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Tag: Monkey pox

  • Monkey pox

    Monkey pox

    •Parents’ reactions to military outreach show how a disease can be a metaphor for national distrust

    It is regrettable that what ordinarily began as a noble humanitarian gesture by the Nigerian Army ended up in parents rushing to withdraw their children from schools in several states of the federation. The rumour spread like bush fire; from Anambra State through Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo states. The effects in all the states were the same in the parents’ bid to prevent the rumoured ‘killer vaccine’ from being administered on their children. Some of the parents forcefully pulled down the schools’ locked gates, got in and picked their wards while those who could not gain entry had a shouting match with the security men at the gates. As a matter of fact, some parents scaled walls in order to withdraw their wards from classrooms. Appeals from principals were ignored.

    Even press releases issued by the various state governments, the police and  the military high command asking the people to disregard the wild rumour similarly fell on deaf ears. Ordinarily, the statement by the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army ought to have given enough assurance that there was no sinister motive in the military’s gesture. It states, inter alia: “The attention of the 82 Division Nigerian Army (NA), has been drawn to a silly and mischievous publication now trending on the social media alleging that the ongoing free medical services given to some communities in the South Eastern Region of Nigeria is with a sinister motive of depopulating the region through the so-called “monkey pox vaccination” purportedly being conducted by the NA in the region. The Division wishes to make it clear that the free medical outreach is not a vaccine intended to infect monkey pox or any major contemporary or emerging diseases in Nigeria to the people of South East or any part of the country”.

    But no one was willing to take chances.

    In a country where good medical care is elusive, especially for the poor, the military outreach should have been gladly embraced by those in need of it. That it turned out to be a bad example of an otherwise good idea is unfortunate. But there are consequences for the rejection of the medical care. We recall the anti-polio immunisation campaign in the north some years ago and the devastating effect it had on the fight against polio. The nation is yet to get over the effects of the reprehensible campaign.

    It would appear though that the military authorities did not manage the medical outreach well. In the first place, coming so close to the dreaded “Operation Python Dance 1 and 2 in the south east region, and in the wake of the violent manner Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was suppressed and eventually proscribed; the military should have delayed the outreach at least in the region, to allow for old wounds to heal.

    But this alone cannot explain the development. If we can excuse the panic in the southeast in view of the recent developments in the region, how come parents in Ondo State in the southwest reacted the same way as their counterparts in the southeast? Could this be a reflection of the distrust of the military by the people of the region too?

    All said, going forward, much as we know that the medical outreach has become more or less routine with the military, it ought to do enough enlightenment mobilisation before moving in the syringe, especially in view of recent experiences involving soldiers and the civil populace.

    We deplore what seems a huge distrust of soldiers by the civilians. Indeed, it is one reason we have always said that the police should be well equipped to minimise use of soldiers for internal security.  This development is especially regrettable at a time of civil rule when we are trying to subordinate the military to civil authorities.

     

  • UNICEF sensitises 500 rural traders on hand washing in Osun

    UNICEF sensitises 500 rural traders on hand washing in Osun

    No fewer than 500 rural traders were on Monday sensitised on the importance of hand washing at Olufi Market, Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun.

    The hand washing campaign was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with Ayedaade Local Government.

    Addressing the traders, a UNICEF consultant, Mrs Bidemi Omopariola, said that “hand washing with soap was an easy, effective and affordable do-it-yourself protection that prevents infections and saves lives.’’

    Omopariola said that the importance of hand washing could not be over emphasised at this critical period of reported outbreak of Monkey-pox in some states in the country.

    She said that the hand washing campaign targeted markets where sellers and buyers could help in spreading the message to the nooks and crannies of the state.

    “It is important to turn hand washing to habit. The simple act of washing hands at this critical moment is an easy and affordable intervention.

    “Good hand washing hygiene will reduce the risk of water borne diseases, flu, food poisoning and health care associated infection being passed from person to person,” she said.

