A Nigerian gunman has been arrested in the UK after he live-streamed himself on Instagram firing shots from a balcony while rapping to Tupac’s ‘Hit ‘Em Up’.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning April 22, at a flat on Dock Head Road, Chatham.
The man identified as Flexing Mike on Instagram, who claims to be the CEO of Truth or Dare records sent panicked shoppers in Kent running for their lives as he fired around 50 shots before armed police rushed to the scene and arrested him.
The man who is in his 30s filmed himself shouting out Tupac lyrics while he pulled the trigger, saying: “I see them, they run, dem dey craze?”
They don’t wanna be us, dem dey craze, call the f***ing cops.” He also flaunted several of his “weapons” to the camera in a string of bizarre Instagram videos.
As Ramadan kicks off tomorrow, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has ordered the suspension of Quranic lectures and congregational prayers in mosques to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The directive came barely 24 hours after the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, also led by the Sultan, gave a similar directive.
The JNI had in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, urged Muslims to observe the sit-at-home order during Ramadan and use the internet for sermons and Quranic recitations.
He said despite the challenges of physical and social distancing, Tafsir and other religious teachings could continue, using various information technology (IT) platforms, such as Facebook, Skype, YouTube, Zoom, etc., to live-stream preaching sessions.
He had said: “Reliable information and communication technology (ICT) professionals could be consulted for proper guidance. It is on this basis that the JNI calls on the Ulama to, as usual, make the fear of Allah their watchword, bearing in mind that knowledge is a trust from Allah and shall be accounted for on the day of reckoning, thus it should be handled with the utmost caution it deserves.
“Muslims should fervently pray for an end to the myriad challenges bedeviling the world and Nigeria in particular, and to also seek Allah’s interventions for better well-being and prosperity. While we also pray for our leaders to be well-guided and foresighted, they should equally fear Allah and remember that they will one day account for their respective stewardship; as such, they should as a matter of patriotism ensure that they promote equal distribution of resources and maintain peace in all their respective utterances and actions.”
Reinforcing this yesterday, the NSCIA in a statement signed by the Director of Administration, Mr Yusuf Nwoha, in Abuja, said the decision to give the suspension order was reached at the end of stakeholders engagement of the General Purpose Committee meeting of the council at the National Mosque, Abuja.
He said: “The General Purpose Committee of the NSCIA under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, in view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, considered the reports of the Fatwa Committee and the Ad-hoc Committee on COVID-19 and observed that scholars of Islam throughout the world are unanimous that the Prophet of Islam warned against the spread of contagious diseases and urged Muslims to prevent the spread.
“The closure of the two Holy Mosques in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia for both congregational worship and social functions, which is applauded by Islamic scholars throughout the world, is a pointer to its compliance to the Prophetic teachings on the subject matter.’’
He noted that one of the obligatory religious activities, such as the weekly Friday prayers, was suspended as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus among Muslims.
“Jum’ah, as an obligatory religious activity, which is temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of COVID 19 outweighs the performance of any meritorious religious act such as congregational Tarawih and the conduct of Tafsir.
“Consequently, the Council directs that congregational Tarawih in the Mosque and the various Majalis Tafsir (sessions) and I’tikaf during the month of Ramadan of 1441 A.H be suspended.
“Individual scholars and organisations are, therefore, encouraged to employ available means of disseminating information such as radio, television, other virtual facilities, print, social and traditional media for dissemination of Tafsir and other Da’awah activities,” he said.
The head of the World Health Organization has warned of worrying upward trends in coronavirus cases in Africa, Central and South America and Eastern Europe.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a video news conference in Geneva that while most of the epidemics in western Europe appeared to be stable or in decline, for many countries the disease was just getting started.
Dr Tedros said some countries which had appeared to do well in the initial stages of the pandemic were now seeing an upsurge in cases.
“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics and some that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases,” he said.
“Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time.”
One of President Muhammadu Buhari’s bodyguards, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, on Tuesday, passed away.
He died after three years of struggling with diabetes, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, announced in a statement.
The President described the officer, who had been working with him for many years before he won the 2015 elections, as “very thorough, trustworthy and dependable soldier who carried out his duties with diligence and focus.’’
He prayed that Allah would ease his passage to paradise and grant his family, government and people of Jigawa State the fortitude to bear the loss.
Warrant Officer Mato was part of a team that former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua restored to President Buhari as personal security and he had been off full duty for three years due to his ailment.
Willy Anumudu, the owner of Globe Motors, is dead.
The Nigerian billionaire was 68 years old.
News of his demise filtered through on Tuesday morning.
It was gathered that he was due to travel to Germany for treatment before his demise.
Media mogul, Dele Momodu, confirmed Anumudu’s demise on his Twitter handle.
