The wife of the late Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Fati Attahiru, arrives the National Mosque, Abuja on Saturday ahead of the funeral prayers for her late husband and other officers who died in a plane crash in Kaduna.
The Protestant Christian Church in the Airforce Base preparing for the arrival of the bodies of Airforce Officers killed in a military Air crash on Friday
Bodies of officers killed at yesterday's air crash arrive at Protestant Church, Air Force at the Air Force Base
Preparation underway at the National Mosque, Abuja for the Janzah prayer for the bodies of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, and Other victims of Friday's plane crash in Kaduna
#KadunaCrash Sympathisers at the National Mosque, awaiting the remains of the Chief of Army Staff and five others who died in a plane crash Friday evening in Kaduna
Corpses of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and others who died in a Beachcraft 350 aircraft that crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday have arrived Abuja.
They were received at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at about 11am.
They were being moved to the National Mosque and the Nigerian Air Force Protestant Church venues of funeral prayers amidst tight security.
Arrival of the remains of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, Other Muslim Officers at the National Mosque, Abuja for Janazah prayers before burial.
The Nigerian Army regrets to announce the passing away of its Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru. The sad event occurred following an air crash in Kaduna which also claimed the lives of 10 other officers including the crew.
The COAS was enroute Kaduna from Abuja on Friday, 21 May, 2021 when the unfortunate incident happened.
Details of the sad incident and burial arrangements will be communicated soon.
Mohammed Yerima Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 21 May 2021
The Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, has confirmed the death of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru.
“Beachcraft 350. 8 souls on board. Unfortunately all dead,” Olateru wrote in a WhatsApp note obtained by the Punch."
The owner of one of the offices of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Ogbumnabali community has locked it up over the failure of the company to pay rent.
The angry landlord put padlock at the door and was seen by residents sitting in front at the entrance waiting for the PHED staff to access his property.
THE WHISTLER, gathered the landlord’s action forced the staff of the power company to attend to customers from a car.
The company is said to be owing over six months arrears of rent.
Chioma Aninwe, a spokesperson for PHED, when contacted, said the locking of the office was caused by a communication gap.
She however assured that the issue would be resolved in no distance time.
I am very glad to announce that Mr President has Approved our four International Airports as Special Economic Zones. These are Lagos, Kano, Abuja & Port Harcourt. Our roadmap working�����♂️��
Anthony Joshua has called Tyson Fury "a fraud" with their undisputed title fight on the brink of collapsing after he was given a 48-hour deadline before being ordered to face Oleksandr Usyk.
The governing body's stance on Wednesday evening is a further blow to the planned undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Joshua and Fury for August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
A court ruled on Monday that WBC champion Fury must take on Deontay Wilder again by September 15, meaning IBF, WBA and WBO title holder Joshua may instead fight Usyk next.
The governing body's stance on Wednesday evening is a further blow to the planned undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Joshua and Fury for August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
A court ruled on Monday that WBC champion Fury must take on Deontay Wilder again by September 15, meaning IBF, WBA and WBO titleholder Joshua may instead fight Usyk next.
@anthonyjoshua your more full of shit that Eddie, Spouting absolute shite! your full team knew there was an Arbitration going on, it was out of my hands! but i tell you what if i’m a fraud let’s fight this weekend bare knuckles till 1 man quits? let’s put up 20 mill each!!! ����
not going in to the details on line! you’ll slap me about will you dosser please come and try Bum, i’m waiting... Femi AKA Bottlejob! 24/7 365. Ready. i’ll smoke wilder first then you will get yours aswell. #GK
“seek and destroy”I got a lot of aggression i need to take out on my next victim. video credit: @sixreds @toprank @frank_warren_official @mtkglobal @kronksugarhill @marbella.co.uk
Power has been restored to Kaduna State on Wednesday after three days of blackout occasioned by the warning strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
Prior to the five-day warning strike directed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to commence from midnight of Sunday in Kaduna, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had knocked off all the 33KV lines in Kaduna State in compliance with the directive.
The total blackout occurred from midnight on Saturday following an earlier warning by the National Union of Electricity Employees that it had been directed by the NLC to join the warning strike.
POWER SUPPLY RESTORATION IN KADUNA
TCN has restored power supply on all its 33kV feeders that KAEDCO had indicated readiness to pick supply from.
