PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 PRESS RELEASE  EDO STATE POLICE COMMAND HANDS OVER CHILD IN VIRAL INAPPROPRIATE CONTENTS TO EDO GBV COMMISSIONER  Following the disturbing incident involving the viral dissemination of inappropriate pictures depicting a 4-year-old girl under the Instagram handle @officialsarah_ig, the Edo State Police Command has taken swift action to address this matter. On Sunday, May 12, 2024, public outrage erupted as a result of these images, leading to the identification and subsequent arrest of Musa Suleiman, a 27-year-old resident of Edo State, believed to be linked to the incident. The preliminary investigation further revealed that Musa Suleiman is the father of the young child known as Sarah. In response to the urgent need for protection and care of the child involved, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Police Command, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni, oversaw a handover on May 13, 2024, at approximately 3:00 PM in his office at the State Headquarters in Benin City. Baby Sarah was entrusted into

 PRESS RELEASE FIGHT AGAINST OIL THEFT: IGP MEETS IPMAN LEADERSHIP, DISCUSSES AREAS OF PARTNERSHIP The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on Tuesday 14th May, 2024, held a productive meeting at the Force Headquarters with the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). The meeting had in attendance members of the Force Management Team, and key Executives from IPMAN, led by the National President, Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima. During the meeting, the Police and IPMAN leadership discussed several critical areas of partnership on the efforts of the Federal Government in combatting oil theft. The IGP noted that the meeting was aimed at enhancing security and operational efficiency within the petroleum sector, acknowledging the importance of collaboration in addressing the unique security challenges faced by petroleum marketers, especially in safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the safe transportation o

 EFCC Arraigns Two for N12.9m Fraud in Maiduguri The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 13, 2024, arraigned Babakura Muhammad Nur and Kaltum Mustapha for criminal misappropriation to the tune of N12,950,000( Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) The duos were arraigned separately before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court on one -count charge for criminal misappropriation and cheating. The count against Nur reads: “That you Baba Kura Muhammad Nur, on or about September, 2021 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated and converted for your own use the sum of N11, 600,000.00 (Eleven Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) being payment for foodstuffs belonging to Alhaji Usman Mohammed and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Laws Borno State (Cap 102Vol. 3 of 1994)res

 EFCC Arrests 13 Fake BDC Operators in Lagos Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested thirteen fake bureau de change operators in Lagos.  They were arrested for operating BDC without an appropriate licence. The suspects are:  Abdulahi Musa, Garba Abdullahi, Dauda Hussaini, Jubril Musa, Abdulwaheed Iliyasu and Abubakar Mohammed. Others are: Umar Saidu, Nurudeen AbdulAzeez, Hamidu Usman, Yusuf Isa, Musa Ishaka, Liman Makki and Idris Mohammed. They were arrested during sting operations by EFCC’s operatives between May 10 and 13, 2024 at different parts of Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the Commission about their illicit business activities. Also, a suspected currency racketeer,  Kafayat Lateef was also arrested over for alleged involvement in the sale of the Naira notes in different denominations. A sum of N2,100,000.00( Two Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) was recovered from her at the point of arre

  Police arrest Portable over G-Wagon debt The Lagos State Police Command has arrested popular musician Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable. Newswall gathered that the controversial singer was nabbed on Tuesday following his alleged refusal to pay the debt he incurred when he purchased G-Wagon from a car dealer in the state. According to reports, Portable had paid only N13 million after purchasing the vehicle, which was worth N27 million. He was said to have refused to pay the N14 million balance. The car dealer reportedly took the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the singer. When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest. He simply said: “The report is true. He was arrested today.”

 EX-GOV FAYOSE’S BROTHER THREATENS TO DEMOLISH ABUJA HOUSE OVER TENANTS’ INDEBTEDNESS Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has threatened to demolish his house in Abuja because of some tenants who he said were owing him three years rent. Fayose issued the demolition threat in a viral video sighted by PUNCH Online on on Tuesday. At the beginning of the video footage, Fayose, who spoke in pidgin was heard saying the tenant(s) refused to pay him rent for three years. He further explained that the said tenant(s) dragged him to the court so that the court adjournments would extend their living in the house. He said, “Three years, you never paid rent. You dey do gra-gra inside the court. Na your house? Na your baba house? God go punish you.” Another person suspected to be a tenant in Fayose’s apartment was heard in the viral video responding, “You dey craze. God go punish you.” Fayose also called out the tenants over an alleged plan to claim ownership of the prop

