₦airaland Forum

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday evening, hosted All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators of the 9th Assembly to Iftar Dinner at his Aguda House Residence in the State House, Abuja.

Two of the three Senators from Lagos State namely Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Tokunbo Abiru were present at the parley with Osinbajo with the exception of the Lagos Central Senator and wife of APC national leader, Oluremi Tinubu.

The dinner was aimed to woo the Senators elected on the platform of the APC to support his presidential ambition.

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, led the senators to the meeting.

The Vice President formally briefed the Senate APC caucus over his presidential ambition and sought their support.

The briefing, which was part of Osinbajo’s consultations with critical stakeholders.

The meeting held behind closed doors but the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who led the APC senators to the Villa told reporters what transpired.

“We had Iftar dinner with His Excellency, the Vice President and thereafter we had brief interaction on our Government and of course on the Vice President’s declaration to run for the presidency of our great country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Lawan said.

When pressed further, Lawan said: “Maturally, the Vice President told us that he has expressed his interest and that he wanted to consult with the Senate APC caucus.

“He wanted us to hear from his mouth and we did and he was seeking our support in whatever way we can at the appropriate time and we wish the Vice President goodluck in this endeavour.

“But let me assure everyone that the Senate APC caucus and indeed the National Assembly caucus of the APC will continue to work very hard for our great party, the APC, to continue to provide services to Nigerians and also work hard to ensure that by 2023, the next administration is an APC administration at the center and majority of the States in our country, by the Grace of God will be APC.”

Recall that on Monday after months of speculations, Osinbajo declared his interest to contest the 2023 presidential election.

In a video message, Osinbajo said having served President Muhammadu Buhari as vice president for seven years, he has the required experience to lead the country.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has awarded a road project to the tune of N110 million to a non-existent construction firm, an investigation by Economic Confidential has revealed.

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The contract was awarded by Ganduje to Stonegate Quaries Limited, in 2019 which is now abandoned.

According to Economic Confidential, the state government officials have also, after repeated questioning, been unable to account for the total of 110 million Naira that has been approved for the road which remains abandoned and in a state of disrepair.

“The Ado Bayero Road Network project at Dorayi Babba in Gwale LGA was first awarded in 2019 by the State Executive Council chaired by Governor Ganduje and a total sum of 110 million Naira has been approved for it across 2019, 2020 and 2021 budgets.

“The sum of 38 million Naira was approved for the project in 2019 and other approvals came in subsequent years but according to findings by Economic Confidential, the project has been abandoned with no sign of work going on.

“STONEGATE QUARIES LIMITED, the construction company which had the contract awarded in its favour is unlicensed, unregistered and untraceable, ECONOMIC CONFIDENTIAL can authoritatively report.

“Based on the measurement of a certified surveyor and testimonies by residents of the community, the abandoned project is just a 1-kilometre road.

“STONEGATE QUARIES LTD, whose address was given as 1011 Domkat Bali LN. Mabushi District, Abuja, is the name of the construction company said to have gotten the contract. This is according to the metal board square fixed at the project location that carries details about the project, client, contractor and the supervision of the project.

“According to the feedback obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), however, the company does not exist in law as it is not registered.

Despite the approval of 110 million Naira since 2019, it was gathered, through a community forum, that the residents of the area have in recent years raised more than 14 million Naira and spent on the road just to make it a bit passable for themselves.

When contacted by Economic Confidential over the project, the Kano State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Idris Wada Saleh, simply replied that: “Who told you he is not qualified and what is your problem with that? Is the work not done properly or he doesn’t pay his taxes.”

At least 68 persons are with the terrorist group that abducted travellers from the scene of the March 28 train attack.

Daily Trust had reported how the armed gang bombed the rail track, forcing the train to derail after which they opened fire on passengers.

Before the arrival of security operatives, some of the passengers were killed while others were abducted.

In its update a week after the attack, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had said it could not account for 146 passengers.

But the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Mr Alwan Hassan, who was released by the group last Wednesday provided the figures of the captives while recounting his ordeal.

Hassan, Daily Trust gathered, provided details of the abductees and his own ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers in separate briefings to family members, the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and relatives of other abductees.

Attempt by Daily Trust to hear directly from him was, however, unsuccessful as he declined an immediate interview when our reporters visited his home on Friday.

But a family member of one of the abducted persons said the BOA managing director told them that the victims were made to trek for five days, resting intermittently in transit camps, before they arrived at the main camp of the attackers around Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State.

