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.
A 42-year-old man identified as DonChris John has been allegedly caught raping the 12-year-old mentally unstable daughter of his neighbour girl in Ebonyi State.
Chairman of Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE) Sampson Oko Nweke, who disclosed this on Facebook, zsaid the incident happened on Saturday, August 6, in Inyere community, Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.
According to Mr Nweke, the victim was sent on an errand when the suspect allegedly lured her to his house and raped her.
The suspect confessed to the crime, claiming that the girl told him that they should ‘do something’.
Read the full report below…
This man here was caught raping a 12yr old mentally unstable girl, a daughter of his close neighbour. The 42yr randy old man gave his name as DonChris John from Onunweke Inyere.
The little girl was said to have been sent on errand by his father when Mr John intercepted, induced and raped her. It was the wailing of the girl that attracted neighbours who rushed to John’s house and shockingly caught him in the act.
The neighbours successfully disentangled the victim from her rapist and immediately dialed the Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE) after they had arranged with Ebubeagu to guard him from escaping. The call came some minutes before 5pm but HURIDE got there a few minutes before 6pm. It was above an hour drive.
The alleged rapist, Mr Don Christian John admittedly confessed to HURIDE;
“I saw one small girl going somewhere, a daughter of (name withheld); I called her to come and help me peel cassava. While she was helping me peel my cassava, she told me she was hungry. As I went inside to bring the food, she followed me to eat and she followed me. She said to me that after eating the food we will do something (have sex) and I accepted. When I pressed her breast,she started shouting. I actually inserted my pe*nis, but it did not enter very well” before passers-by besieged my house.” he said.
Meanwhile, HURIDE, with the help of some Village leaders and Ebubeagu security men, ensured the suspect was taken to a nearby Achiagu police station from where he will be transferred appropriately for onward trials. The girl is being brought to Abakaliki for medical screenings, possible treatments and proper counseling.
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disassociated itself from the purported Government in Exile, stating that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not set up such government.
The group described those claiming to be behind such government as fraudsters on jamboree, urging governments across the world to disregard them.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB explained that it has legitimate, well established and structured administrative hierarchy that oversees day-to-day running of Biafra affairs.
It accused former Deputy to its leader and those it termed expelled dissidents of taking advantage of absence of its leader to “sell the Biafra struggle to our enemies”, insisting they had failed woefully.
The statement reads: “We wish to reiterate once again to Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom across the globe that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU has not set up any Government In Exile (GIE). We, therefore, dissociate ourself completely from the purported Government in Exile.
“IPOB has legitimate and well established Institutions and well-structured administrative hierarchy that oversees the day- to-day running of Biafra affairs. Already, all Diplomatic Missions and countries of the world know about Biafra agitation and they communicate with IPOB as the responsible authority that overseas the affairs of the Biafran people be it Nationally or Internationally.
“IPOB has international contacts and connections not through any worthless Government In Exile but through our established Institutions and Structures . So, anybody or group peddling or claiming to have set up Government In Exile has again embarked on a jamboree like those who came before them claiming to have formed a government in Exile at one point in time.
“They simple do not deserve to be given any attention because this is the avenue that the Nigerian government wants to us to water down our agitation for total freedom.
“We are not unaware that some dissidents expelled from IPOB including a former Deputy to our Leader had once suggested this Government In Exile to our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but he did not buy into it knowing fully how needless it is at this stage of our struggle.
“But unfortunately, now that our Leader is in detention, these same elements saw it as an opportunity to actualise their selfish ambition by quickly claiming to have set up the non-existent GIE. We know that their ultimate aim is to use it to sell the Biafra struggle to our enemies but they have failed woefully.
We knew that many infiltrators sponsored by some unfortunate politicians are fighting strongly to sell Biafra freedom through their main Infiltrator hiding in Finland. He has run out of gimmicks to stay afloat, hence, he decided to resort to the latest claims of purported GIE gimmick to deceive his gullible followers.
“Therefore, everybody should ignore and disregard the purported GIE because the motive is ulterior and sinister. Biafra has established and recognised channels through which it operates and communicate with world leaders and government without needing or having to call that channel a government in exile.
“One pertinent question to ask is how many government in exile has been formed by different individuals in the past and what become of them. In fact we have lost count of governments in exile formed at different times by impostors.
