The Baale of Araromi Village in Ibadan Chief Tafa Apanpa and his wife, have been abducted by some suspected kidnappers.

The duo was reported to have been kidnapped by gunmen, who stormed the village located in the Bakatari area of Ibadan, on Tuesday night.

Reports have it that Bakatari in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan is a border town between Oyo and Ogun, located on the Ibadan-Abeokuta road.

A resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan, that the duo were kidnapped while it was raining on Tuesday night.

The source said that their where about were still unknown as at the time of filing this report on Wednesday.

When contacted, DSP Adewale Osifeso, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, saying efforts had been put in place to secure release of the victims.

“The incident happened very late on Tuesday 22nd of June, at Araromi Village.

“Efforts are in top gear to rescue both victims and apprehend the abductors, please,” he said.

A female student of Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri, Kebbi state, who escaped the attack on the school on Thursday, says she doesn’t think the gunmen are Nigerians.

On Thursday, gunmen stormed the school in motorcycles and reportedly kidnapped many students.

During the attack, police officers on the ground were said to have been overpowered, leading to the death of a an officer.

Some teachers were also said to have been kidnapped alongside the students.

Speaking after the attack, the female student said two of her schoolmates, who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, are currently receiving treatment.

She noted that some of the students were released by the gunmen, while others were taken away.

“They took four teachers — Mr Kabantyok, Mallam Bash, the security officer, and the VP, student affairs; they took Mr Jekonia, that tall man in the primary school, and they took his wife,” she said.

“They took some students. They shot one SSS 3 boy. They shot two students. I think they are under treatment now.

“They took SSS 1 and SSS 2 students, mostly girls and those people (referring to the gunmen), I don’t think they are from Nigeria at all because my mum and I hid.”

The Kebbi incident is the latest on the list of attacks on schools across the northern part of the country.

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, working at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, have on Thursday uncovered huge bales stashed with foreign currencies brought in by an Ethiopian Airline cargo.

Security sources at the airport who spoke on condition of anonymity told DAILY NIGERIAN that the currencies, wrapped in three huge bales, were discovered after the aircraft had offloaded the cargo and left at about 2pm.

The source added that the officers on duty, comprising Aviation Security, AVSEC, Customs and SSS operatives swiftly alerted the EFCC operatives who arrived at the scene and evacuated the currencies.

“We suddenly saw the arrival of heavily armed security personnel including police, Customs officers, EFCC officials and others.

“When they arrived, they cordoned off the area and started evacuating the bags of the money from the terminal.

“The EFCC operatives came with money counting machine and started counting the cash from about 2pm up to about 6 pm. The seizure is huge,” said the source.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was not briefed about the incident, but said he would call Kano office for confirmation.

Press Release

Stepping on Kwankwaso's poster not intentional -Garba

Kano state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba has said that viral picture on the social media depicting Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state stepping on the poster of former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at the APC rally, held on Saturday, was unintentional and totally unpremeditated.

In a statement, the commissioner said that no matter the political misunderstanding and differences, it has never been the character of Governor Ganduje to engage in any disrespectful or act of belittling any political leader.

He said while the issue has been twisted by some injudicious elements who are busy parodying the scenario for their egoistic interest, it would become a big wound to the conscience if facts are misrepresented.

Giving an account of what actually happened, Malam Garba stated "during the events, which was organized as part of activities marking this year’s Democracy Day, two former gubernatorial candidates and many members of the Kwankwasiyya defected to the APC.

When Governor Ganduje was called to the podium, the former Kwankwasiyya members lined up on the way to applaud and pay their allegiance to the governor.

Some of the members who abandoned the Kwankwasiyya movement at the event, parenthetically, were down playing pictures of the former governor, one of which, dropped on the red carpet as Governor Ganduje walked his way to the podium, and unknowingly stepped on it."

The commissioner emphasised that Ganduje is known by many as peace loving, tolerating and habour no grudges to influence such act.

MALAM MUHAMMAD GARBA

Hon. Commissioner for Information, Kano state

PRESS RELEASE:

JUNE 12 : WERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? WHERE ARE THE NINE?

Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021 with demonstrations, thereby clashing with men of the Nigerian Police who were bent on maintaining law and order.

However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has frowned on the protests. The group referred to the protesters as certificated ingrates, rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace. MURIC argued that the protesters have no moral ground to protest on June 12 since it was President Muhammadu Buhari alone who gave official recognition to that day when all past rulers had refused to do so.

MURIC spoke on Monday, 14th June, 2021, through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads:

“Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021 with demonstrations. Although in negligible numbers, the protests took place in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and a few other places.

“We commend the police for handling the protests with maturity and professionalism as no casualties or brutalities were reported. However, the protesters exposed themselves as certificated ingrates, unrepentant rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace.

“June 12 should be a day for all Nigerians to celebrate Chief M.K.O. Abiola for his sacrifices on the altar of democracy. He was the man who paid the supreme sacrifice after winning the presidential election held on June 12, 1993 which was criminally annulled by the military.

“The Nigerian civil society, including MURIC, had been clamouring for the official recognition of that day as Democracy Day but none of our past rulers listened, not even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the same city of Abeokuta like M.K.O. The former had all the chance in the world to declare June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day having ruled for eight years (1999 – 2007) but he bluntly refused to do so.

“It was a Northerner, a Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually proclaimed June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It is our contention that for that alone, the people of the South West should show gratitude to Buhari. But what do we see?

“It was demonstrations galore. The most shameful, most reprehensible and most preposterous was the open participation of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who marched on the streets of Ibadan with protesters chanting ‘Buhari Must Go’. It is most naïve for a sitting executive governor who came into office riding on the back of democracy to join a group seeking the removal of a democratically elected president through undemocratic means. It was a great disservice to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. Seyi Makinde is an ingrate nulli secundus. He should apologise to Nigerians for his immature behaviour.

“Those protesters definitely missed the point and lost their bearing because Nigerians, particularly people of the South West, should be showing gratitude to Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day instead of partaking in an unnecessary protest.

“The Qur’an gives immense honour to those who appreciate goodness. Allah says, ‘If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you. But if you disbelieve, certainly my punishment is indeed severe’ (Glorious Qur’an 14:7).

“On his way to Jerusalem, while passing between Samaria and Galilee, Jesus (may peace be upon him) was met by ten lepers who begged him to heal them. Although he cured them all, only one of them, a Samaritan, a ‘foreigner’, came back to show gratitude and he was asked, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?’ (Luke 17:11-17).

“As if in response to this rhetorical question, a larger group of demonstrators gathered in Abuja to show solidarity with Buhari. They drummed, sang and danced. These are ‘the nine’ and we commend them for their wisdom boldness and patriotism.

“MURIC calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those who are ungrateful to him. He should continue his good works. We ask him to reflect on the words of Allah where He said, ‘What does Allah stand to gain if you show gratitude and belief? Allah is the One who shows gratitude (i.e. Allah is the One who knows how to reward good deeds) and He knows everything’ (Glorious Qur’an 4:147).

“Therefore, our message to Mr. President is this: Just continue your good works. Expect no gratitude from some Nigerians. But many others appreciate you. Most importantly, Allah will definitely reward you here in this world and yaom al-Qiyamah (in the Hereafter).

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it will begin full operation of the standard gauge railway service from Lagos to Ibadan on Tuesday.

The Management of NRC said this is a statement signed by the Lagos District Manager, Mr Jerry Oche, in Lagos on Sunday.

According to him, the Lagos Ibadan Train Services will now be available in the mornings from Tuesday.

“The updated timetable for Tuesday to Friday is as follows: Lagos to Ibadan: 8:00 a:m from Mobolaji Johnson Station at Alogo megi Ebute – Meta Lagos. Also, the train will take off from Ibadan to Lagos: 8:00 am from Obafemi Awolowo Station at Moniya.

“The train will take off from Lagos to Ibadan: 4:00 pm from Mobolaji Johnson Station Alagomji, while from Ibadan to Lagos: 4:00 pm from Obafemi Awolowo Station at Moniya.

