By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The United Nations Children’s Fund has on Friday,confirmed that Niger state has so far recorded 150 positive cholera cases.

This is as UNICEF disclosed that in total, 16 deaths have been recorded since the cholera outbreak.

Making this disclosure when she led a team to pay an advocacy visit on the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Farouq Bahago, the Chief of Kaduna Field Office, UNICEF, Dr. Gerida Birukila said that, 451 persons were isolated and those confirmed positive treated and discharged are 150.

The Chief who was represented by Health Specialist Dr. Ahmed Tsofo also solicited for the Emir’s support to curtail various diseases ravaging the state.

According to the Chief, “we have recorded more than 451 cases of cholera infections out of it, over 150 were confirmed positive through rapid diagnostic testing.

“So far, we have now recorded 16 deaths and we brought it to the Emir’s information. We have also updated him on the support we are providing and the collaboration between UNICEF and government to contain the outbreak and to prevent further spread”.

Among other issues highlighted during the visit included polio and measles diseases as well as the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the state.

“We came to advocate for his support in person and the support of the traditional institution over the ongoing health and Public health interventions that we have been supporting in Niger.

“As you must have heard from the discussions we had with the Emir we advocated for his support in the next coming in-between rounds activity for polio eradication campaign; we advocated also for the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state.

“We advocated for his support also toward the introduction of the measles and rubella vaccines which is coming up in October this year”.

The UNICEF Health specialist noted that these diseases could be eradicated with the collaboration of government and the traditional institutions.

In his response, Emir of Minna, Alhaji Farouq Bahago assured the UNICEF of the Emirate’s support and prayed that Allah would enable them achieve the aim of eradicating the diseases in tue state.

Accordingly, he said “we will continue to talk and work in the interest of our people. We will support your efforts and complement your activities in all the four areas of intervention”.

By Our Correspondent

In an effort to digitalize and harmonize student data management across the education sector, the Government of Enugu State, through the Ministry of Education and the Center for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI), has issued a mandatory directive to all schools within the state—Public, Mission-Run, and Private institutions—to complete registration and student onboarding on the official Enugu State School Portal no later than August 31st, 2025.

The directive, signed and affirmed by Prof. Ndubueze L. Mbah, Honourable Commissioner for Education, is part of the state’s wider education reform aimed at digitizing school operations, improving accountability, and ensuring accurate statewide student tracking using a Unified State Student Registration Number (USSSN).

Key benefit for Registered School include: Assignment of Unified State Student Registration Numbers (USSSNs), Upload of Continuous Assessment records for unified promotions, Seamless admission and transfer processing, Access to state-approved examination registration, including the 2025 Unified Exams.

Schools that fail to comply risk exclusion from critical state examinations and services.

This directive is addressed to all levels of education management in the state, including: Chairmen of STVSMB, PPSMB, ENSUBEB Secretaries of Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist Education Commissions and Leaders of all Private School Proprietors Associations.

Commissioner Prof. Mbah reaffirmed that this policy is a pivotal move toward establishing data-driven education planning, equitable resource allocation, and statewide digital learning readiness in line with global standards.

*“This is more than compliance—it is a leap into the future of education management in Enugu State,” he said, citing the state’s recent recognition under the Spencer Foundation Vision Grant as a sign of commitment to transformative educational leadership.*

By David Owei,Bayelsa
Authorities of the Bayelsa State Police Command has announced the dismissal of Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede over his alleged involvement in the recent abduction of a State High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro.

Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede is an Indigene of Foutorugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government area of the State.

The Police Command, through the directive of the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu also declared Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede a deserter under the section 398(1) of the Police Act and Regulations 2020 over Abscondment from duty for over 30 days.

Although the combined team of the Department of the State Security and the Operation Puff Adder of the State Police Command have arrested Eight of the allege suspects involved in the abduction of the State Chief Judge, the dismissed Sargent is still at large.

It was gathered that the Police investigating officers attached to the Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo had stormed the home of one of the suspects, Emizibo Clement alias Obonor, located at Edepie and recovered the Motorcycle used by the dismissed Sargent to supply logistics to the kidnappers.

Obonor, who is in police custody, is a house owner at Edepie and the tenants were shocked to discover his alleged involvement in case of kidnapping of the State High Court Judge.

Sources at the State Police headquarters revealed that official signals have been sent to all State Commands and 17 AIG zones to apprehend Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede and also directed the IPPIS and Police Budget to stop the payment of his salaries.

It was gathered that the affected Sargent receives his salary from the Enugu State Police Command and that he should ejected from the Police barrack.

Recall that the Bayelsa State High Court Judge, RT. Hon. Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, who was kidnapped in June regained freedom after 13 days in captivity.

Though he was released from the kidnappers’ den without payment of ransom, his abductors had last Saturday demanded N300 million in foreign currency for his release.

Eight suspects, including six males and two females, were however paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, Francis Idu for their various degree of involvement in the case.