“These are people whose intention from unset was not actually to secure the liberty and freedom of Biafrans but rather to secure for themselves one form of pecuniary gain or the other albeit economically or political positions.
They are simply not freedom fighters because freedom fighters have no business whatsoever with forming governments whan they have neither secured the freedom of their people nor of their territory. An Igbo adage says (Azotacha ani tutu azowa ute)
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS) headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem is at the helm of affairs of the Biafra movement whenever our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU comes out he hands over IPOB structure back to him. The DOS gives letters to our people for asylum and every Government of the world accepts it and grants asylum to such asylum seekers and they communicate IPOB. There is no other Government more than that.
“Since 2007, different groups have always claimed to be Biafra Government In Exile and have done nothing to demonstrate that truly they represent the Biafran people. In 2007, Ralph Uwazuruike of MASSOB formed Government In Exile in Washington DC USA and he could not achieve anything but IPOB having gone extra mile and having solely the well being of Biafrans as its motivating factor as well as ultimate goal has achieved unimaginably humongous results. Rather than pursue the BIAFRA cause with their so-called GIE, the only achievement of the promoters is to build female hostel in Owerri.
“Biafra struggle championed by IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has recorded tremendous achievements that we cannot afford to be taken backwards by retrogressive elements. Biafra already maintains its presence in many countries of the world.
“IPOB defends her people in judicial and humanitarian matters across the world and in different occasions. People should stop supporting and making caricature of the Biafra restoration project by announcing Biafra Government In Exile any time they want to defraud Biafrans or sabotage our course for freedom.
“We urge Governments across the world to disregard and ignore this fraudsters claiming they are forming Biafra Government In Exile. This new wind of setting up another Biafra government in exile is a distraction that should not be given any serious thought or attention as it will soon fizzle out like others before it but it is important that Biafrans and the International community are properly informed thus this need to set the facts straight.”
Brighton claimed a famous first-ever win at Old Trafford as Manchester United suffered a nightmare defeat in Erik ten Hag’s first Premier League match in charge.
After Bruno Fernandes missed an opening chance, Pascal Gross made it the worst possible start for Ten Hag as he finished Danny Welbeck’s cross at the back post to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Though, it quickly turned into a disasterous afternoon as Gross doubled Brighton’s lead after a brilliant team move, while there were boos at half time at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo was brought on from the bench after being left out of United’s starting line-up and although the hosts were able to pull one back, Brighton held on to celebrate a famous victory that underlined the scale of the task facing Ten Hag
National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, has said they can only beg members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off their strike unless government considers the reports of the various committees set up to look into the matter and come out with its decisions.
The body stated that it expects the Federal Government to come out publicly with its offers for it to know how to intervene and mediate between the two sides.
The National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said it is subtle blackmail for anybody to insinuate that the union is pushing the government to borrow.
He advised that the government should get its priorities right to solve the impasse and do the needful.
“We are not asking the government to go borrowing. But since the Minister is a Nigerian, he should know what our demands are.
“Our demands include that they implement the Memorandum of Action signed in 202 with us.
“The document says government will release the first tranche of the Revitalisation Fund, pay Earned Academic Allowance, stop proliferation of universities, renegotiate the 2009 agreement among others.
“They have set up a committee to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and they are yet to come up with anything from the report of the committee they set up.
“I wonder why some people behave as if they are living in another world entirely. Is it because they are occupying public offices that they seem to exist in another planet?” he wondered.
Ossai Ovie, special assistant to the executive governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the Presidential Candidates of Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi, and All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu are not capable of leading Nigeria as President.
Ossai disclosed this in a statement he posted on his official Facebook page.
According to him, Tinubu doesn’t understand the complexity of Nigeria and Peter Obi cannot offer Nigerians competent leadership.
He said, “Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, we must be careful with the people we give our support.
“We all remembered how we were deceived by the All Progressive Congress APC in 2014 and 2015 and today we are being faced with poverty, and insecurity.
“The rich and the poor are being affected by the ungodly leadership of APC.
“It’s time for us to say no to incapable people as our leaders come 2023.
“We must make the right choice this time around by electing politicians that care about our future .”
