11 yr old Girl Kidnapped by Herbalist Reunites with Parents after 5 Years (Photo)

The Cross River State Police Command on Wednesday reunited an 11-year-old girl, Felicia Destiny, who was abducted five years ago, with her parents. Destiny was abducted in January 2011 at Okpekpe in the Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State by a herbalist, Emmanuel Akpan-Okon.

Punch Metro had reported on November 26, 2015, that Akpan-Okon also abducted one Esther Wisdom (11) from Onitsha in Anambra State and turned the kids into s3x slaves. The kids were rescued on November 16, 2015, in Akamkpa, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.

While handing over one of the rescued victims (Destiny) to her mother, Mrs. Felicia Pius, at the command headquarters in Calabar, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Eluu, said both victims were rescued in the house of Akpan-Okon.

He said, “On November 16, 2015, a team of detectives attached to the Akamkpa Police Division, acting on a tip-off, arrested a herbalist, one Emmanuel Akpan-Okon, who specialised in removing bullets from firearms victims.

“Investigation revealed that the herbalist is also known for preparing charms for armed robbers and other miscreants in the area.

“His house and premises were searched and two juveniles, Felicia Destiny (11) and Esther Augustine (11), both females, were rescued. Both victims were abducted five years ago from their homes and parents.”

He said the suspect had confessed to the crime, adding that he had fed the police with details on how the parents of the girls could be contacted.

“Investigation is still ongoing. The suspect will be arraigned as soon as investigation is completed. We will ensure that the suspect faces the wrath of the law,” Eluu said.

The PPRO said that the police would also ensure that Augustine was re-united with her family. He appealed to members of the public with relevant information on the whereabouts of the parents of Esther to provide it. He also advised parents to be cautious about the movement of their children, saying juveniles could easily be lured by hoodlums if not properly monitored.

Mother of Destiny, Felicia, who received her daughter with tears of joy, commended the police for rescuing her daughter from the hands of her captor five years after.

“I never believed I will see my daughter again. I almost died when she was kidnapped in 2011. I am very happy to see her again. I thank the Cross River Police Command for rescuing my daughter from the hands of her captor,” she said.

Police officers to be arrested for doing domestic duties, carrying ‘handbags’ for VIPs

From all indication, it appears the Nigerian Police Force is cleaning house and attempting to get in shape.

From changing their uniforms to proposing psychiatric evaluation for policemen/women to stopping officers from accessing the mobile phone contents of Nigerians- things may really be changing, slowly.

In furtherance of this cleaning-house process, the Police Service Commission has warned police officers on escort duty with Very Important Persons to stop carrying handbags, umbrellas and other accessories for their assigned principals.

This constant abnormal norm, is now being regarded an insult to the Nigeria Police Force.

The commission would henceforth arrest and sanction police operatives on illegal escort duty, says the Chairman of the commission, Mike Okiro.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, he said it was shameful for the police to engage in “domestic duty” or carry handbags for VIPs.

“You will all agree with me that this issue of policemen carrying handbags and umbrellas for VIPs has generated much uproar and even condemnation as it is capable of eroding the esteem of members of the NPF.”

“To stem the tide, we have worked out a blueprint of the class of VIPs that should enjoy the privilege of attaching police officers to provide VIP protection with their specific duties clearly spelt out. The matter is awaiting the consent of the relevant authorities before we can start its implementation.”

“Once the operation is fully planned, the Provost-Marshal of the Police and the staff of the PSC will operate jointly and will be stationed at domestic airports and some highways to arrest and discipline officers who embark on illegal escort or guard duty.”

‘We’ve produced a vaccine for Ebola’ – Russian President, Vladimir Putin

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday claimed that his country has developed a vaccine for the dreaded Ebola virus.

President Putin, however, did not state the name of the vaccine neither did he give details about how the drug works or how it was developed.

Putin revealed to RIA Novosti news agency that “we have good news.”

He went further to say that Russia has registered a dug for the treatment of the Ebola, which has proved to be highly effective, even more effective than the drugs used worldwide.

It would be recalled that Ebola dealt a serious blow to several West African countries in 2014, killing about 11, 000 people.

However, till date no drug exists for the treatment of the viral infection.

Several pharmaceutical companies have come up with drugs to treat the disease but none have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

UK deploys 35 personnel to train Nigerian troops in North East

The United Kingdom will soon deploy more than 35 personnel to Nigeria to train troops fighting Boko Haram in the Northeast.

About 130 UK military personnel were deployed to Nigeria on a wide range of training tasks last year.

Also, the UK has trained more than 1,000 troops for counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast.

These disclosures were contained in a statement by the Press and Public Affairs Officer of the British High Commission, Joe Abuku.

The statement said: “More than 35 personnel from the Second Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (2 R ANGLIAN), will be shortly deploy to deliver infantry training to Nigerian military personnel preparing to tackle the extremist group in the north of the country.

“The 2 R ANGLIAN, based in Cottesmore, Rutland, provided support to the Armed Forces Nigeria throughout 2015, which included the deployment of Short Term Training Teams, and support to smaller training tasks to assist the resident British Military Advisory and Training Team – which has grown in size over the last year.

President Buhari Speaks On 'Missing' Budget

President Muhammadu Buhari via his spokesman Malam Garba Shehu reacted to the reports on the alleged missing 2016 national budget.

The Nigerian senate was incapable to commence considering the proposed budget because of the missing documentation.

President Buhari provided the hard copies of his first budget to both houses at the end of December.

Reacting via his Facebook page, Shehu Garba wrote: ”Enquiries about the budget: Nobody except the president can withdraw the budget. As far as we know, he hasn’t done that.

”The copies in their hundreds have been delivered to both chambers of the National Assembly.

”By tradition, once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property. Enquiries as to where it is should be directed to the appropriate quarters. Best regards.”

Bird Flu returns to Nigeria [DETAILS]

Two days ago, the Kano state Government, through the Directorate of Veterinary Service in the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that the dreaded Bird flu disease had returned to the country, with the report of several cases in the state.

It would be recalled that the disease was prevalent in the country between January and September 2015.

During this outbreak, 491 poultry farms were affected in 21 states, which led to the loss of 1.7 million birds. The economic value of last year’s bird flu epidemic cost Nigeria N10 billion.

After Jigawa state advised its residents to take precautionary measures, the government of Anambra state has also followed suit.

In a statement released by Dr Barr Mrs Uju Nwogu, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Anambra state, the public was alerted on the return of the disease.

Read the statement below:

The Anambra State Government alerts members of the public about the resurgence of Avian Influenza popularly called Bird Flu in some states across the country. This disease which is usually associated with birds can also be transmitted from bird to man.

Bird Flu can be transmitted through direct contact with infected birds or poultry materials. The Symptoms of the disease include fever, sneezing, cough, diarrhea, trouble breathing, general ill feeling, muscle aches, runny nose and sore throat.

Members of the public are by this announcement advised to observe personal hygiene, and to wash their hands with soap and clean water after contact with birds and poultry product.

They should also ensure that all poultry meat and eggs are thoroughly cooked before eating. All poultry farmers in the state are also advised to clean their surroundings, and to report cases of sick birds to the nearest veterinary clinic.

Similarly all veterinary officers in the state are by this announcement requested to commence surveillance/sensitization visits particularly at Live-bird markets in the state to avoid the contact and spread of the flu.