He was said to have identified many of the captives by name from the pictures presented by their families, saying however some of the abductees suffered gunshot wounds.

Hassan assured the visiting family members that all the captives were doing fine as all the wounded were treated by medics brought by the attackers.

By Abdullah Tijani

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has been indicted for diverting the funds meant for the implementation of Grant for Rural Women (GRW), part of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) aimed at tackling poverty across the country.

In December 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management initiated the disbursement of N1.01 billion to rural women across 15 states.

According to an investigative report by The ICIR, the implementation of the project in Jigawa, Kano and Kaduna was full of irregularities, corruption and lack of transparency and accountability.

“The sum of 20,000 each was supposed to be disbursed to 16,000 vulnerable women in rural areas in Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa State,” the report reads in part.

“A further breakdown showed that 8,000 women were targeted in Kano, while Kaduna and Jigawa states had 4,000 women each as intended beneficiaries. This implies that the sum of N320 million was meant to be disbursed across the three states.”

The report reveals that Oladapo John Ogunyanmodi, Musa Yusuf Dauda, and Devine Sekibo, who received the money for disbursement in the three states, are only names on paper.

“On the 29th of December 2020, just three days to the end of the year, Oladapo John Ogunyanmodi received N86.4 million into his account with payment description, ‘Non-personal advance payment’, as a grant for rural women in Jigawa State, although 4,000 vulnerable women were targeted in Jigawa State, while this money paid into Oladapo’s account could go for 4,320 poor and vulnerable women in the state which is over the projected beneficiaries.”

“On the same day, just as Oladapo, it was also tracked to the payment record that Musa Yusuf Dauda was paid N73.6 million as money meant for rural women in Kaduna State which can only go for 3,680 vulnerable women which is a shortfall against the 4,000 vulnerable women announced, which is below the number announced as the total beneficiary, while Devine Sekibo the third person also received 140.8 million, an amount which can only go for 7,040 vulnerable women, as against the 8,000 vulnerable women in Kano State.”

Tracking the project implementation in the three states, three names of those who supposedly received the funds were strange to the locals, according to the report.

In Jigawa, Bama Chamo, who was the state’s spokesperson, could not explain how the funds were disbursed, while in Kaduna, an official revealed that only 1000 names out of 7,000 supposed beneficiaries were taken from the Kaduna State Social Register.

By Taiwo-Hassan Adebayo


The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, is set to declare his interest in the 2023 presidential election tomorrow, Monday. capping off months of behind-the-scene – yet apparent – mobilisations that have fuelled speculations and pitied the No 2 against his erstwhile boss Bola Tinubu.

According to sources with knowledge of the plans, except there is a change, Mr Osinbajo’s declaration will not involve any formal event or public gathering.

Rather, he will release a recorded video of about seven to 10 minutes, addressing the public and declaring his 2023 ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The video will be distributed across his social media handles and the sources said the campaign team will get to working immediately afterwards.

This style is different from how others had previously gone about declarations.

Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha addressed a public gathering sharing a pattern with former Rivers State Governor and transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, who announced his intention before a filled stadium in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Mr Tinubu, former Lagos Governor, and Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi spoke to the press directly after having, separately, met with Mr Buhari at the State House.

However, Mr Osinbajo’s announcement video will be preceded by a ceremonial iftar – the Muslim break of Ramadan – with APC governors at his official residence tonight, sources said.

At the gathering, he is going to inform the governors of his intention to contest; though, he had previously told each of them individually.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the battle to pick the APC ticket, the Osinbajo camp has already opened a campaign office at 15B Buchanan Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

In addition to travelling across states for support, Mr Osinabjo’s team had organised opinion polls to guide his decision on the 2023 election. In one such poll, participants were asked to choose their preferred president between Rabiu Kwakwanso, former Kano State Governor, Mr Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President.

In another poll, participants were asked to indicate if they would vote for Mr Osinbajo – and this particular poll yielded 63 per cent yes votes, sources said.

Mr Osinbajo is believed to enjoy a wide appeal among the population but how he is going to mobilise the political capital to defeat Mr Tinubu or Mr Amaechi – two of his main challengers – remains to be seen.

By Magaji Hunkuyi

Bandits have taken over many villages in Gassol and Karim Lamido local government areas of Taraba State.

Daily Trust on Sunday findings revealed that the worst affected by the bandits’ activities is Kambari town.

Kambari village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area is located on the bank of River Benue and not far away from the border of Plateau State.

