Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba
A pregnant woman identified simply as Beatrice has been beaten to death by her husband popularly known as M.O.B. in Sapele community, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
Punch reported that the incident occurred on Friday evening August 5th in the vicinity of a new generation church, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, on New Road, Awolowo Road Extension, in Sapele.
It was gathered that the man began assaulting his wife after asking why she left home for church without doing the necessary house chores and making an arrangement for his dinner.
The impatient man who did not wait for his heavily pregnant wife to give an explanation, slapped her and dealt blows on her several times, causing her to collapse on the spot.
Passers-by and church members were said to have rushed to the scene to rescue the woman. She was confirmed dead after being rushed to a nearby medical facility in Obule Hospital.
The federal lawmaker representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has attacked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his supporters, describing them as noisy and loud.
This is coming after he had earlier 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.
According to the former Enugu State governor, the Peoples Democratic Party, has laid foundation in the State which cannot be taken over by another party.
Meanwhile, Chimaroke in another round of statement posted on his official Facebook page, said that the Obidient movement are “noisy, loud, intolerant, proselytizers, condescending and constitute less than 0.25percent of 200 million population of Nigeria.
He said, “There is no Obidient PARTY!!!
“The name is LABOUR party. A political party with candidates in all Offices including governorship.
“Our party and platform is different and that is PDP. FACT
“If we blur the distinction and foolishly vote Obidient that is Labour Party for President?
“For the minority ELITES it easy to reverse 2 weeks later!
“For the majority over 98percent that is major “confuse “as they say on the Streets”Confuse Yamaru” as Umu Asadu will put it!
“Remember these advocates are Noisy, Loud, Intolerant, Proselytizers, Condescending but less than 0.25percent of our 200 million population. That is a generous guess of those propagandists controlling the NARRATIVE. Only a narrative. At least Osun 2000 votes for Labour bears it out!
“Most will not put reverse gear 2 weeks later. They will continue on to Governorship and House of Assembly.
“If Obidient is Peter Obi only why field candidates in other offices?
“Why do we establish foundation and beach head for Labour party? In battle do you give invaders your beach head to Land (please forgive my war analogy, for want of more graphic example) and now seek to drive them away? ebeanoFAM answer my question. The answer is blowing in the wind
“Why build Foundation for another party and reverse 2 weeks later.
“The same arguments will apply for other offices as the campaign evolves.
“They are luring us into false sense of complacency using subterfuge.
“They are already asking for more, all of it. Remember the Tortoise as Achebe wrote,Obidient is another word for “all of us” Come February 25, 2023 Obidient will answer “all of us” Those who have not read the greatest Book ever written, Things fall Apart, go figure!
“The Boundaries are clear, so also the differences!
“We are ebeano and our political party is not Labour
“We are PDP and our symbol is Umbrella ☂!
“It is Democracy. It is what it is.
I love my #ebeanoFAM ❤️🍊☂️”
A lawyer and one of the victims of Abuja-Kaduna train attack,Hassan Usman has stated that he is still a strong supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Hassan was among the passengers that were kidnaped On March 28,
in Kaduna-bound train was attacked and several persons were killed and injured.
Speaking in an interview with ICIR, he said although the present administration has failed in the area of security, he is still a “strong supporter” of Buhari.
He said,“I am still a strong supporter of Buhari, but in terms of security, I can score this government below average, because one of their major responsibilities is to see that the lives and property of citizens are being guaranteed by the government
“But as it is now, I can say that the government has failed woefully in that area. Despite the huge resources allocated for security in Nigeria, there is nothing to write home about.”
He added that his experience while in captivity was a terrible one.
“It has been a bitter experience I must say,” Hassan said.
“Since when we were captured, we had to walk long miles for almost three days before we reached a camp where we were detained for close to four months and being there is a bitter experience actually.
“Since we arrived that camp, we killed more than 10 snakes and some other reptiles like scorpions or what have you.”
The Imo State Police command has blamed men of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for the attack on its station at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abattam, also confirmed that four officers were killed in the attack.
Abattam, in a statement said, “On 05/8/2022 at about 2300 hours, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) attacked Agwa Police Station in their numbers.
“The hoodlums who came in two vehicles and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station, throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs.
“The police operatives of the division joined by the Command’s Tactical Teams gave the hoodlums a stiff resistance, engaging them in a gun duel. The hoodlums who were fatally hit with a lot of casualty on their side, retreated, escaping in their vehicles.
“The fire which affected a parked private car and some motorcycles was later put off, preventing it from causing more damages. Fortunately, the building was not affected .
“In the attack, two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers gallantly paid the supreme price, while one rifle is yet to be recovered. Meanwhile, the area have been fortified with enough police operatives .
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, who went to the scene on confidence building patrol and on the spot accessement of the incident, visited the Eze of the Community, HRH Eze (Dr) I. O Asor, in his Palace where he assured him and members his community of the Command’s commitment in ensuring that peace is restored and the Command will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“He then enjoined them to report any person seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within their communities to the nearest police station or call the Command’s emergency control room numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197,” the statement added.