“The standard gauge train schedule on Saturday from Lagos to Ibadan: 8:30 am from Mobolaji Johnson Station at Alagomeji while the train will leave from Ibadan to Lagos: 8:30 am from Obafemi Awolowo Station at Moniya.

“For Saturday evening from Lagos to Ibadan: 6:00 pm from Mobolaji Johnson Station at Alagomji, while the train will take off from Ibadan to Lagos: 6:00 pm from Obafemi Awolowo Station at Moniya,” Oche said.

He said that the Alagomeji, Abeokuta, and Moniya were still the stop stations of the Lagos Ibadan Train Services

There is currently calm in different cities across the SouthEastern part of the country as residents shunned the June 12 protest.

However, the situation in SouthWest is different as protesters are occupying different cities, with security operatives struggling to maintain law and order.

Daily Trust had earlier reported how the police took over the Freedom Park, Ojota, venue of the Lagos protest, on Saturday morning.

But hours later, the protesters trooped to the streets, daring the security operatives who later dispersed them forcefully.

After they were dispersed, the protesters regrouped in different parts of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

There was chaos in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, as protesters demanded an end to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The protesters chanted antigovernmental songs as they marched through the streets.

In Osogbo, Osun State, students and civil rights activists, also protested and lamented the high rate of insecurity in the country.

Many streets were deserted as residents stayed indoors to avoid being caught in clashes.

Normalcy in SouthEast

But it was business as usual in the SouthEast region as people moved about freely.

The atmosphere in Awka, Anambra State capital, was peaceful and orderly.

People opened their shops and offices in the state and carried out their business unchallenged .

Owerri, Imo State capital, which has recorded disturbing incidents in recent time was calm on Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

While some residents managed to to go out, others preferred to stay indoors.

The state had been engulfed in crises since April 5 when gunmen invaded the headquarters of the Nigerian Police and that of the Correctional Services where they released more than 1,800 inmates.

However the police had asked residents to go about their duties without let or hindrance

Abutu Yaro, the State Police Commissioner, in a meeting with operators of Night Clubs/Hotels services in the state, encouraged them to open for business while assuring them of adequate protection.

Our correspondent, who drove round some parts of the metropolis, observed that though traffic was light, nobody was being molested.

There was also no protests in the state.

In Abia, it was also a peaceful atmosphere in different parts of the commercial town of Aba.

An internal tussle broke out on Saturday morning amongst members of the #IStandWithBuhari protest group at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

Leaders of the group were seen in a heated exchange over the sharing of monetary resources meant for organising the counter protests.

In a reaction to the #June12 protests, hundreds of pro-Buhari supporters have arrived at the Unity Fountain to air their solidarity to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

President Muhammadu Buhari says those financing terrorism in the country are seeking relevance.

The president spoke on Friday during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), says those accusing him of sparing bandits and terrorists in Nigeria are being unfair.

According to the President, he is also treating bandits and insurgents in the language they understand.

He was reacting to an accusation of “double standards” alleging that he pampers bandits in the north while sounding tough against insurrectionists in the South-East.

Buhari spoke on Friday evening during an interview aired on NTA.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue state has confirmed that two of its officials were among the five persons killed Thursday by suspected armed herdsmen at Zongu Akiki village, Mbalagh Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The armed men had Thursday morning ambushed and killed the five victims while on their way to their respective farms.

A survivor of the attack who narrowly escaped death, one Nyitamen Iorzer disclosed that the victims were waylaid at about 7am by the armed herders where they usually converged in the morning before moving into their farms.

“They opened fire on us and killed five persons. It took the grace of God for me to escape with one other person,” he said.

Confirming the gruesome murder of the two APC officials, the Caretaker State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. James Ornguga said “of the five persons killed in the attack by armed herders, two of them were party officials from Mbalagh Council Ward.

“Mr. Moses Allagh was the Public Relations Officer of the APC in Mbalagh Ward, whole Simon Ugber was the Financial Secretary,” he said.