The town and other neighbouring villages is also surrounded by thick forests and without access road which makes it a safe heaven for criminals.

The dare devil bandits, it was further learnt, have forced the police and vigilante to abandon their duty posts in that axis.

The bandits, according to sources in the area, forcefully sleep with house wives and young girls.

Residents of the town have resigned to fate as there is no any action from the authorities to checkmate the criminal activities.

Similarly, other villages in both Gassol and Karim Lamido local government areas located on the bank of River Benue are also under the threat of the terrorists.

Residents of six villages across River Benue, in Karim Lamido local government, were forced to relocate to other places because of criminal activities of the terrorists.

The villages, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered include Gwammo, Wurno, Tungan Kaya, Gidan Kawoyel and Ali Kwala.

Similarly, WuroJam, Karar, Shika, Amar, Zip, WuruJam, Illela and Maigemu among others are now under the threat of the terrorists.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the bandits move freely day and night with their weapons in some of the affected villages and towns.

Findings revealed that the terrorists have became lords to themselves and are kidnapping residents without let or hindrance.

In some of the affected villages, young boys were said to have been recruited by the terrorists and are the ones informing the terrorists of houses of wealthy individuals.

A resident of Kambari town who sought anonymity told Daily Trust on Sunday that the bandits have taken over the town and it is now their operational base.

According to him, many residents have relocated to Mutumbiyu town and other places.

He said the bandits are mostly from Zamfara and Katsina and they number over 200.

“There is no presence of police and vigilante in Kambari, terrorists are in total control of the town and they move freely with their arms,” he said.

A former resident of the area, who relocated to Mutumbiyu town, said it is no longer safe to stay in the town.

“We are under siege; we need the government to intervene by sending soldiers to chase out the terrorists because they are regrouping every day and also recruiting our young men,” he said.

He revealed that the terrorists are responsible of most of the kidnappings and killings in parts of Karim Lamido, Gassol and Bali local government areas of the state.

Further findings revealed that the Army has been sent to Gassol district and has engaged the terrorists.

It was gathered that the terrorists suffered serious set back following deployment of soldiers and as result, some of the terrorists are relocating out of the area.

A resident of Gassol town, Malam Rabiu Saidu, told Daily Trust on Sunday in a telephone interview that the arrival of soldiers in Gassol district has brought relief to the people.

He said the soldiers are doing a good job as many of the terrorists are now moving out but urged the soldiers to extend their operation to Kambari and other areas across River Benue.

The chairman of Karim Lamido council, Mr Markus Hamidu, did not answer calls or reply SMS sent to him on the issue.

The police spoke person of Taraba command, DSP Usman Abdullahi, when contacted said there is no report of such attack at the command.

He said the Police Divisional office in Karim Lamido did not send any report that terrorists have taken over any village or town in the area.

“If it is true that terrorists have taken over Kambari town or any other village, why didn’t residents inform the police?” he said.

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho has assured supporters of his commitment to the Yoruba Nation struggle.

Igboho spoke during a conversation with the leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye and his deputy, Prof Wale Adeniran monitored by The Nation.

Igboho, while thanking his supporters after the recent conditional release, debunked various reports that he was down with health-related issues in detention.

He noted that he enjoyed maximum freedom courtesy of Benin Republic President, Patrice Athanase Talon.

He said that during his seven months of incarceration in the Benin Republic prison, he never fell sick as being erroneously carried about, describing those behind the “fake news” as uninformed.

Igboho,who spoke in Yoruba, thanked those who stood by him during his trying period, especially, notable Yoruba leaders, legal counsel and his wife as well as family members.

“I want to thank everyone, I want everyone to be calm. I won’t betray you all. This is me here. I’m fine, hale and healthy.

“Yoruba struggle will remain, and it will be stronger. Yorubas are suffering and smiling. They are killing, kidnapping and doing all sort in Yorubaland and we are not talking.

“I’m coming back home soon. I’m a true son of the soil. One cannot be scared of his father’s home. Nothing will happen and no one will be scared of anyone.

“All that I’ve asked the Federal Government they are yet to answer, and the court has ruled in my favour. Asides from the judgement in Benin Republic, I’m coming to follow up with my judgement in Nigeria. Federal Government must pay my money. It is 20bn.

“When I get back to my base in Ibadan, I will thank everyone specially again. You will see me well. Dear Yorubas, don’t be scared, Igboho is back.”

