FirstBank has debunked the news reports online that one of its branches, as well as its head office, have been sealed.
In a statement made available to News Band, FirstBank informed that the referenced story is a misrepresentation of the facts and misleading.
“Neither our branch nor head office was sealed.
”On the 4th of August, 2022, there was an unlawful enforcement at the Bank’s Coomassie House Branch of a garnishee order issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which order the Bank is still challenging in court.
“While the Bank has taken appropriate legal steps to deal with the situation, we wish to reassure our customers of unhindered banking services and unique customer experience in all our branches and through our numerous alternative channels,” the bank clarified.
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Honorable Fatuhu Muhammed, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari, says he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) because his opponent abused his father.
Newsband had reported how Muhammed, son of Buhari’s elder brother, exited the ruling party after his failed re-election bid.
The lawmaker, who represents Daura/Mai’Adua/Sandamu Federal Constituency of Katsina State in the National Assembly, failed to secure his re-election ticket after polling 30 votes, while Aminu Jamo, his rival secured 117 votes.
Since the primaries, there have been clashes between the camps of Fatuhu and Jamo.
Speaking with one of our correspondents last night, Muhammed said he left APC because his opponent abused his father.
“I received an audio recording where their candidate (Jamo) called my father, Alhaji Mamman Dan Baffalo, by name and abused him. Alhaji Mamman Dan Baffallo and President Buhari are of the same father and mother.”
“Out of the 26 children born by their father, they are the only males that are from the same father and mother. So, abusing my father is abusing the president.
“So, I said since the issue has gone beyond politics to denigrating the dignity of my parents, I cannot take it any longer, and it is not binding on me to stay in the party, so I decided to leave,” he said.
Prominent businessman and Politician, Chief Nnanna Kalu has urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to caution a factional governoship candidate of the party, Ikechi Emenike.
Kalu described Emenike as a divisive politician that has polarized the party in the state
Kalu stated this in a chat with newsmen at the national headquarters of the party on Monday morning, stressing that Emenike lacks the capacity to win the 2023 governoship election in the state.
He accused Emenike of working with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause confusion in the APC through promotion of hate, lies and acrimony.
“Today APC is in trouble with characters like Ikechi Emenike. Emenike is the biggest problem in APC today. With support from two Ministers in Abuja he hijacked the party for his selfish interest. People are leaving the party everyday because of him.
“I am appealing to the national chairman of our great party, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu and other leaders of the party to call Ikechi Emenike to order. Emenike is now abusing party leaders like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Uche Ogah. Is that the person that wants to win election in Abia ?
“I knew opportunities were given to him to reconcile with other party leaders in Abia and he and his cohorts refused to be part of it, one of those opportunities headed by Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and another headed by the present National Chairman of APC. In all, Emenike constituted himself as a sole proprietor of APC which led to the defection of many members including Dr. Alex Otti, Mascot Uzor Kalu, Chief Amobi Ogah, Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Hon. Acho Obioma and others.
“Emenike has no electoral value in Abia State and should not pretend about it. He is the reason why people are leaving the party. A man who can’t win his polling unit is parading himself as governorship candidate. All politics are local and Emenike lacks what it takes to win a councilorship position. “
Apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has accused the president, Muhammadu Buhari of blaming the victims of insecurity in Southeast rather than going after the perpetrators of the carnage in the region.
Recall that Buhari while reacting to the killings in Imo State, called on community and religious leaders to speak out forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage.
The Igbo group said that the Buhari’s position which is nuanced against the Southeast as a hideout for terrorists that attack non indigenes and law enforcement officials; implying that the insecurity persists because the leaders have not forcefully spoken out is very unfair to the Igbo, especially when the presidency knows the root cause and the nature of the insecurity in the region.
Ohanaeze in a statement by its spox, Alex Ogbonnia said the remarks by the presidency appears to have ignored the prolonged open war with the Boko Haram in the North East; the banditry in the North West, especially in Katsina State; the Fulani Herdsmen invasion of several communities in the Middle Belt region; the Church massacre at Owo; the daily kidnappings on the highways; the Kaduna-Abuja train abduction, etc.
The statement reads, “The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor has been drawn to the statement that made various headlines where “President Muhammadu Buhari Flays Killings in the South East”. According to Mallam Garba Shehu, the Special Assistant to the President on Media, “President Muhammadu Buhari condemned in strong terms the recent attacks against non-indigenes and law enforcement officials by terrorists in the South East, calling on the “community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage”. This Day August 7, 2022 reports that “President Buhari’s reaction came amid reports of the slaying of six Nigerien citizens and the brutal killing of a number of policemen at their duty posts”.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide joins the Presidency and indeed the good people of Nigeria in condemning this dastardly act that occurred at Imo State, South East of Nigeria. Ohanaeze has repeatedly explained that amongst the Igbo, human life is very sacred. The sanctity of life is so elevated that killing of a human being in whatever circumstance is considered an abomination. In fact it is not in the character of the Igbo to kill in whatever disguise. These recent developments are indeed very much alien to the reflexes, culture and norms of the South East. And we have often called on the Nigerian security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to book as a deterrent to others. Surely, the failure of the Nigerian security agents to fish out the criminals cannot be blamed on the Igbo.