Reacting, the President Mbalagh Youth Development Association, Mr. Jude Nyam decried the continued unprovoked attacks on his people by herdsmen wondering when President Muhamedu Buhari “will start treating killer herdsmen in the language they would understand.

“The latest attack has brought the number of people killed by herdsmen in the past 10 days in Mbalagh community alone to 55 persons,” he said.

Nyam also called on President Buhari to be a President to all Nigerians and not only for herdsmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Catherine Anene confirmed that the corpses of the five victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the local government system has been killed and not properly functioning.

Buhari stated this while responding to a question during an exclusive interview on the Morning Show on ARISE TV, the broadcast arm of THISDAY, Thursday.

He said, ”Devolution of powers, you have to define it. Well actually the local government system has been killed. The federal, state and local government if they agree to flow properly we won’t have all these problems. But the problem is the local government has been virtually killed and this is not good for this country, because those who became the local government chairman have been compromised. If your local government is entitled to receive 300 million and later you are only given 100 million.”

President Muhammadu Buhari says those he appointed into offices in his administration earned them.

The president said this during an interview with Arise TV broadcast on Thursday.

Buhari said he will not pick somebody to fill a particular position “just to balance up”, while neglecting those who had passed through the training and ranks.

“They trained in Zaria or Abeokuta, they come through the ranks and because they served under all the circumstances, the crises and everything and they gradually rise to the status,” he said.

“And you think, you will just pick somebody just to balance up. These positions have to be earned. There are people who have been there for 10 to 15 years.”

In recent times, critics of the president have accused him of appointing those from the northern part of the country into strategic positions.

They said the president is negating the principles of federal character, especially in the appointment of service chiefs.

The wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, has said no ransom should be paid to her abductors if she is kidnapped.

Addressing participants of a peace and security training organised Equal Access International (EAI) in Kaduna, the governor’s wife, who is also a lecturer at Baze University, Abuja, said she is ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if that will bring peace to the country.

The governor’s wife said Nigerians must get back their once peaceful country and women have a great role to play in achieving that.

“We must sacrifice to bring this to an end and I am ready to die in the hands of kidnappers if it will bring peace to this country.

“For as long as you continue to pay ransom, it is like you are adding kerosene to fire, you are giving bandits, kidnappers money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay ransom. this is my personal opinion.

“I have said it before and I will say it again, if I am kidnapped, don’t pay any ransom. Rather pray for me that if it is death, I go in a good way and if I am going to be released that I am not violated.

“As long as we are giving them the money, they will hurt people around, they will not change. Collectively as a country, we have to say no. We cannot continue to give them our hard-earned money to buy weapons and drugs to kill and maim our children. If we don’t put a stop to this, they will destroy us all.

They will even kidnap the person that takes the ransom to them.” she said.

Speaking on communal clashes witnessed in parts of the state, she told the women drawn from Chikun, Kajuru and Jama’a local government areas to shun divisive narratives created by selfish politicians.

The Country Director, EAI, Mr. Maaji Peters, said the training is aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security (CIVSEC) who will make contributions and decisions on issues that affects them and their communities.

The governor of Kaduna has maintained that he would never enter into negotiation with bandits and kidnappers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission must be devoid of any political bias. Appointing persons like Lauretta Onochie, who is very politically partisan, will undermine INEC. I appeal to the President to reconsider this nomination and leave a legacy of a credible INEC.

The terrorists are preventing some farmers in Zamfara, Northwest Nigeria, from farming until levies are paid to them.

Farming communities in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria are distressed as terror groups operating in about five local governments are demanding levy before they will be allowed to have access to their farm to commence the farming season.

Terrorists are asking the communities in Anka, Birnin Magaji, Bakura, and Zurmi Local Government Areas, including Dansadau in Maru to oblige with the demands to pay the levy and have a hitch free farming season in their respective farmlands, or face attack, HumAngle has learnt.

A villager who simply gave his name as Manuga, told HumAngle that terrorists operating in Bakura Local Government Area of the state made the demand through a telephone call to a resident in one of the affected communities.