 A Garrett, Indiana man runs down and takes the life of an officer after a woman was discovered being held hostage in his sleeper cab!  This whole disturbing event unfolded in Utah when authorities received a 911 call stating "Hells Angels were after a semi driver and there was a person on the back of his rig." Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser was stationed on an I-15 meridian around 6 a.m. May, 5th, when he saw the semi in question drive by. Sgt. Hooser initiated a stop. The semi driver, 42-year-old Michael Jayne, eventually pulled over after assistance from Utah Highway Patrol officer Dustin Griffiths joined the short pursuit. Once pulled over, Mr.Jayne was uncooperative, refusing to answer questions. As Trooper Griffiths questioned Mr. Jayne, a female emerged from the sleeper cab and fled from the passenger side door. She ran up to Sgt. Hooser and asked for help informing him she was being held against her will. This is when Hooser signaled for Griffiths to take Mr. Jayne

 A Nigerian pastor, Michael Oluronbi and his wife Juliana, have been sentenced to jail for 34 years in the UK after Oluronbi was found guilty of s£xual offences against six women and a man. He abused children and adults for over 20 years after convincing the victims to take part in “spiritual bathing to cleanse them of evil spirits.” Olurnobi was jailed for 34 years for offences of multiple r@pes of members of his congregation. He was convicted of “fifteen counts of r@pe, seven counts of indecent ass@ult and two counts of s£xual ass@ult and at least 88 separate occasions on which he r@ped his victims.” Birmingham Crown Court heard that some of the victims became pregnant multiple times, but Olurnobi would take them to abortion clinics, as a cover-up for the abuse. His wife was jailed for 11 years for three counts of aiding and abetting r@pe, as she assisted Olurnobi in arranging ab@rtions for the victims. Both defendants will be required to sign the s£x offenders’ register for life. Ol

 A 32-year-old Nigerian doctor, Uzochukwu Davis Igboanugo, has been k!lled by a drunk driver in the United States of America.  Uzochukwu, the son of prominent Igbo businessman, Chief I.K.B. Igboanugo, the founder of I.K.B Industries Limited, was k!lled while driving home after work three weeks ago.  The grieving father who confirmed the tragic incident in a Facebook post on Monday, May 13, 2024, said the drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel while speeding on the highway and rammed into his son's car.  He described his son as a very happy, intelligent, friendly, caring, nice and loving boy.  “I lost my son 3 weeks ago, I have been crying like a baby. A medical doctor ( Ophthalmologist) in America,” Chief Igboanugo wrote.  "An accident victim of a drunkard who fell asleep while speeding on the highway, jumped his lane in the opposite direction and hit with speed force on the driver's side door where my son was as he was driving home after work. "We can't question G

 The Federal Executive Council has set up a tripartite committee to review visa processes and make them less cumbersome. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, stated this in Abuja while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of this week’s FEC meeting. He said the committee would work to make it possible for visas to be applied electronically and processed within 24 hours. Also briefing, the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said 600 CNG-powered buses would soon arrive in the country to ease transportation and make it affordable. He also said 30 thousand conversion kits were on their way to sustain the policy and ease the cost of living brought about the government’s economic reforms.

 Kano HMB Suspends medical doctor for Abscondment The Executive Secretary Kano State Hospitals Management (HMB) Board Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda has approved the immediate suspension of a medical doctor at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital. This was a sequel to complaints received by patients and staff after the Doctor left the facility without informing the management of the hospital. He explained that Several calls were put to her and she kept saying she was at the hospital but never showed up leaving a dialysis patient in a terrible state.  The executive secretary stressed that the medical officer's suspension will be effective pending the outcome of the investigation.  "The supervision will continue with full force and we expect everyone whose name appears on the duty roster to be at their post. Whoever is found wanting should have their self to blame". Dr. Nagoda pointed out that doctors took an oath to protect lives which should be a top priority and urged them t

 Police nabs one-chance armed robbery suspects in Nasarawa State. Nasarawa State Police command says it has apprehended two suspects for allegedly operating a one-chance robbery gang in the state. A statement signed by the Police Public Relation Officer DSP Ramhan Nansel, and made available to newsmen on in lafia,. explained that their operatives attached to Anguwan Lambu Division, Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area have arrested the suspects based on intelligence. According to the statement said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects usually posed as taxi drivers to pick unsuspecting passengers and drive away to unknown destinations. It says they thereafter, dispossess their victims of money and other belongings and abandoned them while sometime kill them. The PPRO said that the suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime and said they have been operating for over 10 years and robbed a lot of people.  They suspects further said that they were recently released

 ‘Nigeria don happen to me,’ actress Evan Okoro laments house demolition Nollywood actress Evan Okoro has taken to social media to voice her anguish over the impending demolition of her property in Delta State, lamenting, “Nigeria don happen to me.” According to Okoro, her efforts to earn a living through various endeavours, including a fish farm and plantation, have been destroyed. She further appealed to the state’s governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, urging him to intervene and halt the demolition. “Please my governor, do something #sheriffoborevwori,” Evan Okoro implored in a post via her Instagram handle on Tuesday. “I’m just a struggling, hardworking lady who is trying to earn a living in your state, Asaba, Delta State. Our sweet and handsome governor please sir do something. My whole world is crumbling,” she lamented. The actress noted that she has not only lost her home but also her means of livelihood. “It is not fair, I am heartbroken right now, why are they doing this to us? Niger

