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BREAKING: COVID-19 Heath Workers Block Hospital Management Board’s Entrance, Demand Payment Of Allowances In Edo

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Mobile screening team of the Edo State COVID-19 response on Tuesday, June 30, staged a protest in Benin city over the state government’s refusal to pay their two months allowances.

The protesters blocked the entrance leading to the premises of the state Hospital Management Board thereby preventing movement in and out of the compound.

The screening team which comprises medical doctors, health personnel, contact tracers, data collectors among others, was initiated to trace people who have had contacts with COVID-19 patients, all in a bid to ramp up testing in the state.

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READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Rescue Yourselves From ‘Unscrupulous Politicians’, Group Tells Electorates

The Edo state COVID-19 response team led by Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki earlier set up the mobile screening with a target to screen and test 500,000 and 15,000 persons, respectively.

But to their greatest surprise after working for two months they  received a WhatsApp message from the Incident Manager COVID-19 mobile screening exercise, Andrew Obi, disengaging them from their duties without due payment of monthly allowances.

Speaking on behalf of the ad-hoc staff, Ojei Emmanuel said they have been treated with lack of pity and compassion.

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According to him, he (Andrew Obi) sent us a message without showing his face and that is not a credible act by any person.

READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Court Authenticates Ize-Iyamu’s APC Membership

“I come from a distance, I pay N600 on a daily basis for transport fare, and I have been doing that for 61 days.

“We just came in today to find out that we have been relieved of the job and we have not been paid for two months. We have 26 groups containing about eight persons per group. There are group leaders in each group; there are doctors. 

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“Though it was 31 days, we still agree to be paid 90,000 from the outset not 93,000.  So, why we are being owed, we don’t know, why we are being relieved of the job, we still also do not know; all we want is for them to pay what is due to us,” he added.

READ ALSO: Obaseki’s Reign In APC Was Hell, ‘We ‘ll Never Pray For Such’, Says Party Chieftain

Another who identified himself as Philip said, “Some of us have tested positive in the line of duty, they even gave us empty mifi and we use our money to buy data. They have been telling us to be patient but noting has been done about it.

“Many of us can not even hug our children at home. This is inhumane and should be addressed.

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Effort to speak with the the state Commissioner for health was dashed as he was stopped from speaking to journalists on the issue when newsmen met him at the office of the Deputy Governor of the state with the promise that the Deputy Governor, who is the head of technical committee.

The Deputy Governor did not, however, attend to journalists after much waiting, rather his CPS, Musa Ebomhiane shut newsmen out from meeting him.

READ ALSO: PHOTO NEWS: Oba Market Benin Gutter By Fire

He responded when approached to see his principal: “But he has seen you, what else do you want”?

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Soldiers Allegedly Torture Poly Student To Death Over Allegation Of Cultism

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Terhile Timothy Achinya, a mechanical engineering student with the Isa Mustapha Agwai l Polytechnic Lafia, was allegedly beaten to death by yet-to-be-identified military men.

The news of the death of Achinya has sparked outrage within and around the Polytechnic community, however, the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata has called for calm.

The Students Union Government, President of the Isa Mustapha Agwai l Polytechnic Lafia, Comr. Jacob John Mutuwa narrated the situation leading to the death of the student.

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“It all started when a student named Samuel Ejembi informed some military men in Lafia of some students who are alleged to be involved in cult activities. the soldiers searched and picked up some of the accused students at Eji World, an entertainment centre opposite the Poly campus.”

The president explained that both the informant and the accused were picked up and taken into custody by the military on Friday last week.

Mutuwa disclosed however that Achinya died while undergoing interrogations and torture by the military men and the corpse was deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

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Mutuwa expressed sadness over the unfortunate death, lamenting that if the management of the institution had allowed students to use the student accommodation built by former governor Tanko Almakura, things like this would not have occurred.

READ ALSO: Flood: Health Minister, Pate Provides Medical Outreach To Displaced People

The Union president commended the students for taking a calm position despite the tragic death of a fellow student.

He assured that legal action had been instituted against the killers and called for calm.

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Also reacting, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for prompt action to bring the perpetrators to book.

Coordinator, NANS Zone C, Comr. Daniel Friday Egga appreciated the action taken by the Management and SUG Leadership of the institution in addressing the matter.

Daniel called on the government and well-meaning individuals to join hands in seeking justice for the victim and his family.

NANS, however, alleged that the soldiers who were attached to the 123 Special Force Battalion were the ones responsible for the killing and urged military authorities to take immediate action.

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Accident involving Edo APC Campaign Convoy Claims Five lives

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A campaign convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was involved in a fatal accident on Thursday, resulting in the death of five persons.

The incident occurred along the Warrake-Afuze Road in Owan East local government area when a heavy truck fitted with musical and sound systems collided with an oncoming car.

The driver of the car, Emmanuel Edionwe, and four other occupants died on the spot, while the fifth victim was rushed to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in critical condition.

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An eyewitness reported that the campaign convoy was negotiating a bend when the accident occurred.

READ ALSO: Tragedy In Edo, Many Feared Dead As Commercial Bus Plunged Into Ovia River

The deceased were returning from a funeral ceremony when they met their death, leaving their families traumatized and devastated. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Edo State University, Uzairue Mortuary in Etsako West Local Government Area.

A relative of Edionwe expressed devastation, describing him as a good and easy-going person who. The family source explained that Edionwe died at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, where he was transferred.

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The Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, was contacted but did not provide a confirmation of the accident.

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Tragedy In Edo, Many Feared Dead As Commercial Bus Plunged Into Ovia River

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The Edo State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) said that it had rescued six persons, while two other corpses were recovered from a commercial bus that plunged into the Ovia River in the state on Thursday evening.

Mr Cyril Mathew, Edo Sector Commander, FRSC, said six persons were rescued, two bodies were recovered dead while

Mathew, who said more passengers were still trapped inside the river, added that divers had been contacted to recover the passengers trapped in the river.

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READ ALSO: Osun Monarch, Aromolaran, Is Dead

He said FRSC began the rescue mission on Thursday and had continued to Friday.

According to him, “Six people were rescued, while one was recovered dead yesterday. Another body was recovered today.

“Unfortunately, the chances of survival of the remaining passengers in the river are slim, given that the accident occurred yesterday evening.

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“We have engaged divers to help recover the bodies, but negotiations are ongoing. “The divers are asking for N2 million to carry out the recovery,” he said.

READ ALSO: UK Releases Thousands Of Prisoners To Ease Overcrowding

He said the accident occurred at about 4:20 pm on Thursday when a bus travelling from Lagos and heading to Port Harcourt veered off the highway and plunged into the river.

He said “According to passengers who survived the crash, the driver lost control of the bus after experiencing brake failure.

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“In a desperate attempt to avoid colliding with vehicles in front, the driver veered into the opposite lane, leaving the Ore-Benin-Lagos route and crossing over to the Benin-Ore road.

“However, due to the speed of the vehicle, the driver was unable to regain control, causing the bus to hit a pavement and plunge into the river.”

 

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