Three blood brothers from Teresia forest (in Chepterwai village, Nandi county) are alleged to have approached a cow and forcedfully performed the act on it until it died.
The villagers were shocked to learn that the cow had been discovered dead under scary circumstances when they awoke one morning.
Kimaiyo Kiyos, the genuine owner of the dead animal, stated that when he awoke in the morning, he discovered that his cow had gone missing.
He and a group of neighbors searched for the cow, and astonishingly, they discovered it 500 meters from his property.
The deceased animal’s reproductive organs were seriously hemorrhaging, indicating that they had been interfered with.
The neighbors were taken aback when they learned that their children were the perpetrators. Members of the community tracked down one of the three suspects.
They believe that drug usage is the true cause of their bad behavior, and are encouraging the security team to crack down on the unlawful brew production that is hurting their children.
The other two suspects were apprehended when the victim of the incident reported the occurrence to the police station, according to the results of a comprehensive search.
The three were then moved to a different police station, where they will be held until their case is heard on Monday.
Gunmen on Monday killed the son of Reke village head in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
DAILY POST reports that the gunmen invaded the Magaji of Reke’s compound overnight and shot the victim dead.
The attack took place at about 0200hours, throwing the community into panic, according to the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Babawale Zaid Afolabi, who spoke to DAILY POST in Ilorin on Monday.
Police officers from Afon Divisional Police headquarters have evacuated the corpse to the hospital for autopsy.
When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the development.
He said an investigation was ongoing to unravel the masterminds of the dastardly act and effect their arrest.
Civil society organizations in Osun state thronged major streets of Osogbo, the state capital protesting against insecurity and bad governance in Nigeria.
The protest, according to the Convener, Comrade Waheed Lawal, is to sensitize residents of the state to always stand against injustice and maladministration rather than dying in silence.
The protesters took off from the popular Freedom Park at Old Garage and marched through station road where they addressed shop owners around Fagbewesa junction on the need to join the advocacy for better Nigeria.
Comrade Waheed Saka who spoke at the Fagbewesa junction said despite the human and natural resources the country is endowed with, poor leadership has put the country in the wrong direction leading to untold hardship among the masses.
Angry youths have staged a violent protest along the Gusau – Kaura Namoda Highway in Zamfara State.
A source told SaharaReporters that the protesters occupied the road very early on Monday over the incessant attacks by bandits in their communities.
According to him, the protest took a violent dimension when youths blocked the highway along Kurya junction and stopped over 500 public vehicles travelling along the road from continuing with their journey.
He also stated that movement was hindered at the exact spot bandits normally pass through to invade the communities.
The protesters condemned the unending insecurity and attacks which the people of the area have suffered at the hands of the bandits.
They also claimed there are attacks by bandits in the area every day to kill and kidnap residents while some houses are burnt in the process.
GOVERNOR ABUBAKAR SANI BELLO SADDENED BY RECENT BANDITS ATTACK ON SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN TEGINA, WUSHISHI AND BATATI
SAYS GOVERNMENT WORRIED BY THE ESCALATING CASES OF BANDITRY IN THE STATE.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and Chairman North Central Governors Forum (NCGF), has expressed shock and is saddened by the recent reports of abduction of innocent people by armed bandits in several communities across three Local Government Areas of Rafi, Wushishi and Lavun in the state.
It is reported that armed Bandits invaded Tegina community in Rafi Local Government Area, shot one person dead and left one seriously injured as well as kidnapped an unconfirmed number of Islamiyya Students and Teachers from Salihu Tanko Islamic School alongside some passengers of a Sharon Bus travelling to Minna.
Governor Sani Bello, in a statement expressed outrage at the escalating level of banditry in the state while reiterating his emergency call on the Federal Government for prompt intervention.
"The situation has reached crisis level, infact it's a war situation that we have to confront without further delay", the Governor fumed while also stating that the state government is still searching and conducting House-to-House headcount to ascertain the exact number of children abducted.
Reports also have it that the Gunmen, on about 70 Motorcycles, attacked 17 communities in Wushishi Local Government Area where they shot several people while some women and children drowned as they try to escape across River Kaduna.
More than ten people are reported to be receiving treatment at the Wushishi General Hospital even as search is still ongoing for many missing persons from Babako, Tashan Girgi, Kwakwagi, Fakara, Ndiga, Buzu, Akare, Kala Kala, Agwa, Anguwan Gizo, Tsamiya and other neighbouring villages attacked by the Bandits.
The Governor described as unfortunate and unbecoming of the serial attacks and assured that the Joint Military Taskforce have been mobilized and are already tracing the tracks of the criminals for possible isolation and ambush.
Governor Sani Bello further appealed for calm and restated the strong resolve of the state government to continue to protect the lives and property of the citizens as a matter of utmost importance and priority.
Meanwhile,11children who were too small and couldn't walk, among the kidnapped Islamiyya Students, were released by the Gunmen as reports also indicates that the IDPs of Central and Model Primary Schools as well as Government Secondary school in Wushishi are returning back to their communities following return of normalcy.