    Earlier, Mr Oduwole Bashir, Executive Secretary, Aiyedaade Local Government, said hand washing with soap was an inexpensive way of preventing diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

    “It is important to turn hand washing to habit. The simple act of washing hands at this critical moment is an easy and affordable intervention,” Bashir said.

    In his remarks, the Council Manager, Mr Olalekan Akande, also urged the traders to make hand washing a habit.

    “When hand washing with soap is practiced regularly at key times, such as after using the toilet or before contact with food, it can dramatically reduce the risk of diarrhoea and pneumonia, which can cause serious illness and death,” Akande said.

    Some of the traders who spoke with NAN commended UNICEF for the programme.

    Mrs Bukola Oyediran, a pepper seller, said the programme was an eye opener for her on the importance of hand washing.

    Another trader, Mr Segun Adeoye, a meat seller, said he hardly washed his hands after sales and commended UNICEF said for helping him to know the importance of hand washing.

    NAN

  • Monkey pox suspected cases rise to 74 in 11 states

    Monkey pox suspected cases rise to 74 in 11 states

    MINISTER of Health Isaac Adewole said yesterday that suspected cases of monkey pox have hit 74 in 11 states.

    Adewole spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.

    According to the minister, the 11 states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers.

    Stressing that the outbreak was confirmed in Bayelsa, he said of the 19 samples tested, three tested positive and 12 tested negative from Bayelsa and four tested negative from Lagos.

    On the rumours in some states, Adewole said the military was not involved in any monkey pox vaccination.

    Rumours had spread like wildfire that the military was injecting monkey pox virus into people in their medical outreach across the country.

    He explained that the military outreach had never harmed anyone and in some cases involved road construction and other services.

    Adewole said: “Council also received an update of the public health of the nation.  We informed council about the latest development with respect to the monkey pox virus outbreak. So far, as of today, there are 74 suspected cases in 11 states. We have confirmed three in Bayelsa State. We are still expecting the results of other ones.

    “We are also doing advance test in NEDE, that is the African Centre of Excellence for Genomes and Infections Disease, to really understand the genomes of this virus.  Even when they are negative, the laboratory attendance should be able to tell us what exactly they are. We will also be able to locate and identify the origin so that we can take adequate precaution.”

    On the military vaccination rumours, the minister said: “It is also important to use this opportunity to dispel the rumour circulating in the country that the military is vaccinating people and trying to spread monkey pox across the country. The military is not involved in any vaccination exercise and I must also really educate the Nigerian people about how vaccination campaigns are done.

    “Federal will take the lead but we do not conduct campaign without involving states.  So, there is no way we will do campaign for vaccination without working with the states.”

    “We are doing vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Kwara and Kogi because of yellow fever outbreak in some parts of the country. We are also doing cholera vaccination in Borno State and so anybody carrying the rumour, please help us educate Nigerians that it is not true. We are not vaccinating anybody. We plan to do missiles campaign very soon and we will also do yellow fever before the end of the year and we will let you know.”

    On the report of illegal traffickers of kidney, Adewole said: “With respect to the harvest of organs we receive advice periodically from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, from National Security Adviser about goings on around the world. One of which is the harvest of organs illegally and it is our duty to alert Nigerians that this is ongoing. They should be careful, they should seek advice, they should patronise only accredited institution.”

    On the growing drug abuse among the youth, Adewole said: “We are quite aware of this.  Abuse will take several forms.  Abuse of substances that are smuggled into the country in higher doses than normal. For example, we have Metadol and Tramadol and even Viagra being smuggled into the country. Look at the dosage; the Viagra dosage is three times normal and when you look at the Tramadol, it is three to four times normal and once NAFDAC officials come in contact, they are impounded and destroyed.

    “We are also working with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to educate people about the abuses. ”

    Stressing that Nigeria is part of the campaign against tobacco, Adewole said the country was implementing the framework convention in tobacco control.

  • Monkeypox: FG confirms 74 suspected cases in 11 states

    Monkeypox: FG confirms 74 suspected cases in 11 states

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said that there are 74 suspected cases of monkeypox in eleven states of the Federation.

