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HOUSE COMMITTEE EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN ARMY'S CAPABILITY TO STEM THE NATION'S SECURITY CHALLENGES The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwunu has expressed confidence in the capability of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, to stem the tide of security challenges currently experienced in the Country.  The Chairman made the assertion today Friday 4 August 2023, when he led other members of the committee to the office of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on a courtesy visit. Hon Ugochinyere commended the COAS for taking the right steps in dealing with emerging security challenges in the effort to ensure peace and stability in the nation. He registered the preparedness of the Committee to partner the NA in protecting national economic interest and territorial integrity. He noted with satisfaction, the declaration of NA's readiness and zeal by the COAS to confront security m...

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADARIN DAJI DESTROY BANDIT CAMPS AND RECOVERS ITEMS The Troops of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji covering Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara states have continued to record more successes in the ongoing clearance operation as more armed bandits neutralized, rescued kidnapped victims, recovered items and destroyed bandits' hideouts in the Northwest. Consequently, on 3rd August 2023, armed bandits attempted to infiltrate and attack Isa LGA of Sokoto state. The vigilant Troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Isa responded swiftly and repelled the attack with superior firepower which forced the Bandits to flee with gunshot wounds as traces of blood stains were seen in their routes during the pursuit. Similarly, troops of Team 8 of Sector 3 Operation Hadarin Daji deployed at Sabon Birni in Sokoto state conducted clearance operations, discovered and destroyed bandits' hideouts at Kusabunni Forest, Tafkin gawo, Alumdawa, Ungwar Mai...

 Okupe drums support for Tinubu over planned military intervention in Niger The former director-general of the Peter Obi presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has drummed support for President Bola Tinubu’s military intervention against the Niger junta. Okupe disclosed this on Friday through his Twitter handle while reacting to the political situation in Niger Republic. Okupe condemning the action of the juntas in Niger, said any action taken to rubbish Nigeria should not be tolerated. According to him, all Nigerians must set aside all political differences and join hands to protect the nation’s democracy.

The Imo command of the Federal Road Safety Commission has sacked one of its officers for joining members of the Nigerian Labour Congress to protest on Wednesday, August 2, while wearing the special marshals' uniform.   Sector Commander of the FRSC in Imo, Evaristus Ebeniro announced the official's sack, adding that he has been de-marshaled and no longer an officer of the corps.  He revealed that the official who was summoned as a result of inactivity and lack of commitment to duties, absconded and was therefore de-marshaled in absentia in line with the rules of the corps. He was later arrested before his uniform was recovered from him.    Ebeniro said;   “The incident prompted the Command to commence investigation to unravel the identity of the protester.  “It is now confirmed that the protester who happened to be a unionist was once a special marshal.  “The Command hereby makes it categorically and unequivocally clear that the protester is no longer w...

EFCC Secure Conviction of Four Internet Fraudsters in Kaduna The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction of Laban Samson, Shedrack James, Ankale James Sylvanus and Nnadi Uchechukwu before Justices A.A. Ishaka and Dairus Kbobo of the Kaduna State High Court on separate one count charge bordering on cheating by impersonation.  The defendants were arrested in different parts of Kaduna for alleged internet-related fraud activities by assuming the identities of foreigners and using the same to defraud unsuspecting victims. They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting the prosecuting counsel, E.K Garba and M.U Gadaka to urge the court to convict them accordingly.  Justice Ishaka, convicted and sentenced Samson, James and Sylvanus to two years imprisonment with the option of fine of N150, 000.00 each, The convicts are also to forfeit one IPhone XR , one Samsung S9+ phone and another Samsung phone u...

Why NBA is Against EFCC in Ilorin  The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is drawn to a press statement jointly signed by Aishat Omotayo Temim and Ridwan Musa, acting Chairperson and Publicity Secretary respectively of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, drawing attention to what they termed as non- adherence to Rule of Law by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC, and calling for the transfer of the Zonal Commander. Without prejudice to the right of members of the Bar, and indeed any Nigerian, to ventilate a grievance, the Commission is scandalized that the NBA Ilorin Branch chose a moment when one of its members, Suleiman Toyin Yahaya, was being detained by the Ilorin Command for allegedly tampering with the statement of a suspect under investigation, to launch a media attack against the Command and its leadership. This, to all intent and purposes, smacks of blackmail and disguised attempt to intimidate the Ilorin Command of the Commiss...

