Relatives of people who died in a stampede in Nigeria's Port Harcourt that killed at least 31 people now want to be compensated for the loss of lives of their loved ones.
Related story: At least 31 killed, including children, in stampede during charity event in Nigeria
Nigeria has banned the sale and consumption of bush meat in a bid to control the spread of monkeypox disease.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Mohammad Abubakar on Tuesday, May 31, directed hunters and dealers of bush meat in the country to stop the business.
In Nigeria and most parts of Africa, bushmeat is a delicacy. It refers to any wild animal that is killed for consumption, including antelopes, chimpanzees, fruit bats, rats, porcupines and snakes.
Abubakar also urged Nigerians to avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with monkeypox.
“Hunters and dealers of ‘bush meat’ must desist from the practice forthwith to prevent any possibility of a ‘spill over’ of the pathogen in Nigeria.
Abubakar also noted that the ministry was collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders in the One Health Team to ensure the situation is contained and brought under control.
Earlier this week, Nigeria confirmed 21 cases of monkeypox since the beginning of 2022, with one death reported, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said.
The Super Eagles played and lost their second game under Jose Peseiro on Friday against Ecuador, 1-0, at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, USA.
The lineup was the same as the one that started in the loss to Mexico but for the inclusion of Sani Faisal who came on for the injured Innocent Bonke.
Qatar-bound Ecuador settled the fastest and Pervis Estupinan gave the South Americans the lead in the second minute off a deep free-kick. This caught both Chidozie Awaziem and Faisal flat-footed as Estupinan ghosted in behind the pair to head past Francis Uzoho.
Nigeria denied a penalty in the 13th minute after Terem Moffi, from a pass from Alex Iwobi, seemed to have his leg taken by the Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander DomÃnguez but the referee and his assistant agreed it was not a foul despite vehement complaints from the Nigerians.
Uzoho made a diving save from a Jose Cifuentes curler in the 21st minute. Another defence-splitting pass from Iwobi presented a goal-scoring chance to Cyriel Dessers but Domingues made a good save. From the resultant corner, Semi Ajayi had a header saved before Moffi poked wide.
Ekong had to make a scrambling clearance in the 31st minute and he could easily have scored another own goal.
Ola Aina and Emmanuel Dennis came on at the start of the second half to replace Awaziem and Faisal. Dominguez had to be brave to save a fierce drive from Aribo in the 50th minute as the Eagles dominated ball possession and forced their opponents back.
Dennis missed a chance in the 58th as the Nigerians continued pressing and Dominguez produced another save from Calvin Bassey in the 62nd minute.
Estupinan had two bites at the cherry in the 81st minute. Uzoho parried his first shot and he blasted the rebound over with the goal at his mercy.
The match became a tetchy affair as both sides committed niggly fouls, which broke up play intermittently. Peseiro sent on Victor Mbaoma for Moffi in the 85th minute and Uzoho made a fingertip save from Jeremy Sarmiento’s goal-bound shot in the 88th minute as the Ecuadorians attacked after being put under a lot of pressure by the Eagles.
Four minutes were added on but the Eagles could not find the equaliser. Peseiro lost his second game in charge and will be keen for a first competitive win on June 9 against Sierra Leone in a Nations Cup qualifier.
ByJide Alaka
Nigeria has confirmed 21 cases of monkeypox since the start of the year. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, one death from the virus has been reported this year. From September 2017 to the end of April 2022, the country reported a total of 5-hundred and fifty eight suspected cases, and confirmed 231 of them. From January 1st to April 30th this year, the county has reported 46 suspected cases and confirmed 15 from 7 states.
An estimated 200 people or more have been killed in villages in the northwestern Nigerian state of Zamfara during deadly reprisal attacks by armed bandits following military air strikes on their hideouts this week, residents said on Saturday.
Residents gained access to the villages on Saturday after the military captured the communities to organise mass burials, they told Reuters. The state government said 58 people had been killed during the attacks.
Ummaru Makeri, a resident who lost his wife and three children during the attack, said around 154 people had been buried including several vigilantes who were killed. Residents said the total death toll was at least 200.
Reuters reported on Friday that at least 30 people had been killed in the Anka local government area in Zamfara, when more than 300 armed bandits on motorbikes stormed eight villages and started shooting sporadically on Tuesday.
The military said it had conducted air strikes in the early hours of Monday on targets in the Gusami forest and west Tsamre village in Zamfara state, killing more than 100 bandits including two of their leaders, following intelligence reports.
One resident who declined to be identified told Reuters the attacks on the villages could be linked to the military strikes.
There have been a series of attacks in northwest Nigeria, which has seen a sharp rise in mass abductions and other violent crimes since late 2020 as the government struggles to maintain law and order.
In a separate incident, 30 students abducted from their college in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi were freed on Saturday, a spokesman for the Kebbi governor said, without providing details.
President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement on Saturday the military had acquired more equipment to track down and eliminate criminal gangs that have been subjecting people to a reign of terror, including through the illegal imposition of taxes on communities under siege.
"The latest attacks on innocent people by the bandits is an act of desperation by mass murderers, now under relentless pressure from our military forces," Buhari said.
Buhari added that the government would not relent in its military operations to get rid of the bandits.
Reporting by Maiduguri newsroom; Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh and Felix Onuah in Abuja; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by David Holmes and Paul Simao