“Ohaneaeze Ndigbo however frowns at the statement by the Presidency which is nuanced against the South East as a haven for terrorists that attack non indigenes and law enforcement officials; implying that the insecurity persists because the leaders have not forcefully spoken.This is very unfair to the Igbo, especially when the presidency knows the root cause and the nature of the insecurity in the South East. It needs be added that the solution to the insecurity in the South East lies in the enormous powers of the presidency.
“The above remarks by the presidency appear to have ignored the prolonged open war with the Boko Haram in the North East; the Banditry in the North West, especially in Katsina State; the Fulani Herdsmen invasion of several communities in the Middle Belt region; the Church massacre at Owo; the daily kidnappings on our highways; the Kaduna-Abuja train abduction, etc,. A few instances highlights the current state of insecurity in Nigeria:
“Two months ago, suspected armed herdsman in the early hours of Sunday, June 21, allegedly killed about thirty persons in two communities of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State in what has been described as unprovoked attacks on civilians. Channels Television informed that the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sewuese Anene, confirmed the attack to journalist in a brief statement. And several others I Benue State….
“On Monday July 22, 2022, gunmen attacked some officials of the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army Presidential Guards Brigade. The incident, which took place around the Bwari Area Council of Abuja, left three soldiers wounded and eight personnel killed. According to the report, “two of the slain personnel were officers, including a captain and a lieutenant, while the remaining were other ranks”.
“On Friday, August 5, 2022, Advocacy News reports that “Gunmen have abducted 14 Indian nationals working with a ceramics company in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi state. According to the report, “two Indians, two police officers and two drivers were killed when the gunmen struck”. It added that “they were on their way home from work (West African Ceramics) when the gunmen attacked their Coaster bus”.
“A Wisconsin-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), one of the world’s most reliable conflict data aggregators, stated that “there were 18 abduction events targeting students across northern Nigeria between January 2018 and April 2021. The ACLED data also shows that the bandits killed more than 2,600 civilians in 2021, an increase of over 250% from 2020. This number dwarfs that of civilian deaths credited to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in the same year”.
“It added that in the “period between December 2020 and August 2021, more than 1,000 students and school staff were abducted. Within six months, as many as 343 people were killed, while 830 others were abducted by bandits between July and September 2021 in Kaduna state alone, according to figures from the state government”. As at now, all schools in the Federal Capital Territory have been closed down on account of insecurity and no person contemplates a reopening.
“Paradoxically, when the district head of Daura, the hometown of Mr President, was kidnapped and was freed after two months, Mallam Garba Shehu was quoted as saying that the “incident was evidence that Duara was not receiving preferential treatment and that insecurity was a national problem.
“In other words, when insecurity manifests in the North West, it is a national problem; but when on the other hand, it occurs in the South East, it is blamed on the inability of the “community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage”.
“I can state without any fear of contradiction that the Igbo possess the greatest wanderlust as well as the most hospitable dispositions amongst the various ethnics in the world. The non-indigenes in the South East enjoy untrammeled friendliness, inter-ethnic assimilation and conducive business environment; what happened to the non-indigenes in the South East is most regrettable as part of the current national calamity.
“One would think that the inevitable consequences of the orchestrated mendacious propaganda, dubiety, subterfuge, sabotage and serial alienation against the South East of Nigeria are already staring us in the face. According to the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal: “the marginalisation of the South-East geopolitical zone by the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is crazy and unprecedented”. Tambuwal adds: “I feel sad and disturbed each time I see the Igbo crying of marginalization.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has been unfair to the Igbo. In all socio-economic activities is like the Igbo are not part of the nation”. Tambuwal wondered how Buhari could hope to achieve good governance and prosperity in Nigeria by sidelining the Igbo resilience, creativity, ingenuity and capacity to stimulate, promote and incentivize the abundant but dormant human resources in Nigeria. How do we fight insecurity by appointment of service chiefs based on ethnocentric and religious considerations as against the best global practices of military competence? Put differently, how can the South East be excluded among the over 16 service chiefs in the Nigerian armed and paramilitary forces and expect insecurity not to fester? And how; and how; and how…..?
“And when the chickens have come home to roost, we resort to blaming the victim. The famous psychologist, William Ryan, espoused that blaming the victim is an atrocious ideology that tries to justify social injustice against a group. The oppressor deliberately creates an unjust chaotic environment for the oppressed; and blames the victims for the inevitable crises that flows therefrom.
