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  Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed. The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the 2 pilots remain unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele. Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground. At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued. EDWARD GABKWET Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information.

  In reply, please quote Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.3/80 Date: 2nd April, 2021 The Director of News ……………………………. PRESS RELEASE 2021 EASTER CELEBRATIONS: IGP FELICITATES WITH THE NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY - Orders AIGs and CPs to ensure round-the-clock security of the public space In line with his resolve to ensure that Nigerians enjoy crime free Easter celebrations, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM, mni, has ordered an intensive round-the-clock security of all public spaces and critical national assets. Specifically, all State Commissioners of Police and their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) have been ordered to ensure adequate deployment of police personnel – both covert and overt operatives, and other operational assets to areas of security interest within their respective areas of responsibility (AoRs). They are also to ensure confidence boosti...

  The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has exhumed the body of a 36-year-old China-based businessman, Onyeka Oliver Ezewulu, who was abducted by kidnappers, killed, and buried in a shallow grave after collecting N2m ransom from his family.  Operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) Special Tactical Squad of the Command had stormed the kidnappers den in Mbiaso community in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state on Monday, March 29, and killed three of the hoodlums during a gun battle. It was gathered that the deceased businessman was shot on the leg while attempting to flee when the heavilly armed kidnappers laid ambush close to his house located along Idoro road, in Uyo on March 5, 2021. The gang thereafter bundled their bleeding victim into a White coloured Toyota Camry car and drove off. Further investigations indicate that the victim was not given any medical attention and died as a result of the excessive loss of blood from the gunshot wound...

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old suspected kidnapper, Tajudeen Igikalo, who abducted a teenage girl he met on Facebook. The police operatives also rescued the victim, a 16-year-old Senior Secondary student from Benin City.  It was gathered that the suspect met the teenager on Facebook in February 2021. They chatted for one month, after which he invited her to his house at Egba on Benin-Auchi Road in Edo state. On Thursday, 25 March 2021, the girl visited Tajudeen in Egba after school hours. To her greatest shock, the suspect allegedly kidnapped her on the spot and she spent seven days in captivity. The suspect then allegedly removed the sim card from her mobile phone and then contacted her family demanding N3 million ransom for her release. He threatened to sell the girl, whose name is not mentioned because she is minor, to Fulani herders if they failed to pay the ransom. Four days after, on March 29, the girl’s mother rallied about N550,000. O...

  Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has applauded plans by the Nigeria Military to establish a Defence Space Communication Satellite centre in the state in its drive to ensure adequate security and protection of Nigerians. Dr Fayemi gave the commendation while receiving the Chief of Defense Space Administration (DSA), Rear Admiral Williams Kayoda, in his office in Ado Ekiti on Thursday. He said the benefits of the initiative to the State was enormous adding that the state could not afford to miss the opportunity. The Governor disclosed that his administration had been working on the establishment of the Knowledge Zone where about 1500 Hectares of land was already procured, adding that the proximity of the satellite centre to the knowledge zone is an added advantage. He also revealed that his administration was almost finalizing arrangement with the office of the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Chief of Air Staff to secure end-users certificate for Orbital D...

Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has assured the three indigenes of the State that received the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Presidential Award of Excellence and Remarkable Achievement of government’s support. Dr Fayemi made this known in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday when he received the award winners in his office in Ado-Ekiti. He remarked that they have been able to demonstrate leadership and compassion in their various Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) during their service year which was the major criteria for their consideration for the Presidential honour. The award winners: Kolawole Toba, Ayodele Olubusayo and Seriki Adetututu who served in Adamawa, Bauchi and Oyo States respectively were commended by the Governor for doing Ekiti proud and for being good representatives of their families, State and the values that are associated with Ekiti. He urged them to continue with the good work with the promise to ensure that he would impress upon the Federal Government to fulfi...

  The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, chaired the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on the NIN-SIM data linkage. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the EVC/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), DG/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Representative of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Others included the NCC Executive Commissioners Technical Services and Stakeholder Management, MD/CEO of MTN, Airtel. EMTS (9Mobile), NTEL Spectranet and SMILE, as well as the COO of Glo. The meeting took place on Thursday, April 1, 2021 and an approval was given to extend the period of the NIN-SIM linkage ...

  Photos of the maid, identified as Ukamaka, show her with scars all over her body from old and new wounds allegedly inflicted on her by her pregnant madam and the woman's husband. A neighbour, Prince Izu Agbo, who made the matter public, said he heard a child screaming as she was allegedly abused and called a witch for up to an hour. He said he looked into the next compound and saw the child being beaten, kicked, and pushed, such that she almost fell into the well in the compound. When the beating wouldn't stop, he went downstairs to intervene. When he asked the reason for the beating, the caregiver reportedly said it's because the girl picked food from the dustbin. Prince Izu Agbo said he then inquired from the maid, who looks no older that 10 years old, and she said her madam starves her while feeding her children in her presence, yet expects her to do most of the chores in the house. Due to hunger, she resorted to picking food from the trash. He added that when he saw t...

DISCLAIMER RE- NORTH DOMINATES NIGERIAN ARMY RECRUITMENT The attention of the Directorate of Army Public Relations has been drawn to an ill-informed publication of the referenced story on 29 March, 2021 by an online newspaper, Global Sentinel via its website. The publication alleged that the list of successful candidates for Short Service Commission 47 Selection Board which was published on 26 Mar 21 was dominated by the North while the South East had the fewest candidates. It is pertinent to state that the Nigerian Army strictly complies with the Federal Character policy. Accordingly, an equal number of 8 candidates were selected from each state of the federation except in rare instances where a state did not have the required number of eligible candidates to fill its 8 vacancies. In such instance, the vacancy will be filled by a contiguous state from the same Geopolitical Zone. Following this number allocated per state, the South East which is made up of 5 States was entitled to 40...