Crime
WHO Seeks Ban On Flavoured Tobacco Products
WHO Seeks Ban On Flavoured Tobacco Products
WHO seeks ban on flavoured tobacco products. The WHO official said no fewer than 146,000 people die from tobacco-related causes in the African Region each year.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, acting WHO regional director for Africa, has called for a ban on flavours and product designs that appeal to young users.
Mr Ihekweazu made the call in a statement on Saturday on his message on World No Tobacco Day, with the theme: “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”
“More must be done to stay ahead of evolving tactics that target young people. We must ban flavours and product designs that appeal to young users. Regulate digital advertising and sponsorship on youth platforms.
“We must ensure product packaging does not imitate snacks or toys. They drew attention to a growing concern across the African continent: the increasing use of tobacco and nicotine products among our children and adolescents.
“This year’s theme calls for urgent action to protect young people from harmful industry tactics that threaten their health and future,” he said.
According to him, despite decades of progress in tobacco control, the industry continues to reinvent its approach, using flavoured products, sleek packaging and targeted digital marketing to attract new users.
“These strategies mask the dangers of tobacco, presenting it as modern or glamorous, making it easier to start and harder to stop,” Mr Ihekweazu said.
He said the consequences were serious. According to him, no fewer than 146,000 people die from tobacco-related causes in the African region each year.
“Today, more than 61 million people in the region use tobacco. Especially concerning is the increasing prevalence of use among adolescents aged 13 to 15.
“More than six per cent in this age group are already using tobacco products, many drawn in by misleading designs and messages,” he said.
Mr Ihekweazu said adolescents were particularly vulnerable and that the developing brain was more susceptible to nicotine addiction and its long-term effects, including impaired cognitive development.
WHO Seeks Ban On Flavoured Tobacco
“Early use increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases, heart conditions and cancer. And for many, quitting becomes an uphill battle,” Mr Ihekweazu said.
According to him, protecting the next generation is both a public health priority and a moral imperative.
“On this World No Tobacco Day, let us recommit to creating a tobacco-free future where every young person in Africa can grow up safe, healthy and empowered,” he said.
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
Eereporter.com
The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.
The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations
Oil
The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
Eereporter.com
Nigerian Police Foil Bandit Attack in Sokoto, Recover Rocket Launchers
The Sokoto State Police Command has foiled an attempted bandit attack on Tsabre community in Isa Local Government Area, recovering two rocket launchers and other items abandoned by the fleeing attackers.
Eereporter.com
The incident occurred around 1am on Friday when the armed men reportedly invaded the village and opened sporadic gunfire, causing panic among residents.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
He said the Divisional Police Officer in Isa, upon receiving a distress call, immediately mobilised tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit, to confront the attackers.
According to him, the police engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into a nearby forest.
“The tactical teams engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel that lasted for some time. Due to the superior firepower and tactical positioning of the police operatives, the bandits were overpowered and forced to escape into the nearby forest with their casualties,” Rufa’i said.
He added that the police subsequently combed the surrounding bushes and recovered two rocket launchers and two empty AK-47 magazines.
Other items recovered included a Techno keypad phone without a battery, a touch light, an Army jungle hat, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.
The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, commended the officers for their swift response and courage during the operation.
Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
Police
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the police.
The CP further appealed to residents to report anyone with suspected gunshot wounds seeking medical attention to the nearest police station, as efforts continue to track the fleeing attackers.
Eereporter.com
Navy Rescues 2 Kidnapped Victims, Recovers Stolen Outboard Engines in Akwa Ibom
The Nigerian Navy has rescued 2 kidnapped victims and recovered several stolen outboard engines during an operation against sea robbery and kidnapping in the Ibeno general area of Akwa Ibom State on 30 September 2026.
Eereporter.com
The operation followed credible information on the activities of suspected sea robbers and kidnappers targeting fishermen and forcibly taking away fishing boats and outboard engines. In response, the Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE Maritime Quick Response Team, Ibeno, swiftly mobilised to the area to counter the threat.
During the operation, the naval team encountered 2 boats suspected to be operated by the criminals, prompting the occupants to flee into adjoining creeks. In the ensuing pursuit, the suspects abandoned one of the boats containing several stolen outboard engines and the 2 kidnapped victims, who were immediately rescued by the naval team and escorted to safety. The recovered outboard engines were secured for verification and further necessary action, while efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The successful operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s sustained commitment to Search and Rescue (SAR), the protection of lives and the security of legitimate maritime activities across Nigeria’s waters. Through its network of ships, bases, surveillance systems, maritime quick response teams and other operational elements, the Nigerian Navy continues to maintain a presence across the maritime domain, enabling timely responses to distress situations and emerging security threats.
Navy
The operation also demonstrates the importance of credible intelligence and community support in enhancing maritime security. The Nigerian Navy therefore encourages coastal communities, fishermen and other maritime stakeholders to continue providing timely information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and responding rapidly to persons in distress.
The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and will continue to sustain proactive patrols, Search and Rescue operations, and intelligence-driven interventions aimed at protecting lives and property while denying criminal elements freedom of action in the nation’s waterways.
Eereporter.com
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