“In conclusion, it is very uncharitable, if not mischievous, to poison undiscerning minds by insinuating that non indigenes and security officials are killed by the terrorists in the South East. On the other hand, to appropriate national problem to the South East of Nigeria is an ethnic prejudice taken too far. Invariably, banditry in the North Central persists because their leaders have not forcefully spoken or rather they are publicly celebrated and turbaned or still, offered the Sheik Gumi option.
Both history and current events in the country must have shown that unjust policy against the just shall ultimately vindicate the just.”
Buhari blaming victims of Southeast insecurity — Ohanaeze
Apex Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, has accused the president, Muhammadu Buhari of blaming the victims of insecurity in Southeast rather than going after the perpetrators of the carnage in the region.
Reacting to the killings in Imo State, Buhari called on “community and religious leaders to speak out forcefully against the killings and to stand up and defend the ethos of the nation’s cultural and religious heritage.”
The Igbo group said that the president’s position “which is nuanced against the South East as a haven for terrorists that attack non indigenes and law enforcement officials; implying that the insecurity persists because the leaders have not forcefully spoken,” adding that: “This is very unfair to the Igbo, especially when the presidency knows the root cause and the nature of the insecurity in the South East.
Ohanaeze in a statement by its spox, Alex Ogbonnia said the “remarks by the presidency appears to have ignored the prolonged open war with the Boko Haram in the North East; the Banditry in the North West, especially in Katsina State; the Fulani Herdsmen invasion of several communities in the Middle Belt region; the Church massacre at Owo; the daily kidnappings on our highways; the Kaduna-Abuja train abduction, etc.”
Harvard trained attorney and founder of Due Process Advocates International (DPA), Emeka Ugwuonye has described the recent call by the former governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani urging his supporters to dump the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi as “double barrel delusion”
Recall that the federal lawmaker who is representing Enugu East Senatorial District on Saturday had urged his Ebeano supporters to dump the “Obidient Movement”, noting that his constituents cannot afford to lose the governorship and State Assembly because of Peter Obi.
Nnamani who is the founder of Ebeano political movement, stressed that the Peoples Democratic Party has laid foundation in the State that cannot be ceded to another party.
Referring to the movement for Peter Obi’s presidency as bandwagon, the lawmaker said such would not be allowed to take place in Enugu.
Meanwhile, Ugwuonye in a statement he sent to Newsband, said that it is a delusion for Nnamani to think he still controls the command post of politics in Enugu State.
The human rights lawyer also said that, it is yet another level of delusion for the lawmaker to believe that anyone considers him important enough to follow him away from the new movement (Obidient movement) that is sweeping every length and breathe of the country.
He howeve, noted that Chimaroke Nnamani is being scared of the Obidient movement which is about to challenge the present status quo in the state that has made the people of Enugu very docile.
He said, “Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Governor of Enugu State between 1999 and 2007, ended his tenure as Governor in variety of controversies. Most obvious among them was the fact that he was tried by the EFCC and his companies convicted and many of choice assets he was accused of obtaining through corruption were confiscated or forfeited to the Federal Government. It was a shame indeed because the assets were the assets of the people of Enugu State. For them to end up in the hands of the federal government, or possibly in the hands of individual non-citizens of the State, is something that would have raised alarm if it had happened elsewhere. But Enugu people are known for their docility. They are laid-back and nothing really seems to bother them.
“With complete absence of a sense of outrage, Enugu State is a perfect place for a politician like Chimaroke Nnamani to want to dominate. And he seems to be doing so through his pseudo cult known as Ebeano. Despite his failure as a leader of Enugu State, he tries to claim that he is in control of the politics of the state. It has been easy for him to do so because all the Governors that came after him have been a lineage of the same type of men, who exploited the docility of the people to get away with all manner of incompetence.
“This claim of dominance by Chimaroke and Ebeano, whatever that means, really, is now being challenge by the steady rise of the new political movement inspired by Peter Obi. It is no wonder therefore that Nnamani would like to attack the supporters of Obi. In his recent address to his presumed supporters, Nnamani was quoted to have told his followers to dump Peter Obi and his Labour Party.
“This call from Nnamani would not have been necessary were it not that it has become obvious that for the first time, PDP dominance of Enugu politics is being questioned. But it appears to be a double barrel delusion for Nnamdi to think he could slow the rise of the Obidients. First, it is a delusion to think he still controls the command post of politics in the State. It is yet another level of delusion to believe that anyone considers Nnamani relevant enough to follow him away from the new movement.”
A video of National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, mocking the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu, has emerged online.
In the viral video which was obtained by Newsband, members of the confraternity during a procession gyrated to an anti-Tinubu song, taunting the former Lagos State governor for his speech in June in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he said in Yoruba language that President Muhammadu Buhari should hand over power to him, adding that it is his turn to be the president.
The men who appeared in white and red apparel made mockery of the 72-year-old, suggesting he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
They were heard singing “Hand de shake, leg de shake, Baba wey no well, e de shout Emilokan.
