Featured post

Diphtheria Scare in Edo State: Calls for School Closure Amid Rising Cases

-
Image
  Edo State is currently battling a public health scare as diphtheria cases emerge, raising concern among residents, health professionals, and civil society. With six confirmed cases and three reported fatalities, the outbreak has prompted urgent calls for preventive measures to contain further spread. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection affecting the nose and throat, often fatal if left untreated. The Edo State Ministry of Health has confirmed the detection of both diphtheria and dengue fever, adding complexity to the state’s health response. So far, over 15 suspected diphtheria cases have been identified, with health officials moving swiftly to activate surveillance teams and conduct community sensitization. In a proactive appeal, the Concerned Edo Citizens Forum submitted an open letter to Governor Godwin Obaseki, urging the temporary closure of schools to protect children, who are among the most vulnerable to the disease. The group also recommended limitin...
Post a Comment

UN-Accredited Group Condemns Arrest Of Nigerian Activist VeryDarkBlackMan, Demands Immediate Release

-


A prominent global human rights organization that holds consultative status with the United Nations has issued a strong condemnation regarding the arrest and ongoing detention of Nigerian social advocate and media figure, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkBlackMan. They have described this action as a “direct assault on freedom of expression.”

In a recent statement, the International Organization for Human Rights Development and Environment (IOHRDE), recognized for its Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the activist.

IOHRDE honored VeryDarkBlackMan as “a symbol of truth, courage, and the relentless pursuit of justice.” His grassroots activism in Nigeria has earned him acclaim for his efforts to combat corruption, abuse of power, and inequality.

By fearlessly addressing issues that affect the everyday lives of citizens, ranging from corruption and abuse of power to societal inequalities, VeryDarkBlackMan has emerged as one of the leading voices of grassroots activism and public enlightenment,” the organisation said.

“The silencing of such a voice is not merely a personal attack on him,” the organization said, “but a direct assault on freedom of expression—a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized under the Nigerian Constitution.”

The organization cautioned that the detention of activists for voicing their opinions establishes “a dangerous precedent,” erodes democratic values, and restricts the civic space vital for societal progress.

IOHRDE appealed to Nigerian authorities to uphold international human rights standards, adhere to due process, and safeguard dissenting voices instead of targeting them.

Reaffirming its dedication to justice and accountability, the group urged the international community to unite in support with those “who speak truth to power” and resist efforts to silence them.

The statement concluded with a series of advocacy hashtags:

 #FreeVeryDarkBlackMan#

 #StandForJustice 

#DefendHumanRights.

On Friday, SaharaReporters revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took VeryDarkMan into custody after he visited a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch.

This arrest quickly sparked a wave of outrage online, with many people questioning the bank's possible involvement in what critics describe as a calculated effort to suppress dissent.

"VDM was locked inside the GTB exit door for over 5 mins to enable EFCC arrest him and his friend,” Adeyanju said.

“We will be taking legal actions against GTB for the inhumane treatment meted out to our client. We will issue a public statement soon."

Adeyanju revealed that his legal team, headed by Marvin Omorogbe, had located the detained activist and was actively working to secure his release.

The recent arrest has sparked renewed anxiety among observers, who see it as indicative of a troubling trend aimed at silencing dissenting views. This action raises serious questions about the increasing deployment of security and anti-corruption agencies as tools to stifle free expression.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anambra Boutique Owner Sues NAFDAC Over Claimed Theft of Merchandise During Onitsha Drug Market Operation

-
Image
  Sophia Eberechukwu Okoye, a young entrepreneur from Anambra State, who owns a boutique in Onitsha, has taken legal action against the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). She claims that soldiers allegedly deployed by the agency looted her store during a raid at the Onitsha drug market, popularly known as Ogbo Ogwu. In a notice of legal action issued by her legal representative, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor of I. C. Ejiofor & Co. law firm, Ms. Okoye is seeking N22 million in compensation, which she asserts is the verified value of the goods taken from her shop. Reports indicate that Ms. Okoye expressed her distress after losing goods valued at over N15 million due to the purported looting by the soldiers. Her boutique, which had opened just a few months prior, was one of many shops that were reportedly broken into and ransacked during the operation. Sources reveal that the thieves stole clothes, shoes, and other valuable items from the boutique, le...
Read more

"Kano girls, having been married off from an orphanage, face abandonment by their husbands and endure abuse, as they are now forced to seek assistance to survive."

-
Image
The Nassarawa orphanage home in Kano is a refuge for abandoned children, many of whom have been found on the streets, lost due to the tragic loss of their parents or left behind after accidents. For years, the Kano State Government has played a crucial role in supporting the orphanage by providing food, clothing, and education until these children reach adulthood. As they grow up, the boys often find work in government positions or venture into entrepreneurship, while the girls are generally married off to suitors interested in them. Since the orphanage’s inception, hundreds of girls have entered into marriage, but some women have shared their struggles with DAILY POST, expressing feelings of abandonment after their husbands divorced them. They often endure abuse and mistreatment, facing significant challenges in seeking help or reporting their situations. Hadiza Muhammad, 40, and Halima Muhammad, 45, are among those who have suffered through domestic abuse for over twenty years of mar...
Read more

Benin Republic, Niger enjoy smuggled fuel as Nigerians keep vigil at petrol stations

-
Image
While numerous Nigerians are keeping vigil at filling stations to fuel their vehicles, drivers in the adjoining nations of Benin Republic and Niger are getting a charge out of fuel snuck from Nigeria, a Saturday PUNCH examination has shown. Our journalists, who visited the two nations found that the snuck petroleum was being sold by dark advertisers, whose rates were less expensive than those working in filling stations. Discoveries show that drivers frequently belittle the dark advertisers on the grounds that their rates are less expensive than the people who purchase from the filling stations. Saturday PUNCH accumulated the higher worth of cefas (CFA) to naira made the Nigerian snuck fuel alluring to residents of the two nations. Nigeria is seeing the fifth significant fuel emergency since President Bola Tinubu accepted office on May 29, 2023, following his expulsion of the fuel appropriation. The evacuation prompted a sharp ascent in fuel costs, causing alarm purchasing, far and wid...
Read more