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 GOVERNOR UZODIMMA CALLS FOR LOVE, UNITY, HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS IN IMO STATE  In his Easter message delivered after the Holy Eucharist at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish in Omuma, Oru East LGA, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma CON, emphasized the central theme of the Easter season — Love. The Governor called on citizens to extend the spirit of Easter beyond mere celebration, encouraging them to embody love, unity, and compassion in their daily interactions and civic responsibilities. He commended the people of Imo State for their steadfast commitment to these virtues and urged continued efforts to promote a caring and united society. Highlighting the state's achievements, Uzodimma pointed to his administration’s people-centered policies and projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Imo residents. A major initiative, he noted, is the flagship power project, which focuses on the generation, transmission, and distribution of uninterrupted electricity across the Stat...

  BAUCHI STATE POLICE COMMAND RELEASE 20th APRIL 2025 The Editors, Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant Incident: A Call for Enhanced Safety Measures At about 1700 hours today, a tragic event unfolded at the Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four dedicated staff members during a sludge cleaning operation in the plant's tunnels. This incident underlines the urgent need for reinforcing workplace safety practices and strict adherence to established protocols. The deceased are: - *Shayibu Hamza*, 48 - *Abdulmalik Yahya*, 29 - *Jamilu Inusa*, 29 - *Ibrahim Musa*, 42 They all resided in Firo village, Ganjuwa L.G.A., in Bauchi State. Their commitment to their work at the Gubi Dam Water Treatment Plant has left an indelible mark on their colleagues and the broader community. The sludge cleaning operation commenced around 1200 hours. During the procedure, the staff members entered the clarifier to dislodge pit pipes but were tragically overcome and retrieved unc...

 SANWO-OLU, HAMZAT SPONSOR FREE MEDICAL SCREENING FOR Y2025 HAJJ INTENDING PILGRIMS  The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, have sponsored the compulsory medical screening for the State's intending pilgrims embarking on a holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, during the flag-off of the medical exercise in Badagry Local Government Secretariat, Ajarah, Badagry, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. He stated that in fulfilment of the Governor's directive that every pilgrim going for the tedious exercise from the State must be certified medically fit, doctors and other medical practitioners were drawn from General Hospitals across the state to carry out the exercise, adding that results would be released after the blood, urine and other samples collected from them must have been critically examined and analysed at designate...

 Falana to Wike: I didn’t lie about s’court judgement on defection of Rivers lawmakers Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has responded to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over allegations that the former lied against the supreme court. Wike had, during a press briefing, accused Falana of spreading falsehoods about the defection status of some Rivers state legislators on national television. A few days ago, the supreme court settled this matter of defection,” Wike was quoted as saying. “If someone of Femi Falana’s caliber can go on national television and lie, it’s very serious. Lies can cause a lot of crisis.” In a statement on Sunday, Falana said Wike’s allegations were baseless and tendentious. He said the allegations stemmed from his comments on a recent supreme court ruling on the defection of 27 members of the Rivers state assembly. Falana said his comments were based on the fact that the matter was raised suo motu and determined by th...

 LIMPOPO EASTER TRAFFIC UPDATE | SIX FATALITIES REPORTED THUS FAR  BOYNE : Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye says six fatalities have been reported on Limpopo roads since the beginning of the Easter weekend.  Mathye says two drivers and four passengers were confirmed dead, translating to three women and three men since Thursday.  She was speaking to the media ahead of attending the Easter Conference at ZCC Moria headquarters in Boyne on Sunday afternoon.  Mathye says four fatalities happened in the Waterberg District, one in the Mopani District and one in the Sekhukhune District and no injuries reported.  The MEC says they are ready to monitor all routes as pilgrims and holiday makers return to various place as the Easter weekend comes to an end. 

 An 80-year-old South Carolina man became upset with his neighbors so he entered their home with an assault rifle and opened fire taking the life of an 11-year-old girl. After being subdued... he confessed to taking his wife's life also. The Sumter County Sheriff's Department were called to the report of a man opening fire in a home at 10:30 pm on Wednesday, April 16th. When deputies arrived, they encountered a chaotic and heartbreaking scene. Members of the household were in the process of restraining 80-year-old Rueben Leonard after having disarmed him. According to reports, Leonard had entered the home where around 10 people were present and opened fire with an assault rifle.  An 11-year-old girl had been struck and was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. She has been identified as Ashly McFarland. She is the only reported injury due to Leonard's actions.  According to official reports, this tragic incident was the culmination of an ongoing neighbor dispute. Le...

  SUSPECTED THIEF WHO WAS ASSAULTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIES  MANKWENG: The Police in Mankweng has confirmed that a suspected thief who was assaulted by community members has succumbed to his injuries.  The incident took place at Ga-Motholo village on Wednesday 16 April 2025 at about 21:00.  Police reports suggest that Police were on patrol duties when they received a complaint about a mob attack incident in progress outside the University of Limpopo and rushed to the vicinity. Upon arrival, they found a male victim estimated to be in his twenties lying on the street with multiple severe visible injuries on the body.  The motive of the incident is unknown at this stage.  The Police say a massive manhunt for suspects who committed the murder has been launched. 

