Nigeria records 521 new Covid-19 cases, total now 152,074

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 521 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 152,074.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Sunday.

Nigeria also recorded 8 COVID-19 deaths, raising the total fatality in the country to 1,839.

“On the 21st of February 2021, 521 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

“The 521 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos (166), Ogun (52), Rivers (47), Adamawa(37), Ebonyi (37), Akwa Ibom (25), Osun (21), Bayelsa (18), Kaduna (17), Oyo (16), FCT (15), Ekiti (14), Kano (12), Edo (12), Borno (9), Yobe (8), Ondo (6), Nasarawa (4) Bauchi (2) and Kwara (3),” the NCDC said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/nigeria-records-521-new-covid-19-cases.html

Guard electrocuted while plucking pawpaw in Lagos

A security guard, Uchena Harrison, has been electrocuted while attempting to pluck pawpaw from a tree at his workplace in the Abule Oshun area of Lagos State.

Punch Metro gathered that the 56-year-old and four other security guards were on duty on Friday when he reportedly became hungry and without the knowledge of his colleagues, proceeded to the pawpaw tree.

It was learnt that Harrison placed a ladder on the tree and after climbing it, used an iron rod to pluck the fruit.

Speaking to Punch Metro, a resident, Jubril Adesoji, said Harrison mistakenly used the iron rod to hit a naked wire which passed through the tree.

“The shock he suffered during the electrocution threw him away from the ladder and he landed on the ground. He died on the spot,” he added.

A source said Harrison’s remains were later found around the pawpaw tree.

The source said, “Initially, his colleagues were searching for him until one of them suggested that they should check him around the pawpaw tree. When they got there around 10pm, his corpse was found lying on the floor. About five of the security guards were on duty on that day. From what we gathered, his corpse was deposited in the Badagry General Hospital mortuary.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/guard-electrocuted-while-plucking.html

Nigerians have shed enough blood, President Buhari says

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Sunday regretted that Nigerians had shed enough blood over issues that could have been peacefully resolved.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke while reacting to the violence in Gombe State arising from the Billiri chieftaincy tussle.

The statement was titled, ‘Billiri chieftaincy tussle: President Buhari condemns violence, calls for maximum restraint to avoid escalation’.

Shehu quoted the President as expressing “great shock and deep concern” over the incident.

The President said, “I’m seriously disturbed by the outbreak of violence in Gombe State and call on the parties involved to exercise maximum restraint to avoid escalation.

“The easy resort to violence is uncalled for because there are enough avenues to resolve differences amicably without threatening law and order.

“In a circle of violence, there are no winners, except losers. Muslims and Christians should avoid the temptation of resorting to violence in order to express their grievances.

“Nigerians have shed enough blood over issues that could have been peacefully resolved. I appeal to the two parties to sheathe their swords for the sake of peaceful coexistence. Gombe has enjoyed relative religious harmony for decades and you shouldn’t allow hoodlums destroy this positive record.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/nigerians-have-shed-enough-blood.html

Butcher shot dead by gunmen in Delta community

A middle-aged butcher at the popular Sapele main market, simply identified as Efe, was on Sunday shot dead in the community by gunmen.

Efe’s murder was coming up barely 24 hours after Okiemute Sowho, a Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, was killed in the same Sapele metropolis.

The Punch gathered that Efe, who was into cow meat sales was shot dead along New Road axis by Poultry Road Junction in the town.

Sources said that the arms wielding men who had come in a blue, numberless Toyota Camry, had shot their target in the head at a close range while he was on top of a motocycle.

A resident in the community who would not want his name in print affirmed that Efe’s killing as well as that of Saturday involving Governor Okowa’s aide were cult related.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/butcher-shot-dead-by-gunmen-in-delta.html

“No be your mate dey collect award” – Man drags DJ Cuppy over Headies Award

A social media troll has resorted to the comment section of the DJ Cuppy’s post on Twitter to troll her over the headies award.

