PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 TROOPS BURST GUN RUNNER ARMOURY IN UGHELLI, RECOVER LARGE, CACHE OF ARMS, AMMUNITION In a successful operation to eradicate illegal weapons in the South South Region, Nigerian Army troops have uncovered an armoury containing significant cache of arms and ammunition at the residence of a gun runner in Olota Community and adjoining communities of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State. Responding to actionable intelligence, the troops raided the identified armoury concealed in the residence of one Mr Kenneth, a notorious gun runner in the said community. A search of the armoury yielded one G3 Rifle, 853 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, and 19 rounds of 7.62mm special. The operation further extended to other adjoining locations within the community, resulting in the discovery of four G3 Rifles and magazines, one Pump Action Semi Automatic Gun, 3 Sub-Machine Guns (SMG) and Magazines, as well as 476 Live Cartridges.  Additionally, the troops recovered 5 locally fabricated Guns, a ...

  Vietnamese property tycoon Truong My Lan, chair of Van Thinh Phat (VTP), has been sentenced to death for a multibillion-dollar fraud case involving embezzlement, bribery, and banking violations. Lan, 67, was accused of a $12.5bn fraud, equivalent to nearly 3% of Vietnam's 2022 GDP. She allegedly took out $44bn in loans from Saigon Commercial Bank, with $27bn possibly unrecoverable. The high-profile trial, ending earlier than planned, shook Vietnam, as VTP was a major developer.  Vietnamese stocks plummeted $40bn in 2022 due to corporate arrests, impacting investor confidence amid economic growth.

 Dear Lagosians, following the tragic fire at Dosunmu Market, I visited the site to assess the damage and meet with affected individuals. The fire, a result of mishandling flammable materials, led to significant loss. We have initiated a full investigation to determine the cause and implement stricter safety protocols.  I am disappointed with the conversion of residential buildings into storage for hazardous materials. This practice contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and must end. We will hold accountable those who flout our building and safety standards. In our meeting with victims and stakeholders, we discussed both immediate and long-term support measures. An integrity test on standing structures is now mandatory, and Dosunmu Market will remain closed until we can ensure the safety of all structures and compliance with regulations. Unapproved buildings will be demolished. Our commitment to safety and order in our markets is unwavering.  The Ministry of Physica...

 Hardship Faced By Nigerians Is Trial From Allah; Those Who Endure Will Receive Mercy — MURIC An Islamic rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told Nigerian Muslims to see the current economic hardship as a trial from Allah for which they need patience in order to overcome it and receive divine blessings. MURIC also advised the Muslims to seek forgiveness from their Creator, Allah, to change their ways, eschew greed, and appreciate what Allah has done for them. This was contained in a Sallah message signed on Thursday by the MURIC Executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, noting that those who face the trial with forbearance will receive the mercy and blessings of Allah.  MURIC calls on Nigerians to desist from trading blames, and cultivate a positive attitude towards their country, to seek forgiveness from their supreme creator.

 *Anambra Joint Security Force Extend Manhunt for Unknown Gunmen to Ogbaru Forest, Recovers 9 Home Made Bombs, 4 Walkie Talkie.* Anambra State Joint Security Force on Friday, 5th April 2024, extended  its manhunt for  criminals attacking security formations in the State to Ogbaru forest.  Locations around Amiyi and Ochuche were combed for the insurgents. Troops of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy lent considerable firepower to the operation which  completely routed the hoodlums from their hideouts in the forest. Several camps were found and destroyed during the operation which lasted several hours. Nine Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) recovered from the camps were safely defused by Police Bomb Squad. The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye commended the Military for its steadfastness in supporting the fight against criminality. He also thanked the DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, NIS and various Vigilante Groups across the State for the wonderful synergy that...

 *Anambra Police Commissioner Condoles with Families of Boat Mishap Victims, Guild of Actors and Actresses* The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of actors who lost their lives as a result of a Boat Accident which occured on the River Niger in the afternoon  of Wednesday,  10th April, 2024.  The boat, one of two that conveyed the crew to a film location in Anambra West LGA of Anambra  State, was returning to Asaba, where it took off from when the accident happened.  On being notified of the capsize, Anambra Command Marine Police deployed for rescue operations and successfully rescued six actors and one actress from the water.  Two others who were unconscious  were also pulled out with the aid of fishermen and conveyed to the Delta  State Command Marine Police Jetty where other members of the crew who travelled in the first boat were waiting and handed over to the...

 Nigerian Singer, Korra Obidi Suffers Knee!fe, Ac!s Att^ack During Live-Streaming In UK Ms Korra Obidi, a popular Nigerian singer and dancer, has revealed how she was attacked with knife and acid while on live-streaming. The attack, the mother of two said, happened in the United Kingdom, in a post shared on her Instagram page on Thursday. According to her, the attacker was a black woman that is five-foot-tall, and stressed that she has been a target of hateful remarks in the past, noting that the physical assault is a wake-up call. “Currently in an ambulance to the hospital, there was a knife, acid attack on me in the UK in the middle of a live stream," she explained. "There’s been a lot of hate in the past but this physical assault is a wake up call." “If you have any information as to the attacker, black female. 5 foot. please forward to Korramanagement@gmail.com,” she appealed. 

