By Chidera Orji

As the country grabbles with so many socio-economic problems, a United States-based Nigerian Mrs Nkechi Eze (née Nzelu), has identified insecurity as one of the major reasons many Nigerians who are based outside the country are unwilling to return home, adding that the fear of kidnapping, violent attacks and unsafe roads makes visiting home increasingly difficult.

Nkechi, who is practicing healthcare professional in USA, stated this when she spoke with some selected journalists via zoom, said although she personally remains emotionally connected to Nigeria and wishes to reunite with family members, the safety of her children and other loved ones remains her foremost consideration whenever she contemplates travelling home.

She said that her concern goes beyond the possibility of being attacked, stressing the need to be confident that she and her family could travel safely, move around freely and access emergency assistance if anything went wrong.

According to her, staying away from Nigeria does not diminish her love for the country but reflects her responsibility to protect her family from avoidable risks.

As a healthcare professional, Mrs Nkechi Eze expressed particular concern over the growing threats to the lives of medical personnel, noting that health workers should not have to risk kidnapping or death while carrying out their duties.

She observed that insecurity affects healthcare delivery at several levels, as patients may be unable to travel to hospitals at night, medical personnel may struggle to reach their workplaces, and ambulances may avoid dangerous routes.

She warned that such disruptions could have serious consequences for pregnant women experiencing emergencies, accident victims and patients requiring urgent referrals to better-equipped medical facilities.

Eze also noted that financial constraints, transportation difficulties and delays in identifying hospitals capable of providing appropriate treatment could further worsen emergencies in an already challenging environment.

On what would make her reconsider visiting Nigeria, she said sustainable improvements in security, safer roads, effective emergency response systems and credible investigations into criminal activities would be necessary.

She maintained that assurances of safety must be backed by verifiable improvements in the specific communities and locations people intend to visit.

Speaking on banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts, Eze said the challenges reflect the need for stronger protection of ordinary citizens, urging authorities to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for criminal activities rather than unfairly blaming entire ethnic or occupational groups.

She called for improved intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration among security agencies, better-equipped and properly supervised local policing structures, as well as efficient investigations and judicial processes.

She also advocated preventive measures, including education, employment opportunities and fair mechanisms for resolving disputes, while emphasizing the importance of respecting human rights to build public confidence in security institutions.

Comparing her experience in the United States with the situation in Nigeria, Eze acknowledged that the US was not free from crime but said the predictability of its security and emergency response systems gave residents greater confidence to plan their daily activities.

She said Nigerians deserved an environment where people could go to work, visit relatives and seek medical attention without living under constant fear or depending on private security arrangements.

On healthcare administration, she highlighted the US emergency care system, where hospitals are required to screen and stabilize patients experiencing medical emergencies regardless of their immediate ability to pay.

She clarified that this does not mean emergency treatment is entirely free, but stressed that urgent medical attention should not be delayed while patients or their relatives search for money.

Turning to Nigeria’s electoral process, Eze said her experience voting in the United States had exposed her to an organized system characterised by voter privacy, clear procedures and mechanisms for verifying election results.

She explained that although voting methods differ across US states, the processes generally provide for identification, private voting, verification and audits to strengthen confidence in the outcome.

While acknowledging the efforts of hardworking electoral officials and citizens in Nigeria, she expressed concern over allegations of electoral violence and manipulation, saying such issues must be addressed through transparent processes and evidence-based investigations.

She, however, cautioned against treating every allegation of electoral malpractice as an established fact, insisting that institutions must make relevant evidence accessible and clearly explain disputed outcomes to the public.

Eze argued that credible elections could contribute to improved governance by giving citizens the opportunity to reward or remove political leaders through the ballot.

However, she stressed that elections alone would not resolve insecurity or reverse the migration of skilled professionals, adding that sustainable progress would also require effective governance, responsible public spending, enforcement of laws and improved working conditions for professionals.

On diaspora voting, she supported extending voting rights to Nigerians living abroad, provided adequate safeguards were introduced to ensure credible registration, proper identity verification, prevent multiple voting and guarantee transparent counting.

She nevertheless maintained that strengthening the credibility and security of votes cast within Nigeria should remain an immediate priority.

Eze said the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security response should ultimately be measured by practical outcomes, including whether farmers could safely return to their farmlands, nurses could work night shifts without fear and victims of kidnapping could receive prompt and professional responses from security agencies.

She maintained that Nigerians deserved dependable public institutions capable of protecting lives, safeguarding livelihoods and restoring confidence in the country’s future.

*** Urges people experiencing symptoms associated with Ebola to seek immediate medical attention

By our reporter

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has ruled out Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in two individuals suspected of having the infection in Yola, Adamawa State, after two rounds of laboratory testing returned negative results.