DJ Cuppy took to her Twitter page to share a post about the just-ended Headies award. 

A troll identified as June diary questioned her why she wasn’t part of the nominated awardees. He tweeted, “No be your mate they collect awards”.

Watching the #Headies 🤩

— Cuppy 🧁 (@cuppymusic) February 21, 2021

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/no-be-your-mate-dey-collect-award-man.html

I did not abandon my brother ― Actress Mide Martins

Nigerian actress, Mide Martins, has taken to her Instagram account to clear the air, stating that she has not abandoned her brother.

Recently, the actress was accused of abandoning her younger brother, Damilare, who her mother allegedly bore for veteran singer, Sir Shina Peters.

As she posted a picture of her late mother, she took to her caption section as she wrote, “Hello Everyone! My name is MIDE MARTINS. I’ll like to tell a little part of my own side of the story. Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed greatly to the ongoing issue and also apologize sincerely to everyone that I might have hurt or disappointed in any way; I am deeply sorry from the depth of my heart.”

She noted that she had been silent on the issue because she believed the issue was a family affair.

Martins said, “Anyone who knows me very well would know that I am a private person; I personally do not really like sharing or celebrating on social media some things relating to my family, like the annual remembrance ceremony of my late mother, Funmi Martins, which I duly observe every year in honour of her memory.

“When my mum, late Funmi Martins, passed away 19 years ago, my whole world was shattered, devastated, crumbled, broken and lonely without anyone’s support. How I managed to survive through the storm is only by the special grace of God.”

Martins narrated that contrary to speculations on social media, she had tried frantically to take custody of her younger brother but to no avail.

She said, “ Damilare was living with my grandma back then in Abeokuta and I was doing all that I could to take care of him, until a few years ago when she also passed on and Damilare was taken away to live with my uncle.

“I had requested custody of Damilare several times, even before grandma died, but was denied. Damilare is my blood brother; it is not possible for me to neglect him, but there’s much more to this story than you all know which I’m sorry I will not go into details about because it’s a family matter.

“I am not a heartless person, despite the fact that I don’t have it all, the little I have, I give wholeheartedly. However, I just want to ask for a favour!! Can Damilare be finally released to me? Can I have my brother Damilare? I promise to take good care of him in my own little way; may God help me so. Thank you, everyone!! God bless every family out there!!!”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/i-did-not-abandon-my-brother-actress.html

FULL LIST of winners at the 14th Headies Awards

The 14th edition of The Headies Awards has been successfully held and below is the list of award winners.

It held yesterday at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

However, the year-in-review is between July 2019 and September 2020.

The hosts were Bovi and Nancy Isime.

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best recording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.

OZYMANDIAS – BRYMO – WINNER

SMILE – WIZKID FEAT. HER

WONDERFUL – BURNA BOY

DREAMER – FIREBOY DML

GHOST TOWN – WURLD

BEST POP SINGLE

A voting category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).

BILLIONAIRE – TENI

NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI – WINNER

LADY – REMA

FEM – DAVIDO

JORO – WIZKID

SKELETUN – TEKNO

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

PHEELZ – ‘BILLIONAIRE’ BY TENI – WINNER

SPAX – ‘AWAY’ BY OXLADE

KEL P – ‘PULL UP’ BY BURNA BOY

SARZ – ‘MAD’ BY SARZ & WURLD

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.