Gunmen abduct students from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school in Tegina Rafi Local Government Area of Niger . One person shot dead, another critically injured.
Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has admitted his players have been practising penalty kicks, ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Manchester City.
Tuchel also mentioned the marathon penalty shoot-out between Manchester United and Villarreal last Wednesday in the Europa League final as inspiration.
According to the German, he has “never seen anything like” it, with all 20 takers finding the net.
Villarreal beat United 11-10, with goalkeeper, Geronimo Rulli firing home the winning spot-kick.
When asked if Chelsea keepers Edouard Mendy or Kepa Arrizabalaga would be ready to step up to the spot if called upon, Tuchel replied: “Well I hope so.
“We always practise penalties when we face a match where it’s possible it could go to penalties.
“Can we simulate the pressure, the fatigue, the occasion, how it will feel tomorrow? No, we cannot.
“But still we believe we can take care about some patterns, and about a certain rhythm and certain habits during penalties. Which we did.”
The Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed has revealed that the government has been borrowing from recovered loots to fund the budget.
The minister also revealed that the government has not been able to repay back the loans taken so far.
She revealed this while appearing before the House of Representatives committee investigation recovered loots on Thursday.
The minister appeared alongside the Accountant General of the federation, Ahmed Idris.
The lawmakers condemned the withdrawals from the accounts without the funds being transferred to the consolidated account.
A member of the committee, Wole Oke said the government withdrew N19 billion from the EFCC recovery account and transferred it to the African Development Bank (AfDB) with evidence of budgetary allocation.
He added that the government also borrowed N20 billion to fund the budget of the Ministry of Defence.
“From the EFCC Account, you took N19 billion. You took a whole N19 billion from the EFCC account and paid an international organization. N19 whole billion is not remitted here. I am sure the accountant-general is familiar with this money. On what basis did you withdraw or transfer the money?”
The Chairman of the Committee, Adejoro Adeogun queried the Accountant General for N150 million, which according to him is missing.
The committee also resolved to summon Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, to explain the status of the accounts.
Remi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos central, was involved in an altercation with some Nigerians who attended the south-west zonal public hearing of the constitution review on Wednesday.
The event held at Marriott Hotel in Lagos, with residents queuing to register before they were allowed entry into the hall.
While residents waited on the queue, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, came in and was ushered in through the backdoor, after which the front door was shut.
The ushers then informed those on the queue that registration had closed for the day.
However, the development did not sit well with those who were unable to register, and they refused to leave the queue.
It was at this moment that some lawmakers from Oyo state passed the queue and were about to be ushered in, leading to commotion at the front entrance.
As the shouts continued near the front door, with those on the queue insisting that they had been unfairly treated, the Oyo lawmakers were about to be hurriedly ushered through the backdoor, but the people followed them, preventing them from being allowed into the hall.
However, after some consultation with the personnel at the door, Tinubu showed up at the backdoor to allow the lawmakers in.
As she was about to do this, a woman, who complained about being denied entry, decried the partial treatment and voiced out her frustration.
Seeing this, the senator beckoned on her and two others, only to call the woman a “thug” for speaking too loud.
The statement made by Tinubu infuriated those on the queue, who insisted that such derogatory word shouldn’t have come from the senator.
The senator was asked to apologise but she refused.
“I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it,” the senator maintained.
Antonio Conte has sensationally left Inter Milan by mutual consent three weeks after guiding the club to their first Serie A title in 11 years, with Tottenham now ready to bring him back to England
Conte masterminded Inter's first Scudetto triumph in 11 years this season, ending Juventus' decade-long stranglehold on Italian football.
However, just over three weeks since his side were crowned Serie A champions, the former Juve and Chelsea boss has sensationally departed the San Siro by mutual consent.
Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano claims he has left Inter because of a disagreement over the club's transfer plans this summer, with Nerazzurri chiefs planning to offload almost £80million worth of current players due to financial constraints.
As a result, Conte has decided it is best for him to part company with the newly-crowned champions just two years into his tenure.
And according to Italian newspaper La Stampa, he could now be set for a shock return to the Premier League with Tottenham - the bitter rivals of his former club Chelsea.
Spurs are on the hunt for a new head coach this summer after sacking Jose Mourinho last month and temporarily handing the reins to interim boss Ryan Mason until the end of the season.
It is believed chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to hand Conte a lucrative £17million-a-year contract to join the north London club, who finished seventh in the Premier League this term.
That is a significant increase on his rumoured £11million-a-year salary at Inter, which could tempt him to head back to London and join Chelsea's arch-enemies.
The 51-year-old showed he is not afraid to go against previous allegiances by taking the job at Inter five years after departing fierce rivals Juve.
Conte guided rivals Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017
Another Police station located in Iwollo Oghe Police station in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu state has been invaded and burnt on Tuesday morning.
Up to five persons, including police personnel were feared killed in the attack that saw the police facility totally razed.
It was also learnt most of the vehicles and other property in the premises were burnt down.