The call for supporters to dump the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has been made by the federal lawmaker representing the Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.
As the 2023 presidential election approaches, Nnamani via posts on his social media handles, has urged the members of his Ebeano political family to dump the “Obidient Movement” saying that his constituents would not afford to loose the governorship and State Assembly because of Peter Obi.
According the former Enugu State governor, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 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.
Nnamani is the founder of the Ebeano political dynasty in Enugu State.
He wrote, “We cannot lay foundation for another political party and expect to umbrella on it 2 weeks later. NOT in Enugu! Not in ebeano “country” Let’s cut the …,,, and muuuvvvveee.
“Obidient ebeano! Take a break we see you guys after Governorship and State Assemblies. This is a message to all ebeano. We go! No bandwagon in Enugu! IT is game ON!#ebeanoFAM.
“Politics is SERIOUS business. Not romantic Liason. We meet in February. May the majority win Enugu. We can not afford Bandwagon and loose Governorship and State Assemblies.
“Obidients Bye Bye for now. You win we congratulate you, after all we are kinsman.We win we meet again and roll”.
The police in Lagos State have arrested a 36-year-old applicant, Ifeanyi Ezennaya, for allegedly drugging and robbing six women of six iPhones valued at N4 million.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened on Tuesday at Falolu Street, Surulere, Lagos.
Ezennaya, whose residential address is unknown, lured the young ladies (names withheld) to a hotel, laced their drinks with an unknown substance and dispossessed them of their phones and other valuables.
One of the victims who spoke on behalf of others told NAN that they met the suspect a few days ago while celebrating the birthday of one of them in a bar.
“We met him at a bar, he approached us and introduced himself as Emeka, he claimed he is just back from Switzerland and he wants to be our friend.
“Two of us gave him our phone contacts.
“On Tuesday, he called that we should hang out in a hotel and we honoured the invitation.
“He ushered us to the room he had already booked.
“He brought out red wine and some energy drinks from the fridge and served us and that was all we could remember,” she said.
Another victim, who continued the narration, said that when they eventually woke up after sleeping for six hours, the suspect was nowhere to be found.
“We drank the wine around 7:00 p.m. and woke up at 1:00 a.m. and discovered that we had been robbed of our six iPhones, wristwatches, and gold chain among other items.
“It was then it dawned on us that our drinks were spiked with drugs,” she said.
She added that Ezennaya withdrew the sum of N50,000 from the account of one of us with the ATM card he stole.
“We later learnt that he had sent our phones to Onitsha through waybill and sold them for N900,000,” she said.
NAN gathered that Ezennaya specialised in drugging and robbing women of their phones and other valuables.
Police officers at Surulere Division, through diligent work, arrested the suspect on Thursday in a hotel in Allen Avenue, Ikeja, where he was about to rob another prospective victim.
When NAN contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the division, CSP Idowu Adedeji, for details, he referred our correspondent to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Lagos State Command.
The PPRO, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the story said the suspect drugged and robbed the victims.
According to him, the phones are yet to be recovered.
Liverpool started their title challenge with a 2-2 draw at newly promoted Fulham on Saturday.
Aleksandar Mitrovic gave Fulham the lead twice but Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah managed to pull goals back for Liverpool and ensure they got a point.
“We have to respect Liverpool but of course do our job and trust ourselves, we did a great first half, almost perfect the way we controlled and blocked,” Fulham coach Marco Silva said. “Second half we matched them every time.
“I know the quality Mitrovic has and I’m here to take the best from my players. Mitrovic is not just goals, he puts on the constant pressure and the overall job he did is fantastic.”
Fulham grabbed their first goal on 32 minutes when they broke down the right hand side through Neeskens Kebano.
Kebano laid the ball off to Kenny Tete who planted a cross into the box, which Mitrovic headed past Alisson.
Nunez then scored to save Liverpool’s blushes on his Premier League debut. He replaced Roberto Firmino on 51 minutes and scored just after the hour mark.
Salah slid a low ball into the box which the Uruguay international guided past Marek Rodak from close range.
Fulham were then awarded a penalty after Mitrovic went down under a challenge from Virgil van Dijk on 72 minutes. The Serbia international cooly converted the spot kick.
Salah levelled for Liverpool on 80 minutes after Nunez set him up.
Jordan Henderson was close to completing Liverpool’s comeback when he hit the crossbar from outside the box five minutes into injury time.
“The best thing about the game was the result,” Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said. “We got a point from a really bad game. The result was fine, I don’t think we deserved more than that. The performance can be massively improved.
“We could have won the game because we had good chances but it was probably a bit too much today.”
The Management of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) Ideato, ably led by the scholarly Vice Chancellor, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie has scored another innovative milestone in the academic sphere.