GOD’S ENGINEERING – AQ – WINNER

ILLY CHAPO X – ILLBLISS

YPSZN2 – PSYCHO YP

CULT! – PAYBAC IBORO

THE ERIGMA II – ERIGGA

BEST R&B ALBUM

A category for the best r&b album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

 LAUGHTER, TEARS AND GOOSEBUMPS – FIREBOY DML – WINNER

. I LIKE GIRLS WITH TROBUL – SARZ & WURLD

 KING – PRAIZ

 BOO OF THE BOOLESS – CHIKE

 CELIA – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

A category for the best Alternative album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

YELLOW – BRYMO

LUCID – ASA

THE LIGHT – BEZ

PIONEERS – DRB LASGIDI

ROOTS – THE CAVEMEN – WINNER

BEST POP ALBUM

A category for the best pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

APOLLO – FIREBOY DML – WINNER

AFRICAN GIANT – BURNA BOY

A GOOD TIME – DAVIDO

WOMAN OF STEEL – YEMI ALADE

AFRO POP VOL. 1 – ADEKUNLE GOLD

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

ELI – FIREBOY DML BY CLARENCE PETERS

 1 MILLI – DAVIDO BY DIRECTOR K – WINNER

 SMILE – WIZKID BY MEJI ALABI

 BILLIONAIRE – TENI BY TG OMORI

 SHEKERE – YEMI ALADE BY OVIE ETSEYATSE

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best r&b single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

UNDER THE SKY – PRAIZ

DUDUKE – SIMI

MAD – SARZ & WURLD

BAD INFLUENCE – OMAH LAY

TATTOO – FIREBOY DML -WINNER

DANGEROUS LOVE – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST COLLABORATION

A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

KNOW YOU – LADIPOE FEAT. SIMI – WINNER

NOBODY – DJ NEPTUNE FEAT. JOEBOY & MR. EAZI

SWEET IN THE MIDDLE – DAVIDO FEAT. NAIRA MARLEY, ZLATAN & WURLD

DON’T CALL ME BACK – JOEBOY FEAT. MAYORKUN

TOTORI – ID CABASA FEAT. WIZKID & OLAMIDE

GET THE INFO – PHYNO FEAT. PHENOM & FALZ

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.

OGB4IG – REMINISCE

SHUT UP – BLAQBONEZ

COUNTRY – ILLBLISS

GET THE INFO – PHYNO, FALZ & PHENOM

BOP DADDY – FALZ FEAT. MS. BANKS – WINNER

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE(MALE)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

WURLD – GHOST TOWN

CHIKE – FORGIVE

PRAIZ – UNDER THE SKY – WINNER

COHBAMS – PLENTI

NONSO AMADI – WHAT MAKES YOU SURE

JOHNNY DRILLE – COUNT ON YOU

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

SIMI – NO LONGER BENEFICIAL

LINDSEY ABUDEI – ONE ON THE OUTSIDE

NINIOLA – ADDICTED – WINNER

J-DESS – CHI EFO

YEMI ALADE – LAI LAI

IMANSE – AJALA

NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.

TEMS

OMAH LAY – WINNER

OXLADE

BELLA SHMURDA

HEADIES REVELATION

A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.

VICTOR AD

FIREBOY DML – WINNER

JOEBOY

TENI

REMA

CHIKE

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

AQ – EUNICE

BLAQBONEZ – DEFINE RAP 2

MI ABAGA – TRINITY

ILLBLISS – COUNTRY – WINNER

PHENOM – GET THE INFO

PHYNO – SPEAK LIFE

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

NAIRA MARLEY & YOUNG JOHN – MAFO

MAYORKUN – GENG – WINNER

REMINISCE FEAT. OLAMIDE & NAIRA MARLEY – INSTAGRAM

RUDEBOY – AUDIO MONEY

IVD & ZLATAN – BOLANLE

OLAMIDE – PAWON

BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

CORNER – LADY DONLY FEAT. VANJESS & THE CAVEMEN

I WONDER – MOELOGO – WINNER

BITTER – DEENA ADE

ANITA – THE CAVEMEN

MONEY DEVOTION – GBASKY

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN – OLU

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.

BURNA BOY

DAVIDO

WIZKID – WINNER

MAYORKUN

TIWA SAVAGE

AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION

A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.