The 33kV feeders include: Mogadishu, Abakwa, Naf base, Ungwa Dosa, Turunku, AREWA, Airport, Kinkinau, Narayi and Independence feeders.
The Jaji and Rigasa feeders have also been energized while Olam, PAN and UNTL are about to be energized.
The Waterworks feeder was energized but tripped on fault on the side of KAEDCO.
TCN will continue to gradually restore supply on the other feeders as soon as KAEDCO indicates readiness to take supply.
We are happy to report that power supply has been restored to many parts of Kaduna State after the suspension of the strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress this evening.
As at 10:30 pm, we were able to pick load on most of our 11KV feeders hence many parts of the metropolis including Zaria and environs have had their supply restored. This was possible after restoration of the 33KV feeders by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
We once again thank all our esteemed customers and other stakeholders for bearing with us in the past four days. We also appreciate the efforts of the TCN team for supporting us in restoring supply back.
Hours after the Nigerian Labour Congress suspended its 5-day warning strike over the mass sack of workers in Kaduna, Governor Nasir El-Rufai stated that there will be no negotiations until electricity was restored.
KDSG is yet to see evidence that the NLC is backing off from its economic and social sabotage. Our people remain without electricity, an essential service that was illegally shutdown on 16 May 2021. KDSG insists on the restoration of this service. That is not up for negotiation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is not deterred from performing its duties as the leading opposition political party on account of the invitation of its officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
The PDP maintains that it did not raise the sum of N10 billion being frivolously bandied in some quarters as proceeds from the sale of nomination forms.
Moreover, the PDP restates that every expenditure by the National Working Committee (NWc) had always been in line with the budget approved by the Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and in keeping with political parties financial due process.
We further affirm that we have over the years submitted our audited accounts in line with statutory requirements and practice.
However, as a responsible and public-spirited political party, we have honoured the invitation extended to our officials by the commission and we urge all party members, our teeming supporters across the nation and members of the public to remain calm.
PDP assures that it will not succumb to any form of blackmail and political intimidation but will continue in its role of providing constructive opposition as well as being the national platform for all Nigerians in their rally to rescue and secure our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Founder and host of popular radio programme Brekete family, Ahmed Isah, has just apologised after slapping a woman simply identified as Susan inside his studio.
Susan had been accused of burning a young girl’s head who suffered severe injuries.
Shortly after Isah’s spontaneous action, the video clip circulated by BBC online went viral with divergent opinion.
However, Isah who is also the owner of Human rights radio on Wednesday appealed to his listeners within Nigeria and beyond to forgive him of such action.
He said his reaction was due to the level of injury and pain suffered by the humiliated six-year old girl who was brought to his office.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office, in the early hours of Tuesday, May 18, 2021 arrested a former soldier, Adebisi Jamiu and 33 others for suspected internet fraud.
Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested (six) suspected internet fraudsters also known as “Yahoo-Yahoo Boys” for offences bordering on cybercrime at the International Airport, Ilorin.
The major challenge facing Nigeria today is that we are drifting. We are not just drifting politically and economically. We are also drifting apart from each other.
I have often said that the difference between us is not North and South, but between good and bad. Therefore, those who are good should come together to show those who are bad that we are in the overwhelming majority.
I have repeatedly said that I am a Nigerian. Full stop. That is my identity. And now more than ever, we must ask ourselves this question: what does it mean to be a Nigerian?
A Nigerian is one who is committed to the idea of the indivisibility of Nigeria and who is invested in respecting, even if you disagree with, the differences that exist within this nation space, and respecting the right of others to coexist with you irrespective of religious, regional or ethnic differences.
That is what being a Nigerian means to me. And that is why I believe that all those who believe in Nigeria should stand up to be counted.
It is unNigerian to terrorise your fellow citizens. Up until about a decade ago, we did not have this. It is unNigerian to abduct people. And this is undoubtedly a new menace that has low historical precedence in Nigeria.
The truth is that if at a National level, we address these unNigerian tendencies immediately and dispassionately, we would not have Nigerians congregating at a regional or sub-regional level to address these issues.
What our present challenges therefore call for is not fragmentation but concentration. We must concentrate and focus our national willpower and resolve towards fighting these unNigerian tendencies.