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, briefed State House correspondences at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the eleven states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers.

    Read also: Don’t panic over Monkey pox, Commissioner urges Ondo residents

    While stressing that outbreak was confirmed in Bayelsa, he said that out of the 19 samples tested, 3 tested positive from Bayelsa 12 tested negative from Bayelsa, and 4 tested negative from Lagos.

    Against the rumors in some states, he said that the military is not involved in any monkey pox vaccination.

     

    Details Later…

     

     

  • Monkey pox patient commits suicide

    Monkey pox patient commits suicide

    •Three cases confirmed
    •Four Lagos cases negative

    A victim of monkey pox receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Hospital (UNDTH), Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, has committed suicide.

    It was gathered that the victim, whose name was not disclosed, hung himself early yesterday.

    The state government confirmed the development at a joint press conference by commissioners for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson and Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, with the Chief Medical Director, NDUTH, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and other senior health officials.

    Etebu said that the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of “monkey pox” being managed at the NDUTH.

    He regretted that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.

    Etebu said the patient’s medical history did not suggest any mental illness or depression.

    He maintained that the patient did not die of monkey pox.

    Etebu said the police and his family had been contacted and all due diligence was being followed for his funeral.

    He sympathised with the family and said that a committee would evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history.

    The examination will determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

    Iworiso-Markson urged residents to continue to use preventive measures, such as avoiding bushmeats and other causes of the disease.

    The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the death had been reported.

    He, however, said the police were not suspecting any foul play, noting that there were no visible marks of violence other than the rope the patient tied around his neck.

    Three cases of monkey pox have been confirmed after laboratory analysis.

    The cases are all in Bayelsa State where the outbreak was first reported in September.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja on the outcome of the tests from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in Senegal, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole said only three of the 21 were confirmed positive; 12 were negative.

    Results of two others were being awaited.

    On the suspected outbreak in Lagos, the minister said the four cases turned out negative.

    The minister also noted that further investigations would be carried out on the cases that came out negative to confirm what the ailment is.

    He said: “As at 13th of October 2017, there were 17 suspected cases reported from Yenagoa Local Government in Bayelsa State. We have received laboratory confirmation for monkey pox virus from three of these cases from the WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Samples from 12 other cases from Bayelsa were negative.

    “With these results, three suspected monkey pox cases in Yenagoa have been confirmed with laboratory evidence. The most likely source of infection is a primary zoonotic transmission, from an animal, with secondary person-to-person transmission.

    “Since our initial announcement, a total of 43 other suspected cases have been reported from eight other states (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, and FCT).

    “Of these, four cases from Lagos have also been tested and confirmed to be negative for the monkey pox virus.”

    The minister also posited that other cases from other parts of the country might not be caused by monkey pox.

    Adewole said: “We expect that many of these cases being reported from other states in Nigeria are not caused by the Monkey pox virus, but we will continue to investigate all those cases that fit the case definition.”

    He added: “Further laboratory tests using whole genome sequencing are being carried out by the Africa Centre for Genomics and Infectious Diseases in Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.”

    Adewole also reassured Nigerians that there was no reason to panic as the West African strain of the monkey pox virus is milder, compared to that of East Africa.

    This, he said, explained why there has not been any casualty.

    The minister stressed: “Monkey pox is largely a self-limiting disease, from which all suspected patients that have been reported to date are doing well clinically. Even before this confirmation, all the necessary public health measures have been put in place and will continue to be implemented.”

    On the symptoms, Adewole said: “The monkey pox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion.  Monkey pox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) and the incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.

    “Specifically, it begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion

    Within one-three days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often begin on the face, then spread to other parts of the body.”

    The minister urged Nigerians “to remain calm and supportive of public health authorities, avoid self-medication and report to the nearest health facility if feeling unwell or notice any of the above symptoms in anyone around you. It is important to note that there has been no confirmation of monkey pox in any other part of the country, and it is likely that many of the other cases being reported are not caused by the monkey pox virus. Nigerians should continue to be vigilant at all times.