He said that two communities in the local government have been asked to make a payment of 12 Million within a space of three weeks.

“Prior to this notice, the terrorists group located in Faggi forest that leads to Shinkafi, Gandi forest axis, tasked Faggi community to pay N7 million, in March, 2021,” revealed another villager whose name is Hamza Bakura.

“So also, the group billed Dankaiwa District, they asked the villagers to pay N15 million in early Dec. 2020.”

HumAngle learnt that residents of Rumu, Doka, Tangaran, Jarkuka and Tungar-Nabarau villages of Wuya ward, in Anka Local Government area the state have vacated their respective villages after what they described as unbearable levies by the terrorists.

Findings in Zurmi Local Government Area revealed that the farmers from Nasarawa Mailayi, Kiyawa, Gusami Gari, and Gusami Hayi villages are currently being denied access to their farms in the outskirts of their villages.

In Dansadau District of Maru Emirate, farmers told HumAngle that they have continued to receive threats from different terror groups demanding to make similar concessional payments, to access to their farming without hindrance.

However, some villagers said they have resolved not to yield to the demands of the terrorists. One of such villagers noted that despite the threats by the terror groups, they resolved and vowed not to pay any penny to them for seasonal farming exercises to hold.

“Few among us who can afford the costs, farm at our farms. For instance, if 20 labourers are to work at my farm, I then hire 50 of our local vigilante group to guard the workers while they work in order to repel any attack from terrorists,” Bala said.

There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.

To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.

Jeff Bezos said he will go to space when his company, Blue Origin, launches its first passenger-carrying mission next month.

The 57-year-old billionaire, who plans to travel alongside his brother, Mark, made the announcement in an Instagram post Monday. The launch is set for July 20, about two weeks after he plans to step down as chief executive officer of Amazon.com Inc.

“Ever since I was five years old, I’ve dreamed of traveling to space,” Bezos said in the post. “On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend.”

Blue Origin is one of several high-profile space-tourism companies backed by a wealthy entrepreneur, alongside Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Richard Branson-backed Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. Both of those companies are making plans to carry paying customers.

Blue Origin is auctioning off one seat on its New Shepard rocket for the July 20 flight, an 11-minute trip to suborbital space that will reach an altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). That seat will be the only one available for purchase on the flight, and the proceeds will go to Blue Origin’s foundation, Club for the Future, which promotes math and science education.

The company has previously said customers will have a four-day experience, including three days of preflight training at the company’s launch site near Van Horn, Texas. Blue Origin has built accommodations, including a cafeteria.

Bezos plans to hand the reins as Amazon’s CEO to Andy Jassy on July 5.

June 6, 2021

Press Statement

APC Behind Twitter Ban and Moves to Suppress Nigerians

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accuses the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The PDP says revelations available to it show how APC leaders at one of their party’s national caucus meeting recommended the regulation of social media in Nigeria and how they have been plotting to obliterate internet-based interaction platforms such as Twitter.

The PDP recalls how the APC Caucus has been pushing bills in the National Assembly, particularly in November 2020, seeking to enforce a draconian regulation of social media so as to gag Nigerians from exposing its atrocities, including human right abuses, treasury looting, nepotism and sectional marginalization by the APC administration.

Nigerians can also recall how the APC administration in carrying out the agenda of its party have been using the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to suffocate the media space with humongous fines and threats of suspension of operating license on broadcast stations.

The PDP wants the APC to know that their plot against Nigerians have been exposed and cannot stand.

Our nation is known for her resilient citizenry and no leader or political party has been able to suppress the wishes of Nigerians.

The APC, in spite of its machinations, cannot vanquish Nigerians in their determination for a free and democratic nation where sovereignty belongs to the people.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

There was pandemonium in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as a yet-to-be-identified soldier reportedly killed an operative of the Department of State Service (DSS) over a minor disagreement.

DAILY INDEPENDENT learnt that the unfortunate incident occurred at the popular KSSD Hotel located at NTA road, Friday evening.

