PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

      The EFCC, has cracked down on a gang of fraudsters who specialise in exploiting personal data of foreign-based Nigerians to defraud their friends and relations back home. Four of the gang-members - ‘Hon.’ Oladipupo Adebayo, Bimbo Bilewu, Ibrahim Odunayo and Oyeleye Oluwatosi – are currently in the EFCC custody. Others are still at large. The Commission had launched a manhunt on the suspects after receiving a petition fro m one Prof Godwin Ekhaguere. The professor of Mathematics, who retired from the University of Ibadan, alleged in the petition that the gang defrauded him of sums totalling N565,500 (Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Five Hundred Naira). He also alleged that the fraudsters made him to part with MTN recharge vouchers worth N36,000 (Thirty-Six Thousand Naira) in the deal.

      EFCC Arrests Four Suspected Fraudsters for Defrauding American Lady, Forging EFCC Document and Chairman's Signature Operatives of the EFCC, Benin Zonal Office has arrested four members of a sydicate group who are involved in internet fraud, forging of EFCC documents and Commission chairman's signature. The suspects are Onoghere Romina (a.ka. Pastor Joseph Romeo); Emoregan Fidelis Kelly. (a.k.a Williams Brian); Sunday Obi (a.k.a Stuart Symington) and Remember Akpobome. The quartet were arrested in Delta State sequel to intelligence gathering and information received from their victim, Patricia Dewan Walker, a 60 year-old American citizen.More photos below.

       President Muhammadu Buhari departed Sochi after a successful Russia-Africa Economic Summit with other world leaders in Russia.More details later and more photos below.

         Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he will continue to work with security agencies for the purpose of securing the state. Governor Wike also pledged to wholeheartedly support the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army to effectively carry out Exercise Crocodile Smile 4 to rid the state of criminal elements. Speaking during a Courtesy Visit by Major General Jamil Sarhem, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, Governor Wike reiterated that the military must restrict themselves to their traditional role of maintaining security. "I cannot be enemy to security agencies. Without security, there can be no governance. The Rivers State Government supported the first three exercises, we will support Exercise Crocodile Smile 4. "We should work as partners. We should not work as if there is a problem. I thank you for coming and hope that this will be a new beginning", he ...

       OCHANJA MARKET INFERNO: WICHTECH BOSS pays hospital bills for victims. *Pledges financial help for victims to restart business. *Seeks strong police investigation, functional fire service in Onitsha. Frontline Industrialist/Philanthropist, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, CHAIRMAN/CEO WICHTECH GROUP OF COMPANIES, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER KINGDOM CARE FOUNDATION visited Onitsha today to sympathize with the victims of Ochanja Market fire disaster. TORONTO HOSPITAL was his first port of call where he met with some victims of the fire incident and paid their bill. 6 of the victims have been discharged while 2 are still receiving treatment according to the hospital management. Dr. Nwankwo who was accompanied by Senior Pastor of Rhema Church Nnewi branch, Pastor Ejike Nwachukwu later drove to Ochanja Market square by Zik's Avenue where the fire really wrecked havoc and pledged to assist those who were affected by the inferno with financial aid. He asked the traders to get ...

      I see Afenifere and Pa Reuben Fasoranti as the source and apex of the Oduduwa people and nation. Afenifere leads and all others follow. My allegiance is to Baba Fasoranti, Baba Ayo Adebanjo, Baba Oladipo, Baba Olu Falae and all the other leaders of Afenifere. This is where I stand. And what has Baba Fasoranti not seen and suffered? He really has paid his dues. First they killed his daughter. Then they sponsored a desperate pretender to attempt to usurp his position and undermine his authority as leader and thereby destroy Afenifere. Finally they mocked and humiliated him. All this just to weaken his resolve and destroy the legitimate leadership of the sons of Oduduwa in order to enslave and subjugate us forever. I have a word for them: you shall fail and Afenifere will stand forever.More photos below.