While thanking president Talon, he said: “There were so many rumors, and that he (President Talon) collected money from Nigeria’s president, and has betrayed the Yoruba struggle. All were lies. Look at me, do I look like someone who went to Prison? Help me thank the president. I’m very strong, hale and hearty. All my needs were catered for while in prison.”

He stated there would have been no reason for agitation in Nigeria if the government had developed the country and protected the lives and properties of the citizens the way the government of Benin Republic had done for its people.

“If Nigeria was like Benin Republic, I would have not bothered myself with any struggle. Look at how Benin Republic has developed so well. I’ve been shuffling through Benin since 1996.

“For those seven months, there was no blackout and we never ran out of water. I was stunned. Foreigners are trooping into Benin Republic; the government is building infrastructure and the President is investigating the projects.

“The people of Benin Republic ought to appreciate God for the kind of leader He has given them. If we have such a government in Nigeria, no one will agitate. Citizens will be happy in a country where the government provides stable power supply, adequate security, and adequate water supply, because that is a good government,” he said.

Speaking on how he felt when they informed him of his release from prison, he said: “The day I was released, I was playing “Ayo” with an inmate, and a police came, he said “Chief come, where is your lawyer? He said call your wife and lawyer, your father is around (Baba Akintoye). President has released you.

“I was shocked and asked him to show me a document to that effect. It was written in French. It took the efforts of another inmate to interpret it and he told me I’ve been released and that was how I believed. When I called my lawyer, they told me they were on their way and were already aware of my freedom. I thought I was dreaming.

“The lawyers stood by me, and they said I should be calm despite the charges that they wanted to investigate against me.”

There is confusion in Ogun State following the planned ‘relocation’ of Senator Olamilekan Adeola of Lagos West to Ogun West as the 2023 elections draw closer.

DAILY POST reports that the Lagos Senator was in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday, to declare that he would be returning to the Senate, this time, to represent Ogun West; a move many have described as an “aberration”.

By 2023, Adeola, who is in the Senate for a second term, would have completed 20 years as an elected lawmaker in Lagos State.

DAILY POST reports that Senator Olamilekan Adeola, addressed as Yayi, has spent eight years as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Alimosho State Constituency 2, from 2003 to 2011.

From 2011 to 2015, he was a member of the House of Representatives, where he represented the Alimosho Federal Constituency: and he has been in the red chamber since 2015

As his second term in the Senate draws to an end, the Senator is reported to b planning to ‘port’ from Lagos to Ogun to continue his purported ‘sit-tight disposition’ at the National Assembly.

While in Ilaro for his declaration, the sitting Lagos Senator said he had transferred his Permanent Voter’s Card from Lagos to Ogun, adding that he has also registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Gateway State.

Before now, there had been controversies over Adeola’s origin as many doubt his claims of being an indigene of Yewa in Ogun.

In 2015, he made an attempt to become the Senator of Ogun West but this was unsuccessful; making him relocate to Lagos West for the senatorial ticket.

In the build-up to the 2019 elections, Yayi returned for a governorship ambition in Ogun State, winning more supporters.

However, his aspiration to ‘jump’ from Lagos and become the governor of Ogun State in 2019 was foiled by the immediate past Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was not convinced that Adeola was an indigene of Ogun State as being claimed.

Our correspondent reports that the Senator’s real state of origin remains a subject of controversy despite all efforts to convince Ogun residents that he is from Pahayi in Ilaro.

With Governor Dapo Abiodun at the saddle, Adeola and his followers are of the belief that the coast is getting clearer for the actualisation of his much-coveted ambition.

The Accountant turned politician, DAILY POST gathered, has a game plan to become the governor of Ogun State in 2027, thinking Gov Abiodun would return for a second term.


Adeola’s ambition tears Abiodun’s camp apart

At the moment, the ambition of Adeola has put Abiodun’s APC camp in disarray as loyalists face off over Ogun West’s senatorial ticket.

Presently, a three-time governorship aspirant, Gboyega Isiaka, who is currently an appointee of Abiodun is also interested in running the senatorial race.

Also, a three-time former House of Representatives and Federal Character Commissioner, Abiodun Akinlade, is also interested in taking over from the incumbent Senator Tolu Odebiyi, who is presently in the Amosun camp.

However, it appears Abiodun might support the Lagosian, leaving the home-based Isiaka and Akinlade in the cold.

To avoid this, loyalists of the two grassroots politicians are leaving no stone unturned to stop Abiodun from pitching tents with Yayi, saying they could not afford to have a ‘foreigner’ as their senator.