 Kaduna Man Backs Child On His Way To Work, Advocates For Shared Parenting Responsibilities A man from Kaduna, known as Pst Tim-Shi, has shared a message encouraging men to support their partners in childcare responsibilities.  Posting photos of himself carrying his child on his commute to work, Tim-Shi delivered a powerful message urging men to support their partners in raising children.  He stated that women shouldn't shoulder childcare alone, calling upon men to step up and provide relief by sharing the responsibilities. "My wife gave me  surprised shots while on the way to work. But, I kinda like the pictures. Women must not back the children alone. We can help them have a relief by helping them.We can change the narratives. It's possible," he wrote. One more photo below. 

 PRESS RELEASE  WOMEN AFFAIRS MINISTRY MOVES AGAINST MASS MARRIAGE OF 100 ORPHAN GIRLS IN NIGER STATE ...advocates for their education and empowerment The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has said that the proposed plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to organise a mass marriage for the 100 female orphans in the State on May 24, should be investigated so as to ascertain their ages, consent as well as preparedness for the union. The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye made the disclosure Monday, during a Press Briefing held in her office in Abuja, in reaction to the recently announced plans by the Speaker, to marry off the orphans girls who lost their parents during the banditry attacks in Mariga Local Government Area of the State, as part of his constituency projects While acknowledging the good gesture of the Speaker aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished by pledging t

 PRESS RELEASE EMBRACE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD A MORE SECURED NATION - BADARU The Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Muhammed Badaru, CON, mni, has urged the National Space Defence Administration to harness the power of emerging technologies to build a more secure and prosperous future for the nation and its people. This, he said, will enable the nation to confront the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and resilience. Speaking as a special guest of honour during the opening of a two-day symposium on Defence Space Administration in Abuja, Badaru emphasized the need for the nation's security architecture to leverage on emerging technologies to counter new and sophisticated threats, ranging from cyber-attacks to space-based challenges. "In today's rapidly evolving world, where technological advancements are reshaping the landscape of national security, we must adapt and innovate to protect our defence infrastructure effectively," the Minister said. "It i

 Six More Kidnapped Varsity Students Rescued, Says Kogi Govt The Kogi State Government has announced the rescue of six more kidnapped students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi.  The state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Tuesday, said the fresh number of rescued students brought the number of freed students rescued to 20. “Our data shows that there are four students yet to be found,” he added. He some of the kidnappers escaped with severe injuries during a gun duel with security agents. “Nine students had been rescued first while five others were found the following morning. The families of the six students just rescued have confirmed that the students have arrived home,” he said. Last Thursday, gunmen stormed the university at night and kidnapped some students studying for their upcoming exams. The state government subsequently said rescue operations by security agents commenced immediately. The Kogi varsity

 NLC Will Disown Obi If He Adopts IMF Policies As Nigeria’s President – Ajaero The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero says the labour union would have disowned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi if he had adopted the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had he been elected Nigeria’s President.  Ajaero, who was a guest on a Television programme on Tuesday, described the position of the NLC on the removal of petrol subsidy and electricity subsidy as “fixated”, adding that the labour union would have it tough with any LP President who implements the policies of Bretton Woods institutions which support the removal of subsidies on electricity tariff and petrol. The NLC President said, “He (Obi) is the presidential candidate of Labour Party but does he own NLC or the Labour Party? Why can’t you separate them? Whosoever is the presidential candidate or official of the Labour Party must buy into our projects

  Niger Speaker halts wedding plans for 100 orphans The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulamlik Sarkindaji, has stopped the planned hosting of the wedding of 100 orphan girls in his constituency, saying he would not grace the occasion. Sarkindaji took the decision following the action of the Women Affairs Minister, Uju Ohannaya, who dragged the Speaker to court to halt the wedding. The Speaker made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing in which he said the minister had overstepped her bounds. He said the minister should take over the sponsorship of the wedding ceremony. The Speaker disclosed that he had already made funds available to the girls’ parents through the traditional leaders and clerics of his constituency, noting that he would not withdraw the funds. Abdulmalik also pointed out that his motive for wanting to sponsor the wedding was the state of poverty of the girls’ parents and not the constituency project, as reported in the media. Details later…

 There is currently tension after Security Operatives arrested a yet-to-be-identified man who reportedly tried to detonate a bomb within the premises of a bank in Plateau State, 9News Nigeria has learnt. The incident reportedly took place on Monday, May 13, in Dadin Kowa town in the Jos South area of the state. According to a post by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X on Tuesday, the vigilante security at the bank thwarted the attack when they noticed the suspect. Angered by the situation, a mob attacked the suspect and reportedly demanded his execution. It is unclear whether the suspect has ties to any terrorist organization in the country. He has been taken to the police station for further investigation.