This milestone was achieved with the introduction of the Virtual Classroom. This innovation enables both students and staff to interact and engage in lectures virtually from any location where they may be.
Recently, the University commenced the training of staff and student in order to get them acquainted with the new technology.
This virtual training of staff and students is being anchored by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. A. C. Onyeka who also is a renowned expert in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) field.
The essence of this Virtual Classroom is to ensure an uninterrupted academic activity in the University, especially in this period of insecurity where staff and student may sometimes be compelled to work and study from home.
According to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dozie, this development has put KOMU in the category of international higher institutions where students and staff can seamlessly work and study from any where.
This, according to him, is in line with the international best practices where academic activities are now IT driven.
He further stated that this achievement is in tandem with the 3R Shared Prosperity programme of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
In his opinion, one of the key visions of the 3R Shared Prosperity programme is the promotion of academic excellence in the State, which has been reflected in the support the government has given to the University so far.
The Vice Chancellor vowed not to rest on his oars in the pursuit of academic excellence and the placement of the University among the committee of reputable higher institutions in Nigeria and beyond.
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Christiana Pam, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, says to survive the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), she is now into the petty trade of selling potatoes.
Recall that on February 14, ASUU embarked on a four-week warning strike. The union extended the industrial action by another two months on March 14, to allow the government to meet all of its demands. A 12-week extension was announced on May 9.
Last week, ASUU extended the strike by a month, vowing to persist until its demands are met.
The strike, according to the union, was as a result of the failure of the government to meet some demands such as the release of the revitalisation funds for universities, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, deployment of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers, renegotiation
In an interview with PUNCH, Pam, whose picture went viral on social media over her trade, said she got drained financially in the early days of the strike.
She said some of her colleagues were envious as they had nothing to fall back on for survival during the strike.
“When the first strike was declared, I had the assumption that within four weeks, it would be called off and we would resume. I was very hopeful and relaxed, waiting for it to be called off but after ASUU’s negotiations with the Federal Government, which didn’t end well as the demands of ASUU were obviously not met, the strike was extended. That was when it dawned on me that I needed to take a step because, within the first phase of the strike, I was already drained financially as I am new to the system and had yet to have the opportunity to save more money before the strike. So I thought of going home to Plateau State. I was so financially down that I had to borrow some money to take myself to my parents.”
“My parents had always been farmers even before their retirement, so after their retirement, they continued farming. When I got back home, I joined them on the farm with the hope that after two weeks, the strike would be called off and I would be back to work but in what looked like a joke, I started with them by clearing the farm, planting and it got to harvesting time and I was still at home. So, I began to wonder what I could do to earn an income as I could not ask my retired parents for money because they should be the ones looking up to me. So, I decided to sell some of the potatoes we harvested from our farm and they would be appreciated in Akwa Ibom.
“I had to sell some of them in Jos to raise money to move the remaining ones to Akwa Ibom State and just try my hands and see how it would go. That was where I was spotted. I believe that you start with what you have. It is what you have that you can use to your advantage. I looked around and I asked myself what I had that I could use to sustain myself at this critical time and I discovered that what I had were potatoes.
Reacting to the public perception over the move, Pam said it was as a result of the condition she found herself.
“I kept telling them shamelessly that I was on a farm with my parents, so when I started selling potatoes as a lecturer, I didn’t really feel anything. I just felt it was a condition I had found myself in. My colleagues said they envied me because I had something to sell when they did not. So, for me, I am okay with having something to do. My students even patronise me. They felt encouraged that I stooped to such a level as a lecturer when some of them were busy feeling pompous at home.”
When asked how lucrative the business is, Christiana said she gain about N3,00 from each bag of potatoes she sold.
While hoping that the ongoing strike yield a positive result, she also call on her fellow colleagues to be creative and find alternative means to survive.
Human Rights activist, author and public affairs analyst, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme has commended the patriotic and relentless efforts of former Governors Chris Ngige and Peter Obi for laying the foundation for establishing Orient Petroleum Refinery.
Comrade Ezekwueme also commended former Commonwealth secretary general Chief Emeka Anyaoku who was the pioneer chairman of Orient Petroleum, as well CLO Anambra State which doggedly and persistently demanded and agitated for inclusion of Anambra State among oil producing state.
Ezekwueme further hailed a horde of others for their immense sacrifices and the indispensable roles they played towards recognition and enlisting of Anambra State as oil producing state by Revenue Mobilization and Allocation Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) since August 2021.
He noted that It is cheering news and welcome development that the state recently received her maiden allocation of fund accruing to the state due to her current status as oil producing state as was enlisted last year by RMAFC.
He said: “It is pertinent to note that the two previous Governors’, Ngige and Obi administrations, following the discovery of oil in Anambra east and Ogbaru local governments, established Orient Petroleum and made concerted efforts towards recognition and capturing of the state as oil producing state.