 NO ROOM FOR MEDIOCRITY AMONG PROCUREMENT OFFICERS - LASG The Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, has pointed out that the Agency has no room for complacency and mediocrity among Procurement Officers in the Public Service of the State. Mr. Onafowote made this known while speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day technical capacity-building programme organised by the Agency in collaboration with Danik Ventures for Procurement Officers in the Lagos State Public Service, held at the Green Legacy Resort, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The Director-General stated that the programme was organised to bridge the observed knowledge gaps, particularly in areas dealing with the principles and technicalities of public procurement in which procurement professionals are supposed to be versed, knowledgeable and up-to-date to boost their capacity for efficient service delivery. He added that the State Government and members of the public, particularly s...

Invasion Plans: Resources Concluded; We’ll Force Niger Coup Leaders Out Of Power - ECOWAS The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the bloc has assembled all resources and perfected plans to invade Niger Republic to force out the military junta and reinstate its democratically elected leader, President Mohamed Bazoum. “All the elements that would go into any eventual intervention have been brought out here and been refined, including the timing, the resources needed, and the how and where and when we are going to deploy such a force,” assured Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security at a meeting with other ECOWAS chiefs in Abuja on Friday. “We will make them hand over to the civilian authorities,” Mr. Musah added. Representatives from Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Guinea were conspicuously absent at the ECOWAS meeting, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday. There are still two days left before the ultimatum ECOWAS gave t...

FG IS SET TO DEEPEN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH OPEN GOVT PARTNERSHIP - NATIONAL COORDINATOR OGP The National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Dr. Gloria Ahmed, has stressed the need to deepen the implementation of the Third National Action Plan (NAP III) in order to set the groundwork for shaping Nigeria's future in open government. Dr. Ahmed stated this in Abuja on Friday  at the opening of a Two-Day Open Government Partnership Thematic Working Groups Meeting (TWG). “In this meeting, we can deliberate on effectively implementing the Third National Action Plan (NAP III), which is already in motion. It is essential to acknowledge that this plan sets the groundwork for shaping Nigeria's future in open government, and its implementation relies heavily on our collective efforts. “Let us remember that the Thematic Working Group meetings serve as a platform to discuss and strategise on various aspects of the NAP, addressing challenges and seeking inn...

 Coup : Our response must be deadly, devastating if Niger, others attack Nigeria – Fani-Kayode A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said Nigeria would respond swiftly if military forces from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali attacked Nigeria. This is coming amid fear of war as Nigerien soldiers took over power from the civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, last week. Following threat by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWA to embark on military action against the Niger junta if it fails to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum as president, the Burkina Faso and Mali military governments had joined forces with Niger, saying any military action would result in war. Reacting to threats emerging from Niger, Fani-Kayode in a tweet on Friday said though he does not want war, Nigeriens soldiers should not take Nigerians for granted. He wrote, “I do not want a war and I do not believe that we should initiate hostilities by i...

Tinubu writes Senate, seeks approval for military action and other sanctions against Niger Republic President Bola Tinubu has approached the Nigerian senate for approval on proposed military action and other sanctions against the military officers who recently seized power in the Niger Republic.  The proposed sanctions were listed in the letter which was read on the floor of the Upper Chamber by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Friday, August 4.  It read;  "Political situation in Niger.  “Following the unfortunate political situation in the Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected govt. in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.  “Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise. ”Cutting ...

A man from Ikeduru in Imo state celebrates as him and his wife welcomes a twins after 17 years of childlessness. God almighty is not sleeping, he is always ready to do a new thing in our lives, congratulations. More photos below. 

Herbalist’s Son Shot Dead While Testing Charms In Ondo A 27-year-old son of a traditionalist identified as Tunde Akinmoyewa has been shot dead at Laoso Camp, Laje in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo state. It is learnt that Tunde was shot dead by his friend, Bode while testing charms given to them by a native at the camp. The deceased who was an ex-convict, was said to have drank a ‘bullet-repelling’ concoction prepared for him and his group to be sure of the potency of charms. It was gathered that Tunde and his gang were assured by the herbalist that no bullet could penetrate their body in case they were shot by anyone. According to a source, in the process of testing the potency of the charms, the deceased was said to have instructed his friend to test the potency of the charms first by shooting to be sure that the charms were effective.   It was learnt that after Tunde’s friend fired his Dane gun at him, he fell without any resistance and died on the spot. He was reported...