“Emi lokan(2X), Baba wey no well, him dey shout Emi lokan.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said local production of cassava-based Sorbitol would strengthen the Naira.
It noted that production of Sorbitol would also help to reduce unemployment and over reliance on importation of the product, which is a natural sweetener extracted from glucose that drives agricultural revolution.
Speaking on behalf of CBN during the inauguration of the first cassava-based Sorbitol factory in Africa, Psaltry International Company Ltd, located at Ado-Awaye in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, the Director, Development and Finance department, Mr. Yusuf Yila, represented by Mr. Edwin Nzelu a deputy director in the department, said the apex bank funded the project.
Yila said the project was part of the bank’s developmental function, adding that Psaltry was one of the beneficiaries of CBN commodity development initiative, which he recalled was started in 2019 with 12 focal commodities, including cassava.
The Chief Executive Officer of Psaltry, Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye, said the company would create job for 10,000 youths in the community, adding that it would also indirectly impact on 100,000 people within 200km radius to the factory, covering more than 50 communities.
Kidnappers have shot dead a 32-year-old graduate of Moddibo Adama University (MAU), Yola, Adamawa State after collecting N500,000 ransom from his family.
Abdulmalik Tukur who recently completed the one-year mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Plateau State was kidnapped from his family house in Vinkilang community on the outskirt of Yola alongside six others Monday night.
Dailytrust quoting a source said that the victims were separately released after a ransom of up to N400,000 was paid for each of them. However, the kidnappers had demanded N50 million ransom for Abdulmalik.
After three days of negotiations, an agreement was reached with the victim’s family who then sent a representative to deliver the N500,000 agreed upon at a spot in the bush.
A family member said Abdulmalik’s father delivered the money at around 7pm on Thursday.
“After they helped them count the notes, they released Abdulmalik to return home. As he started walking to freedom they shot him with a gun without any explanation,” he said.
The spokesman for the Adamawa Police Command, SP Sulaiman Nguroje, said he had yet to receive any report on the incident.
Suspected Islamist militants attacked two villages in eastern Congo over the weekend and killed about 20 people, according to the army and a local human rights organisation.
According to Christophe Munyanderu, the local organisation Convention for the Respect of Human Rights’ coordinator, fighters thought to be from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed residents and destroyed homes in the Ituri province’s Kandoyi and Bandiboli villages late on Friday and early on Saturday (CRDH).
About 20 deaths were reported, and Jules Ngongo, a spokesman for the Congolese army in Ituri, confirmed that the attackers were being sought by Congolese forces.
“It’s too hard for me – when I saw the bodies, their throats had been cut,” said Alice Kyanga, whose parents were among those killed at their homes on Saturday.
The ADF is a Ugandan militia that moved to eastern Congo in the 1990s.
The group was responsible for 1,050 violent deaths in 2021, up from 599 in 2020, according to data from Kivu Security Tracker, which maps violence in the area.
Security has deteriorated in Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province since the government placed them under military rule last year, U.N. experts said in June.
The government declared a state of siege in the provinces in April 2021 in response to escalating attacks by militias, including repeated massacres by the ADF, which has links to Islamic State.
Uganda has also sent at least 1,700 troops to help its neighbour fight the ADF after accusing the group of being responsible for a string of bombings in Kampala last year.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a trans-border drug dealer, Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong, with three drums of crystal methamphetamine, locally called mkpuru mmiri, believed to have been imported from India.
The consignment, weighing 90kg and loaded into a commercial bus with registration number RSH 691XC at Ojuelegba in Lagos, was intercepted during a stop and search operation along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene highway on August 6, 2022.
The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday in Abuja that the dangerous drug, packed 30kg in each drum, was meant for Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong, who was arrested in a follow-up operation at Oron beach in Oron.
The recovered meth drums were meant for onward delivery to the Republic of Cameroon.
“This comes on the heels of four seizures of the same illicit substance weighing 4.074kg going to Australia, Indonesia and Philippines with a 3kg cannabis Sativa heading to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at some courier companies in Lagos.
“The consignments were concealed in body cream, hot burner iron and beads,” Babafemi said.
Meanwhile, in Sokoto, a retired soldier, Usman Adamu, 90, was arrested on August 3 in Mailalle, Sabon Birni LGA for supplying bandits with illicit drugs.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect had 5.1 kg of cannabis Sativa with him.
Also, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a 37-year-old indigene of Ovia LGA, Edo State and resident in Italy, Solo Osamede, was arrested for ingesting 41 wraps of heroin.
He was arrested and taken into custody while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Milan, Italy via Istanbul, Turkey on July 30.
The swallowed wraps of the illicit drug were recovered in four excretions, which the suspect completed on August 1.
Similarly, a female passenger, Jatau Lydia Lami, was arrested at the Lagos airport for attempting to export 1,700 tablets of Tramadol 225mg concealed in her luggage to Istanbul, Turkey via a Turkish Airlines flight on July 31.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday declare open, the national stakeholders’ summit on the 2023 population and housing census.
