The Brief: Arms race; cholera death toll; indefinite suspension

Cholera is the outbreak happening alongside Lassa fever – and the larger global coronavirus. The death toll has climbed 900, and it has spread to 23 states and counting.

State lawmakers in Zamfara will not be holding plenary any time soon. The state assembly had to be suspended indefinitely after father of the house speaker was abducted.

Many communities in North West and North Central are contributing money to buy guns and other weapons to protect themselves against bandits, terrorists and other criminals, Daily Trust reports. Wealthy individuals are also reportedly buying personal guns to protect themselves against aggression or buying weapons for groups.

Villagers in Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau and Katsina States are in the lead as many communities in States having security challenges have stockpiled assault rifles to protect themselves.

Some political leaders have been calling on citizens to rise up and defend themselves, the most recent being that of the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari.

This has raised concerns on different levels – is the responsibility of protecting lives and properties now an onerous task for the security agencies and the government?

On Nigeria Daily, we look at the legal implication of this. Listen to or download the podcast here.

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has faulted claim by Prof. Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, that the two major parties in the country have failed Nigerians.

Jega had in a BBC Hausa Service interview on Aug. 2, claimed that the two parties- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had failed Nigerians and should not be trusted again. Dr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, PGF, said Jega had no evidence to support his submission.

Nigeria has, so far, recorded 33,661 cases of cholera in 22 states across the country leading to the death of not less than 938 persons, the Minister of Environment, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has said.

The minister said it has become urgent to sensitize the general public on the outbreak and efforts made by the ministry to contain the scourge.

The latest situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed that the disease has spread to 22 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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Zamfara State House of Assembly has suspended plenary indefinitely over the abduction of the speaker’s father three weeks ago in a bandit attack on Magarya in Kanwa district of Zurmi council area.

The abducted speaker’s father, Alhaji Muazu Abubakar, is the village of head of Sabon Garin Magarya in Kanwa District of the LGA. The armed men also kidnapped the speaker’s stepmother, uncle and four others when they raided the community. The speaker is representing Zurmi East in the assembly, Daily Trust reports.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from infertility. However, there is low awareness about it as it is associated with a high rate of stigma particularly for women.

Most cases of infertility are also often attributed to women. There are also so many myths, religious and cultural beliefs that worsen stigma for infertile couples.

For the second time in less than a month, the national power grid has collapsed, worsening the blackout being experienced by households and businesses in parts of Nigeria.

Two of the electricity distribution companies in the country confirmed the collapse, which occurred around 1:00 pm on Monday.