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Powerful Earthquake kills At least 920 people in Afghanistan

A powerful earthquake struck a remote border region of Afghanistan overnight killing at least 920 people and injuring hundreds more, officials said Wednesday, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers dig through collapsed dwellings.

The 5.9 magnitude quake struck hardest in the rugged terrain of the east, where people already live hardscrabble lives in a country in the grip of a humanitarian disaster made worse by the Taliban takeover in August.

The death toll has climbed steadily all day as news of casualties filtered in from hard-to-reach areas in the mountains, and the country’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, warned it would likely rise further.

“So far the information we have is that at least 920 people have been martyred and 600 injured,” Sharafuddin Muslim, the deputy minister for disaster management, told a press conference in the capital, Kabul.

Earlier, a tribal leader from Paktika province — one of the hardest hit areas — said survivors and rescuers were scrambling to help those affected.

“The local markets are closed and all the people have rushed to the affected areas,” Yaqub Manzor told AFP by telephone.

Photographs and video clips posted on social media showed scores of badly damaged mud houses in remote rural areas.

Some footage showed local residents loading victims into a military helicopter.

Destroyed homes and buildings in the Gayan District in Paktika

– Offers of help –
Even before the Taliban takeover Afghanistan’s emergency response teams were stretched to deal with the natural disasters that frequently struck the country.

But with only a handful of airworthy planes and helicopters, an immediate response is often limited.

“The government is working within its capabilities,” tweeted Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official.

“We hope that the International Community & aid agencies will also help our people in this dire situation.”

The United Nations and European Union were quick to offer help.

“Inter-agency assessment teams have already been deployed to a number of affected areas,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan tweeted.

Tomas Niklasson, EU special envoy for Afghanistan, tweeted: “The EU is monitoring the situation and stands ready to coordinate and provide EU emergency assistance to people and communities affected.”

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes — especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Scores of people were killed and injured in January when two quakes struck rural areas in the western province of Badghis, damaging hundreds of buildings.

In 2015, more than 380 people were killed in Pakistan and Afghanistan when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake ripped across the two countries, with the bulk of the deaths in Pakistan.

From the Vatican City, Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims of the latest quake.

“I express my closeness with the injured and those who were affected,” the 85-year-old pontiff said at the end of his weekly audience.

The latest earthquake came at a time when Afghanistan is battling a severe humanitarian disaster, worsened by the Taliban takeover of the country.

Aid agencies and the United Nations say Afghanistan needs billions of dollars this year to tackle the crisis.

Aid agencies have particularly stressed the need for greater disaster preparedness in Afghanistan, which remains extremely susceptible to recurring earthquakes, floods and landslides.

The quake was felt as far away as Lahore in Pakistan, 480 kilometres (300 miles) from the epicentre, according to responses posted on the USGS and European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) websites.

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NSCDC arrest two suspected electricity cable vandals in Katsina

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Katsina State Command, has arrested two suspected notorious electricity cable vandals in the state.

The command’s spokesman, Buhari Hamisu, who disclosed this while parading the suspects in Katsina on Friday said the success was recorded based on enhanced NSCDC and community engagement.

According to him, the command successfully apprehended the two suspects, Aminu Sani, 19 and Ahmed Abdullahi, a 23 as a result of the extant synergy.

He said that one of the suspects, Sani, belonged to a team of a notorious syndicate that specialises in vandalising public infrastructure and theft.

The NSCDC also revealed, “During the investigation, the suspects confessed to committing the crimes.

“The suspects revealed that on April 6, Sani conspired with one Tasiu (alis Dantasi), who is now at large and vandalised electric wire and fittings at Federal Housing Estate, Gidan Kwakwa Area, Katsina.

“Further investigation revealed that they had similarly vandalised and removed electric service wires at the same housing estate and sold to Abdullahi, one of the arrested suspects, and one Samaila Abdullahi (alias Tubali) also at large.”

The image maker disclosed that one plier, a water tap, two roles of service wire and a Circuit breaker were recovered from the suspects.