Already, Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu state Daniel Ndukwe has confirmed the attack but could not give further details as at the time of filling this report.
Scores flee homes, several houses burnt *Children also murdered
Suspected Fulani insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons have overrun four council wards in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and allegedly killed over 100 people.
The attackers also set ablaze several houses, displacing hordes of residents.
Those massacred included women, children and the older people.
The council wards attacked were Mbayongu, Mbatyura/Mberev, Utange and Yoyo.
The attack came less than 24 hours after suspected Fulani militia invaded the Tse-Ancha settlement close to Agan community housing the Abagena IDPs camp during which nine people among them a kindred head of the area were killed.
New Telegraph learnt that in the latest attack, the invaders made incursion into the troubled area on Saturday night and launched the attack which spilled over to Sunday and continued till Monday burning houses and killing people simultaneously.
A resident of one of the affected communities, Mr. Edward Kwaghaondo said the communities have not known peace since the last two months as security agents have allegedly collaborated with the invaders to attack and kill farmers.
“For the past two months, there have been raids and burning of properties and killing of farmers by unknown gunmen.
“These attacks have forced some of the indigenous people to evacuate some of their belongings and families to get shelter in safer places,” he said.
George Olufade, the father of Flt Lt Alfred Olufade, the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft that killed 11 military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said only prayers could sustain him as George was his only son.
He also decried the state of military aircraft in the country and called on the authorities to overhaul the planes and focused on staff welfare.
The late George got married three months ago amid pomp and circumstance.
The grieving father said, “It is devastating. I just need prayers for strength. I pray that God should hold us because he was my only son. He was very intelligent, generous, extremely humble, and dedicated to his duty. He was a giver and a lover of Christ.
“He was in the seminary before he eventually got into the military school.
“He was the only Airforce officer in my state. He was a special child. He graduated as the youngest in his set. When he wanted to join the military, I encouraged him from the beginning to the end because he had passion for flying. I encouraged him and prayed for him.
“They should take care of their planes. Most of their planes are outdated and not properly taken care of. They stress their pilots, too. He just returned from Maiduguri and he had to fly again. They need to take care of their planes before they lose all their brilliant talents.”
Olufade added, “Each time he was flying, he would tell me and I would pray for him. But this last one, he didn’t tell me. But God knows better. It has not been my prayer holding him, but God that has been holding him. God gave me Ayodeji and He had taken him; may his soul rest in peace. If it is from God, glory be to Him. If it is from man, God will judge.”
A Rivers state high court has ordered the federal government and Lai Mohammed, minister of information, to pay N20 million to Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as damages for defamation.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, A.I. Iyayi-Lamikanra, chief judge of the state, also ordered the defendants to issue a public apology and publish same in a newspaper.
The PDP national chairman had instituted the suit marked PHC/1013/2018, challenging the inclusion of his name on a list of looters published by the federal government in 2018.
He had demanded a retraction of the publication, an apology, and payment of N1.5 billion “being general damages for humiliation, castigation, verification, attack of his person and integrity by the defamatory publication”.
Secondus had earlier, through his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, written to the minister seeking an immediate retraction of his name and payment of N1.5 billion as damages within 72 hours, failure of which he threatened a lawsuit.
In the suit, he sought an order of the court “directing the defendants to retract the said publication and apologise in writing to the claimant for the defamatory publication”.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to publish the retraction and the written apology in all the news and social media including but not limited to The Nation newspaper , THISDAY newspaper, Sun newspaper, Guardian newspaper, Punch newspaper, Nigerian Television Authority, Channels Television, amongst others, where the defamatory materials were published”, was also sought.
The suit also sought “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants their agents and privies from further publishing the defamatory publication against the claimant”.
The judge agreed that the claimant had a case and gave judgment in his favour.
He also granted an order of injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves or their agents, from further publishing defamatory statements against Secondus.
Alhaji Bashar Saidu Namaska, son of the Emir of Kontagora, is among the persons killed in an attack on the Emir’s farm on Wednesday.
The late son was said to be on the farm along Zuru road in the LGA when the bandits struck.
Some other people working with him were also said to have been shot dead while unspecified number of cows were rustled.
Sources said the bandits also flagged down both commercial and private vehicles plying the road, collected phones, money and other valuables from the people on board.
Those without cash and valuables were beaten up mercilessly and whisked to an unknown place, according to sources.
The late Bashar, who is the Sardauna of Kontagora had, been holding forth for his father, Sarkin Sudan, Alhaji Saidu Namaska, who has been sick.
A government official, who craved for anonymity, confirmed the story.
“It is true that bandits invaded Kontagora town and shot several people and killed the Emir’s son, Alhaji Bashar. His death will be formally announced soon and he will buried immediately.
“He was rushed to the Hospital after he was shot but confirmed dead,” the source confirmed.
The police public relations officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for confirmation as his phone was switched off as at the time of filing this report.
