The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says the country has recorded a total of 807 suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis, and 74 deaths from 22 states as of March 26, 2025

The NCDC stated that the Case Fatality Rate is at 9.2 per cent as of March 26, 2025.3.27

The centre disclosed this in a statement titled: “CSM outbreak: NCDC rapid response teams in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina states,” signed by its Head of Corporate Communication, Sani Datti, on Thursday.

It said its Rapid Response Teams are already in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina states in response to the ongoing outbreak of CSM.

It noted that the deployment follows a significant increase in suspected cases reported from these states.

“As of 26th March 2025, a total of 807 suspected cases and 74 deaths have been reported across 22 states, with a CFR of 9.2 per cent.

“Affected states include Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Ebonyi, Oyo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kaduna, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti, Niger, Plateau, FCT, and Sokoto.

“Kebbi, Katsina, and Sokoto States have recorded the highest number of suspected cases, deaths, and CFRs, with relatively low sample collection rates, necessitating urgent intervention,” it highlighted.

According to the Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, the RRT will be there for 14 days, and if need be, an extension will be given to the team.

Idris emphasised the importance of personal safety and instructed all team members to strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols throughout the response effort.

“The deployed teams, comprising multisectoral and interdisciplinary experts—including specialists in case management and lumbar puncture techniques—are already in the affected states and working closely with the state health authorities to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.

“Key objectives of the response include rapid containment of the outbreak; strengthening case management and IPC measures; enhancing surveillance and sample collection; conducting risk communication and community engagement activities; and identifying the outbreak’s source and recommending appropriate public health actions.

“The NCDC remains committed to supporting state governments and partners to safeguard the health of Nigerians through timely and effective response to public health threats,” he stated.

The newly inaugurated Donald Trump administration has fired more than a dozen United States Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers who worked on two criminal cases against president.

They were fired after Acting Attorney General James McHenry concluded they could not “be trusted to faithfully implement the president’s agenda because of their significant role in prosecuting the president”, a department official told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

The lawyers were part of former special counsel Jack Smith’s team which investigated Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The sack of the officials on Monday was effective immediately.

Smith was appointed as special counsel in 2022 to oversee the two justice department cases into Trump. The president had vowed to fire him “within two seconds” of taking office, but he quit before his inauguration.

Both cases resulted in criminal charges against Trump, who pleaded not guilty.

But the cases were closed following his November election win. Prosecutors wrote that justice department regulations do not allow the prosecution of a sitting president.

It was not immediately clear which members of Smith’s team were fired, many of those who worked on Smith’s teams were career corruption and national security prosecutors who had worked across various administrations and were appointed to the cases.

They reportedly received a letter on Monday which said their role in investigating and prosecuting the president made them unsuitable to work in the department.

“Firing prosecutors because of cases they were assigned to work on is just unacceptable,” former US Attorney Joyce Vance told NBC News. “It’s anti-rule of law; it’s anti-democracy.”

The firings followed a major reassignment of some of the justice department’s top officials with expertise in a wide range of fields including national security and public corruption.

On Monday, one of them, the chief of the public integrity section, reportedly resigned.

Trump and his team have accused the justice department of pursuing politically motivated cases against him, his associates and Republicans. Trump vowed an immediate overhaul of the department, which he says has been “weaponised” against him while campaigning for re-election.

His nominee to lead the justice department, Pam Bondi, has echoed Trump’s view that federal prosecutions against him were political persecution, saying the department “had been weaponised for years and years and years”

Smith has publicly defended his work, in a letter accompanying the final draft of his report into Trump’s actions after the 2020 election, he wrote, “The claim from [Trump] that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.”

Also on Monday, Washington DC’s top federal prosecutor announced the launch of an internal review into the charging decisions behind hundreds of Capitol riot cases, according to CBS.

The political camps of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, will on February 10 lock horns in five separate cases instituted against each other at the Supreme Court.

The two camps on Monday shifted their legal battles over irreconcilable differences concerning Rivers State matters to the apex court, where five different cases were found to have been filed against each other and subsequently fixed for February 10 for determination.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, ordered an adjournment in the cases to enable the parties to file and serve the necessary court documents in the separate appeals.

For ease of determination, however, the court ordered the consolidation of four of the appeals, following a request to that effect by the appellants’ counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, who represented the Wike camp.

The four appeals the court consolidated for ease of hearing are: SC/CV/1174/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Government and nine others; SC/CV/1175/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Rivers State Governor and nine others; SC/CV/1176/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and nine others; and SC/CV/1177/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the Accountant General of Rivers State and nine others.