“Worthy of mention and commendation is a former member of House of Representative and Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Anambra North, Dr Tony Nwoye, for moving a motion in the lower Chamber in 2017 for recognition and inclusion of Anambra State as oil producing state.
“The collective and collaborative efforts has yielded positive results as the state now benefits from revenue accruing to oil producing state, which precipitates more revenue allocations to the state from federation account.
“It is of prime importance to note that its benefits will be too great to mention.
“Not only it will astrologically increase revenue from federation account, boost economic activities, create wealth and jobs for citizens, provide more infrastructural development, give the state sense of belonging, most importantly it will propel and promote the state from among bottom in federal allocation to among the top beneficiaries.
“Increase in federal allocation precipitates increase in infrastructural development as more resources will be available to tackle challenges and problems bedeviling the state and her citizens.”
Ezekwueme, in view of the foregoing, appealed to the state government to judiciously and prudently utilize the funds to improve on infrastructures, socioeconomic uplift of citizenry, security and education.
He stressed that there is urgent need for the state government to consider establishing primary and secondary schools along 33, Nsugbe and Ikwelle Ezunaka axis, because there is only Oyolu primary school and Nkwelle High school in the area.
This, he said, is inadequate considering high population of indigenes and residents.
“This has truncated education of many children due to paucity of funds as most of their parents cannot afford exorbitant fees by private schools,” he added.
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Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, has congratulated Chief Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the wife of late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on her 55th birthday
Soludo in a birthday message described her as a representation of the spirit of dedication and commitment to a given cause, which her late husband, epitomised.
“You represent honesty, fearlessness and total commitment to noble causes which your beloved husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, exhibited while alive.
“Your wise counsel and service to the state and humanity in general remain commendable and appreciated
“At this momentous occasion of your 55th birthday, on behalf of my family and the good people of Anambra State, I wish you a happy birthday and more rewarding years ahead”. Governor Soludo concluded
Iyom Bianca Ojukwu is the current secretary of the Prof Chidi Odinkalu led 15-member Anambra State Truth, Justice and Peace Commission instituted by Governor Soludo’s administration, an effort committed to searching for insights, perspectives and recommendations, to douse the rising tension of agitation and insecurity among the people
The Imo State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the killers of four police officers attached to the Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state on Friday night.
Gunmen had on Friday night attacked the police station, killed four cops, and burnt vehicles at the premises.
They also went to the house of an Okada rider identified simply as Ejike, shot him dead, shot his wife before fleeing the community.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson for the command, Micheal Abattam, said the command was on the trail of the suspects.
He linked the attack to the militant wing of the Indigenous people of Biafra, Eastern Security Nework.
Abattam disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, had visited the attacked police station and also visited the traditional ruler of the community, Eze I.O. Asor.
The police spokesperson said the CP assured the people of the community that the police in the state were on the trail of the suspects and were ready and committed to protecting lives and properties.
He said, “On August 5, at about 2300 hours, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), attacked Agwa Police Station in their numbers. The hoodlums who came in two vehicles and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station, throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and petrol bombs.
“The police operatives of the division, joined by the Command’s Tactical Teams, gave the hoodlums a stiff resistance, engaging them in a gun duel. The hoodlums who were fatally hit with a lot of casualties on their side, retreated, escaping in their vehicles.
“The fire, which affected a parked private car and some motorcycles, was later put off, preventing it from causing more damages. Fortunately, the building was not affected.
“In the attack, two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers gallantly paid the supreme price, while one rifle is yet to be recovered.
“Meanwhile, the area have been fortified with enough police operatives.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Mohammed Barde psc(+), who went to the scene on confidence building patrol and on the spot assessment of the incident, visited the Eze of the community, Eze I. O Asor (fcin) in his Palace where he assured him and members his community of the Command’s commitment in ensuring that peace is restored.
“The Command will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“He then enjoined them to report any person seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within their communities to the nearest police station or call the Command’s emergency control room numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197.”
Popular Nigerian entertainer and crossdresser, Denrele Edun, has recounted his experience with applicants of Big Brother Naija reality TV shown revealing that some applicants sent their nude pictures to him.
Appearing in an interview on Lunch Time with Vanguard, published on Saturday, the media personality admitted to being “instrumental” in the show’s proceedings.
According to him, people who want to be on the show reach out to him to help them get selected and become contestants.
He said, “I get a lot of nudes from people who want to go for BBNaija. I get all kinds of monetary offers.
“I have gotten N100m, N50m, N30m and I tell people go and do something reasonable with your money.
“So, let’s just say if you don’t have a Denrele in your life that can help you rediscover yourself or help you get to the next level and give you direction to help you navigate your way through life, then what are you looking for? Go and find a Denrele.
“Away from that, yes! I have been instrumental to a lot of these things. It is what it is.
“I’m at the industry’s center of gravity. Let’s just say I know people in the right places, when they ask you, tell them to come and meet me.”