He will also deliver the keynote address and perform the public presentation of the 2023 Census Project Document.
According to a statement yesterday by the National Population Commission (NPC), the summit, organised by the NPC, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is to broaden the national support base for the successful conduct of the 2023 census.
“The summit seeks to generate and sustain public awareness on the conduct of the 2023 census, including its imperatives, methodology and timelines and solicit the cooperation and support of key stakeholders for the exercise.
“It will feature presentations on the status of preparations for the 2023 census, methodology and procedures to be adopted, technological innovations and upcoming preparatory activities in the census calendar.”
Senate President Ahmad Lawan; the president of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Mathias Schmale, would delivered goodwill messages.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor
The government of Burkina Faso has sought Nigeria’s advice how to fight terrorism.
Burkinabe Chief of Defence Staff, Senior Col. David Kadre, sought the advice in Abuja weekend when he visited his Nigerian counterpart, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
He noted that he was also in Nigeria to attend the just concluded graduation ceremony of the Course 30 participants of the National Defence College as well as presenting the security situation in the West African sub-region.
“I came also regarding terrorism and insurgency in our countries so as to seek your advice and experience since Nigeria is engaged in fighting this scourge,” he said.
Kadre reiterated the need for deeper collaboration between Nigerian and Burkinabe armed forces to address the challenges of terrorism and insurgency.
Irabor called for stronger collaboration among West African armed forces to deal with insecurity in the sub-region.
He congratulated Kadre, an alumnus of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, for his appointment.
Irabor said Nigeria was proud to have an alumnus of NDC becoming the defence chief of Burkina Faso, reiterating his commitment to sharing ideas with the visitor.
“No doubt, the West African sub-region is experiencing the menace of terrorism and insurgency and we understand that to address this scourge, there has to be collaboration of all countries within the sub-region.
“That’s why I’m delighted to receive you and to also let you know that we shall share our experiences.
“We’ll indeed take action that’ll ensure that we redress all issues together and ensure that we stamp out every form of terrorism within our sub-region,’’ he said.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested three men suspected to be arms peddlers at Mfum, the border community along the Nigeria–Cameroon border.
The Comptroller in charge of Mfum Border Command, Mr Ndubuisi Eneregbu, announced the arrest in a press statement on Sunday in Calabar.
According to the Comptroller, two Nigerians and one irregular Cameroonian migrant, who confessed to be a member of the Ambazonia separatist group, were arrested on a motorcycle with arms and live ammunitions.
“The suspects were found with among other things, a small bag containing incriminating items such as one Beretta pistol, one locally made pistol, three live ammunitions, charms and one TECNO BC3 Android phone.
“They were four suspects; the fourth person, currently at large, left them with the bag containing the incriminating items
“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, the Cameroonian, is a member of the Ambazonia separatist group in the Republic of Cameroon.
“The three suspects along with the incriminating items have been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer Etung Division, Etung Local Government Area for further investigation,” he said.
He noted that in spite of certain logistic challenges, the officers and men were prepared to apprehend anyone found perpetrating illegalities and sabotaging the economy of the country.
Mfum is a commercial border town in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River where Nigerians and others engages in international trade.
They engage in trade by conveying commodities ranging from food items, petroleum products and more across the lines into the Republic of Cameroon
After months of evading security forces, a notorious armed bandit, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal, and 27 others have been eliminated by aggressive bombardments of the Nigerian military airstrikes in Katsina State, on Saturday evening.
Abdulkareem Lawal, who is popularly called Abdulkareem Boss, by his criminal colleagues, PRNigeria gathered, was a high-valued target on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while.
The precision airstrikes came barely a week after the Service Chiefs, at the last National Security Council meeting, reassured President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians that there would be a change in strategy and momentum in the fight against insurgency and terrorism and the Chief of the Air Staff’s directive to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operational and air component commanders to ‘show no mercy’ in decimating terrorists and insurgents in the country.
The wanted criminal was based in the Marina area of Safana Local Government Area, and was responsible for several terrorist attacks, animal rustling and kidnappings.
Boss was known to regularly invite terrorist groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets.
Specifically, he was part of the terrorist group that carried out attacks that eventually led to the death of the Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin Ma on 5 July, 2022.
Confirming the killing of Abdulkareem Boss to PRNigeria, an intelligence military officer, said that the terror kingpin was neutralized in a precision strike alongside 27 of his foot soldiers, at Rugu Forest.
In a related development, similar bombardments were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts around Abuja, PRNigeria reliably gathered.
According to credible intelligence, threats within Abuja was being orchestrated by terrorists from their hideouts within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
“In view of this, NAF aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch were dispatched to undertake intensive air interdiction operation to degrade/neutralize the terrorists within their identified hideouts in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chikun LGA in Kaduna State and Kusasu, Kwaki and Kukere LGA in Niger State.