    “Health care workers are strongly advised to always practise universal precautions while handling patients and/or body fluids at all times. They are also urged to be alert, be familiar with the symptoms of monkey pox and maintain a high index of suspicion. All suspected cases should be immediately reported to the local government area or state Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.”

     

  • Monkey Pox victim commits suicide in Bayelsa hospital

    Monkey Pox victim commits suicide in Bayelsa hospital

    A victim of Monkey Pox receiving treatment at the quarantine centre in the Niger Delta University Hospital (UNDTH) Okolobiri, has committed suicide.

    It was gathered that the victim, whose name was not disclosed took his life in the early hours of Monday.

    The Bayelsa State Government confirmed the development in a joint press conference involving the Commissioners of Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson; Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, the Chief Medical Director, NDUTH, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and other senior health officials.

    Etebu disclosed that the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of ‘MonkeyPox’ that were being managed at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH).

    He expressed regret that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.

    He  ‎said the deceased medical history did not suggest any mental illness or features of depression.

    He maintained that the patient did not die from the Monkey pox disease.

    Etebu said that the police and his family had been duly contacted and all due diligence was being followed for his funeral.

    He sympathised with the family and said that a committee had been put in place to evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history.

    He said the examination wound determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

    Etebu confirmed that MonkeyPox is in the state ‎following laboratory evidence which puts to rest the earlier suspicion of the disease.

    He, however, assured the general public again that the government was doing everything to contain the outbreak and ensure all patients receive appropriate care and treatment.

    On his part, Iworiso-Markson on his part urged residents to continue to use preventive measures and ensure they avoid bushmeats and other causes of the disease.

    Iworiso-Markson on his part urged residents to continue to use preventive measures and ensure they avoid bushmeat and other causes of the disease.

    The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development, saying the matter had been reported to the police.

    He, however, said the police were not suspecting any foul play , noting that there were no visible marks of violence other than the rope he tied around his neck.

  • ‘No monkey pox in Kwara’

    The Kwara State government has denied reports of the outbreak of monkey pox.

    Acting Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, said the government took precautions to prevent the disease from penetrating the state.

    About seven states, including Ekiti State, which shares boundary with Kwara, have had reported cases.

    Dr Fakayode spoke on a radio show – The Platform.

    According to him, the ministry has put its Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers on the alert.

    He added that enlightenment programmes, involving traditional and spiritual leaders, on the need to cook food properly before consumption, has begun.

    Fakayode warned against body contact with infected persons and animals, especially monkeys.

    He identified some of the symptoms as fever, general body weakness, vomiting and rashes.

    The director called advised immediate medical attention in case of any suspected cases.

     

  • Don’t panic over Monkey pox, Commissioner urges Ondo residents

    Don’t panic over Monkey pox, Commissioner urges Ondo residents

    Following the recent outbreak of Monkey Pox in over six states and the resultant panic that trailed it, Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, has allayed the fear of residents by calling for calm. He said though there were reported cases in neighbouring states, Ondo State is still free of the outbreak, thus, there is no cause for alarm.

    Adegbenro said the infection is transmitted by monkeys, squirrels and other animals and is in the same class as chicken and small pox. He disclosed that Monkey pox was first discovered in the Republic of Congo after the elimination of small pox and that it was not as bad as the old small pox or Ebola. Some of its symptoms according to him include: severe headache, fever, sore throat, body and back ache as well as rashes all over the body.

    He appealed to residents to abstain from ” bush meat” for now, and urged them to ensure that meats are thoroughly cooked before eating. He advised that any suspected case is immediately reported to the nearest hospital. Adegbenro said the government is combat-ready and on top of the situation as its emergency preparedness and Surveillance teams both at the State and LGA levels have swung into action.

    Other proactive measures put in place, according to the commissioner, include provision of isolation wards in all state Specialist Hospitals in the State,  large scale sensitization and public enlightenment in print, electronic and social media, among other things.