He noted it all started when winner of 2011 Big Brother Africa, Karen Igho, spoke about how he helped her to fill her application form.
“It all started when my good friend, Karen Igho got into the house and was always saying ‘na Denrele help me fill my form’.”
When he was asked if his influence got anyone into the ongoing BBNaija season 7, Denrele said he has lot of amazing people in the house and confirmed that more housemates will be joining the show
Denrele said, “Well! I have a lot of amazing people in the house and some that are still coming in.”
“The decision by the Benue State Chief Executive officer Samuel Ortom and the house of assembly to legislate into being, the armed civilian vigilante to protect the citizens from the rampaging onslaught of armed non-state actors that have killed over 3,000 Benue indigenous people over the past 7 years is salutary.
“The decision has come so late in the day when so much destruction has been done by armed herders from all sorts of places but it is better to be late than never to do anything as suggested by Benue politicians who blindly endorsed the antagonistic tendencies of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the security and wellbeing of Benue people.
“Any responsible governor both in the South East or North should embrace this exemplary leadership of this Benue’s helmsman who gave President Buhari’s administration enough time to stop the killings but got antagonistic reactions from the same office of President ”.
With the above affirmation, civil rights body, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked Governor Samuel Ioraer Ortom to ensure that the armed vigilante operatives are not manipulated as political goons like it is done now with Ebubeagu in Imo State by Hope Uzodinma resulting in the constant genocide of Igbo Youths.
National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, addressing a press briefing
We recommend that the Benue Security vigilante outfit is deployed to protect every citizens of Benue State and law abiding residents of that state.
We support the security, stability and tranquility of Benue State because Benue State is very useful as the incontestable foods basket of Nigeria because since the killings by herders started in Benue, Yam tubers have now become rare commodities and so the decision to protect farmers in Benue State is agenda that every right thinking Nigerian should support now and going forward.
HURIWA recalled the Benue State Government, on Thursday, approved the establishment of vigilante groups to combat the high rate of insecurity in the state.
Governor Ortom disclosed this when he briefed journalists on the outcome of the expanded stakeholders’ meeting held at the new banquet hall of the Government House.
Addressing journalists on the resolutions of the meeting, Ortom, who said renewed attacks on the people by armed herdsmen had overstretched security agencies, noted that the state government had decided to enforce “the law to provide for the establishment of community volunteer guards (vigilantes).”
He said the vigilantes would be constituted from the community to local government levels to complement the operations of conventional security agencies across the state.
Ortom explained that the recruitment process would commence immediately, adding that those to be recruited would be within the age range of 18 to 50 and mostly ex-service men.
The governor stated: “Those to be recruited are ex-service men and people from 18 to 50 years, and they must have stable sources of income and must have lived in their respective communities for a minimum of six years and they must be of impeccable characters and be loyal.
“All the vigilantes must carry weapons that are licensed so that anytime there is external aggression, they must be able to rise up to defend themselves.”
The governor said the state government has been mandated to support the vigilantes with logistics as provided in the law.
He added that the recruitment of personnel should be carried out in the 23 local government areas of the state.
The three socio cultural associations in the state, the Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, Ochetoha, K’Idoma and Omini Igede passed a vote of confidence in the governor.
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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied killing of mine Northerners in Imo State. describing the statement as laughable and disgraceful.
The group accused Federal Government and her security agencies of colluding with the Ebubeagu to kill innocent people to blackmail it.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, IPOB warned the Nigeria Police and its sisters security agencies operating in the area to leave the group alone to sanitize its territory of terrorists.
It reiterated that it would never attack any peaceful individual or group doing legitimate business in the Southeast, insisting it was only after sponsored terrorists in forest and bushes in the zone.
The seperatist group regretted that out of 100 countries it operates, it is only in Nigeria that it is demonized, blackmailed and killed extrajudicially.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the laughable disgraceful, unguarded and fabricated statement alleging that IPOB members were responsible for the gruesome murder of eight northern people living in Orogwe, suburb community in Owerri, Imo State.
“It is unfortunate that Nigeria Government and her Security Agencies would descend so low to collude with the Ebubeagu militia that was created by Hope Uzodinma and his government to kill innocent people just to blackmail IPOB.
IPOB has not and will never attack any peaceful individual or group of people doing legitimate business or trading in our territory. We are only after are those criminals created by Nigeria Securities and bandits they brought into our territory masquarading as Fulani herdsmen who kidnap for ransom, rape our women and murder our farmers in our forests and bushes.
“IPOB will never succumb to pressure and blackmail from pursuing those terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our bushes and forests. ESN has been dealing and dislodging those sponsored terrorists and will continue to do so until they vacate our Forest and bushes. Therefore, Nigeria Police and its sisters security agencies operating in Biafraland should leave IPOB alone to sanitize our territory of terrorists.