Governors representing some states have met. And I completely understand the necessity of their meeting and the wisdom of their decisions. But no matter how much you try to clap with one hand, the vibrations will not be the same as when you clap with two hands.
We have a national challenge. And as Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
These problems were created by those with a regional mindset, and will not be solved by those with a similar mindset.
For too long, we have erroneously thought that the power to make effective changes lies at Aso Rock. But without the states, nobody can get to Aso Rock. That is why for anyone to emerge as President of Nigeria, he or she must secure enough votes in two-thirds of the states that make up the Nigerian federation.
Let us apply this wisdom to our present challenges. I call on Nigerian Governors to stop waiting on Abuja to make changes, and instead convene a National Unity Summit of all Nigerian Governors to iron out the thorny issues affecting the destiny of our nation until they figure out a way to resolve them.
Forget about your party. Forget about your tribe. Respect your religion and allow it to bring out the better part of you. Meet together. Talk together. Come up with the solutions to all our collective challenges.
And then go back to your states, and consult with your federal and state legislators, with a view to getting them to work with their colleagues to implement the solutions you came up with.
That is how to save Nigeria.
To keep waiting for this Federal Government to take the lead, and effect the changes that Nigeria needs to stop drifting, is to keep waiting for Godot. And that is a luxury we cannot afford.
We cannot afford it because, according to the Global Terror Index, our beloved nation is now the third most terrorised nation on Earth. We are featuring prominently on the Failed States Index, and the symbols of our nation, our currency, our passport, and our international standing are fast losing value.
To quote Einstein again, “Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.” We do know that our Governors know that all is not well with Nigeria. That is why they have been meeting. At regional and sub regional levels. That knowledge comes with a duty to act, and to act together. Because if we do not act together, then the alternative is that we fall asunder. And God forbid that should ever be our fate.
We must be mindful of the fact that one in four Africans is a Nigerian. And one in seven Black people on Earth is Nigerian. Therefore, being so centrally placed by God, it ought to be clear to us that it is our duty to be a beacon of light to the Black World.
If we succeed as a nation, our successes will resonate beyond our borders. It will give hope to the Black Diaspora and increase the standing of Black people all over the world.
That is why we cannot fail. That is why we cannot retreat into our regional enclaves. Too much is at stake. We are too centrally located to be dislocated.
Together we must win forever.
We are far too interconnected to be disconnected. Where would my children, who have a parent from each leg of Nigeria go? Where would your children, who have sunk roots far from their ancestral heritage, go?
Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that “Man's mind, stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension.”
Let me paraphrase him and say, Nigerian unity, stretched to a new frontier, should never go back to its original dimension.
We must grow in unity. We must glow in community. We must blow away disunity. We have no choice, considering the alternative, which is a calamity that we would not wish to return to.
So help us God.
May God bless Nigeria as one peaceful, progressive, and indivisible nation.
Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007.
The suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has debunked claims that while in office, she unlawfully frustrated NPA contractors, including the Integrated Logistics Services Limited (INTELS), and caused huge revenue losses to the nation.
In a statement personally signed by Hadiza Bala Usman, on Sunday, and made available to Tribune Online, she labelled the reports published by an online medium on NPA contract issues as false and malicious.
According to the suspended NPA Managing Director, “Again today, the publishers of the medium have gone to town with a falsehood laden report on my alleged frustration of contractors with the Nigerian Ports Authority.
“Although the story claimed that the alleged frustration was meted out to contractors, it had no other instance to cite than the already overstated and repeatedly explicated case of the Integrated Logistics Services Limited (INTELS).
“Even though it is obvious that the publications are sold to mischief such that no matter how many times, clarifications are made on any of the issues with which they play sensational journalism, they would continue to pretend like these facts were never in the public space. For the sake of the generality of Nigerians, whom I owe an explanation for whatever steps I take in the service of the nation, I present the truth of the INTELS story as follows:
“Neither I nor the Nigerian Port Authority disobeyed any court order in the matters involving INTELS or any other company for that matter.
“As a corollary to this, there was no court order existing at the time of the expiration of the boat pilotage contract between the NPA and INTELS by August 8, 2020.
“I should also state that this contract was NOT TERMINATED contrary to claims by the medium.
