Southerner Xtra
Ebola in Abuja:: Why Uganda rejects index case
My Aprokonation, Ebola matter don enter Nigeria’s headlines again, and this time, na Abuja dey the centre of attention! The Federal Government don confirm one imported case of Ebola virus disease, with 44 people identified for contact tracing.
But as health officials for Nigeria dey work to contain the virus, Uganda don come out to clear the air, explaining say the woman’s journey through their country no automatically mean say na there she contract the virus.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the woman pass through Uganda before she arrive Nigeria. She begin show symptoms on October 7, and by October 11, her condition don make her seek treatment for one private hospital for Abuja.
Lab tests later confirm say na Ebola virus disease, specifically the Bundibugyo strain. The woman don dey isolation, where health workers dey provide medical care for her.
The World Health Organisation don also confirm the case, while health officials dey investigate how the woman contract the virus and where the exposure happen. So, as dem dey provide treatment and monitor the situation, the search for how the virus start still dey continue.
Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate don announce say authorities don identify 44 contacts wey dem dey trace and monitor. Among them fit be healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people connected to the woman’s travels.
But make we clear this one: being identified as a contact no mean say the person don contract Ebola. Na part of the public-health process to find out who fit don dey exposed to the virus and prevent further transmission.
But Uganda’s Ministry of Health don bring another angle to the matter. For a statement dated October 20, the ministry explain say preliminary findings show that the woman travel go to the Democratic Republic of Congo for business before passing through Uganda in early October.
According to the statement, she no show symptoms while passing through Uganda. Ugandan authorities insist say passing through their country no be proof say na there she contract the virus, and dem maintain say Uganda has no confirmed active Ebola cases at the time of their statement. Investigations into where the woman got infected still dey continue.
Meanwhile, Nigerian health officials don increase surveillance and contact tracing as different agencies join hands to contain the case. Pate also urged hospitals and health workers to stay alert, especially when patients show possible symptoms and get travel history wey fit be relevant to the investigation.
Symptoms fit include fever, weakness, headache and diarrhoea, but make nobody conclude say na Ebola just because person get these signs. Other illnesses fit cause similar symptoms, so proper medical assessment na wetin matter.
Government don also urge Nigerians to maintain good hygiene, stay calm and rely on verified updates instead of spreading information wey nobody don confirm.
But as the update reach social media, some Nigerians don begin question the government’s intentions. One commenter wonder whether the Ebola announcement na attempt to collect funds, writing, “Shey no be say this people wan use this Ebola collect funds sha..I no too trust this government.”
Another person bring politics enter the conversation, writing, “They are just trying to prevent people from voting. Pls mount your guard Nigerians.” Somebody else simply point out, “Yet 44 was found in Abuja,” while another commented, “When will the citizens of Nigeria be happy?”
My people, these comments show say some Nigerians still get serious trust issues with government. But make we no confuse suspicion with evidence: the claims about hidden political or financial motives no be proof say the Ebola announcement get any such agenda. Wetin matter now na accurate information and a proper response from health authorities.
Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, and health officials say the country dey draw on that experience and its public-health systems as dem respond to this new case.
Abuja child trafficking allegations and N250,000 question
My people, the kind thing wey human being fit do another human being sometimes dey make you wonder wetin really dey happen for this world. For Abuja, one woman wey dem arrest over alleged child trafficking don reportedly admit say she dey collect N250,000 for every child wey she bring.
But na the part where she admit say she return to the operation after spending time in prison be the detail wey make this matter even more disturbing.
As she speak with journalists on Tuesday, the suspect claim say she believe say the arrangement na to help children wey dem find roaming the streets.
According to her, dem tell am say the children go get shelter and education. She also claim say the woman wey contact am talk say she get government approval and facilities to take care of the children without needing outside help.
But wait first, if na to help children, wetin the N250,000 payment represent? When the interviewer ask how much she receive per child, her answer no waste time: “She gave me 250,000 naira.”
When dem confront am with an earlier claim involving N1.5 million, she explain say the money suppose go round several people, including the person wey contact am. She insist say dem describe the money as compensation, but she no fit explain wetin exactly dem dey compensate her for.
The matter get another troubling side when the interviewer remind am about Madam Nkechi, the woman she previously name as the person wey introduce am to the operation. The suspect clarify say na she first introduce Madam Nkechi, but later, according to her account, the woman contact am and persuade am to return.
She also disclose say dem arrest am last year after she take one child. According to her, the case go court several times, but the complainant no show up, and she eventually return home after the child was recovered. “That was the first assignment she gave me,” she said.
And the allegations no stop with her own account. Other suspects reportedly claim say Madam Nkechi recruit them with promises of payment for bringing children described as orphans or street children.
Some also allege say dem meet the recruiter for one church in Lugbe, Abuja. But these claims still need proper investigation, especially to establish who allegedly organised the operation and where the money dey come from.
As expected, the comments no hold back. One person ask, “250k per human being?” Another write, “When I was younger I used to be scared of ghosts, but as I get older I realized humans are more scarier.”
One commentator question why dem release the suspect, saying, “why them release her? Keep her na”. Another person, however, raise concerns about who dey finance the alleged operation and whether the people behind am dey escape justice.
Because make we talk true, this matter pass one suspect and one payment. If investigators establish say children were being moved for money under the cover of providing care, anybody found to be involved must answer for their actions.
Children wey need protection no suppose become anybody’s source of income, and the investigation must follow every lead to uncover who dey behind the alleged operation.
Blessing CEO’s property case takes another turn as witness speaks
One property matter wey involve millions of naira don bring Blessing CEO back into the spotlight, and this time, na wetin one man tell court dey raise eyebrows. The man claim say him pay ₦69.15 million for five years’ use of a property wey him believe say belong to the controversial relationship adviser. But according to his testimony, the ownership matter no be as e appear!
Dr Onuoha Okeigwe, wey testify for the case, appear before the Special Offences Court for Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, October 12. According to am, the property dey No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, and dem lease am to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited for five years. The amount wey dem reportedly pay for the arrangement na ₦69.15 million.
My people, five years no be five days o, so imagine the kind questions wey go come up when ownership begin enter the matter!
Okeigwe explain say when doubt about who really own the building begin show face, he reach out to Blessing CEO to ask questions. But according to the witness, she allegedly brush aside his concerns and insist say na her property.
He also tell the court say him get WhatsApp messages where Blessing CEO allegedly send pictures of the building to him as proof say she own am. Apart from the main payment, the man say he still spend money on agency, legal and caution fees.
And wait first, the matter get another side! The witness allege say one man wey dem identify as Mr Tom later show up for the property with police officers, and some workers end up getting arrested.
According to Okeigwe, he had to pay ₦100,000 before the workers could regain their freedom. He also claim say Blessing CEO collect money from another person for the same property. Na these claims the court go need look into as the case continue.
For those wey no follow the matter from the beginning, Blessing CEO, whose real name na Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, was arraigned by the EFCC on June 9, 2026.
The commission accuse am of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing over the ₦69.15 million transaction. She plead not guilty to the charges, and the trial dey continue as the court hear evidence from witnesses.
As this latest testimony begin make the rounds, social media don start deliver their own verdicts. One person talk say, “Blessing started with fraud and ended with fraud.” Another commented, “Blessing matter go far, I just feel so much pity for this lady,” while another person conclude, “This year no favor Blessing at all.”
The big question now be wetin the evidence go show about the property, the alleged payments and the messages wey the witness say him get? With the claim say another person also pay money for the same building, the court get plenty details to examine as the trial continue.
Make we leave social media verdicts aside small, because na the evidence wey enter court go matter for the final decision.
