Information officers in Anambra State have been charged to commence massive enlightenment campaigns on ‘Operation Udo Ga Achi,’ a Joint Security outfit recently launched by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor gave the charge while speaking during the End of Year Get Together/Award Winning Day organized by staff of the Ministry at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.

He tasked the Information Officers to  sensitize the people as the network was initiated to address security challenges in the state and to ensure a crime free yuletide.

“There is no hiding place for criminals in Anambra State. Let everyone know that time has passed when people can live in the bush, stealing, kidnapping, killing people, extorting money under the guise that they are agitators or ESN fighting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu or protecting South East.

“If you see something,say something because the person free today may be a victim tomorrow. Disseminate the information. In the case of danger call 5111, it is a toll free phone number and the persons managing the line have a good reputation for protecting people’s identity with utmost confidentiality,” said Mefor.

The commissioner further stated that he was present to accomplish the promise he made to the information officers four months ago when he assumed office as the commissioner, saying that he was brought in to re-jig the ministry and those who were willing to give their best would be highly motivated.

“It is not ‘Ike Otuonye’ rather it has been collective efforts. Solidarity made you available here, from September 17, 2024 till now 4 months and 2 days since I came onboard. If you have not been writing, the bulletin which the ministry publishes every week wouldn’t have been coming out up to the current 9th edition.

“Two committees have been established to ensure that Anambra people and the world are abreast of the good works, developments, programs and projects accomplished by the present Soludo led administration at different sectors of the state. One committee is at Ministry of Information headquarters and another one is at ABS for our weekly live Radio/TV interactive programs tagged ‘ Ask the Commissioner.”

Mefor also reviewed the performance sheet of the information officers with reference to the number of reports they send in from their various stations and commended those who endeavored to send in their news stories for the bulletin, Facebook, Instagram, X handle and website publication platforms but frowned at those information officers who did not bother to file in stories.

“The primary role of the information officers are to collect information not just a management role of the Public Relations Officer (image makers).Let’s reorganize our thoughts and approach the work with new zeal because even the governor is interested in seeing your individual performances,” he said.

Highlights of the event was announcement of the Commissioner’s Prize winners/Best News reporters with highest number of stories with Juliana Nwachukwu meeting winning 1st position, Chizoba Okeke as 2nd while Ugwunze Uzochukwu took the 3rd position.

Other awardees included Obiageli Nwankwo, Ifeyinwa Ogwo, Michael Ezenwata, Chukwuka Ugokwe, Chukwudi Nwauba, Uche Kalu and Nnedimma Okeke

Earlier, the Director’s Prize Award recipients were Regina Igwebuike (Best Editor), Uche Kalu(Most Hardworking Headquarter staff), Uchechi Emmanuella Okani(Most punctual Headquarter staff).

Russia had announced that it had developed an mRNA vaccine for cancer patients which would be available from early 2025 and will be distributed for free. The vaccine will cost the Russian government 300,000 rubles per dose.

According to India Today, Russia has been seeing a rise in cancer cases and now has a vaccine to fight it. It says the vaccine will treat cancer patients and not prevent cancer. It is an mRNA vaccine. It will be distributed for free to Russians, according to a TASS report.

Andrey Kaprin, head of the Radiology Medical Research Centre of the Ministry of Health, said this vaccine would be launched in early 2025, according to reports from state-run media. It will cost the state 300,000 rubles (USD 2,869) per dose.

More than 10 people have reportedly died, with many more injured in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday morning.

Today also, more than 25 people died in Okija Anambra State following stampede that occured when community members gathered to share rice donated by a businessman.

This is coming even as 35 children died earlier this week in a similar incident in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a funfair resulted in the deaths and left six others critically injured.

The Saturday Abuja incident occurred when residents scrambled to receive palliatives distributed by the church.

The event, organised to provide relief to struggling residents, reportedly drew people mostly from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements.

Eyewitnesses claim the incident occurred between 7 am and 8 am on Saturday when the crowd surged forward to receive the palliatives.