“IPOB has severally said that we have nothing against Hausa people living peacefully and do their legitimate businesses, anybody linking IPOB to the recently attack in Imo State is doing that to demonise and blackmail IPOB.
“In over 100 countries where IPOB operates, the people and their Governments acknowledges that IPOB is a peaceful movement and family seeking for freedom from its Nigeria Pharoas. Only in Nigeria that IPOB is demonized, blackmailed and killed extrajudicially like terrorists like no human beings.
“IPOB did not harm or kill anyone in Imo State on Monday because we are peaceful and have not indulged in enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order. We are focused on rescuing Biafrans from damnable Nigeria Republic.
“We wondered why Nigeria government using their stooge in Imo State causing confusion and collaborating with Ebubeagu militia to murder innocent citizens while using the Police and DSS agents to shield them.
“Biafrans should be aware that Nigeria compromised security agencies are complicit to the numerous kidnappings for ransom and killing of innocent citizens in the East which they maliciously blame it on IPOB and ESN. They are doing all these barbaric activities to place IPOB in bad light to our people and International Community.
“Every Biafran, including good spirited Nigerians Knows that IPOB are not involved in the unwanted killings going on, if our people we are paying heavy price to protect would be easily deceived by enemies that means they are not worthy to be dying for. BIAFRA enemies can do their best to stop us but in the end BIAFRA will be restored completely because Elohim is behind the struggle.”
The Nigerian governors have advised the federal government to retire all federal civil servants who are older than 50 years
This is part of efforts to save the nation from imminent economic collapse,
The governors also want the government to raise taxes across boars as well as levy anyone earning N30,000 and above monthly.
The governors made the proposal at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in July, an online publication, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively gathered from sources privy to details of the meeting.
The proposal also urged the government to begin implementation of the updated Stephen Oronsaye Report, which suggested merger and shutdown of agencies and parastatals with duplicated or contested functions as a way to address bureaucratic inefficiency and reduce the cost of governance.
Officials familiar with details of the meeting, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, explained that the governors were concerned about the deteriorating state of the economy and a proposal to restore fiscal discipline was presented to the federal government.
The federal civil service employs just about 89,000 people but will spend about N4.1 trillion on personnel costs this year, from its N17 trillion budget for the entire country. It is not clear how many workers are above 50 years of age, or how much goes to them.
The suggestion comes as indications emerge that the nation may be teetering towards the cliff of economic collapse.
The online publication had reported that Nigeria’s external reserves amount to only $15 billion, well below the $36 billion balance on the gross external reserves claimed by the bank. With the nation spending N5.9 trillion on imports in the first quarter of the year, reserves of $15 billion would barely cover four months of import.
Last week, details emerged that the balance in Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account had depleted significantly from $35.37m to $376,655, leaving the nation with no buffers to stabilize the economy and its currency. Yet another indication emerged recently that the nation was broke as debt service surpassed revenue.
According to details of the 2022 fiscal performance report for January through April, Nigeria’s total revenue stood at N1.63 trillion while debt servicing stood at N1.94 trillion, showing a variance of over N300 billion.
As part of measures to restore fiscal discipline, the governors advised the federal government to reduce expenditure immediately by eliminating petrol subsidy and NNPC-funded projects, cap the Social Investment Programme (SIP) and National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) budgets to N200 billion, eliminate extra-constitutional deductions from FAAC, and reduce SWV items for SDG and NASS Constituency projects.
The governors, according to the sources, also asked the government to reduce duplications (e.g. empowerment programmes) and waste, reduce 1% granted to NASENI to 0.2%, amend the Act in 2022 Finance Bill, reduce personnel costs of federal government MDAs, and expedite privatization of non-performing assets like the NDPHC power plants.
Similarly, the governors urged that the 2023 – 2025 MTEF should reflect the suggestions and government’s commitment to restore fiscal discipline while the planned 22% increase in salaries in 2023 be reconsidered. They added that the fiscal deficit should be reduced to no more than 2% of GDP in 2023 – 2025.
Gunmen have reportedly abducted 14 Indian nationals in Ajaokuta LGA of Kogi state.
According to TheCable, it was learnt that two Indians, two police officers and two drivers were killed when the gunmen struck.
The incident reportedly happened around 9:00 pm on Friday.
A resident in the area said, “They were on their way home from work (West African Ceramics) when the gunmen attacked their Coaster bus yesterday (Friday) night.
Their bus was ambushed by these gunmen. They were able to kidnap 14 Indians. Two police officers providing security to them were also killed.”
In reaction to the attack, the Kogi state government said it is working with the security agencies to rescue all those that have been abducted.
“Immediately the unfortunate report was brought to the attention of the State Government, our administration has spread our security net in working with the conventional security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure the abducted children are rescued alive and the cowards who abducted them brought to book,” Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s information commissioner, said in a statement on Saturday.
“In Kogi State, the life of everyone matters.
“The governor and the government of Kogi State understand that the number one responsibility of the Government is the protection of the lives and property of the citizens. The Kogi State Government will never shirk such responsibility.”