Following the directive of Governor Aminu Masari, while receiving the committee report on the Katsina Central Market Inferno, the State Government has announced that all categories of civil servants and political office holders are to contribute part of their salaries to support the victims.
Consequently, a 20% deduction will be made to serve as the contribution from the salaries of the Governor, his deputy, members of the executive council, and all other political appointees. Meanwhile, civil servants on grade levels 1 to 14, will contribute 3% of their salaries to the project.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ahmad El-Marzuq, said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Masari. He said the deduction will be for one month only.
According to the Commissioner, the decision came after the Executive Council deliberated on the reports of the White Paper Committee, which reviewed the recommendations of the earlier report, submitted by the Administrative Committee, on the Katsina Central Market fire disaster.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Human Development, Muhammad Daura, explained that the Special Adviser on Labour and Productivity, Tanimu Saulawa, with the leadership of the labour unions, has discussed the issue before the State Executive Council arrived at the final decision.
From the Committee’s report, a total of about N900 million worth of goods and property were destroyed in the inferno.
At present, the State Government has received a total of about N150 million as support from individuals and corporate organizations, for the victims.
Tyson Fury on Deontay Wilder: "Asked for $20m to move over, joker. Looks like I have to [fight him] again"; a court of arbitration has ruled that Fury must fight Wilder by September 15, ruining plans to face Anthony Joshua on August 14
Tyson Fury has claimed that Deontay Wilder has asked for a $20m fee to step aside to allow him to fight Anthony Joshua.
A court of arbitration ruled this week that Fury must fight Wilder again by September 15 which would scupper plans for an undisputed title fight against Joshua on August 14.
"What a joke the Bronze Bomber has become," Fury posted on social media on Tuesday night.
Ahmed Isah, the host of Brekete Family, a human rights programme, has announced his plan to end his show amid the controversy on assault.
In an undercover investigation, BBC Africa Eye captured how Isah assaulted a woman who appeared on his show.
Isah, popularly known as ordinary president, was seen slapping the defenceless woman.
This had sparked a controversy as many expressed shock over the conduct of the human rights campaigner known for helping ordinary people get justice via his show, which is aired on Human Rights Radio 101.1, Abuja and streams online via social media platforms.
Speaking on the Wednesday edition of the programme, Isah tendered an apology for slapping the woman but vowed to stop the popular the programme.
The Lagos State police command has said it’s unaware of the reported bail granted to embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.
Recall that the legal team of the ace comedian had on Monday evening announced that Baba Ijesha had been granted bail on health condition.
His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, who made this known also noted that they were yet to perfect his bail.
However, while reacting to the reports, the spokesperson to the police in Lagos, Muyiwa Adejobi, during an interview with newsmen, said the command did not receive such notice.
“We just saw reports that he has been granted bail. Well, I am not aware of the bail and the command has not received any notice based on the issue.
“I am not aware and it is not in my knowledge,” he said.
No allegation of rape made against Baba Ijesha – Police frown at ‘newspaper trail’
The Deeper Life Pastor, Otamayomi Ogedengbe, who was kidnapped in Irese in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been released by his abductors.
The pastor’s release was confirmed by a female member of the Deeper Life church who did not want her name mentioned.
According to her, the church had been praying fervently since the incident occured and they were overjoyed to learn of the Pastor’s release by his kidnappers.
Since the good news got out, she said, members have been busy sharing it with one another.
A delivery driver’s son has died after the family ingested rat poison from a meal allegedly intended to poison someone else.
Indonesian police believe a 25-year-old suspect identified only as “NA” approached a delivery driver known as Bandiman on April 25 while he was at a mosque in the city of Yogyakarta.
The woman asked him to deliver some satay meat to a man named Tomy – her alleged ex-partner, according to South China Morning Post.
However Tomy was not at home when Bandiman showed up with the food, and his wife refused to accept it as she did not recognise who sent the order.
Instead, Bandiman took the satay home with him and ate it with his wife and 10-year-old son, Naba.
They both became ill after eating the meat’s accompanying peanut sauce that was laced with rat poison.
The driver told police that he did not eat the sauce but his wife and son both started vomiting soon after eating the meat skewers.
The little boy was said to be foaming at the mouth.
Senator Binta Garba, a former board member of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has alleged that Hadiza Bala Usman, suspended Managing Director of NPA, influenced her removal from the agency after she demanded financial transparency.
In a statement, Garba, who represented Adamawa North at the senate between 2015 and 2019, accused Usman of working against the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The Minister of Transportation had suspended Usman over alleged non-remittance of some of the agency’s funds to the Federal Government but Usman denied the allegation.
Amaechi also set up a panel to probe the agency under the watch of Usman whom Buhari appointed in 2016.
In her statement, Garba said she was not comfortable with the way Usman ran the agency before she was suspended.
“In January 2021, Senator John Akpanudoedehe and I were removed from the board and our removal was clearly orchestrated by the now suspended Managing Director (MD) of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman. Before my removal, I was not comfortable with the way the board and authority were run.”