 How Man Abducted, Killed Six-year-old Cousin, After Collecting Ransom In Kaduna Residents of the ancient city of Zaria in Kaduna State were on Sunday thrown into mourning following the arrest of one AbdulAzeez Idris, who allegedly abducted and killed his six-year-old cousin, Aisha Dahiru. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, while confirming the case, said Dahiru was kidnapped while on her way to Islamiya school (Qur’anic school). Hassan disclosed that the six-year-old was killed after being recognised by the cousin while hostage. This was despite the abductee collecting a N8m ransom through an unknown caller, according to the police spokesman Hassan, who said the incident happened on February 12, 2024,  noted that the case had since been referred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the SCID Kaduna, after the victim’s father, Saidu Dahiru, lodged the complaint. The police chief in a statement, said, “On February 12, 2024, at about 1:00 hrs, Mr. Saidu Dahiru, father of th

 Nigerian Pastor Jailed In The UK For Pocketing Church Funds  Ebenezer Oduntan, former pastor of Redeemed Christian Church, passed five times more than declared income through accounts. A former pastor of a Christian church based in Kildare has been convicted of a range of theft charges, involving more than €125,000, as well as multiple breaches of company law and deception. As well as stealing money, Ebenezer Oduntan, former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) City of David, ran an elaborate fraud, generating payments from the Revenue Commissioners. Mr Oduntan, Curragh Grange, Newbridge, Co Kildare, has now been convicted of all 87 charges he faced. When his bank accounts were analysed as part of a criminal investigation into his finances, he was found to have passed five times more than his declared income through his accounts for the years 2012-2018.

 Melinda Gates Quits The Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation  Billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates has said she will resign as a co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This is not a decision I came to lightly," Ms Gates wrote in a statement posted to social media on Monday. Her last day of work will be 7 June. Ms Gates founded the foundation - the largest private body of its kind - in 2000 with her then-husband Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder. In 2021, after 27 years of marriage, the pair announced their separation, but pledged to carry on with their joint philanthropic work. At the time of their split, the former couple said they would remain as co-chairs and trustees of the organisation and that no changes to the foundation's structure were expected. The Gates Foundation is among the most powerful groups in public health, with an endowment of more than $75bn (£59.7bn) as of December. It spends billions of dollars every year on initiatives ai

 IMO STATE GOVT TO SPONSOR ANOTHER SET OF CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS TO HOLYLAND  AS NCPC AWARDS GOVERNOR UZODIMMA THE PILGRIMAGE GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR  The Imo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma, is set to sponsor another group of Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, affirming its commitment to fostering religious activities and enabling believers to deepen their spiritual journey.  This announcement coincided with Governor Uzodimma being honored as the Pilgrimage Governor of the Year 2024 by the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), alongside being appointed the first Christian Pilgrimage Ambassador of Nigeria.  During the recognition ceremony, Governor Uzodimma expressed gratitude to the NCPC for their acknowledgment and emphasized the fruitful partnership between the commission and the state government, stating, "We are united in our pursuit of God's work."  Bishop STV Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, lauded Governor Uzodimm

  LADY STABS HUSBAND TO DEATH IN MAKURDI A lady, identified as Torkwase kpile has allegedly killed her husband, Mr. Igbah Kpile over a disagreement over sex in  Achusa Village, Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. Torkwase, 29, and her husband, 37 has been in marriage for only two months before the incident happened in the early hours of sunday. According to a source in the Area who spoke on Monday with newsmen , the couple went into an argument over sex before the lady picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Igbah in the neck.  Torkwase was said to have gone on to stab igbah in several other parts of his body before he collapsed. When the neighbours heard Igbah,s scream, they rushed into the house and met him in a pool of his blood with the wife standing unremorseful and even more angry, in her words because the husband was disturbing her for Sex. They rushed him to a nearby Clinic in Makurdi but he died before they could get to the hospital.When the neighbours arrived at the h

  Police were called to Pandola Avenue and Essington Road when people in the neighborhood saw a man chase a woman from a home in broad daylight and began to attack her with his blade. The man then turned the weapon on himself. The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Melissa Aud-Headlee. The assailant has been identified as her 32-year-old estranged husband Michael Aud-Headlee. Both were taken to an area hospital where they both passed away. Police report the couple's 3-year-old child was home at the time but thankfully was unharmed. It is reported he saw the attack.  One of the eyewitnesses filmed Michael after the attack on Melissa. There is absolutely no way they could have intervened as they would no longer be here if they did. They filmed for evidence while waiting on 911. The video is absolutely nothing I could share here.  A woman who knows an eyewitness to the altercation reached out and wants to shed light on how often this can happen when individuals are trying to se