Earlier, following a request for the withdrawal of a cross-appeal filed on November 18, 2024, in SC/CV/1071A/2024, between Rivers State House of Assembly and others against the National Assembly and 16 others, Justice Aba-Aji announced that hearing has been fixed for February 10, 2025.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on January 22, 2024, faulted the presentation of the 2024 budget to four members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the governor.

Omotosho had then ordered the governor to re-present the budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Flowing from the judgment of Justice Omotosho, a sister court, also in the Abuja division, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had ordered the stoppage of the release of allocations from the federal government to Rivers State until the governor presented the budget before the Amaewhule-led assembly.

However, while the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the judgment of Justice Omotosho, it upturned that of Justice Abdulmalik on the grounds of grave injustice in the findings and decisions.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal, in another judgment, upturned the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu, also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had ruled against the conduct of the October 5, 2024, local government council election on the grounds that due process of Rivers State law on local government elections had not been followed.

At today’s proceedings, about 50 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, represented the two camps, along with a retinue of other junior lawyers.

The camp of Governor Fubara was led by Chris Uche while that of Wike was anchored by Joseph Bodunde Daudu.

Bauchi State Police Command said that it received about 73 suspected cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2024.

Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Auwal Mohammed disclosed this in an interview with journalists in his office reviewing activities of the command in the previous year.

He said the cases were investigated through critical information provided by the public, who remain essential partners in the effort to ensure a safe and secure society.

“The Command has implemented crime prevention measures that integrate both traditional practices and scientific methodologies, including consistent intelligence-led policing.

“These initiatives have been further enhanced through collaborations with sister security agencies and non-governmental organizations to effectively address all forms of criminal activity in our state.

“In line with our commitment to accountable and transparent service delivery, we have actively addressed instances of professional misconduct within our Command from January 2024 to date,” Mohammed said.

He added that 18 personnel have undergone internal disciplinary measures, demonstrating their dedication to maintaining high operational standards.

He added that one police constable was sacked in addition to rank reductions for four officers, issuance of warning letters to six personnel, and reprimands for four others.

 

As global health challenges persist, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said it is taking proactive steps to safeguard the nation against emerging threats.

The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that has recently seen a surge in cases in countries like China, the UK, France, and Germany has raised concerns on Nigeria.

Although Nigeria has not experienced a significant rise in HMPV cases, the NCDC has assessed the risk as moderate and is implementing comprehensive measures to protect public health.

Human Metapneumovirus is not a new virus, but its recent resurgence in certain parts of the world, particularly during the winter season, has brought it back into focus. The UK Health Security Agency has reported increased hospital admissions, especially among children under five and older adults in care homes. These developments have highlighted the virus‘s potential impact and the need for global vigilance.

However, contrary to rumors, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not declared HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The NCDC has dispel these rumors, emphasising the importance of relying on accurate information.

In response to the global trends, the NCDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and other international partners, has implemented several measures to ensure the country‘s readiness.

The director-general of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the Dynamic Risk Assessment conducted on January 6, 2025, classified the HMPV risk for Nigeria as moderate. This evaluation helps inform and guide the country’s preparedness efforts, he said.

According to him, international airports and other points of entry were undergoing readiness assessments, adding that an HMPV Entry Implementation Protocol is being developed to guide response activities, and quarantine facilities are being prepared for any suspected cases.

Dr. Jide also said that the National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system, which monitors Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), is now also testing for HMPV. This expansion ensures that any potential cases can be promptly identified and managed.

He said hospitals nationwide have been advised on enhanced IPC practices, including proper hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, adding that Isolation rooms are being prepared to manage any potential cases effectively.

Training for healthcare workers is underway to ensure they are equipped to manage HMPV cases. State governments are also being urged to activate treatment centers, Dr. Jide stated, noting that

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other essential medical supplies have been stockpiled for rapid deployment if necessary.

“The NCDC, in collaboration with Port Health Authorities, is taking proactive steps to ensure robust preparedness at all international points of entry (PoEs) in response to the dynamic risk assessment for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). These measures are designed to mitigate the potential risk of HMPV transmission through international travel,“ Dr. Jide said.

According to the NCDC, HMPV can lead to a variety of symptoms, including cough, fever, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, and wheezing. In severe cases, particularly among vulnerable populations, the virus may cause bronchitis or pneumonia.

“The incubation period for HMPV is typically three to five days post-exposure, with most infections resolving within  two to five days through supportive care such as rest, hydration, and fever management. However, complications may arise for high-risk groups, necessitating increased vigilance and prompt medical attention,“ the centre explained.

It further explained that the virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands, and contact with contaminated surfaces followed by touching the face. Overcrowded and poorly ventilated areas, such as correctional facilities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, are particularly susceptible to higher transmission rates.