  • The needless hoopla over monkey pox

    Since September 22, when it was discovered that a rare disease known as Monkey Pox has shown its ugly head in the country, the social media and even the main stream media have been abuzz with frightening photographs of victims. With large pox all over the body, it leaves many wondering whether, indeed, the end has come.

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, added a comic relief while speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti last week, deliberately put his hands in his pocket and when greeted by reporters, refused to shake hands with them.

    Shocked by the attitude of the Governor, some of the pen professionals asked the ‘Oshokomale 1 of Ekiti’ why the sudden change in his usual practice and he blamed his action on the outbreak of monkey pox in the country.

    Nobody could blame Fayose for his action. What is however sure is that the sudden appearance of the disease has sent jitters down the spine of many Nigerians. Medically, it should not be so. Monkey pox is a mild disease, far less fatal than its sisters-Small pox or Chicken pox.

    Since its appearance on September 22, when the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was notified of its existence in Bayelsa State and with report that it has spread to seven states in the country, not a single death has been recorded from the disease.

    According to figures made available by the NCDC, a total of 35 cases have been reported in Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross Rivers States.

    As at Thursday when this article was put together, not a single case has been confirmed out of the 35 suspected cases and this is due to that fact that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has laid down stringent measures that must be followed to the letter before it can confirm or deny the existence of monkey pox in a country.

    Although the NCDC has obtained series of blood samples of some of the suspected victims of the disease and the first layer of test done in Nigeria, another test must be done at a world class laboratory in Senegal.

    Many of the initial test results have been sent to Senegal and results are still been awaited. Indeed, a total of 17 samples have been received by the NCDC at the coordinating laboratory. It has however not yet gotten any confirmatory result so far.

    Since the outbreak of the disease in September 22, the NCDC, which is an arm of the Federal Ministry of Health, has activated an emergency response centre to coordinate its response across the affected states. Aside that, national RRSTs have been deployed and continue to provide onsite support to Bayelsa State, while off site support is also being provided to other states through the Emergency Operation Centre.

    The Federal Ministry of Health, through the Risk Communication activities, heightened to advice the public on preventive measures. The Ministry is also briefing political leaders, especially state governors, on what should be done to prevent the spread of the disease while all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, have been formally notified to be on red alert.

    The NCDC has advised Nigerians with any of the following symptoms to visit the nearest government hospital for proper diagnose of monkey pox: fever, headache, body pains, enlargement of the glands, sore throat as well as the characteristic generalised vascular rash which might last between two to four weeks.

    Money pox is self limiting; which means patients tend to recover with time. Indeed, seven of the first set of victims reported in Bayelsa have fully recovered.

    In order to prevent further spread of the disease, Nigerians have been advised to shun bush meat for now, as it is mostly transmitted through contact with infected animals, human or contaminated materials.

    These are measures that could be used to prevent the spread of monkey pox from spreading:

    • Avoid self medication.
    • Frequent hand washing with soap and water.
    • Report any suspected case to the nearest health facility or NCDC on a toll free line 080970000-10. NCDC is also on twitter and facebook @NCDCgov
    • Keep your environment clean.

    In view of the fact that some health workers have also been infected while taking care of the sick, they have also been advised to practice standard precautionary measures at all times, use personal protective equipment when attending to infected persons while suspected cases should be managed in an isolation ward. They have also been charged to avoid unethical use of patients’ photographs on social media.

    Monkey pox is a rare viral zoonotic disease with symptom in humans similar to those seen in small pox patients, but much less severe and with low fatality rate. As at Thursday, October 12, not a single death has been recorded. It is therefore surprising that the disease is been treated on the social media on such an alarming scale. Generous usage of pictures of victims is really unethical and could lead to stigmatisation. Medical practitioners are also fully on ground to render services to those who might be infected.

    The fear that the phenomenon has created in the minds of millions is needless and it’s high time we stopped the trend. This is better for us as a nation.

     

    • By Kazeem Akintunde

    Special Assistant, Communication and Strategy to the Minister of Health, Abuja. 