“For the records, INTELS was engaged as Managing Agents of the Authority for oil industry-related activities in the compulsory pilotage district within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria.
“This contract commenced in June 2007 with a review of an extension of 10 years in 2011 to culminate in August 2020.
“The Authority had in 2017, served INTELS with a notice of termination for its refusal to comply with the Treasury Single Account policy of the Federal Government.
“Following the receipt of the termination notice, the company complied with the Policy. A supplemental agreement was signed to recognise the compliance to TSA and the notice of termination was accordingly withdrawn.
“In compliance with the Public Procurement Act, the Authority in Dec 2019 initiated a PUBLIC TENDER (Contrary to the online medium’s falsehood) process in anticipation of the expiration of the INTELS contract in August 2020. This was for the appointment of a contractor to provide the Authority with that service.
“INTELS, alongside other companies submitted bids to qualify for the tender in line with the criteria spelt out in the public advert. However, INTELS violated one of the criteria advertised for the tender process and was accordingly disqualified.
“The tender process proceeded accordingly and the companies that scored the highest were prequalified. The outcome of the transparent tender process was forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for onward transmission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for its consideration.
“Upon disqualification from the tender process, INTELS initiated a court action to prevent the Authority from proceeding with the tender process, citing a debt owed one of its sister companies, Deep Offshore Nigerian Ltd for the development of Onne 4B. This is an amortisation project which payment should be derived from the revenue raised from this service. There was no provision in the contract to the effect that INTELS must be the company carrying out the boat pilotage contract, but they have continued to hold the country to ransom through this court case.
“It should also be noted that despite the court case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently working on recovering all Federal Government funds that the INTELS have withheld over the years. One would expect an organisation, which claims to fight corruption to join hands in the elimination of all forms of illegality rather than this tacit approval.
“All the NPA tried to do was to see that INTELS and indeed no other business entity contravenes the laws of the country or the provisions of their contract.
“It is unfortunate that the medium has continued to use its platform to tell Nigerians half-truths and outright lies about this situation with the false narratives, which are aimed at anything but the interest of the good people of Nigeria.”
Israeli air strikes in the heart of Gaza City on Sunday killed at least 23 people and wounded 50, Gaza Health Ministry said.
It was the deadliest single attack since the start of heavy fighting between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers nearly a week ago.
Earlier, Israel said it bombed the home of Gaza’s top Hamas leader in a separate strike, the third such strike targeting the homes of Hamas leaders.
In the aftermath, sirens warning of rocket attacks sounded in Israeli border towns shortly after dawn as hostilities stretched into a seventh day with no sign of abating.
At least 153 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 42 children, health officials said.
Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children.
There was confusion in Rivers State at the weekend as the police denied storming hideout of some of the fleeing wounded gunmen in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Rivers State, killing four of them and a female nurse.
It was earlier gathered that a tactical team of the Nigerian Police carried out the operation that killed the suspected gunmen.
The slain gunmen were reportedly being treated by the nurse identified simply as Chichi in a hidden area of Oyigbo when the squad surrounded the building and opened fire on them.
It was gathered that sensing danger one of them on drip attempted to escape by scaling the fence unknown to him that the area had been surrounded by armed policemen, who shot him dead.
The policemen subsequently gained access to the building and killed three others receiving treatments and the nurse, who was caught up in the gunfire, was also hit by a bullet.
The victims were said to be among the gunmen, who recently murdered seven policemen in surprised and coordinated attacks on security formations along the East-West Road and Elimgbu Police Station.
A security source, who spoke in confidence, said the bandits were trying to get medical treatments for multiple bullet wounds inflicted on them by the police when luck ran out on them.
He said: “Remember that recently gunmen, who disguised as security operatives killed seven policemen when they attacked their formations along the East-West Road and the Elimgbu Police Station.
“During that attack, the police at Elimgbu engaged them in a gun battle. They sustained many injuries and even abandoned their Hilux van. Those who were wounded ran to their hideout at Irebe side in Oyigbo and hired one Uchechi, a nurse to treat them.
“The police tracked them to the hideout. Three of them were already on drip. Sensing danger, one of the gunmen scaled the fence but was gunned down by the squad.