MASTER KG -WINNER

KUAMI EUGENE

SAUTI SOL

SHAATA WALE

STONEBWOY

HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE

A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

DAVIDO

OMAH LAY

BURNA BOY

FALZ

FIREBOY DML

MAYORKUN

DJ NEPTUNE

WIZKID – WINNER

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.

OLAKIRA

ALPHA P

JAMOPYPER

ZINOLEESKY

BAD BOY TIMZ – WINNER

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:

A non-voting category for the writer of a song (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence, composition, arrangement, rendition) in the year under review.

SIMISOLA BOLATITO OGUNLEYE (SIMI – DUDUKE) – WINNER

ADEDAMOLA ADEFOLAHAN (FIREBOY DML – DREAMER)

DAMINI OGULU (BURNA BOY – WAY TOO BIG)

STANLEY OMAH DIDIA (OMAH LAY – BAD INFLUENCE)

SADIQ ONIFADE (WURLD – GHOST TOWN

ADEKUNLE KOSOKO (1 MILLION – DAVIDO)

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/full-list-of-winners-at-14th-headies.html

Travis Barker shares love note from Kourtney Kardashian

Travis Barker is looking forward to “lots of fun adventures” with girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian.

On Saturday, the 45-year-old rocker shared a sweet note written by his new lady love, 41, on social media.

“To lots of fun adventures, may we destroy each other completely. Love, Kourtney,” the letter read.

First linked in January, Barker and Kardashian spent Valentine’s Day together last week, posting identical videos of the same fireplace to Instagram.

The pair later made their romance Instagram-official, with Kardashian sharing a snap of the couple’s intertwined hands.

Kardashian shares three children with her ex, Scott Disick: sons Mason, 11, and Reign, 6, and 8-year-old daughter Penelope.

Disick, 37, is currently dating model Amelia Hamlin, the 19-year-old daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin.

Barker was previously married to Melissa Kennedy from 2001 to 2002. He later married Shanna Moakler in 2004, with the pair finalizing their divorce four years later.

Moakler shares two children with the Blink-182 drummer, son Landon, 17, and daughter Alabama, 15.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/travis-barker-shares-love-note-from.html

Lady commits suicide after cheating boyfriend dumped her

A Nigerian lady has committed suicide after her cheating boyfriend dumped her

A Twitter user @sisi_alagboeko shared the story online.

''A girl committed suicide yesterday in the hostel, cause she caught her boyfriend cheating, and the guy decided to break up with her, I don't know if I should laugh at the sheer stupidity of taking sniper because of a man, or pity her cause the guy still doesn't care, ''she wrote.

Watch the video of the lady writhing in pain after consuming an insecticide below..

A girl committed suicide yesterday in the hostel, cause she caught her boyfriend cheating, and the guy decided to break up with her, I don't know if I should laugh at the sheer stupidity of taking sniper because of a man, or pity her cause the guy still doesn't care.

— hephzibah✨ (@sisi_alagboeko) February 21, 2021

This happened few days ago as I heard. Drank sniper cos her boyfriend broke up with her. pic.twitter.com/HIzBVBHdoV

— Samuel O. Williams 🕗 © (@iamOvox) February 21, 2021

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/lady-commits-suicide-after-her-cheating.html

Actress Iyabo Ojo wins best hairdo at The Headies

Actress Iyabo Ojo’s head-turning ensemble to the 14th The Headies got more than a scant attention from the organisers.

She was rewarded with N250,000 as the winner of the Lush Prize.

It was however not the glittering dress that got her the prize.

It was her hairdo.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/actress-iyabo-ojo-wins-best-hairdo-at.html

BBNaija's Dorathy Bachor shares s3xy swimwear photos

The reality star shared s3xy swimwear photos of herself on her Instagram page.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/bbnaijas-dorathy-bachor-shares-s3xy.html

Air Force releases names of victims of military plane crash

The Nigeria Air Force on Sunday released the names of officers who died in the Beechcraft Kingair B350i plane crash.

In a statement issued by the Air Force spokesman, Ibikunle Daramola, the officers are; Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-pilot), Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System specialist).