NCDC, has therefore,  urged  the public to adopt preventive measures, including maintaining good hand hygiene, practicing respiratory etiquette, avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals, and ensuring well-ventilated living spaces. It also emphasised the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms develop, especially for those in high-risk groups.

While there is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for HMPV, supportive care remains the cornerstone of managing the infection.

 

The Bauchi State Police Command has revealed that a total of 1,182 cases were recorded, resulting in the arrest of 2,322 suspects throughout 2024.

This disclosure was made during a press briefing on Monday by the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, who highlighted the achievements of the command and shared strategic plans for 2025.

“The command has undertaken a comprehensive reassessment of its crime prevention strategies, with Community Policing serving as the foundational element of our approach.

“We have achieved significant outcomes through the efforts of our State Criminal Investigation Department, the State Intelligence Department (SID), and Area commands, alongside thirty-three Divisional Headquarters and tactical units attached to the command,” Muhammad explained.

He noted that 678 of the cases led to charges being filed against 895 suspects.

“A total of 678 cases and 895 suspects were subsequently charged to court. Forty-eight cases involving 82 suspects culminated in successful convictions,” Muhammad confirmed.

Additionally, he mentioned that 396 cases involving 816 suspects are pending trial, while 30 cases remain under investigation.

The police commissioner also touched on the sensitive issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), revealing that the command had documented 73 such cases during 2024.

“The Command documented 73 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) during this period,” he said.

Muhammad also reported significant recovery of illicit items, stating, “The command has recovered exhibits including 23 AK-47 rifles, 4 G-3 rifles, 3 SMG rifles, 22 fabricated or cut-to-size firearms, 5 fabricated pistols, 746 live ammunition of various calibres, 32 magazines, 100 cartridges, 68 cutlasses, 26 knives, 10 motor vehicles, 29 motorcycles, 69 handsets, 28 tricycles, and a cash sum of 22 million and 38 thousand naira (₦22,038,000).”

He emphasised that these successes were made possible through critical information provided by the public.

“These successes were facilitated through critical information provided by the public, saying they remain essential partners in the effort to ensure a safe and secure environment.”

Muhammad further outlined that the command has integrated both traditional practices and modern policing techniques, particularly intelligence-led policing, to address criminal activities effectively.

“These initiatives have been further enhanced through collaborations with sister security agencies and non-governmental organisations to effectively address all forms of criminal activity in our state.”

Addressing professional misconduct within the force, Muhammad assured the public of accountability.

“In line with our commitment to accountable and transparent service delivery, we have actively addressed instances of professional misconduct within our Command from January 2024 to date.

“A total of 18 personnel have undergone internal disciplinary measures, demonstrating our dedication to maintaining high operational standards.

“This includes the dismissal of one Police Constable, rank reductions for four officers, issuance of warning letters to six personnel, and reprimands for four others.”

He concluded by reaffirming the command’s commitment to ensuring public safety.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to continuing internal disciplinary procedures for personnel who do not uphold our established standards, thereby ensuring accountability and fostering continuous improvement in our service delivery.”

As the Bauchi State Police Command looks ahead to 2025, Muhammad assured residents that the force is well-prepared to deploy further strategies aimed at safeguarding lives and property.

India has reported its first two cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus causing global concern following an outbreak in China.

The virus, first identified in the Netherlands in 2001, is known to cause symptoms resembling the common cold and influenza, such as cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can lead to complications like pneumonia, especially in infants, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) detected the cases during routine surveillance for respiratory pathogens. The Union Ministry of Health, in a statement released on Monday, confirmed that the virus was identified in two infants admitted to Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru.

The first case involved a three-month-old female infant diagnosed with HMPV after being treated for bronchopneumonia. The second case was an eight-month-old male infant who tested positive on January 3, 2025, also following a diagnosis of bronchopneumonia.

“Both cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of ICMR’s ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country,” the health ministry stated.

The ministry emphasised that HMPV was not new to India or the global health landscape. “HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries. Furthermore, based on current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country,” the statement added.

Neither of the affected infants had a history of international travel, the ministry confirmed.

India’s health authorities reassured the public of the country’s readiness to handle any potential increase in HMPV cases. “The Union Health Ministry is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. ICMR will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the year,” the statement read.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) was also providing regular updates on the HMPV outbreak in China, further aiding India’s surveillance efforts.

In light of the situation, the health ministry highlighted that the recent preparedness drill conducted across India demonstrates the country’s capability to manage respiratory illnesses. “India is well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, and public health interventions can be deployed promptly if needed,” the statement concluded.

HMPV primarily spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. Health officials recommend maintaining hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting respiratory symptoms.