“I consistently expressed my discomfort and displeasure with the way the MD was running the place and this, I have no iota of doubt in my mind made her to orchestrate my removal from the board. Note, I was removed without the knowledge of the supervising ministry/Minister of Transportation, which was very uncommon.
'Bala Usman ignored my questions’
“My observations and complaints with the suspended NPA MD were more with the financial statements of NPA and I was worried that if she continued (doing) so, there would certainly be trouble and her sudden removal (suspension) would be inevitable. I noted discrepancies, I raised observations, I asked questions but I was completely ignored and disregarded. Answers were never provided, until my removal was plotted,” she said.
Garba said she wanted to resign from the board of the NPA over Usman’s conduct but she was advised against doing so.
She alleged that the suspended MD was not comfortable with the way and manner she asked questions about the financial record of the agency.
“When the board came in, its first meeting was in June 2020, with the aim of deliberating on the financial report. I made some observations on the report which, obviously, the MD, Hadiza Bala Usman, was not comfortable with. At the time, the report covered 2 years but I objected, pointing out that, under normal circumstances, procedurally and international norms, it should cover a minimum of 3 years. It was after my objection that the MD grudgingly and resentfully provided the third year’s report. I wasn’t really comfortable. I observed more discrepancies with the financials and asked questions about them. The MD was uncomfortable and even felt slighted by the objective comments and questions.
‘Bala Usman acted as if she had a lot to hide’
“Scrutinising the financial reports of the NPA is a very critical and very important aspect of my role and function as a member of its board, appointed by the President. I was not ready to abdicate that core responsibility. For me, my board membership of NPA, like every other public office I have held, was a call to serve my country and I was prepared to give it my all. But the suspended MD felt offended by my observations, questions, spotting obvious inconsistencies and acted like someone with a lot to hide. Answers were not forthcoming and, when they did, were less than satisfactory.
“Some members of the board felt I was the only one holding the financial report back. I had to meet with the Minister of Transportation and I told him I wasn’t comfortable with the way and manner the board was being handled and treated by the MD and that I wanted to resign.
“The board chairman, Chief Akin Ricketts (whose removal as board chairman was also orchestrated by the MD) and some other members, prevailed on me not to resign and that, if I did, it would send the wrong signal and would not be good for the President. We settled down to work on it (the financial reports). After sometime, my uneasiness did not go away. Again, I met with the Minister of Transportation and told him that I did not want to continue with the board with the way the MD was running the place. I met someone high up in the Presidential Villa and told him my own story and advised that the MD be called to order (sic).
“Instead of making amends, the suspended MD’s next move was to go against the NPA Act by designing my removal from the board. The Act stipulates that it is the minister who should send names of appointees to the board to the President for approval. For someone to unilaterally go against the Act and the Minister that brought her on board was rather unfortunate.
“I made it very clear to everyone I spoke with about the situation in NPA, stressing that it was not about me but the system, rules and procedures, as well as the survival of our institutions. I could not keep quiet and watch the suspended MD run the NPA aground. I wished she had listened but she didn’t and opted to plot my removal from the board. Unfortunately, I have been vindicated.”
Suspected herdsmen at the weekend killed four farmers in Yelewta community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
New Telegraph learnt that three of the four people were gruesomely killed by the herders while the fourth was allegedly felled by a stray bullet of security agencies in a bid to contain the protest which broke out following the killings of the trio.
The protesters had mounted barricades along the Makurdi-Lafia express way in protest against killing of the trio who were murdered in their farm.
Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Caleb Aba, confirmed the incident.
He said that the angry youths had blocked the highway to protest the killing of the three teenagers who went to cultivate their farm following the onset of rainy season.
Aba said the murder of the teenagers by suspected herders angered the youth of Yelewta who barricaded the highway with the deceased corpses, making it difficult for motorists to ply the route.
Those who are saddled with the responsibility of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians are no longer secured in some parts of the country, particularly the South-East and parts of South-South.
The joint security operatives in the two geopolitical zones have in recent time witnessed attacks in several security formations, making residents vulnerable to attacks by criminal elements.
DAILY POST recalls that there have been series of attacks on security personnel and public facilities in the regions, particularly Imo State in the South-East.
More worrisome is the unprecedented attacks on security operatives in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State a few days ago that led to the death of about 12 police officers who were on duty.
Recall that gunmen at the weekend attacked a Divisional headquarters in the Odoro Ikpe in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, gunned down five officers and one civilian.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macedon, who confirmed the incident to DAILY POST correspondent on phone, said the police command would ensure that the assailants were arrested and prosecuted.
According to the PPRO: “Yes, there was an attack of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Odoro Ikpe.
“Six persons, including five officers and a wife of an officer, were killed.”
He said items destroyed included vehicles and other valuables.
“I urge the good people of Ini LGA to stay calm as we are working with relevant security agencies and the state government to ensure that the situation is contained and necessary modalities put in place to forestall a reoccurrence.