 THREE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR OFFERING BRIBES TO TRAFFIC OFFICERS ON THE N1  MOKOPANE: The Road Traffic Management Corporation has confirmed that three people have arrested for attempting to bribe traffic officials on the N1 since Friday.  This after two drivers were caught by the members of the National Traffic Police on Sunday.  The two drivers tried to evade arrest by offering money to traffic officers.  This brings the number of arrested drivers to three in Limpopo after one was stopped on N1 in Mokopane in the Waterberg District on Friday.  When it was discovered that he was drunk, he offered officers three hundred rands (R300) for them to ignore the offence.  The officers immediately placed him under arrest and took him to Mokopane police station where he was charged with bribery and drunk driving. 

 WOMAN ( 31 ) ARRESTED FOR STABBING HER EX - BOYFRIEND TO DEATH IN GROBLERSDAL  GROBLERSDAL: A 31 year old woman is facing murder charges after suspected of fatally stabbing her alleged former boyfriend in Groblersdal, Sekhukhune District on Saturday, 19 April at about 17h30.  The police were alerted and on their arrival at the scene found the deceased laying at the veranda and also found the deceased ex-girlfriend   It is further alleged that the deceased arrived and found the suspect who was with a friend.  An argument arose between the woman and the victim and in the ensuing heated argument the man was stabbed with a sharp object allegedly by the ex girlfriend.  The man attempted to flee the scene after being stabbed but he fell on the veranda and was certified dead by the Emergency Medical Services personnel .  The  former girlfriend of the deceased was arrested on the scene.  The suspect who is facing murder charge will appear befor...

 Giyani Police Seek Public Help After Rape of Two Girls in Blinkwater Giyani police are still appealing to the public for any information that could help in their investigation after two young women, aged 19 and 20, from the same family were raped in Blinkwater village outside Giyani. The horrific incident has shocked the local community, prompting visits from leaders and activists. Among them was ANC Youth League PEC member Aeesha Ndwambe, who visited the affected family to offer comfort and support. Aeesha encouraged the family to seek medical and psychological help during this difficult time and assured them that justice must be served. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Giyani police. All information will be treated confidentially.

 Bola Tinubu int’l airport to resume flight operations April 23 The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, Niger state, will resume flight operations on April 23. Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, announced the development in a post on X on Thursday. “The Niger State Government in partnership with Overland Airways proudly announces the commencement of flight operations from the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, starting April 23rd, 2025,” Keyamo said. On March 10, 2024, Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, renamed the Abubakar Imam international airport in Minna after Tinubu. Aminu Takuma, the commissioner for industry, trade and investment, said the renaming of the airport was based on the support the state has received from the president so far. In 2023, the federal government named 15 airports across the country after some prominent Nigerians, including former President Muhammadu Buhari and the late Tunde Idiagbon. Joke Olatun...

 Why I may relocate to Nigeria — American salesman married to Cross River woman An American citizen, Aaron Price, speaks with BIODUN BUSARI about his love for his Nigerian wife, Blessing, and his desire to live in Nigeria for 15 years in exchange for citizenship by naturalisation, among other issues  Where are you from? I was born in California, United States, but my family and I now live in Utah. I’m 33 years old. I came to the state of Utah to study, and I’ve stayed here for 12 years. That’s where I met my wife, Blessing. In terms of what I do, my background was as a professional musician, but I’ve since transitioned my career into software sales. Are you a content creator going by many posts on your TikTok account? My wife is the content creator, but I’ve participated and been involved. She dragged me into content creation as we say in America ‘kicking and screaming.’ So, I’m a content creator by force. How did you both meet?  I always tell people it was a COVID love s...

 LP disowns Baba-Ahmed: 'Inciting comments on Tinubu threaten national stability' The Labour Party (LP) has strongly disavowed recent remarks by its former vice presidential candidate, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed, describing his comments on the legitimacy of President Bola Tinubu’s government as “undemocratic” and “inciting.” In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Arabambi Abayomi, and released to journalists on Saturday in Kaduna by the party’s National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the LP distanced itself from Baba-Ahmed’s claim that the Tinubu administration is “questionably constitutional.” “The party has since moved on,” Abayomi said. “For the interest and peace of the nation, the Labour Party accepted the judgment of the Supreme Court. This was not because we were pleased but because of the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgment.” Abayomi criticised an April 9 meeting allegedly convened by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and LP presidential candidate P...