     The Lagos State Government has expressed eagerness to complete the first phase of the Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Scheme along the Third Mainland Bridge within 24 months, saying construction work is still ongoing at the location. The disclosure was made by the Honourable Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai at a meeting with representatives of a stakeholder in the project, Messrs. First Investment Property Company (FIPC) while reacting to speculations that the housing scheme had been abandoned. “The Ilubirin Scheme has not been set aside, we are working on it. We have a solid plan to deliver the first phase of the scheme not later than the third quarter of 2021,” he declared. Akinderu-Fatai maintained that this administration remains committed to providing homes to residents, elaborating that the project is a public-private collaboration that is being reviewed to actualise the vision of an upscale and captivating residential, commercial and leisu...

      The Lagos State Government has disclosed that integrity tests on buildings suspected to be structurally defective will soon commence to safeguard the lives and property of occupants residing within such premises. Speaking at the site of a distressed and water-soaked, two-storey building on Owoseni Street, Ikate – Surulere, the Acting General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) - Engr. Olalekan Ajani warned developers who construct buildings with inferior quality materials to desist from such unethical practices. Ajani hinted that LSMTL would identify all distressed buildings, serve the property owners with notices and conduct tests to ascertain the structural integrity of such houses. He advised occupants of such buildings to vacate their premises due to the effect of the persistent rainfall on its structural members and implored developers to insist on quality and standard materials for housing construction. The Acting General Manage...

       The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to trending posts on Twitter alleging that 2 accident victims rushed to the 563 NAF Hospital (563 NAFH - formerly 347 NAFH) Jos on 20 October 2019 were allegedly refused emergency medical care purportedly because of the absence of a Police report. While we sympathize with the friends and loved ones of the victims on their unfortunate loss, the NAF  wishes to state categorically that the facts presented in the report were inaccurate. For the avoidance of doubt, the public is kindly informed that the 2 patients were indeed rushed to the 563 NAF Hospital as reported. However, they were brought in by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC). Hence, the issue of requesting for a Police report never arose. Besides, in keeping with the hippocratic oath, all NAF Hospitals have a standing instruction to stabilize and, where possible, treat all accident victims without asking f...

     Sequel to the fracas between some Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel and some youths at Mabera Area of Sokoto Metropolis on Sunday, 20 October 2019, which led to the death of 2 persons, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has dispatched a high powered delegation led by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, under which 119 Forward Op erating Base (119 FOB) Sokoto falls, to undertake a fact finding mission and pay condolence visits to the deceased’s families as well as the Executive Governor of the State. In line with the CAS’ directive, the AOC TAC has paid a condolence visit to the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, while the Commander 119 FOB has visited the families of the deceased. Furthermore, based on Headquarters NAF directives, the AOC has also constituted an independent Board of Inquiry (BOI), comprising officers from outside Sokoto Sta...

      The Nigerian Army is set to launch its first indigenous Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed and built by Command Engineering Depot in collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria. It is named ‘EZUGWU MRAP’ The 4x4 Armoured Vehicle is designed to carry out transportation in smooth and rough terrain. It has capability to assault with high volume of fire. The primary armament includes a 12.7 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun and a 7.62 mm Light Machine Gun. It is good for counter-terrorism, maintenance of stability and also a perfect vehicle for urban warfare. The vehicle is characterized by good protection performance, strong cross-country capability, high reliability, easy maintenance, and can operate in severe cold as well as sweltering desert areas. It carries a crew of 12: commander, driver, two gunners and eight soldiers. You are kindly requested to disseminate above information to the general public for awareness. Thank...

      Today at Windsor Castle: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined young leaders at a roundtable discussion on gender equality and inclusion. The Duke is President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and The Duchess is Vice-President. Impactful young leaders from around the world including South Africa, Iraq and Malawi led a discussion on how to drive meaningful change and empower women. The roundtable was organised by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and One Young World, both charities support and connect young leaders to bring about change. The Duchess of Sussex is a longstanding supporter of One Young World, having first joined as a Counsellor at the 2014 summit in Dublin. Earlier this week The Duchess of Sussex attended the 10th Annual One Young World Opening Ceremony at The Royal Albert Hall, which brought together 2000 young leaders from 190 countries.More photos below.