WHO Commences Ebola Vaccine Trial in DR Congo

The World Health Organisation has commenced the first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced the development in a post on his official X handle on Friday, following the vaccination of the first participants in Bunia, in the country’s northeastern Ituri province.

The trial, named Tumaini, meaning “hope” in Swahili, will assess whether vaccine candidates can protect against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no vaccine has been approved.

“Science gives us hope. Today, in Bunia, DRC, the first participants were vaccinated in a new Ebola vaccine trial called Tumaini.

“This trial will help us understand whether any of the vaccine candidates designed for Bundibugyo virus work,” he wrote.

“In the meantime, the existing Everbo vaccine (licensed for use in preventing other Ebola virus disease) will be tested.

“WHO is supporting this DRC-led effort to find answers and save lives,” he added.

The first vaccine to enter the trial is Ervebo, which is licensed to prevent Ebola disease caused by the Zaire strain. Researchers will investigate whether it can also offer protection against the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak.

Two additional vaccine candidates, being developed by Moderna and the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, are expected to join the study.

The trial will evaluate the safety, immune response and effectiveness of the vaccine candidates. It will also use a ring vaccination approach, targeting contacts of confirmed cases and other people at high risk of infection.

According to the figures released by organisations supporting the trial, the DRC had recorded 9,552 cases and 4,602 deaths as of October 21.

DR Congo

The outbreak, declared on May 15, 2026, prompted the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The WHO stated that the trial is being led by Congolese health authorities and research institutions, with support from the WHO and international partners.

However, the commencement of the trial does not mean a vaccine has been proven effective against the Bundibugyo strain.
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Police Rescue 23-Year-Old Kidnap Victim, Arrest Eight Suspects in Delta

The Delta State Police Command has rescued a 23-year-old kidnap victim and arrested eight suspects as three firearms, 26 live cartridges and substances suspected to be Indian hemp were also recovered.
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The operations were conducted across the state between October 20 and 23, 2026.

The command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, said in a statement on Saturday that operatives of the Owa-Oyibu Division, working with local volunteer groups, rescued the victim on October 20, 2026.

“On October 20, 2026, operatives of Owa-Oyibu Division, in collaboration with local volunteer groups, successfully rescued a 23-year-old man whom two suspected kidnappers abducted on October 19, 2026 at Owa-Alero,” the statement read in part.

“The victim was reportedly seized in front of his residence and dragged into a nearby bush,” it added.

Following a report lodged by his brother, operatives began an intensive search of the surrounding bushes, which led to his rescue the following day.

The police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing abductors.

In another development, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, on October 23, 2026, raided a hotel in Abraka suspected to be a hideout for drug-related activities.

Six suspected cultists were arrested during the operation, while a bag containing a firearm and substances suspected to be Indian hemp was recovered. Some individuals fled upon sighting the operatives.

The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the ownership and source of the firearm and to identify other persons connected with the incident.

A search of the premises, conducted with a warrant, led to the recovery of one locally fabricated single-barrel firearm, 24 live cartridges and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

The suspect was arrested, while the exhibits were taken into custody for further investigation.

Similarly, on October 23, 2026, operatives of the same unit raided the residence of a 56-year-old suspect, Amechi Osemeke, at Ekuku-Agbor community.

During a search conducted with a warrant, they recovered one serviceable double-barrel firearm and one live cartridge.

The suspect was arrested, and an investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his possession of the firearm.

Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Samuel Erale, said the command would sustain its operations.

NPF

“The command would sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, recovering illegally possessed firearms and safeguarding communities across the state,” he said.

Erale urged residents to “remain vigilant and provide credible information to the police”, assuring them that no effort would be spared in ensuring their safety and security.
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NAF Gets Three New Helicopters to Strengthen Nigeria’s Fight Against Insecurity

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has formally accepted three AgustaWestland A109 Trekker Type B helicopters to strengthen its operational capacity and improve support for surveillance, air mobility and internal security operations.
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The helicopters, identified as NAF 586, NAF 587 and NAF 588, were accepted at the 355 Rotary Wing facility in Ikeja, Lagos, on October 6, 2026. Air Commodore E. Akintunde, Commander of the 643 Equipment Supply Depot, represented the Chief of Logistics at the ceremony.

The aircraft were reassembled in-house by Nigerian Air Force technicians in collaboration with AgustaWestland technical partners, highlighting the Service’s efforts to improve its technical expertise, fleet availability and maintenance capabilities.

NAF

The Air Force said the development forms part of its fleet modernisation drive under Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, aimed at building a more capable and mission-ready force to support joint military operations and national security.
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