 Georgia man facing multiple charges in Indiana after trying to drown K-9 officer. The Steuben County Indiana Sheriff's Department were called around during 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon to the report of an unwanted man and a woman at a homeowner's property. When deputies arrived on scene they witnessed the two trespassers being confronted by the homeowner. When deputies approached with their K-9 officer, the pair bolted. At this point the chase was on with the deputies being assisted by the property owner on an ATV. Deputies warned the suspects they were going to release the K-9 if they didn't halt.  When the suspects continued to flee, the deputies released Klara, their K-9 officer. The female suspect quickly surrendered and has been identified as 35-year-old Holly Richter of Freemont, Indiana. The male suspect continued to attempt to evade officers. Klara caught up to him as he was attempting to cross a large creek. As Klara attempted to subdue the suspect, he grabbed he...

 Update: We recently brought you a story about a Kentucky boy that officials believed died after eating contaminated strawberries at a school function. Sadly, he died from fentanyl poisoning. We first covered this story back in March and at that time the family of Trey Harris had said he had fallen ill after eating strawberries from a school fundraiser. That information caused the Hopkins County Health Department to issue a warning to the public. They were instructed not to eat any strawberries purchased from the school fundraiser. This caused an uproar in the community as worried parents rushed to check on their children and throw out the strawberries.  After the FDA and a state lab evaluated the suspected berries they were found to not suffer from any contamination.  Now the Hopkins County Coroner has released their findings. The coroner's office has ruled Trey's death as fentanyl intoxication however the manner of death is marked as undetermined.  Trey's stepfathe...

 IKPEAZU MOURNS THE DEATH OF DR OGBONNAYA ONU Immediate Past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed deep sadness at the death of the first Civilian Governor of the old Abia State, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu who died today in Abuja at the age of 72 years. Dr. Ikpeazu describes the death of Dr Onu as a massive loss to the  political development of our country and especially, to Ndigbo, whose political cause he championed with passion and zeal. The former Governor recalls Dr Onu's time as the first democratically elected Governor of the old Abia State, between January 1992 and December 1993, a period that was characterized by peaceful coexistence and the setting of the ideological foundations for the development of Abia State. According to Dr. Ikpeazu, "Dr Onu was an astute academic and administrator. He was calm, gentle and never played politics without bitterness. After his service in the State, he would go on to the national stage where he held different positions where...

 ANAMBRA STATE GOVT AWARDS CONTRACT TO RECLAIM GULLY EROSION AND CONTROL FLOOD THREATENING GOVT HOUSE, AGU AWKA; AND OTHER CONTRACTS Resuming from the Easter break, the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) has approved the award of a number of contracts.  Anambra State  has been described as the erosion capital of the world, and one of the many sites is at Agu Awka GRA that is threatening the present Government House, buildings around the vicinity and the lives of people living there. The non-channelization of floodwater within the area has been responsible for the exacerbation of the gully erosion site. After due consideration of the memo presented by Engr Ifeanyi Okoma, Anambra State Commissioner for Works, ANSEC approved the award of the contract for the reclamation and control of the flood and gully erosion of the site. The contract was awarded to CEFAC International Ltd at the cost of N352,106,781. 81k (Three hundred and fifty-two million, one hundred and six thou...

  TERRORISTS ELIMINATED AT ZURMI, GUSAU AND MARADUN LGAs IN ZAMFARA STATE Following carefully conducted observation missions over the Camps of terrorist kingpins, Abdullahi Nasanda in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) and Mallam Tukur’s camp in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State, air strikes by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji on 10 April 2024, have led to the elimination of several terrorists and their structures.  Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission conducted on Abdullahi Nasanda’s Camp had revealed terrorists’ activities around some huts and thatched roof structures. Some of their motorcycles were also observed hidden on trees. Having established that their activities were consistent with terrorists’ modes of operation, the location was struck by multiple aircraft passes, thereby neutralizing several terrorists. Similar ISR missions were conducted at Mallam Tukur Camp, where terrorists’ activities were also observed. Air strikes conducted on the C...

 Dozens escape Comoros prison casually walking out of main gate Prosecutors said the prisoners had exploited lax security and no one was injured in the incident. Dozens of inmates are on the run after casually escaping from a poorly guarded Comoros prison through the main gate, authorities said on Thursday. Officials in the Indian Ocean archipelago said 38 prisoners escaped an overcrowded jail in the capital, Moroni, in a jailbreak initiated by a detained soldier. "I didn't even have time to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer. The escape took place very early," Soilihi Ali Said, head of the prison service, told AFP, referring to the Muslim celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Prosecutors said the prisoners had exploited lax security and no one was injured in the incident.

 GOV. ALIA KICKS-OFF BUILDING OF 300 CAPACITY CONFERENCE HALL Benue State Governor, Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has kicked-off the building of Conference Hall at Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue SEMA) at the agency’s headquarters, Makurdi. Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, the governor said the Conference hall when completed will serve as a meeting place to generate and exchange ideas, gather and exchange information, and assist in early warning and action as well as prompt disasters management. Governor Alia praised the Acting Executive Secretary, Benue SEMA, Sir. James Iorpuu for his genuine commitment and effort in mitigating disaster and response to the plight of Internally Displaced Persons. According to the governor, the Conference Hall which will also have a situation room that will gather and respond to disasters management. He assured Benue SEMA of his  support to the completion of the project, commended the International ...