  • Igbos: Between Monkey Pox and Monkey Sense

    Panic, tension, disquiet and anxiety held Nigerians in the South-East of the country for days. And amusingly the cause and source of the baseless anguish, which drenched our people in hysteria was as discreditable as the news itself. Some social media e-rats and e-thugs posted reports that our people were being massively killed by deadly vaccines, administered by the free medical outreach programme of the Nigerian Army, as it is causing the killer monkey pox disease.

    The rumour mongers expanded the scope of this malevolent and hate news to include similar deadly vaccines administered on people of the South-south by soldiers. Monkey sense, to say the least!

    Nigerians are not strangers to the free medical services of the Nigerian Army to host communities since the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai mounted the saddle in 2015. The Army has been conducting the free medical outreach programme in the last two years, not just in Medicare, but other humanitarian gestures in water/electricity, roads and so forth, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Nigerian people mostly within its operational scope.

    Interestingly, virtually every region of Nigeria has benefitted from these programmes, especially, its free medical outreach from North to south, since the Nigerian Army got actively involved in quelling terrorism and other local armed conflicts in Nigeria. The beneficiaries, among them traditional rulers, usually turn out en masse and also, attest to its efficacy and immense assistance. The South-east region has also benefitted from this exercise before “yesterday,” when people with “Monkey” wisdom hijacked and gave it a new satanic meaning.

    Therefore, the roving mischief makers used the instance of the repeat conduct of the free medical services by Operation Python Dance II (Egwu Eke II) to again drum hatred for our soldiers and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) by speculating the injection of South-easterners with Monkey Pox virus. No lie can be so disingenuous, but some naive Nigerians almost believed it. Even an intelligent nursery pupil would never believe that soldiers on a secret mission to eliminate a race will be so crude, daft and foolish enough to openly use poisoned vaccines.

    Nevertheless, a good and kind-hearted gesture was deliberately baptized with evil. These projects are funded from the Nigerian Army’s meagre resources. The passion for humanity and cordiality with the civil populace by the re-professionalized, disciplined and patriotic Nigerian Army under Gen. Buratai is the motivation of these humanitarian services.

    Regrettably, many had no conscience and comportment to assess the veracity of the fake news, but instantly believed its unjustified linkage with the activities of Operation Python Dance II. The 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, traditional rulers, local, state and federal governments refuted the claims as untrue. But the criminal elements in our midst, whose reprehensible outings in violence have been terminated by soldiers, energized the publicity of this silly news. In the first place, miscreants and armed gangs opposed the presence of “Operation Python Dance II” and boldly requested withdrawal of soldiers so that violent crimes could fester.

    The cooked news on the source of the Monkey Pox disease was another carefully crafted propaganda aimed at extracting their pound of flesh from the Army and the government. So, they had no veritable evidence to buttress their claims, but hell bent on tarnishing the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army, they insisted on tagging along with the polluted and wicked reports.

    All manner of reasons were ascribed to justify the fake reports. To these cursed minds, it was the strategy of the Army to depopulate some regions in Nigeria’s south, especially southeast. No one had the sanity of explaining why the FGN under President Muhammadu Buhari or the Nigerian Army would want to depopulate any region and for what value?

    The Nigerian Army in a statement signed by Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, stated explicitly that “The Division wishes to make it clear that the free medical outreach is not a vaccine intended to infect monkey pox or any major contemporary or emerging diseases in Nigeria to the people of South East or any part of the country.”

    Exposing their underbelly of evil, the outlawed IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, claimed the “All Progressive Congress, (APC) government and the Nigerian Army are determined to kill as many Biafrans as possible in Anambra State, and South East in general.”

    That’s the extent of indulgence in evil and wickedness by Nigerians, especially by IPOB members. A Kenyan proverb says “The day the monkey is destined to die all the trees get slippery”. The South-east is a region assailed by armed and violent criminality by gangs nurtured by IPOB and the people cried out for government intervention. Operation Egwu Eke II was government’s response to it. But like can be deduced from the adage, since there is an innate hatred of the Federal Government by IPOB elements, whatever goodwill extended to the region is perceived in bad light.