“I have known the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party Sir Peter Obi, All Progressive Congress APC Presidential Candidate Bola Tinubu, and the People’s Democratic Party PDP Presidential Candidate PDP Atiku Abubakar for years.
“Tinubu doesn’t understand the complexity of Nigeria and he doesn’t know Nigeria is a multi-religious state.
“Tinubu doesn’t have what it takes to be Nigeria’s president.
“Peter Obi can’t offer Nigerians competent leadership looking at his antecedents.
“Nigeria as of today is bigger than speaking English.
“Peter Obi is good at speaking English than implementing what has been said.
“Looking at the achievements of Atiku in the past years, it’s morally acceptable for us to say Atiku is more capable, competent, and qualified for the position of Nigeria president.
“Among all the candidates, only Atiku has the needed experience to rescue Nigeria from poverty and insecurity.
“He is the only one ready for the restructuring of Nigeria.
“The combination of Atiku and Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa of Delta State is what Nigerians need at the moment for the redemption of Nigeria.
“Atiku has the requisite knowledge, experience, and political sagacity of making Nigeria an enviable country.
“We need to support and vote PDP come 2023 general elections,” he said.
Cynthia Okereke, Nollywood screen diva who was recently abducted and released by gunmen, has said her abduction was a mistake, as she was not the target of the kidnappers.
Okereke and a colleague, Clemson Cornell, were kidnapped in Enugu State, and their kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom of $100,000.
In an interview with Sunday Scoop, Okereke said, “They told me I was not the one they were looking for. They stated that since they could not get who they originally wanted, they had to take me. It was a coincidence.”
She also stated that contrary to some reports, a ransom was paid before she was released. She said, “It is a lie.”
Asked how much was paid to secure her freedom, the actress said, “That is what I won’t tell you, but a ransom was paid. I don’t want it to go viral but ransom was paid. My husband was the one who took the ransom to Ngwa in Abia State.”
While narrating her experience in the kidnappers’ hideout, she said, “They did not give me anything. For the first two days I was there, I was not given any food. It was on the third day they gave me milk and a malt drink. Because my stomach was empty, I knew that I would vomit if I took it, so I declined.”
Asked if the kidnappers recognised her as an actress, Okereke said, “When they captured us at Centenary Junction in Enugu, they said, ‘Cynthia Okereke, you think we don’t know you’? So, I asked them what they wanted and pleaded that they should take my car when they shot into the air. They said they did not need the car.”
On how they were transported to the criminal’s lair, the actress said, “We were wrapped with a trampoline and taken to an unknown destination. It was the following morning that one of them asked me if I know where I was. I said I didn’t no, and told me we were in Ebonyi State.”
Recalling some of the things the kidnappers told her while in their camp, she said, “They said Nollywood is not supporting Nnamdi Kanu (founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra), that we should come out en masse to support him. According to them, ‘Kanu is fighting for every one (Igbo people).”
Meanwhile, when Sunday Scoop put a call through to the other kidnapped actor, Clemson Cornel, the person who answered the phone stated that he was receiving treatment in the hospital.
The Katsina Police Command on Saturday raided terrorists’ hideouts at tandama village in Danja Local Government Area and rescued six kidnapped victims
A statement by the Command spokesman, Superintendent Gambo Isah, said the raid of the terrorists’ hideouts was based on credible intelligence
He said, “On Saturday 6/08/2022 at about 0530hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command raided terrorists hideouts at Unguwan Dako, Tandama village, Danja LGA and succeeded in rescuing 6 kidnapped victims’’
‘’They are: Alhaji Garba Dan Mallam, M,52 of Unguwan Nuhu, Danja LGA ,Rabiu Idris,45 of the same address, Abba Samaila, 38,Yunusa Sani, 54 of Layin Sani village, Kafur Ishaq Yakub, 40,Danjuma Samaila, 45,all of the same address.”
In a related development, an unconfirmed report by some members of Safana community indicated the bombardment of a terrorist camp by the Nigerian Air Force NAF at Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday evening which led led to the decimation of a terrorist leader, Abdulkarim Faca-faca.
Also eight other suspected terrorists’ gang members were killed in during the NAF raids, while some other terrorists fled the area with bullets wounds during the mop-up operations.