ASUU demands FUTO VC’s resignation over alleged anti-union activities, corruption Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Owerri zone, have demanded the immediate resignation of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Prof. Nnenna Oti, over alleged corrupt practices and anti-union activities. ASUU stated this in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dennis Aribodor, during a press conference held in ASUU-UNIZIK Secretariat in Awka, Anambra State capital on Friday. The union is composed of members from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Aribodor, flanked by other union members, said their Secretariat in FUTO, had been sealed by the chief security officer of the university on the orders of the varsity’s vice chancellor, whom he accused of causing division among ASUU members of the institution, ...

I remain loyal to detained President Bazoum – Niger envoy ... says Coup are illegitimate authorities. Niger’s ambassador to France, Aichatou Boulama Kane, on Friday, insisted she was still in her post despite the coup in the West African country, saying she remained loyal to detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Kane, who has been in her job since July 2022, said she rejected as “null and void” an order by the coup leaders to end her mandate as well as those of the Niger ambassadors to Nigeria, Togo and the United States. “I am still the ambassador of legitimate President Mohamed Bazoum and I consider myself as such,” she said in a telephone interview with AFP. The notification by the putschists to put an end to her mandate “was taken by illegitimate authorities. I am the ambassador of Niger in France,” she added. She said she had received the notification from the coup leaders “by letter”, with the putschists designating a charge d’affaires to replace her — the first counsellor of the N...

Ethiopia declares ‘state of emergency’ over violence Ethiopia’s Federal Government on Friday declared a “state of emergency” following an escalation of violence in the northern region of Amhara, the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said. “It has become necessary to declare a state of emergency as a situation has emerged where it has become difficult to control this unacceptable movement under current law,” it said in a statement posted on social media. The statement did not make clear if the state of emergency applied nationwide or just to Amhara, which lies to the north of the capital Addis Ababa. Abiy’s government did not reply immediately to questions from AFP. ' Clashes in Amhara between the national army and local fighters have escalated in recent weeks, prompting travel warnings from foreign governments and the cancellation of flights by the national carrier Ethiopian Airlines. Tensions have been rising since April when the federal government announced it was dismantling r...

56-YEAR OLD MAN, ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFILING 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu One Mr Ọkpara, a 56 year old man has been arrested for allegedly defiling 11 year old daughter in Anambra. The 56 year old suspect who is resident in Fegge Onitsha is a native of Adazi-Enu in Anaocha local government area of the state. This was made reported when a good Samaritan noticed that the young girl is limping, upon interrogation she revealed that the father usually do have carnal knowledge of her every night and threatened to kill her if she ever tells anyone hence the reason why she hasn't raised alarm.  According to the victim, the suspect who is her father started taking advantage of her after her mother's death in 2020 and became overly protective of her by not allowing other family members, friends and relatives to come close.  Although Mr Ọkpara denied the allegation stating in his defense that his daughter's inability to work properly is because she fell from the r...

𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟲-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲 A group, known as 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, the Campaign against Child Abuse in Nigeria has rescued a six-year-old child, Chiagozie Nwobodo, from the hands of her father who confessed of flogging her with a matchete and inflicting her with heavy wounds as a result of the matchete cuts, leading to multiple sores all over the girl’s body, in addition to a broken leg. The 44-year-old man, Hyginus Nwabodo, who is a native of Ezinifite, in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State confessed to the heinous crime after being handed over to the Police by the men of the Ezinifite Vigilante Group. According to him, he had unleashed such dastardly acts on her daughter because of her destructive nature. He further accused the six-year-old daughter of using matchet and metals to destroy his doors and walls. The daughter, however denied all the accusations, while the fath...

Islamic Scholar Condemns Looting Of Warehouses In Yola The recent looting of warehouses by some hoodlums in Yola has continued to receive condemnation from various quotes. Recent among them was coming from the Chief Imam of Aggah Islamic Centre, Sheikh Hassan Minkail during the presentation of the Juma'at sermon. Sheikh Minkail described the recent looting as unacceptable in Islam, urging Muslims to be wary of the dangers of doing such. He added that Islam prohibits believers from taking something not belong to them and called them to exercise patience with the current situation. Among the dignitaries that observed the Juma'at prayers was Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Secretary to the State Government Awwal Tukur, Vice-chancellor Mau Yola Professor Abdullahi Liman Tukur among others. Muhammad B. Tukur Gcfr  New Media aid to the Governor  📷 Thomas Terry SSA Visual Photography  4th August 2023. More photos below.