    Expectedly, they fought back tenaciously and ferociously, to halt Operation Egwu Eke II; they violently attacked soldiers on patrol, deployed the services of hired civil society organizations to lampoon the Federal Government on claims of unwarranted militarization of the Southeast; blackmailed and issued out violent threats. But none of the tricks worked. The Monkey Pox disease vaccination claims of extermination of Southerners was just another desperate attempt by these criminal elements to cause disaffection and hatred against soldiers and the Federal Government to springboard instant withdrawal of Operation Egwe Eke II.

    An African adage says, “No matter how the wild howls, the mountain, cannot bow to it”. So, gimmicks are deployed to frustrate the operation of soldiers in ridding the region of armed and violent gangs. Except that they are not potent enough to distract or deter the resolve of government and soldiers in cleansing our communities and extricating them from the grip of criminals.

    The propagandists of the Army’s injection of Igbos with deadly vaccines, disconnectedly linking it to Monkey Pox disease only displayed their “Monkey Sense .” They are not using their brains to think. So, they act and behave like the typical wild and foolish monkey, who ends up consumed by the fire of its own tricks or plots. The latest development is a pathetic illustration of the magnitude the Nnamdi Kanu-led rebellious IPOB has injected the people with a destructive monkey sense.

    Only those baptized and immersed in monkey wisdom would reason and act this disgracefully before Nigerians. Kanu has led our jobless youths on the destructive voyage and at the same time, usurped their thinking faculties, by hypnotizing them with monkey sense. So, they have continued to manifest in foolishness, silliness and stupidity. They may end up becoming pathetic victims of their own contrivances like monkeys.

    In African folklore, entanglements of the monkey, sprouts from what the animal thinks is its best and wisest wisdom. The tortoise is cleverer and wiser. It weaves and fortifies its tricks to protect his life and give him desired results from any action. The tortoise comes out of every problem un-bruised and triumphantly. In spite of its small nature, it once tricked the mighty elephant into a bottomless pit, where it was killed and the blood used to cure a sick king. The tortoise collected his reward for disarming the elephant, an animal dreaded by other animals, even when a handsome reward was offered.

    Conversely, Kanu and his followers hate to see our kinsmen imbibe the cherished wisdom of the tortoise. They are scheming to inject everyone in Igboland with monkey brain, instead of the tortoise’s clever brain, necessary for gainfully navigating modern-day politics in Nigeria. The Yorubas and the Niger Deltas are now exploiting the monkey brain of the Igbos for regional gains in the configuration of Nigeria. But the Igbos appear to be learning nothing and they will certainly forget nothing. And so, Igbos unrestrictedly incite themselves against one another, and extend hatred and antagonism to any other nationality in Nigeria.

    When our own brothers in drug war invaded a church at Ozubulu, Anambra state and massacred people, some foolish people swore it was marauding Fulani herdsmen. IPOB elements contrive fake news of the injection of deadly vaccinations on Igbos by soldiers, and thereafter, claim it is execution of the Fulani/Hausa agenda of the total annihilation of Biafrans. Do they even imagine the damage such vile and farcical propaganda is doing to the cords of friendship with other tribes in this confederation?

    Someone should save us the Igbo race from IPOB, which has already laid it on the slaughter slab. This mentality of dubiously frustrating a noble idea and painting it black, even where it resists such colourations is retrogressive. History suggests that in the days of yore, when the Great Zik of Africa, the proud son/leader of Igbo nation and Nigeria impressed on the colonialists Britain, to give free milk to school children in the region, they rejected it. We flaunted unsubstantiated claims that it was expired milk and the Britons who anchored it intended poisoning our children.

    Zik again offered us “Okporoko” fish at campaigns and some also claimed it was poison and extracting a revenge against Zik, Igbos refused to vote for him at the polls. Who has injected us with this more deadly monkey sense? Must we embark on actions likely to boomerang dangerously against our people ?
    Madu wrote from 26 Demola Seriki street, Bariga, Lagos.