Others included Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS specialist), Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS specialist), Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

The jet en route Minna in Niger State crashed close to the runway of the Abuja airport after reporting engine failure.

The NAF spokesman explained that Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has ordered an immediate probe of the accident.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/air-force-releases-names-of-victims-of.html

Ex-Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha arrested, to be arraigned

Operatives of the Imo state police, Owerri, have arrested, a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha was arrested on Sunday after he unsealed the Royal Palm Estate sealed by the State Government.

Imo Government on Friday had sealed the Royal Palm Estate along Akachi road.

According to the team led by Commissioner for Lands, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, the seizure was in compliance with the directive of the Imo State gazette on the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on the recovery of Lands and other related matters.

However, Okorocha dared Governor Hope Uzodimma’s directive and broke the locks to recover the estate belonging to his wife, Nkechi.

The ex-governor was accompanied by his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, Ijeoma Igboanusi and Lasbrey Okafor-Anyanwu.

Igboanusi was the deputy chief of staff (Domestics) while Okafor-Anyanwu was the Commissioner for Transportation in Okorocha’s government.

The ex-governor who now represents Imo West at the Senate also stormed the estate with his supporters, policemen, soldiers and personnel of National Security and Civil Defense Corps and ordered the unsealing of the estate.

However, Okorocha and his supporters were confronted by government officials and loyalists of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The confrontation reportedly left many injured while some cars were damaged.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba has confirmed Okorocha’s arrest.

Emelumba added that Okorocha will be arraigned tomorrow (Monday)

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/ex-imo-governor-rochas-okorocha-arrested.html

No ransom for release of Kagara abductees- Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has insisted that it would not pay any ransom to secure the release of abductees at Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this while speaking on a radio programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

He said insinuations in some quarters that the government had paid a ransom to secure the release of the abductees were wrong, saying the government would not do anything that would reward any act against the law.

Mohammed also denied that the government paid a ransom to secure the release of over 300 children abducted by bandits in Kankara, Katsina recently.

“It is a lie, we did not pay any ransom to secure the release of school children in Kankara and we have not paid a dime to secure the release of students of Kagara and others abducted by bandits.

“We will not pay because that is not the way to go. Other options to get the abductees released are on the table, but giving money to get them is a no,” he said.

Mohammed assured Nigerians that the government would do what was right to get the abductees and others in captivity released soon.

On whether it was right for some Nigerians to visit bandits and engage them on the need to embrace peace, the minister said there was nothing wrong with that.

He said so long as the intention was right and the ultimate objective was peace, the government was not opposed to anything that would promote peace in the country.

“After the war, people still sit to dialogue. So if some people have taken it upon themselves to visit these people so that they can embrace peace, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that,” he said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/no-ransom-for-release-of-kagara.html

Actress Lala Akindoju welcomes her first child with husband

Nollywood actress, Lala Akindoju  has welcomed her first child with her celebrity chef husband, Chef Fregz.

The couple tied the knot in September 2018.

She shared the good news on her Instagram this morning writing;

 ''....becoming three!

.#à?éw??r??ni???olúwa

#aYummyMummy

#LalasJourneyToMotherhood''

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/actress-lala-akindoju-welcomes-her.html

Three herdsmen arrested for burning houses in Ogun

The Ogun State police command has arrested three suspected criminal herdsmen over “the role they played in the attack of Bamajo village in Ayetoro”, Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun State.

According to the Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, “the men had attacked the village where they set some houses ablaze and inflicted a deep matchet cut injury on one Ismaila Alabi.”

Receiving the report, the Ayetoro Area Commander, ACP Anthony Aruna, had mobilized his men, hunters and youths to the scene where the entire area was thoroughly combed.

Oyeyemi informed that the combing exercise was extended to Igboaje bush where one Musa Yusuf was apprehended with a gun and a blood-stained cutlass.