He further stated that the suspects would be charged to a competent court for prosecution after the completion of investigations.

The commandant called on the good people of the state to be law-abiding and obey rules and regulations, assuring them of the command’s commitment to providing adequate Security.

According to him, the command will not relent in its commitment to uncover all the activities of vandals, economic saboteurs and other criminals in the state.

News

Police arrest 8 political thugs in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspected political thugs over an attempt to disrupt the inauguration of newly appointed state commissioners at the Government House on Thursday.

The state Police Commissioner, CP Usaini Gumel who confirmed the arrest on Friday, April 19, 2024, said the suspects posed a security threat at the Government House while the inauguration ceremony was ongoing at the Council Chambers.

CP Gumel warned all miscreants and their sponsors to stay clear as whoever tries to cause security breach or disrupt the peace where critical government activities and functions are being conducted will be arrested and be subjected to face the dire consequences of his/her action(s).

“Enough of clusters of “Yan Jagaliya” loitering around Government House, Audu Bako Secretariat, similar offices and disrupting governance,” he added.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement said the quick reaction force of the police command successfully apprehended eight suspected political thugs and prevented them from causing serious breach of the peace during the inauguration of additional Kano State Commissioners been presided by the State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf.

“The suspected thugs that constituted themselves as a pressure group and supporters of one of the infamous politicians attempted to cause the breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.

“The suspects are currently at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department CID where thorough investigations are ongoing and to bring them to justice as provided by the law.

“The action of the Kano State Police Command is to further assure members of the public that all necessary measures have been taken to prevent any act that could lead to disruptions of the peace and security in all parts of the State.

“The Commissioner of Police while appreciating the good people of the State for their support and cooperation, also reiterated the determination of the police command to ruthlessly deal with any miscreant or their sponsors under whatever guise that tries to disrupt the peace, especially during critical Government functions and will be made to face the dire consequences of his/her action(s).

“Finally, the CP urges everyone to keep reporting any suspicious movement of person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest Police Station or through the following Kano State Police Command emergency contact numbers:- 08032419754, 08123821p575, 09029292926.”

News

Osun: Police arrest herbalist, three others for killing woman for money ritual

The Osun State Police Command has arrested four suspects who allegedly conspired and killed a 45-year-old woman for money ritual in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola, made this known during the parade of the suspects in Osogbo on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Opalola said that the suspects’ arrest followed a report of a missing person lodged by the son of the woman at the Apomu Police Division in Osun.

“On March 18, at 5:10p.m., a complainant reported at Apomu Division that on March 13, at about 10:00am, his mother, Usman Aminat, 45, left home for lyana Ajia-lbadan, Oyo State to pay a visit to Onifade Oyekanmi,” the PPRO said.

“He stated that since his mother left home, her cell phones were switched off and her whereabout was unknown and that he strongly suspected that the said Oyekanmi, who is an herbalist, knew about his mother’s disappearance.

“The said Onifade was subsequently arrested and the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo, Osun, for further and discreet investigation.”

Opalola said the suspect’s confession led to the arrest of the three other suspects.

She said all the arrested suspects confessed to the individual roles they played, revealing that they all conspired to use the victim for money making rituals.

“Thereafter, search warrants were executed on the houses and premises of the suspects where three bottles containing black substance suspected to be burnt human parts, two cutlasses, a big black clay pot and some black soaps were recovered,”

Opalola said that a female, a neighbour to one of the suspects, who helped him conceal his own share of the powder substance, was also arrested

She said that the lady was later granted administrative bail because she is nursing a four-month old baby

The police spokesperson said the suspects narrated how they conspired and strangled the victim to death in the house of Oyekanmi and dismembered her body.

“They confessed to have mixed the intestine of their victim with that of the dog, pig, goat and other herbs in a black clay pot and burnt everything to black powder which they shared among themselves.

“Onifade equally added that he burnt the two cell phones belonging to the deceased after killing her to evade being traced,” Opalola added.

Opalola said the suspects would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

She admonished residents to always give prompt and credible information/reports to the police and also report every strange movement and strange people around them.