael Malcolm and George Naufal surveyed 1,500 participants in the United States to analyse how 18 to 35 year-olds used the internet, and what impact this had on their romantic lives. The results, published in the Eastern Economic Journal, found a strong correlation between high levels of internet use and low marriage rates, a factor that was even more significant for men who viewed online pornography on a regular basis. And it’s not just pornography. Social media in particular has been blamed as a distraction, with people obsessing over their screens instead of their sexual lives. 

This is an extension of research  that previously suggested having a TV in a couple’s bedroom significantly reduces sexual activity.  It would make sense that the intrusion of social media devices into all aspects of our lives could have a similar effect. But there are good reasons to question both of these conclusions. Researchers are split on the impact of pornography on our sexual lives,  with many debating the existence of ‘internet sex addiction’ in the first place. Others  have noted the potential for pornography to enhance sexual activity. For example,  in 2015 an article in the journal Sexual Medicine  found that watching at least 40 minutes of porn at least twice a week boosted people’s libido and desire to have sex. This study tested the libido of 280 men measured against their use of pornography. The research found a strong correlation between the amount of time spent viewing porn and the desire to have sex, with those who watched over two hours of porn per week having the highest levels of arousal. These results were noted as well by Twenge, Sherman and Wells in their research, who, despite finding overall drops in sexual activity, found no difference in sexual activity amongst those who frequently watched pornography.





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