“There is no cause for fear as the culprits will be brought to book in no distant time,” he said
Similarly, unknown gunmen killed at least seven police officers at different points in Rivers State between the same day as some stations were attacked and destroyed.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Nnamdi Omoni, in a statement on Saturday said that the attack which took place at 8:30 pm, on Friday was carried out by “unknown gunmen who drove in two branded Hilic vans.”
Omoni said two policemen were killed by the gunmen at a special checkpoint between Choba community in Obio/Akpor and Emohua Local Government Areas and burnt a private car belonging to one of the officers.
The Rivers Police Spokesman said the second attack was launched on a police station in Rumuji, a town along the Bayelsa axis of the East-west road in Emohua LGA and dropped two more policemen dead and set a police patrol van ablaze.
According to the PPRO, the third attack was launched on another police station in Elimgbu Community in Obio/Akpor LGA, where three additional police officers were killed.
Some concerned citizens in some of the affected areas who spoke with DAILY POST on the telephone said the security agencies were no longer secured in the region, stressing that they were also in need of help.
A trader in Rumuokoro market Port Harcourt, who spoke with DAILY POST correspondent, lamented the level of insecurity in the State.
“Some security personnel in this part if the country are always scared of going to work for the fear of been attacked.
“I remember recently when there was an attack around this area, some of the police officers removed their uniform and joined as as civilians so that they will not be killed.
“There is no day you will not hear news about killings in this state. First, it was cult activities when the rival cult groups were disturbing the peace of the state.
“Secondly, it was the fear of Fulani herdsmen in various villages across the state
“The insecurity in Rivers State has taken another turn since security situation got deteriorated across the country recently.
“It is no longer the usual cult war that the state is known for. Right now nobody is safe.
“When there are security problems in your area, the normal thing is that you run to a police station to be secured till probably when the situation is calm but the game has changed.
“The security agencies, police officers, the Nigerian army and other operatives now run to us for help. They are no longer safe. And our government is not helping matters.
“Our people keep dying on daily basis. This is not the Nigeria that I know. How we suddenly landed in this unquenchable firs remains unknown to me”.
A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, serving in one of the villages in Orlu in Imo State, who pleaded not to be mentioned in print, regretted having the area as her Place of Primary Assignment, PPA.
She said the worsening security situation in Orlu is threatening the lives of corps members in the various communities.
“We are strangers here, we don’t know anybody so when there is a problem, we hardly know where to go.
“Although the citizens are good people and they are nice to us but that does not guarantee our safety. We are in God’s hand.
“Security operatives particularly the Nigerian army has assured us of our safety but the big question is, are they even safe?
“NYSC management should stop posting corps members to this part of the county maybe till normalcy returns”.
DAILY POST reports that Orlu the second largest city in Imo State is relatively the epicentre of attacks on police formations in the South-East region.
However, the Federal Government on Tuesday declared that the killing of security operatives in some parts of the country amounted to a declaration of war on the country.
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed while reacting to the incessant attacks during a press conference in Lagos, condemned the trend, stating that the perpetrators would pay dearly for their actions.
According to the Minister: “I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war on the nation. It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force.
“Whether known or unknown gunmen, those engaged in this dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions”.
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday during the security meeting which has been on since a week ago, approved new security measures specifically for the South East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, who, briefed journalists at the State House shortly after the meeting, refused to reveal details of the measures.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses has awarded the sum of ₦13.5m to 3 victims of police brutality.
A 34-year-old trader, Ndukwe Ekekwe was awarded the sum of ₦7.5m for the harrowing ordeal meted on him by officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Ekekwe, who had shops at Alaba International Market where he sold accessories and other general items, had told the panel that he was arrested on February 16, 2018, for crimes he did not commit.
He also told the panel that he “was tortured, brutalised and thrown down the two-storey building of the shopping complex which housed his shops.
In reaching its decision on his petition, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi held that there was a clear violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Section 34 of the constitution.
The panel also recommended that the police investigate and fish out its officers who brutalised Ekekwe with a view to sanctioning them accordingly.
In his immediate reaction, Ekekwe expressed displeasure with the amount awarded by the panel. He and his mother who had been taking care of him since the incident happened lamented that they had spent over N30m at the hospitals and wondered what they would do with the “mere ₦7.5m awarded by the panel”.
Two other petitioners, Andrew Okoh and Isaac Adeshina who suffered grievous body harm after they were shot in the leg by a police officer were compensated with the sum of ₦3m each.
At least one police officer have been killed by suspected armed bandits at Rumjin Sambo area of Sokoto South local government area of Sokoto state
Residents in the area says eyewitness reports revealed that, the suspected bandits were sighted on motorbikes numbering about twenty very close to the premises of Usmanu Danfodio University main campus at about 1:45AM On Tuesday.
They say, the unknown Gunmen later abandoned their motorbikes and move on foot close to a mosque around Noma Hospital in the area where a sizable number of Muslim faithful gathered for tahajjud prayer.
Resident say, it is not clear if the the bandits target the faithful praying the mosques.