Jide Idris, NCDC Director-General, who disclosed this in a statement, added that there is currently no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa.

The suspected cases were reported to the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in the early hours of October 30, 2026, after two individuals presented with symptoms requiring further investigation.

According to Idris, the individuals were isolated and appropriate public health measures initiated while samples were collected for laboratory analysis.

“Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EVD after two rounds of testing,” he said.

Idris said the NCDC was working closely with the Adamawa State Government, through the State Ministry of Health and Human Services, to investigate the report and strengthen response operations.

He commended the state government for its prompt response, particularly the efforts of the Commissioner for Health and his team.

“At this juncture, I wish to commend the efforts of the Adamawa State’s Commissioner for Health and his team for their proactive approach,” the NCDC director-general said.

He added that the agency would continue to provide technical support to the state government to strengthen its response and ensure effective monitoring of the situation.

Idris clarified that the index case previously confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remained the only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case reported in Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information or speculation about the suspected cases.

“We urge members of the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information or speculation about the situation,” he said, advising the public to rely on official government and public health communication channels for accurate information.

The NCDC boss also urged people experiencing symptoms associated with Ebola, including fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, to seek immediate medical attention, particularly if they had a relevant exposure history.

He advised individuals to inform healthcare workers about any relevant travel or contact history, avoid self-medication and follow professional medical advice.

Ebola Virus Disease is a serious infectious disease that requires early detection, prompt clinical management and effective infection prevention and control measures.

Idris said the NCDC, in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and other relevant stakeholders, would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as verified information became available.

He reaffirmed the commitment of public health authorities to protecting Nigerians through early detection, evidence-based interventions, transparent communication and a coordinated national response.

By Our Reporter

Several supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were reportedly injured on Saturday when suspected hoodlums attacked members of the party in Yankara town, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, during activities surrounding Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s campaign rally.

The violence also led to the burning of a vehicle belonging to the Musa Adamu Network (MAN), while movement along a major road was disrupted, triggering panic among residents.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the attackers ambushed APC supporters travelling to attend the governor’s campaign rally in Faskari.

One of the witnesses claimed that some youths had barricaded the road expected to be used by the campaign convoy. The witness further alleged that two APC supporters sustained fatal injuries during the confrontation.

However, the claim of fatalities had not been independently verified as of Saturday night, while the police had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of 9:10 p.m.

The Caucus Chairman of the Musa Adamu Network, Alhaji Nura Sule Yandaki, said he was travelling with 11 members of his team to participate in the governor’s rally when the violence erupted.

Yandaki explained that the situation reportedly deteriorated during a Maulud procession organised by another Islamic group, with suspected hoodlums allegedly exploiting the gathering to attack vehicles conveying passengers, including APC supporters.

He also confirmed that a vehicle belonging to his organisation was set ablaze during the incident.

Condemning the attack, the Secretary of the Musa Adamu Network, Shamsuddeen Sani Lema, urged security agencies to investigate the incident, apprehend those responsible and ensure they face prosecution.

Lema described the violence as unacceptable, insisting that political engagements should not be characterised by intimidation, attacks or other forms of violence.

He also called on the justice system to strengthen mechanisms for preventing similar incidents across the country.

Despite the reported attack, Radda went ahead with the Tinubu-Dikko 2027 Campaign Rally in Faskari, where he highlighted his administration’s interventions in healthcare, security, education and infrastructure.

At the gathering, the governor announced the completion and opening of the Faskari General Hospital, describing the development as the fulfilment of a campaign commitment to residents.

“During our previous campaign visit, we promised not to forget the hospital in Faskari. Today, by the grace of Almighty Allah, we have fulfilled that promise by opening the hospital for our people,” Radda said.

He further listed ongoing government projects covering road construction, renovation of schools, improvement of healthcare services and security operations.

According to him, the initiatives were aimed at consolidating peace and creating a conducive atmosphere for businesses and other economic activities to thrive.

Radda also pledged to sustain transparency, promote agricultural development and strengthen community-based governance, assuring residents that qualified indigenes of Faskari would continue to have opportunities to contribute to the state’s development.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Tinubu-Dikko 2027 Campaign Council, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the rally.

Dangiwa praised the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and highlighted what he described as the achievements of the Radda administration in security, healthcare, education and human capital development.

He urged APC members, particularly youths and women, to intensify mobilisation at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Similarly, the Katsina State APC Chairman, Bishir Saulawa, assured party supporters that the APC would conduct a peaceful and issue-based campaign, focusing on its achievements rather than personal attacks or divisive rhetoric.

(CHANNELS)