He tweeted: “One of Nigeria’s biggest car dealers Willy Anumudu has died! The Chairman of Globe Motors, Victoria Island, suffered some health challenges a few days ago and “was tested for COVID-19 which came out negative”.
“At the time of his death, Willy Anumudu was happily married to his effervescent wife, Nkiru, who sadly was in London when the tragedy occurred in Lagos early this morning. He is survived by four children, Uzoma, Eyinna, Zinna, and Zikky. May his sweet soul Rest in Peace”.
US President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States, saying he needs to protect American jobs as coronavirus ravages the economy.
The move, announced in a late-night post on Twitter, effectively achieves a long-term Trump policy goal to curb immigration, making use of the health and economic crisis that has swept the country as a result of the pandemic to do so.
“In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States,”, Trump said on Monday.
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020
He offered no details as to what immigration programmes might be affected by the order. The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s announcement.
The development is the latest in a string of moves cracking down on immigration as the coronavirus spreads in the United States.
The US has by far the world’s largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 42,000 deaths and 774,000 infections on Monday.
In late March, Trump said the US would swiftly return any migrants who attempted to cross into the country from Mexico and Canada. He argued migrants crossing the border threatened to worsen the US’s coronavirus outbreak.
Monday’s decision drew swift condemnation from some Democrats, who accused the president of creating a distraction from what they view as a slow and faulty response to the coronavirus.
The President of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Adedayo Williams and a security man in charge of vehicle tally distribution has tested positive for coronavirus.
Williams said this in a WhatsApp message he sent to his colleagues on Monday.
UCH spokesperson Mr Toye Akinrinlola also confirmed the news.
Read Also: Four Kano COVID-19 Taskforce members test positive
The development brings to three the number of UCH workers that has contracted the virus.
William said: “Good afternoon, dear colleagues and friends.
“Having been on the field caring for others, I thought it wise to subject myself to a voluntary screening for COVID-19. The result turned out to be positive on Saturday evening, April18.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoff Moore/Shutterstock (9962488v)
Richard Austin Quest CNN travel reporter reporting live from World Travel Market
World Travel Market, London, UK - 05 Nov 2018
Cable News Network (CNN) presenter and journalist Richard Quest has tested positive for coronavirus.
Quest disclosed this in a tweet on his verified handle.
He however said he has only experienced a few symptoms of the disease.
“I have caught coronavirus; I’m blessed I have few symptoms: just a cough.
“I’m saving my thoughts and prayers for those less fortunate, stay in and protect lives,” he tweeted.
A five-year-old girl has died after contracting meningitis, as a rare complication of coronavirus.
Little Skylar Herbert told her parents she had a bad headache about a month ago, but it wasn’t a symptom of coronavirus.
A trip to her GP saw him test for strep throat, she was given antibiotics and sent home to rest.
Mum LaVondria Herbert, 46, told the Detroit News : “She had been crying all night and saying the headache would not go away.
“We called the doctor back, and they told us that it takes the medication 48 hours to kick in and to give it some time, but because she was crying so bad, I told my husband we needed to take her to emergency, because I just didn’t know.”
She and husband Ebbie, are first responders in Detroit, so took their daughter to the Beaumont Royal Oak hospital.
Skylar tested positive for Covid-19 and was released the next day to recover at home, but the family arrived back at the hospital the next day when her dad Ebbie began having shortness of breath and coughing.
Mrs Herbert said: “Me and Skylar waited in the car, but out of nowhere, Skylar began complaining about her head hurting again and then she just threw up.”
Although her temperature was now 100°F, she was shivering, and suddenly had a seizure.
The family rushed her back into the hospital and little Skylar ended up in intensive care.
She was placed on a ventilator for two weeks, but she never opened her eyes again.
Skylar had developed meningitis, a rare complication of the coronavirus, which caused swelling of brain tissue and a lesion on her frontal lobe.
Speaking yesterday Mrs Herbert said: “We decided to take her off the ventilator today because her improvement had stopped, the doctors told us that it was possible she was brain dead, and we basically just knew she wasn’t coming back to us.”
A spokesman for Beaumont Health confirmed Skylar’s death, issuing the following statement: “The loss of a child, at any time, under any circumstances, is a tragedy.
“We are heartbroken that Covid-19 has taken the life of a child.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to Skylar’s family and all others who have lost a loved one to this virus.”
Paying tribute to her daughter, LaVondria said: “She was the type of girl that would just run up to you and jump in your arms and hug you.
“It didn’t matter what she was doing, she would stop what she was doing and tell me she loved me like 20 times a day.”
epa06747281 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), attends a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 18 May 2018. The WHO Director-General answered questions ahead of the World Health Assembly and following the meeting of an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. EPA-EFE/VALENTIN FLAURAUD
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday insisted that there was no approved vaccine in Nigeria or any part of Africa for COVID-19 saying researches are still ongoing on the deadly viral disease.