The arrest of Musa Yusuf, Daily Post learnt, led to the arrest of two others – “Usman Mohammed and Aliyu Abubakar, who are strongly believed to be part of those who launched the violence attack.”

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State CIID for further investigation, while also directing that a manhunt be launched “for the rest of the arsonists with a view to bringing them to justice.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/three-herdsmen-arrested-for-burning.html

Ronaldinho’s mother dies aged 71 after contracting Covid-19

Dona Miguelina, the mother of Brazilian football star Ronaldinho is dead.

Miguelina, 71, was hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19 last year while in their home city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil.

In December, the Ballon d’Or winner asked fans to pray for his mother, revealing she was fighting for her life at Mae de Deus Hospital.

“Dear friends. My mum has Covid and we’re fighting for her to recover. She is in intensive care and is receiving all the care she needs. I’m thankful for your prayers, your positive energy and the affection you’ve always shown. Stay strong, mum,” Ronaldinho said on Twitter.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/ronaldinhos-mother-dies-aged-71-after.html

Bird flu: Russia detects first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans

Russia has reported the first case of a bird flu strain, H5N8, being passed from poultry to humans.

Officials said seven workers at a poultry plant in the south of the country had been infected following an outbreak there in December.

"All seven people... are now feeling well," said the head of Russia's consumer health watchdog, Anna Popova.

She said that adequate measures had been quickly taken to stop the spread of infection.

There was no sign of transmission between humans, Ms Popova said, adding that the case had been reported to the World Health Organization.

She praised "the important scientific discovery" by Russia's Vektor laboratory, which had isolated the strain's genetic material from the infected workers.

"The discovery of these mutations when the virus has not still acquired an ability to transmit from human to human gives us all, the entire world, time to prepare for possible mutations and react in an adequate and timely fashion," Ms Popova said.

She said Russian scientists could now start working on developing test systems.

Other strains of bird flu occasionally infect humans and have led to deaths - but this is the first report of the H5N8 strain being passed on.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/bird-flu-russia-detects-first-case-of.html

‘Pilot complained of engine failure minutes before Abuja crash’

The pilot of the Nigerian Air Force Intelligence Reconnaissance Aircraft which crashed in Abuja, on Sunday, complained of engine failure barely moments after takeoff.

A source at the control tower revealed this to The Punch on the strict condition of anonymity.

The official said there been regular flights from Abuja to Minna since the abduction of the Kangara students last week.

The source said, “The aircraft was on its way to Minna. Moments after, on getting to Bassa Local Government Area, he informed the control tower that he had experienced an engine failure.

“He was advised to return to the Abuja airport immediately but it crash-landed.”

When asked if the identities of those on board had been ascertained, the official said they were in the process of doing so.

“There have been frequent flights to Niger State since the abduction of the schoolkids. Last week some ministers also flew. Soon, we will know their identities,” he said.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, also confirmed this in a tweet.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/pilot-complained-of-engine-failure.html

FRSC returns N420,000 cash found at crash site

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has returned N420,000 cash found at an auto crash site at Akinfosile, along Lagos-Ore expressway, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, to the family of the deceased.

Mr Olusegun Aladenika, the Unit Commander in Ore, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ore.

Aladenika said the money belonging to late Nnamdi Okoro was returned to his family member, one Chidiebere Nnewe, after a written undertaking with full identification by the Nigeria Police, Omotosho Division and the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW) Igbotako branch.

The FRSC boss said the ghastly motor accident involving a green Toyota Picnic, with registration number BEN 417 CV, and a white Lexus RX 350 SUV, with registration number FKJ 788 GT, happened on Feb. 18 around 8.30 am at Akinfosile.

He added that the driver and a passenger in the Toyota Picnic died immediately.

The FRSC boss, who said that the crash occurred because of overspeeding, however, urged motorists to always be patient when driving on the highways in order to avert loss of lives and property.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2021/02/frsc-returns-n420000-cash-found-at.html