According to sources in the area, a police patrol van move close to the scene of the crime during their routine patrol and the bandits on sighting the police open fire on the patrol van and in the process killed one of the police men on patrol.
Residents say, the rest of the police in the patrol team chased the bandits and open fire on them, but unfortunately none of the bandits was hit as all of them escape
The police is yet to confirmed this report as the Police Public Relations Officer of the command Assistant Superintendent of Police Abubakar Sanusi when contacted promised to get back to our correspondent in ten minutes and is yet to do so after thirty minutes
Ahead of the November governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced move to relocate polling units from shrines and odd places.
This was made known on Monday by the state Resident Electoral Commission REC Mr. Mkpachukwu Orji.
Orji said currently, there are over 1000 polling units in houses of traditional rulers, churches, houses of political office holders, among others in Anambra.
He spoke in Awka, the state capital, during a stakeholders forum on expansion of voters access to polling units.
“Those polling units in such inappropriate places are not good for our elections. Most time, people see them as personal polling units. We want to make the polling units accessible to all voters,” he said .
Orji said that the commission will also increase the polling units in the state from 4,608 to 5,720 to give access to more voters.
He also regretted that less than 30 percent of the registered voters in the state cast their votes in the last general election.
He called on the stakeholders in the state to mobilise voters to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election.
He also disclosed that voters registration in the state would commence on 28th of June 2021 to get those who were not eligible last time but eligible now to participate in the election.
Commending the commission for expanding the electoral access, the Chairman of Anambra State People’s Democratic Party PDP, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, and the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters Mr. Ifatu Obiokoye, regretted that INEC took such decision without seeking inputs from the stakeholders in the state .
They said that if the INEC had consulted them before deciding to relocate polling units, they would have made useful inputs since they are the people on ground.
They called on the umpire to make available to them the new polling units and the ones to be relocated to enable them study and make necessary suggestions and inputs for a seamless election.
Pandemonium broke out on Sunday near St. Mary Catholic Church along Nyanya-Karshi Road in Abuja when some motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders stormed the area protesting the alleged incessant killing of colleagues and stealing of their motorcycles.
An eyewitness, Moses AgureDam, told DAILY POST that the protesters resorted to violence which aroused tension in the area as residents were fleeing for their lives.
He added that “there have been reported cases of bike theft around Karu road, this issue has been on for a while now until the Okada riders decided to carry out a protest today”.
When contacted by DAILY POST correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory, Maryam Yusuf confirmed the incident.
“According to her, “they are protesting the death of one of their colleagues.
“However, we have been able to restore calm and the command has launched an investigation into the incident”.
Another source, Friday Lawani told our correspondent that some soldiers are currently in the area shooting sporadically to disperse the protesters.
“Soldiers are currently firing gun everywhere as we speak and the protesters who are mostly Hausa boys are running back to their base”.
“There is tension here now over a possible attack by the protesters in subsequent time”, he said.
Some state governors are spending billions of naira to hire private jets despite dwindling resources in their states, an investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday has shown.
Findings revealed that only a few governors use commercial flights to travel to Abuja and other part of the country from their states as many of them pay for chartered aircraft.
While some of the trips are official engagements, others are for private engagements.
It was discovered that many of the states are in dire financial situations and can hardly pay salaries or meet other contractual obligations, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that even in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown last year, state governors embarked on interstate trips, mostly by private jets. This was in clear violation of a ban to that effect, which they had agreed on as a measure to mitigate community transmission of the virus.
For instance, on Monday, June 1, 2020, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State flew into Abuja to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to formally inform him of his intention to seek re-election for a second term.
On that same day, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, led six of his colleagues to Abuja to meet with the then Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on what was believed to be a last-minute effort to save Obaseki’s candidacy ahead of the party’s primary election in Edo.
Although some of these trips were said to have been related to security, it was gathered that they were undertaken through private commercial jets, which ran into hundreds of millions of naira.
On Friday, May 29, 2020, Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the challenge posed by armed banditry in their states.
On Thursday, April 30, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State met President Buhari over the ongoing counter-insurgency operations on the fringes of Lake Chad and the entire North-East. Also, on Thursday, April 9, Governor Zulum flew in to meet with President Buhari on the security situation in the state following Chadian army’s onslaught against Boko Haram.
To underscore the sorry financial situation in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), last week wrote to the Accountant-General of the Federation, warning that it would not be able to make remittances to the Federation Account in April for distribution to the federal, state and local governments in May because it needed to defray about N112billion cost of February’s subsidy on petrol.
Recent checks at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) used for charter operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the private hangars at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, revealed that governors still patronise private jets.
At the MMIA, Lagos, private hangers were busy when our correspondent visited recently, and many of those who patronised them were said to be governors who had one engagement or another in the state.
It was also learnt that many governors who patronise the private jet operators now go to the airports in vehicles without number plates, thereby making it difficult to identify them.
A source at the MMIA who spoke with our correspondent in confidence said, “I can confirm to you that the business is still booming despite the so-called recession.