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, says the Federal Government cannot ground activities in order to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Mr Festus who was recently appointed as Bola Tinubu’s campaign spox, said this on Friday while Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
While stressing that the government had done its best, he also appealed to parents to “beg” ASUU to soft peddle.
He said, “Should we go and borrow to pay N1.2 trillion yearly? You cannot allow one sector of the economy to hold you by the jugular and then blackmail you to go and borrow N1.2 trillion for overheads when our total income would be about N6.1 trillion. And you have roads to build, health centres to build, other sectors to take care of.
“Like the President said the other time, those who know them, appeal to their sense of patriotism. Let them go back to classes. They are not the only ones in Nigeria. They are not the only ones feeding from the federal purse. The nation cannot grind to a halt because we want to take care of the demands of ASUU.”
On February 14, ASUU embarked on a four-week warning strike. The union extended the industrial action by another two months on March 14, to allow the government to meet all of its demands. A 12-week extension was announced on May 9.
Last week, ASUU extended the strike by a month, vowing to persist until its demands are met.
The strike, according to the union, was as a result of the failure of the government to meet some demands such as the release of the revitalisation funds for universities, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, deployment of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers, renegotiation of the ASUU-Federal Government 2009 agreement among others.
Another is the issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The academics have proposed an alternative payroll system, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
Since the strike started, stakeholders had called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to find a lasting solution to the strike.
As the 2023 general election approaches, no fewer than one million residents of Nasarawa State are presently holding a rally in Lafia, the State capital, in support of the Labour party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Kano State Fire Service have reportedly rescued a 15 year old boy identified as Hamza Yahaya who on Friday climbed the popular Kofar Nasarawa flyover bridge in the metropolis and threatened to commit suicide if president Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t resign from office.
Hamza’s action Newsband gathered, attracted crowd even as people begged him not to take his life, noting that Buhari’s tenure was nearing an end.
He was rescued from the pavement of the bridge in a swift response by operatives of the State Fire Service.
A resident of Kofar Nasarawa who identified himself as Abdullahi Madugu confirmed the development to newsmen.
According to Kofar, he was on his way to attend the Friday Juma’at prayers when he ran into the incident.
“I was rushing to attend the Juma’at prayers around 1:30 pm when I saw a large crowd of people gathered watching a boy who climbed the bridge (popular Kofar Nasarawa bridge) and threatened to commit suicide or President Muhammadu resign.
“They (people around and even the firemen) pacified him to come down but he insisted that he would not come down. I heard him saying this with my own ears. He is not a small boy. This may be as a result of the situation of day-to-day activities.
“It was one Malam Musa (who move about selling clothes) that drew the attention of the fire service who deployed their men and rescued the boy,”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif denied the reports that the man attempted suicide over hardship or the claims that until he sees the President resign.
Yusif explained that the service received a distress call around 1:40 pm about the young man who was found on a pavement of a bridge.
“He told us he doesn’t know how he got in there. He told us he is a resident of Sharada area of the state and that he ran away from their house to the area some three months ago because their neighbour sent him on an errand with N4,000 and he spent the money.
“He is about 15 years old and can’t say such (commit suicide or President Buhari resigns) but the claims were by people around who coined the story along that line giving previous experiences.
“Our men deployed tactics and safely rescued the boy from the pavement. We handed him over to one SP Rabiu Tale at the Kwalli Police Division to investigate the matter,” Yusif explained.
Mr Festus Keyamo, a serving junior minister for Labour and Employment and spox of Tinubu campaign organization, has said that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi Is ahead of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Party (PDP) in terms of capacity to make decision.
Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN
Keyamo while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, noted that Nigeria can’t second-guess by handing over leadership baton to Atiku Abubakar who has never handled any executive position where he made decision.
Shedding light on the capacity of Bola Tinubu, Festus said that the major rival Tinubu has- Atiku Abubakar isn’t tested, thus, can’t be trusted with the presidency of the country.
“The major rival we have today has not held any executive position where he made the final call in government, so we cannot second-guess. Atiku Abubakar has never held any government position where he made the final call, he was the vice president, he was never the president, he was never Governor, he was never anything.
“…even Peter Obi is ahead of Atiku Abubakar in terms of capacity to make decisions. How are we going to handover the country to somebody who has never shown capacity, who has never held position where he made the final call. The vice president doesn’t make the final call.
“Atiku is never tested nor trusted, he can never hold such position.”
The executive governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has declared that he is determined to deliver the Tinubu/Shettima presidential election victory in 2023.
Mr Lalong gave the assurance at the Yakubu Gowon International Airport, Jos on arrival from Abuja, where he was appointed as the director-general of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation.
Lalong, who was received by a mammoth crowd said, “I consider my appointment as the director-general of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign for the 2023 elections as an honour done to the entire Plateau State. And I vow not to allow the confidence reposed on me to be abused.