It was gathered that the soldier had accosted a young man suspected to be a “Yahoo Boy’ (internet fraudster) at the Hotel and in the process of apprehending him, the suspect sighted a familiar face who happened to be the late DSS man.

The atmosphere became charged when the deceased attempted to intervene in the matter and pleaded with the soldier to let the suspect off the hook.

Enraged by the alleged intervention, the soldier reportedly stabbed the DSS man in the neck, which led to his death, hours after.

He was rushed to the state hospital but gave up the ghost minutes after.

Few minutes after the DSS operatives were said to have stormed the hotel premises and taken the killer soldier into custody.

Reacting to the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed that the victim was killed during an argument with some soldiers and that the police are investigating the matter.

“We heard that the DSS operative was killed during an hot argument with some soldiers yesterday evening.

“The deceased’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue. The perpetrators of the murder had been arrested.

“Let me also add that our detectives have started investigation and we will get to the root of the matter,” Abutu said.

Ekiti State government, on Friday, announced the suspension the Consequential Salary Adjustment (minimum wage) and a cut in the salaries of workers and that of the political appointees.

The minimum wage was being enjoyed by workers on grade levels 07 to 12 since January. It has now been partially suspended for a period of three months.

Workers on grade levels 01 and 06 were lucky, as their N30,000 minimum wage was not affected by the cut.

In December last year, labour unions in the state had threatened to shut down activities of the state government if Governor Kayode Fayemi failed to implement the N30,000 minimum wages and the consequential adjustment to workers across board.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/minimum-wage-well-shut-down-govt-activities-if-ekiti-workers/?amp=1

Also, in March, activities at the Ekiti State House of Assembly were on a total lockdown for over three hours, following a peaceful protest by workers in the state over the contentious minimum wage.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/03/protesting-workers-shut-ekiti-assembly-over-minimum-wage/?amp=1

The cut was part of agreement reached on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, Mou, between the government and organised labour.

Representing the government at the meeting were Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, Oluyemi Esan, and the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Mr. Bayo Opeyemi.

The Chairmen, Nigerian Labour Congress, Kolapo Olatunde; his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Sola Adigun, and that of the Joint Negotiating Council Kayode Fatomiluyi, as well as their Secretaries, signed on behalf of the labour centres.

Terms and conditions

Contained in the agreement, read by the TUC Chairman, Sola Adigun, was the suspension of the consequential adjustment for certain categories of workers for a period of three months— May to July.

It was agreed that the salaries of political appointees be slashed by 25 percent for a period of three months.

The pact also included that the release of the running grant for the running of government office be reduced, while monthly meeting of the Economic Review Committee was mandated to convene five days after the meeting of the Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, to keep the workers abreast of the state’s financial position.

Also, 10 percent internally generated revenue, being the state responsibility to JAAC, be released to the local governments henceforth.

Government assured that it won’t downsize or retrench any worker as a result of the present economic crunch hitting the state.

Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has said he is considering the possibility of heeding calls on him to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Governor Bello stated this during a chat with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in his office in the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He also said competence and capacity should be the criteria for electing the next president and not his ethnicity or region.

The troubled African Athletics Championships have been thrown into doubt once again after Nigeria made a U-turn over hosting the event.

The country's authorities have intervened to say the championships cannot be hosted as planned between 23 and 27 June due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Just last week Nigeria's Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare had agreed to step in to host the event in Lagos to replace Algeria, who had asked for a postponement also citing Covid-19.

This latest decision leaves the future of the athletics showpiece in doubt for this year despite Algeria insisting it is still willing to host the event later this year, coronavirus permitting.

The Confederation of African Athletics had hoped that with Nigeria hosting the championships it would give athletes the chance to achieve qualifying standards for the Tokyo Olympics ahead of the 29 June deadline.

It is yet another problem to hit the biennial event which should have taken place in 2020 before being postponed by a year due to Covid-19.

The plan was then to hold the championships in the Algerian city of Oran between the 1st and 5th June 2021 before it was then moved to Algiers and set to take place 22-26 June.