“The policemen eventually gained access to the building and met three others on drip. They made efforts to shoot at the police but the policemen gunned them and in the process the lady was hit by a bullet and she died.
“I can tell you that they are IPOB members. Five registration booklets of IPOB, many charms and some arms were recovered from them. You need to see their body, which was previously riddled by bullet. Though the bullets may not kill them because of their charms, the effects and the injuries will still show.”
But the the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Friday Eboka, when contacted said the people, who carried out the act were not policemen.
Eboka said before the District Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area and his men could get to the scene, the killers had concluded their mission and fled.
He noted that policemen, who rushed to the scene, only saw the five dead bodies and later recovered many charms.
He said: "That matter was reported at Oyigbo police station. The people involved are not policemen. We heard that four of them were taking treatment in a clinic before the unknown armed men went there with two Hilux vans and a Sienna.
“They went there and people heard gunshots. Before police could get there the gunmen have entered their vehicle and drove away. The policemen met dead bodies of the four guys and the young woman (nurse). I told the DPO to move those dead bodies while we investigate the matter.
“But, obviously, they are not policemen. If there must be operation by police it must be reported at the nearest Police Station. The people that carried out the act are not policemen. It was an unknown armed men and not policemen.
“The people they killed were actually receiving treatment of their gun wounds. When the DPO got there, they recovered the receipt of their treatment. They recovered charms. They were receiving treatment of gun wounds. The people that killed them are not policemen.”
Fulani People Ready For Breakup Of Nigeria, More Than Any Other Ethnic Nationality—Miyetti Allah
The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhassan Saleh, says the Fulani ethnic group is more prepared for division of Nigeria than any other ethnic nationality.
Amid the insecurity and tension caused by clashes between farmers and herders in some parts of Nigeria, southern governors had recently banned open cattle grazing in the entire 17 southern states of the country.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Saleh said Fulani herders are not the problem facing the country.
He added that the Fulani ethnic group is ready for division of the country.
He said, “Herders are insignificant when it comes to problem of this country, are they the ones looting the treasury? What damages are they causing to this country? Compare to the criminal activities of 'Yahoo' boys (Internet fraudsters), kidnappers, political looters, bandits in power, vagabonds in power like Governor (Samuel) Ortom, do you think if there is no oil money, all these things will be happening?
“Today we are ready, let them divide the country, let them not wait till tomorrow. We are better prepared than any ethnic nationality. So we are ready, let them divide the country, let us die, we that don’t have the oil.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has declared Gimba Yau Kumo, a son-in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari, wanted over an alleged $65 million fraud.
Kumo, who got married to Fatima, one of the president’s daughters in 2016, was alleged to have perpetrated the crime alongside one Tarry Rufus and another Bola Ogunsola.
In a statement on Thursday, Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson of the anti-graft commission, asked anyone who had information on the whereabouts of the trio to report to the ICPC headquarters or the nearest police station.
“The persons whose pictures appear above, Mr. Tarry Rufus, Mr. Gimba Yau Kumo and Mr. Bola Ogunsola, are hereby declared WANTED by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with issues bordering on misappropriation of National Housing Funds and diversion of the sum of Sixty Five Million dollars ($65,000,000),” the ICPC said.
“Anyone who has useful information on their whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices or the nearest police station.”
Kumo, who served as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He hails from Gombe State.
The presidency is yet to react to the allegations levelled against him.
Suspended Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, on Thursday made her first public appearance during the probe of the agency under her.
On Monday, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, set up a panel to probe all contracts that NPA awarded under her watch.
Bala Usman was suspended on Friday over alleged non-remittance of N165 billion to the consolidated revenue fund account (CFR).
She has since denied the allegation.
In a tweet on Thursday, the suspended NPA MD made veiled reference to her current travails, saying the truth will triumph.
She also pledged loyalty to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, whom she described as her “forever boss”.
Eid Mubarak....”Taqabbalallāhu minnā wa minkum”May Allah accept [good deeds] from you and us” At the place of the Emir of Zazzau with my forever Boss @elrufai. We remain resolute in the believe that the truth always triumphs...Allah’s protection and guidance for always...��������
Politics › Re: Bodies Of Ibrahim Attahiru, Others Arrive Abuja For Burial (Video) by HonNL(op): 1:44pm On May 22, 2021