Rampaging gunmen on Friday night, killed four policemen when they attacked Agwa Divisional Police headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state.
Newsband gathered that part of the division and vehicles, including the one belonging to the Divisional Police Officer were burnt by the rag tag attackers
The development has reportedly caused palpable tension in the area as residents expressed shock.
Sources in the community who do not want to mentioned according to PUNCH Newspaper disclosed that they struck around 10- 11pm in three vehicles.
According to the sources, the gunmen came in a tipper vehicle and two sienna cars and invaded the police division.
One of the sources said,” They came in a tipper and two sienna vehicles shooting indiscriminately and we all ran into our houses. It was around 10 and 11pm.
“It was this morning that we heard that they were criminals and they attacked the police division, killed four policemen and burnt vehicles there.”
Another source said he was in his house when he started hearing sounds of gunshots and he didn’t bother coming outside.
He said, “I was already inside when I started hearings sounds of gunshots. I didn’t bother coming outside because it was safer to stay indoors than to come outside.
“It was this morning that we heard that the Agwa Divisional Police headquarters was attacked. Four policemen were killed. Two male officers were shot dead while two female police officers were burnt to death.
“Part of the building were the female officers were was burnt. Vehicles at the division, including the one belonging to the DPO were burnt. They also went to the house of an Okada man known as Ejike, shot him dead and shot his wife. His wife is alive.”
Another person said that his people were living in fear, calling on the government to rescue the situation.
He said, “We are living in fears. We don’t sleep with our eyes closed anymore. It is one problem or the other. We don’t even know the reason for this heinous crime. Two female police officers roasted and the two others killed in cold blood. This is anti- human.
“This is unbelievable. God should please come to our rescue. The government should please rise up to the occasion. Things are getting out of hand. I don’t know if they want us to run away from our homes. It is now like a way situation. God please help us.
Another source told our correspondent that one of the slain officers was only two weeks old in the force.
He said, “One of the officers killed is a new recruit. He is not more two weeks he became a police officer after the passing out parade.
Our correspondent saw gory pictures of the attacked division and some officers lying dead in the poll of their blood.
Another source told our correspondent that policemen drafted from outside the division had taken over the area and the state commissioner of police, Muhammed Berde, was being expected.
The federal government has declared the Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano State as a port of origin and destination, a major step to making it function like a seaport.
The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, an engineer who made the declaration Friday at the site of the port in the Zawachiki area of Kano State, also revealed that all the steps are being concluded for the official commissioning of the port later in the year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Citing an example of how the port will improve the business activities in the northern part of the country, the minister said a businessman in Kano or the nearby states no longer have to take their goods to Lagos with all the attending challenges on the road but only have to bring it to the dry port, and the goods can be exported to any part of the world from Kano.
Also speaking, the executive secretary/chief executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, said the port’s declaration as a port of origin and destination would positively impact Nigeria’s economy, noting that this is “a game changer as far doing business not only in Kano but the environments around Kano is concerned, including land-locked countries like the Niger Republic, Chad, even as far as Central African countries.”
On his part, the acting Kano State governor, Nasir Gawuna, said the project would lead to economic development and employment opportunities, not only to Kano people but other Nigerians, especially northern states and neighbouring countries.
Bola Tinubu will run on the template of President Muhammadu Buhari if elected president in 2023, his campaign spokesman Festus Keyamo said on Friday.
Presidential Candidate Tinubu is seeking to succeed his partyman in the next dispensation but there have been concerns about the direction his government would run given the bad performance of the incumbent.
Mr Tinubu’s associate and former party chairman Adams Oshiomhole had on Thursday sought to extricate Mr Tinubu from the failure of the Buhari regime, claiming his man has not been part of the government.
But Mr Keyamo, a serving junior minister for Labour and Employment said Mr Oshiomhole was misquoted by the media.
“It is the same APC template that both leaders (Buhari and Tinubu) that they will use,” Peoples Gazette quoted Mr Keyamo as saying during Channels TV interview on Friday night.
“I saw one misleading headline from one of the papers yesterday and I laughed. It was misleading, misinterpreting what one of our leaders said. That we were distancing ourselves from the records of Buhari. That is utter nonsense. Like I said, we are proud of the record of the APC.” The APC chieftain said.
Mr Keyamo emphasised that Mr Tinubu is proud of the achievements of the Buhari regime. He said Mr Tinubu may however choose to improve on certain aspects of governance “on the same template of progressivism.”
Nigeria has regressed on almost all indexes of national development in over seven years of the Buhari regime with worsening insecurity and the economy in comatose. Public universities have been shut for about six months as lecturers continue agitation over poor condition of service.
In 2018, Nigeria displaced India to become the world’s poverty capital, according to a report by Brookings Institution, while Nigeria’s total public debt hit N41.60 trillion under the watch of Buhari-led regime, according to the Debt Management Office.