 We’re tired of Russia-Ukraine war – US The United States is growing weary of the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its third year, according to Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. He made the declaration during an interview with Fox News on Saturday. Reiterating Washington’s long-standing stance, Kellogg affirmed that Ukraine’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO remain unacceptable. He stated unequivocally that NATO membership for Ukraine was “off the table,” reinforcing the position held since 2008. “We’ve been very clear: NATO is off the table. You’re not going to be part of it,” he said. “We’ve been talking about that since 2008 when Ambassador Burns told Condoleezza Rice this was a bridge too far.” Kellogg’s remarks echo Moscow’s insistence that Ukraine must not be admitted into the Western military alliance—one of the central grievances cited by Russia in launching what has become the largest European conflict sinc...

 Lagos building collapse: ‘I almost ate there’, man recounts narrow escape A Lagos resident has explained how he avoided being trapped in a two-storey building that collapsed on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State. The building, which housed a local restaurant, was reported to have collapsed at approximately 8 am on Saturday. It was gathered that the incident occurred minutes after some of the workers arrived. Although the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said five people had been rescued as of the time of filing the report, residents in the area feared that many others could be trapped under the rubble. However, the resident, who identified himself as Chike, told our correspondent that he was lucky to have escaped after he shelved his plan to have breakfast at the restaurant. “I live in Ojodu; this (the restaurant) is the place I usually go to eat. Last night, I wanted to go there to eat, but I didn’t feel comfortable about going, so I decided to buy some...

 Nigeria bleeding, please bring us down from this cross — Kukah begs Tinubu Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to save Nigerians from the cross of pain and hunger.  In his Easter message on Sunday, the cleric called on the government to protect Nigerians from “marauders, murderers, savages and ravenous predators who threaten to overrun our nation.” “Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. We still believe removing the subsidies was the right decision. “We note that the country now has a huge volume of resources in its domestic reserves. “For over ten years now, farming has become one of the most hazardous pre-occupations in our country,” Kukah said. Kukah further criticised the government’s moves to assuage Nigerian’s plight by means of palliatives distribution, warning that such a move diminishes the dignity of citizens. The cleric advised the government to “Make food security a ...

 PDP Gov Eno Confirms Support for APC’s Tinubu; Delta, Rivers, Enugu Weigh Options In a major realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general election, at least three to four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and support the second term push of President Bola Tinubu. This is in response to political rumblings in many northern states, which are threatening withdrawal of support for the incumbent President’s re-elections. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State last Friday, at a public event, confirmed support for President Tinubu saying in his state, there’s no more party politics as they are all in a “unity party” of PDP and APC. However, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, are weighing options of support for Tinubu’s second term whilst not changing or decamping from the opposition PDP.  Wi...

 Danjuma Restates His Self-defence Call as Death Toll in Benue Attacks Hits 56 *Says the killers have acquired sophisticated arms to take over lands  *Insists nobody will save the people except themselves *Benue is going through ‘a real war,’ Gov Alia cries out *Tension in Kwara over invasion by new terrorist group As the death toll in the attacks by suspected herdsmen on the people of Benue State hit 56 yesterday, a former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has restated his call on the people of Taraba State and other Nigerians in general to defend themselves against the invaders, who are killing people in various communities across the country. Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who confirmed that the death toll in the attacks by herdsmen in his state has risen to 56 during his on-the-spot assessment tour of some of the communities, declared that Benue State was going through “a real war.” On his part, Danjuma spoke in Takum during an occasion h...

  Easter: Christian Leaders Urge FG, States To Stop Killings, Hardship Christian leaders from various denominations across Nigeria have appealed to the federal and state governments to mobilise resources to address the rising wave of killings in different parts of the country. They also pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors to review their current economic policies and reduce the burden these reforms have placed on citizens. In their messages yesterday ahead of the Easter celebration, the clergymen stated that the occasion was taking place amidst harsh economic realities, worsening insecurity, bloodshed, and the kidnapping of their members and other Nigerians by bandits and terrorists who operate without any resistance or hindrance. Expressing shock at the recent surge in the wanton killings of Nigerians in different parts of the country, the clerics reiterated that the protection of life and property remains the government’s primary responsibility at nationa...

 *OPERATION UDO GA CHI - ZERO KIDNAPPING: JOINT SECURITY TEAM ARRESTS TWO ARMED HOODULUMS DURING A PATROL THAT RESULTED IN AN EXCHANGE OF GUN BATTLE, RECOVERS ONE AUTOMATIC PUMP ACTION AND TWO MOTORCYCLES IN AMORKA, ULI.* On 19th April 2025, a Joint Security Team comprising of Police Operatives attached to Uli Police Station and Uli Vigilantes on patrol of Operation Udo Ga Chi - Zero Kidnapping engaged armed hoodlums on motorbikes in a gun duel and arrested two suspects and recovers one pump action gun and two motorbikes along Uli, Amorka, along Onitsha-Owerri Road. The suspects Chigozie Johnson and Umuerima Oguta all males between the age bracket of 30- 32 years confessed to being among members of the criminal gang and were on an evil mission before they were arrested.  Meanwhile, during the Police operative's search in a nearby bush, a lot of blood stains were observed - an indication that some of the gang members escaped with bullet wounds. In the light of this development,...