“So far, the identified locations hit by NAF aircraft include Jan Birni, Kusasu, Kauwuri, Kwaki, Ukambo Hill within the Kwiambana Forest as well as Alhaji Chorki Location.
“These locations have been attacked decisively and were struck in successive passes until they went into flames, some casualties who were spotted to be struggling to scamper for safety were effectively mopped up,” a military air commander added.
The operations were aimed at forestalling them from further planning to cause mayhem within Kaduna and Niger States as well as surroundings around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Whan contacted, the Spokesperson of the Nigerian Airforce Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said that the successes of the air strikes underscore indefectible commitment of the military to ridding the entire Northern region as well as the FCT of terrorism in collaboration with other security agencies and restoring peace and sanity.
He added that “Operational commanders have also been told to sustain the momentum and ensure they minimize, to the barest minimum, the freedom of movement of terrorists and insurgents.”
True to the lyric contained in the concluding stanza of the Anambra state anthem; “lift the spirit of Anambra”, the Anambra-born Njideka Iyiazi won Gold in the women’s F56/57 Shot-put, at the ongoing Commonwealth games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
She has indeed made the state and Nigeria proud.She made it with a throw of 10.03 meters.
This is congratulations to an outstanding onye Anambra for making the state proud, flying the Anambra State spirit high in faraway United Kingdom.
Njideka Iyiazi singing the Nigerian National Anthem after winning gold in the women’s shot-put at the ongoing Commonwealth games in Birmingham, United Kingdom
This is celebrating competence and resilience which brand Anambra represents.
Prior to this victory, the 49-year-old Iyiazi had won silver medal during the 2004 Athens Paralympics (javelin throw), won gold at the 2007 Beijing Paralympics (Shot Put), Bronze in each of the London 2012 Paralympics (Shot Put), 2016 (Discuss) and Tokyo 2000 Paralympics (Shot Put) respectively.
Just like the Anambra Anthem says, “with all our hearts”, may we continue to lift our homeland high, thereby promoting the Anambra spirit.
The Governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, is proud of these exploits and commends the indefatigable spirit of Ndi Anambra
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Following the alleged murder of two persons on Friday in Ede, Osun State, members of the family of the deceased have demanded for immediate intervention of state government to beam searchlight into the incident in order to ensure justice.
The bereaved family also urged concerned authorities to come to their aid in fishing out the perpetrators most importantly one CSP Omoyele who allegedly shot at the deceased.
Recall that two persons believed to have worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the State were gruesomely murdered over a mere argument which, eyewitnesses said would have ordinarily been settled without leading to rancour or face-off.
It was gathered that a police officer who has been penciled down to be the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke led a team of police officers to the operation that eventually led to the killing of two persons belonging to the same family.
While one of the deceased was a supporter of the APC, other members of the bereaved family are strong members of the PDP in Ede-North.
According to them, the incident started on Friday’s evening after a fracas ensued between members of the party at a Ward meeting held in the town.
It was reported that one Mr. Olalekan Abideen and Mrs Kafayat Olalekan were gruesomely killed same day over the crisis.
Narrating their ordeals in tears, the younger sister of deceased, Mrs. Rukayat Olalekan Olasoji alleged that the PDP’s lawmaker and a CSP as masterminds of the unfortunate killings.
According to her, the duo led the team of the police officers that shot and killed the two members of their family over an argument that had been resolved and laid to rest.
Mrs Olalekan who claimed to be a die-hard member of the PDP in Ede-North, affirmed that except his younger brother, Mr Olalekan Ibrahim Tunde who is a supporter of the APC, every other member of the family especially her mother and siblings are PDP loyalists.
“The whole thing started when we had an argument at our Ward meeting last Friday over the left over money that was supposed to be given to each polling unit in form of appreciation to the PDP members that worked for the victory of the party in the last governorship election.
“After that, we were invited by the party’s elders to forget about it which we obliged. But at the meeting, there was a young guy that insulted our mum which we rebuked and later, a team of officers came from the Divisional Headquarters to intervene and the matter was settled amicably.
“But 30 minutes after, a team of police officers stormed our compound and started shooting sporadically into the air in a bid to arrest. They later asked me to follow them to the station, an order that I obliged immediately. But fortunately, my brother, Mr Olalekan Abideen who was later shot and killed was just returning from work, and he blocked the front that they must explain why I needed to follow them, but in the process, one of the officers, one Omoyele shot at him and he fell down immediately and was taken away.
“Though at that time, nobody knew if he had died or not, and that raised fears in us calling the lawmaker that led them to know where they took his body to but he (Olajide) didn’t pick calls.
“The incident instigated many people around and they started reacting as many scampered for their lives. But not quite long after my brother’s corpse was taken away, I went to the Police Divisional Headquarters to formally report the incident.