“Many customers who can afford the cost of charter flights are still patronising us. They include businessmen, some artists, politically exposed people, especially state governors who come to Lagos from time to time.
“Some of them can even charter flights to overseas, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Charter flight service is a very lucrative business because many highly placed individuals still patronise us. Most of them don’t know recession.”
High cost of jets
Checks by Daily Trust on Saturday indicate that a one-hour flight costs between $5,000 (N2.4m at N485 to one dollar) and $10,000, depending on the size of the aircraft. So if it is a return flight, a governor with members of his entourage could pay as much as $20,000 to charter an aircraft.
An operator who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity gave an insight into the economics of the private jet charter service.
According to the operator, all bookings are in dollars, but if anyone prefers to pay in naira, it is charged at the prevailing black market rate.
“Normally, a VIP, for instance, can decide to hire a bigger business jet, depending on the entourage. But if the team is not more than six, a smaller jet could be used, which costs less, and you can get it for as low as $5,000,” the source said.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that in view of the growing demand for private charter services by governors and other VIPs, a private jet operator recently launched a Lagos-Abuja daily flight at a cost of $4,500 (one way). The flight is said to be operated daily by 9: 00 am and 1pm
“What this means is that the demand for this premium service is no doubt high, but many governors would prefer to patronise it. But it is not only the governors that make use of private jets, we also have some officials in the Presidency,’’ our source added.
One of the private charter operators, ExecuJet, said business aircraft travel was the quickest means of commuting and reducing flying times. Flight plans can be altered to accommodate meeting schedule changes.
“Business travellers can reach two or more destinations in a single day, an option seldom offered to executives on scheduled flights,” the foremost operator wrote on its website.
Labour knocks governors
In an interview with one of our correspondents, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, berated the governors for continuing to charter private jets despite their claims that the economy is still dwindling.
Describing such action as unacceptable, he revealed that the governors hide under personnel cost during budget presentations to their respective houses of assembly.
“It is part of what we have cried aloud because it is public funds (taxpayers’ money). This adds to the high cost of governance and overheads. To hire a private jet for one trip is not less than N9million.
“There are states that budget up to N10billion for hiring private jets. I remember that there was one state in the past four years that actually spent up to N10billion on private jets.
“In most cases they lump this to personnel cost, and that is what is adding to high cost of governance. This is unacceptable. This is the time we really need to cut the cost of governance. We need to be very transparent,” Wabba said.
He called on Nigerians to rise up and fight against such impunity by demanding accountability and transparency, saying cost of governance should be drastically reduced, not cutting workers’ salaries.
He said, “If you check their budgets you will not see where it is hidden. Clearly, it is an abuse of office. What you cannot afford once you are out of office, I think it is not advisable and desirable that people should continue to have it when they are in office. They are doing it because it is public fund.
“We have commercial flights working effectively on many routes. They should copy few other governors using commercial aircraft. It is high time citizens rose up to demand accountability and transparency in governance.
“Most of their people are trekking miles and using dilapidated vehicles but they are using our resources and claiming there is a dwindling economy.
“This is certainly not acceptable. They should think otherwise and be prudent in the management of our resources.”
In the same vein, the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quadri Olaleye, in a separate interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, wondered why government officials inflate anything budgeted for, including the cost of their flights, whether public or private.
“The amount they are paying may not be true because it is not as expensive as what they put. You know politicians will put money in everything,” Olaleye said.
He said Nigerian governors were living many extravagant lives, apart from chartering private jets, despite their claims on the economy.
NGF reacts
When contacted for comment, the head of media and public affairs, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) secretariat, Abuja, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo claimed no knowledge of the use of private jets in the country.
Bello-Barkindo, who neither confirmed nor denied the use of private jets by governors, simply said, “I don’t know anything about the use of private jets in Nigeria. I appreciate your efforts in confirming your stories. It is remarkably professional,” he said.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said over 50,000 hectares of farmland were abandoned by farmers in the state in 2020 due to bandits’ attacks.
Masari made the disclosure on Thursday in Katsina at the 2021 Maize Wet Season Farming launch and first Maize Pyramid in Nigeria, NAN reports.
The event was organized by the Maize Association of Nigeria in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria Anchor Borrower Programme.
The governor, however, said despite the disruptions, farmers had recorded a good harvest.
He noted that the anchor borrower programme had impacted positively on the lives of small scale farmers in the state.
“I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Federal Government for the current commitment in the fight against banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed robbery, among others.
“And for initiating the Anchor Borrower Programme, which has supported the government efforts in bringing back the lost glory of the agricultural sector.
“For maize production, from 2016 to 2019, there has been an increase in the hectares cultivated during the periods.
“In the last five years, the state has generated 1.2 million short term jobs, for one to six months, and 249, 551 long term jobs from six months and above were created,” he said.
The governor pledged that the administration would continue to join hands with development partners in agriculture for increased productivity.
Crime / Three Kenyan Brothers Forcefully Slept With Cow Till It Died by Doraty1(f): 4:23pm On Jun 01, 2021