IBNET

         The 344 boys who were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State on Friday, 11 th  December, 2020, returned yesterday, Friday, 18 th  December, 2020, exactly one week after their abduction. Meanwhile the Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has given kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari for the successful rescue of the Kankara school boys.             MURIC gave the commendation in a press statement circulated to pressmen on Saturday, 19 th  December, 2020. The statement was signed by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.     According to the statement,  “We received news of the return of the kidnapped Kankasa boys with immense joy. The successful rescue operation adds another feather to President Muhammadu Buhari’s hat. We note with every seriousness that the early return of the boys was made possible by Mr. President’s prompt action.     “PMB had issued orders to the security agencies for a joint r

  Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has launched a new set of COVID-19 test kits that can produce results in 57 minutes. The new kits which are real-time polymerase chain reaction ( RT-qPCR ) for the detection of COVID-19, was designed by Joseph Shaibu, a molecular virologist at NIMR. Professor Babatunde Salako, director general of the institute, unveiled the new kits during the ongoing NIMR retreat in Lagos. He said the new products were specifically designed for PCR laboratories across the country. “We decided to come up with this rt-qPCR testing kits that will work with the conventional PCR laboratories we have across the country,” he said. “Unlike the SIMA test kits earlier produced by the institute which work with only isothermal machine. The Isothermal machine which can be moved around as a point of care is not readily available now for purchase so we decided to come up with this.” Shaibu, who designed the product, said it is 80 percent cheaper than the ones currently

      The United States recently accused Nigeria of violating religious rights. Consequently, it placed the country on religious freedom blacklist. The Christian Association of Nigeria has backed the US claim of religious persecution. Although the Federal Government (FG) has denied the allegation, the Nigerian Islamic human rights body, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the controversy.   In a statement issued on Monday, 14 th  December, 2020 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described President Trump as a man who is too eager to swallow any lie against any Muslim leader because of his gymnastic pursuit of a Christian crusade. The group argued that contrary to the claim that Christians are being persecuted in the country, it is actually the Muslims who are at the receiving end of religious discrimination.   The statement reads:   “We are nonplussed by the recent allegation of violation of religious rights made by the United States against Nigeria. This is