“I was in the police station when same team came back together with the lawmaker to inform us that his father’s house has been set ablaze and that we were the ones responsible for it.
“The lawmaker said to my face that he came back to kill me and if not that he didn’t bring his gun along, he would have killed me personally too but this was prevented by the police officers from the Divisional Headquarters in Ede who explained to him that since i have been with them, I didn’t leave and there was no way I would have perpetrated such as alleged.
“Though he left in anger insisting that he will go after my immediate younger brother to kill him too. I was told that he headed to our compound but he he didn’t meet my brother and on his way back, he asked the officers with him to kill my brother’s wife who was innocently returning home.
“The deceased, Mrs Kafayat Olalekan who backed her kid was shot on the chest but the military personnels who were passing by at that time rescued the baby and took her to the police station where we later recovered the kid”, she added.
Fielding questions from journalists, a younger brother to the deceased whose wife was equally shot and killed accused two men of masterminding the fierce operation that led to the death of her wife and elder brother.
According to him, the lawmaker had on several occasions threatened to harm his late brother for being loyal to the ruling party forgetting that his mother and siblings worked and still working for the PDP.
“I know this was premeditated to eliminate our family. I know those that perpetrated the killings and I know why they are after our family particularly my humble self.
“Prior to the incident and to be precise, before the election, the lawmaker asked me to destroy the APC billboards with offer of cash, a request I declined frankly and since then, I have been on their trail.
“Though I am a loyalist of APC but my mother and other siblings are PDP loyalists and we never quarrelled over this. I was part of those that worked for his victory in 2019 but now, I am in APC but my family are in PDP. They are not ordinary members, they are staunch party loyalists.
“I see no reason for such action. I intervened when I was told that one of the PDP members insulted my mother and was on the verge to beat her up and immediately people came around, we resolved the matter not knowing that they had ulterior motives to destroy our family.
Expressing her ordeal in tears, the elder sister of the deceased, Mrs Yetunde Olalekan appealed to the State Government and other concerned authorities to come to the aid of the family saying ‘no one is save anymore.
Mrs Olalekan who was crying profusely, said the political party their family chose had destroyed them, and called for immediate investigation into the incident.
Bandits abducted several residents including a newlywed couple in Shola Quarters, Katsina metropolis and killed two members of a local vigilante.
It was gathered that the bandits invaded the area around 1:25am on Sunday, August 7, and operated for over an hour.
A source explained that the vigilante members had to retreat for their safety when the bandits overpowered them.
“It was the vigilante members that even confronted the bandits but in the process two of them were killed and two others wounded,” the source told Daily Trust.
He said it was later that one of the deceased body was retrieved while the other was rushed to the hospital where he died, adding that the wounded ones were receiving treatment at the hospital.
According to relative of the abducted newly-wed, Usman Masanawa, said when the attackers came, the husband, Yusuf Bishir, had called to inform him but there was nothing he could do.
“We went there this morning; the bandits did not even enter the house through the entrance gate but they smashed the wall and got access into the house,” Masanawa said.
He added that the number of residents abducted could not be ascertained but other residents said some houses were attacked and people abducted.
Spokesperson in the state, SP Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident said officers were on operation on the matter and will issue statement later.
Many terrorists, including one of the notorious Commanders, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal, aka Abdulkareem Boss, were eliminated in airstrikes coordinated by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, at the weekend.
The successful strikes were targeted at key terrorists’ enclaves and hideouts at Rugu Forest in Katsina State.
Intelligence reports confirmed Abdulkareem Boss, who has been on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies was killed in the operation.
According to Military sources, the deceased Boko Haram Commander, was based in Marina area of Safana Local Government Area and responsible for several terrorists’ attacks, animal rustling and kidnappings.
“He was known to regularly invite terrorists’ groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets. Specifically, he was part of the terrorist group that carried out attacks that eventually led to the death of the Nigerian Police Area Commander of Dutsin ma on 5 July 2022.
“Reports filtering in have since confirmed that Abdulkareem Boss was neutralized in the precision strike alongside 27 of his foot soldiers.
“Reports have also revealed that air strikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai at Degbawa near Mandara Mountain in Gwoza LGA of Borno State on the 3 August 2022 may have led to the death of a well-known terrorist Kingpin, Alhaji Modu, aka Bem Bem, and some of his fighters.
It was revealed that Alhaji Modu, a key ISWAP Commander had converged with others for a morning meeting on an intended attack before they were struck by an array of NAF assault aircraft. An assessment of the strike revealed that the entire location was levelled to the ground and sources have since revealed that no fewer than 20 terrorists were confirmed eliminated in the strike.”
“Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts around Abuja. Although Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance reports have since indicated that the terrorists fizzle out immediately after carrying out their nefarious acts, credible information have since revealed that threats within Abuja was being orchestrated by terrorists from their hideouts within Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
“In view of this, NAF aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch were dispatched to undertake intensive air interdiction operation to degrade/neutralise the terrorists within their identified hideouts in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chikun LGA in Kaduna State and Kusasu, Kwaki and Kukere LGA in Niger State.