WHO Immunisation Team Lead, Dr Fiona Braka, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the efforts of the world body on the reported vaccines for the deadly virus.
Braka said COVID-19, being a new disease, has no ready vaccines, adding that public safety was the key consideration of WHO campaign for now.
“COVID-19 is a new disease, and as such, there are no ready vaccines available to be deployed for the control of the pandemic.
“However, a lot of research and scientific works are ongoing to develop vaccines, but these usually take time to ensure that it is safe for use in the wider population and also effective for control of the pandemic.
“Public safety is a key consideration in this process,” the WHO team lead said.
Braka said that the claims of vaccines developed for the COVID-19 were untrue and not to the knowledge of the WHO.
“WHO is not aware of vaccine for COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“There is a large scientific study (clinical trial) involving many countries to review the effectiveness of some drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 going on at the moment.
“The result of this clinical trial will help understand the efficacy of these drugs and may inform the review of the case management guidelines,” she said.
On the assessment of Nigeria’s performance in curbing the spread of COVID-19, Braka said that the world health body partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had been helpful.
“Nigerian Government through the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and supported by WHO had developed a preparedness plan for COVID-19 and was implementing this plan when the first case was reported.
“A network of five COVID testing laboratories was set up before the confirmation of the first case and has since been expanded to six additional laboratories over the past two weeks, making a total of 11 laboratories currently.
“From the onset of the outbreak, WHO has developed clinical guidance with input from clinicians around the globe, including in Nigeria.
“These resources include the updated Clinical Management Guidance for COVID-19, the Clinical Care training materials, and the Global COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform, the data tool which makes it possible for WHO to collect core clinical data from hospitalised patients to inform understanding of COVID-19.
“The guidance is continually reviewed, as more evidence become available.
The government has scaled up isolation facilities capacity at state level to ensure readiness to receive COVID patients,” she said.
Braka said that there would be more close observation, while the guidelines of operations of all the agencies assisting in the curbing of COVID-19 would be updated.
“The guidance of the clinical data platform will be continually reviewed, as more evidence become available.
“The government has scaled up isolation facilities capacity at state level to ensure readiness to receive COVID patients and all these helped with the containment of the first cluster of cases.
“With the return of more Nigerians from countries where the outbreak was reported, more cases have been reported and these have been more challenging to contain.
“The government at national and state levels have provided leadership for the response and more needs to be done at the state level as the cases continue to increase,” she said.
Braka, however, listed the key areas of interventions for curbing COVID-19 to include non-pharmaceutical, such as social distancing, surveillance, contact tracing, among others.
“The key areas of interventions required now are the non-pharmaceutical interventions like social distancing, handwashing and respiratory hygiene.
“Others, in addition to rigorous surveillance, are case identification, laboratory diagnosis, contact tracing and isolation and care for all confirmed cases.
“Physical distancing is one of the recommended strategies for preventing human to human transmission.
“The lockdown does facilitate physical distancing and is a welcome intervention.
“However, physical distancing alone will not stop the spread, but needs to be combined with other recommended strategies: testing, isolation of patients, contact tracing and quarantine,” she said.
The WHO official said the United Nation (UN) in Nigeria had launched a basket fund to help fight the deadly viral infection, adding that other donor agencies had also launched trust fund intervention.
“The United Nations in Nigeria has set up a Basket Fund that was launched by the SGF (Secretary to the Government of Federation) last week. Resources from the Basket Fund are supporting critical aspects of the response.
“Donor agencies and governments have been contributing to support WHO’s work in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic globally.
“Funds have been made available to WHO Nigeria through the Regional Office and Headquarters in Geneva which is financing the WHO’s current support to the response in Nigeria.
“We are also grateful to other partners who have supported WHO, Nigeria directly,” she said.
Braka said that WHO had also deployed some team of experts to other African countries.
“WHO is supporting countries globally with response to the pandemic. From the WHO Regional Office for Africa, four experts have been deployed to Nigeria currently.
“There is also remote support provided by experts from the WHO Headquarters in Geneva and the Regional Office in Brazzaville.
“These are in additional to an excellent team of public health experts who already work in all 36 states and the FCT, in the different WHO, Nigeria offices.
“WHO’s extensive Polio Programme resources have already been re-purposed and deployed, and have been crucial in supporting all affected states to mount an initial response, she said.
Braka said that states that had yet to report any confirmed case, there were resources engaged in preparatory activities and surveillance.
“WHO will continue to support Nigeria throughout the response and even during the recovery phase, she said.