Tension has gripped people living around Seme boarder in Badagry area of Lagos state as a soldier on Wednesday night allegedly shot dead a Customs officer in the area.

The soldier, according to residents, was said to be under the influence of alcohol.

“Fears are currently mounting on possible breakdown of law and order in this area,” a source said.

Muyiwa Ogunjobi, police spokesman in Lagos state told SaharaReporters that the command was not aware of the incident.

“We are not yet aware, where? When?” he asked when contacted.

The Plateau State Police Command said it has arrested some suspected killers of AIG Christopher Dega (retd.), a Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Security.

The PUNCH gathered that the governor’s aide was killed in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, Ubah Ogaba, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement read, “The Plateau State Police Command on a sad note received an ugly report of the death of AIG Christopher Dega (Rtd).

“On 31/05/2021 at about 2030hrs, AIG Christopher Dega (Rtd) was shot dead by three yet to be identified gunmen in an isolated restaurant at Bukuru, Jos.

“From the investigation so far, it appeared that he was trailed and shot.

“He arrived at Jos from Makurdi on the same date at about 1930hrs.

“Some suspects have been arrested. Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing.”

Ortom has been one of the vocal governors against herdsmen excesses in the country. The governor has also been against open grazing while the anti-open grazing law has been operational in his state.

Gunmen have killed Senior Special Assistant to Benue Governor Samuel Ortom on Security, AIG Christopher Dega (Rtd) in Jos, Plateau State Capital.

The Nation learnt he was shot in the chest several times by gunmen on Tuesday.

AIG Dega had a brilliant career in the Nigerian Police Force and was twice Commissioner of Police in Borno and Edo States.

He hailed from Katsina Ala local government area in Benue State.

Following the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the declaration of the Sovereign State of Biafra, South East Governors’ Forum Chairman, Dave Umahi, has said May 30 would be set aside as a day to remember millions of Igbo that lost their lives during the civil war.

Governor Umahi of Ebonyi State, who stated this during a television interview, yesterday, said there was the need to set aside a date to honour the Igbo who died during the three-year war, insisting there was nothing wrong with it. He said if a proposal to do so comes before the South East governors, they would give it consideration.

Explaining the reason May 30 should be set aside in Anambra, Abia, Enonyi, Enugu and Imo states as a day to remember the dead, he said if the country can recognise June 12 as Democracy Day to honour MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election, there was nothing wrong in setting aside a day to remember five million Igbo, including children who were killed during the war.

“People are beginning to say that even beyond the issue of sitting at home, there is a need to set aside a date to honour our brothers and sisters who died during the civil war and there is nothing wrong with doing that. If it comes before the South East governors, we would give it consideration and put conditions and one of them would be that if anyone decides to do otherwise, you must allow the person to exercise his or her rights.

“Children, who didn’t know the reasons for declaring the war were killed and we are saying we should have a public holiday for people like that. We are saying if our leaders bring such proposition to us and speaking for myself, we would grant that day as a public holiday but there must be a proper request for this in one of our meetings. I believe it would even be deliberated upon in our next South East governors’ meeting.

“We have June 12 dedicated to MKO Abiola, we also have a date set aside for our fallen heroes, so, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a day set aside to mourn our dead but it depends on the motive because such a day is supposed to be a day of reflection.

“The South East leaders would be willing to set aside May 30 every year to honour our dead. The significance of that day, if set aside, is for each and every one of us to reflect and ask if we should have done things differently. Yes, we were being killed and we were being maltreated but maybe there would have been an alternative. What is done is done and the man who led us said there shouldn’t be a second war and that is where we are,” Umahi said.

On the issue of insecurity, he said since President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that anyone found with an unauthorised AK47 should be dealt with, going forward, any armed herdsman seen in Ebonyi will be ‘brought down’.

“The president has directed that anyone found with an unauthorised AK47 and is not a security agent, should be brought down and this is very important for the governors.

“So, if you are a herder, whether you are an Igbo or Fulani or Ijaw and you are armed with an AK47 and you are coming to my place, even if it is with a stick, I would use it to bring you down, that is the order of the President,” he said.