“The operations were aimed at forestalling them from further planning to cause mayhem within Kaduna and Niger States as well as surroundings around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). So far, the identified locations hit by NAF aircraft include Jan Birni, Kusasu, Kauwuri, Kwaki, Ukambo Hill within the Kwiambana Forest as well as Alhaji Chorki Location.
“These locations have been attacked decisively and were struck in successive passes until they went into flames, some casualties who were spotted to be struggling to scamper for safety were effectively mopped up. The positive feedbacks received from ground troops deployed indicated that the terrorists have suffered heavy casualties and their logistics bases razed to the ground.
“The successes of the air strikes underscore NAF’s indefectible commitment to ridding the entire Northern region as well as the FCT of terrorism in collaboration with other security agencies and restoring peace and sanity”.
No fewer than eight bandits were on Saturday neutralized by security personnel in the Sabongari community of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State when troops of Operation Safe Haven, OpSH as well as a local vigilante group went on an operation to flush out bandits in communities in Wase.
It was gathered that the operation began since on Saturday and continued on Sunday in the Wase general area as the spokesman of OpSH, Major Ishaku Takwa, confirmed the death of the eight bandits.
Apart from Sabongari, Zurak and Yaddi Lawan which were occupied by the bandits were liberated as the bandits were chased out and their property razed as a resident, Umar Iliya claimed.
It would be recalled that local vigilante had last week killed over a dozen bandits at Bangalala community.
Iliya noted residents are joyous over what they termed a successful operation to rid the area of bandits who are terrorizing communities in Wase and other surrounding areas.
Honourable Fatuhu Muhammed, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari, has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Honourable Muhammed announced his defection in a letter addressed to the Ward Chairman, Sarkin Yara A Ward, Daura, the hometown of President Buhari in Katsina State.
In the letter dated July 13 which personally signed, Muhammed did not give reason for his defection but merely tendered his resignation.
See the letter attached below:
For the records, Fatuhu Muhammed is the son of the older brother of President Buhari, the same father and mother.
He represents Daura, Sandamu & Mai’adua Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
When Fatuhu’s father, Muhammad “Mamman” Danbafale, died in a car crash, Buhari became his foster father.
At the twilight of the Buhari’s administration, he has left the ruling party for the opposition party.
In the meantime, when contacted, a source close to the lawmaker disclosed to News Band that he may have left after failing to secure his reelection bid.
In the primary election, he reportedly got only 30 votes while his rival, Aminu Jamo, polled 117 votes.
Another source said he may have left following the surging insecurity engulfing the state in particular, and the northern region in general.
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Hon. Fatuhu Muhammadu, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fatuhu who is the son of President Buhari’s elder sister represents Daura/Mai’Adua/Sandamu Federal Constituency of Katsina State in the House of Representatives.
He had failed to secure his reelection bid. In the primary election, Fatuhu got only 30 votes while his rival, Aminu Jamo, polled 117 votes.
In a letter to the ward Chairman of Sarakin Yera A Ward in Daura, Fatuhu thanked the party for giving him its platform.
“This is to notify you that I have resigned my membership from the All Progressive Congress (APC) with immediate effect commencing from Wednesday 13th day of July, 2022.”
“Attached here with is my party membership registration slip with slip no: KT/DRA/10/00002. While I thank you and the party for the opportunity given to me to serve the interest of the people of Daura/Sandamu/Maiadua federal constituency while working with the party, accept my best wishes please.”
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Celebrity barman, Okechukwu Pascal, popularly known as Cubana Chiefpriest, has escaped unhurt from an armed attack in Anambra State as unknown gunmen rid his convoy with bullets.
Reacting, the self-styled Chiefpriest took to social media to thank well-wishers who reached out to him.
He noted that he did not lose anyone in the brutal attack that happened on his way to work in Asaba.
The attached vide shows that the vehicles conveying the billionaire businessman and his convoy were filled with bullet holes.
Narrating his ordeal in a video shared on twitter by Naijanews_pilot, he said: “God Did!!! The marathon continues, all my people are safe & sound. Shit never happened here in Imo. It happened in Anambra on my way to work.”
Watch video below:
While his vehicle was riddled with bullets, Cubana Chiefpriest said him and his entourage are safe.
He said, "God Did!!! The marathon continues, all my people are safe & sound. Sh*t never happened here in Imo. It happened in Anambra on my way to work pic.twitter.com/cv8UhTFfch
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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has visited the former Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose at his Lagos residence.
Though, Newsband could not independently verify the reason for the visit but sources said that the former Anambra State governor was in Lagos in order to show support to Fayose who is currently recuperating from a successful back surgery he had last month in an undisclosed hospital outside Nigeria.