Abiodun allegedly indecisive over Isiaka, Adeola

DAILY POST reliably learnt that Abiodun is currently in dilemma over who to support between Isiaka and the Lagos politician.

To him, Adeola owns the political structure that won him the 2019 governorship election.

On the other hand, Abiodun sees Isiaka as being instrumental to his victory in the poll because his insistence not to step down for Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement dashed the hope of Ogun West to produce the governor of the state for the first time.

“The governor is confused, he doesn’t know who to support between GNI and Yayi. They all supported him in the last election and he doesn’t want to offend any of them. Maybe all of them will go for primary and whoever wins gets the ticket,” an APC leader said.


Ogun West leaders warn Tinubu over imposition of Adeola

Meanwhile, some leaders of the APC in Ogun West have asked the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, not to impose Adeola on them.

Speaking on behalf of the party leaders in Ogun West, Chief Sikiru Adegbite, described as unthinkable, the fact that Adeola, who started his political career in 1999 in Lagos is allegedly being pushed by Tinubu to become a senator in Ogun West.

They said there would be a serious crisis in the APC if Adeola moves over to Ogun State, claiming that there was no evidence that the Senator hails from Yewa.

“The people of Yewa consider it an insult that a non-indigene will be imposed on them by the party’s leadership, when there are bonafide and loyal party members in Yewa,” Adegbite was quoted as saying.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, has said the country’s insecurity would be worsened if Nigerians are allowed to bear arms.

He stated this at a media parley in Abuja Thursday evening while answering a question on the call by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, who last week said Nigerians should be allowed to bear arms in self-defence considering the deteriorating security situation in the country.

According to Daily Trust, Dingyadi said, “We are even doing all we can to ensure that we minimise the circulation of firearms among most Nigerians. We should restrict this to people who are supposed to own them, those who are supposed to use them, people who have been trained to use them and people who have access to use them.

“Otherwise, if you make it all people’s affair, it will worsen the situation. This is my honest opinion. I don’t share that view at this moment, I don’t support that,” the minister said.

He added that his ministry was doing everything in its capacity to ensure that implementation of salary increment for police officers across the country becomes a reality as soon as possible.

The head of service of the federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, said in carrying out her job and ensuring a corrupt-free civil service, she has received several threats due to political interference.

Esan, who spoke at a policy dialogue on entrenching transparency in public service recruitment in Nigeria, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), also said the continued interference from highly connected individuals have hindered proper federal character representations in employment in Nigeria.

The head of the service of the federation also said trade and manufacturing sectors in Nigeria are highest employers of labour, noting that federal government currently has about 390,000 officers on payroll aside the Military and university staff, which are not part of the payroll system.

She, however, said by January 2023, the comprehensive records of civil servants under payroll would have been fully harmonised.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr. Muheeba Farida, said the ICPC is one of the most organised government agency that follows federal character principle in recruitment.

The representative of the commission also called on all chief executives of the MDAs to do justice to their recruitment, urging them to bring their nominal role of recruitment to the Federal Character Commission so it can analyse and ensure proper representations.

Suspected gunmen would have killed a large number of soldiers in Kaduna State, if not for the intervention of aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), a video clip obtained by PRNigeria has shown.

The bandit-terrorist gunmen launched an attack on a military base at Polewire in the Birnin Gwari district of the state where some soldiers were killed and military vehicles destroyed.

In a video clip obtained by PRNigeria from the military intelligence service, two fighter aircraft were ‘swiftly’ deployed to repel the bandits’ attempt to totally overrun their military base, after a ‘sudden’ invasion by the gunmen.

The bandits were sighted fleeing from ‘multiple’ rockets and cannons fired by the NAF aircraft.

Meanwhile, a domestic intelligence source who was part of the rescue team, confirmed that some soldiers were wounded, but added that the casualty on the side of troops would have been ‘massive’ if not for the well-executed ‘rescue operation’ of the NAF attack aircraft and special ground troops from Birnin Gwari.

“The Commander of PANTHERS of 271 NAF Detachment led special forces on the ground in a rapid response operation after the airstrikes that eliminated most the terrorists.

“The team successfully evacuated and resuscitated 21 wounded soldiers,” the source added.

A Chieftaincy titleholder and Community leader, Alhaji Zubair Abdurra’uf Idris confirmed the airstrikes while speaking to PRNigeria.

“Before the attack on the army base on Sunday, the troops had previously carried out several successful operations against the bandits in the axis.

“We also noticed the timely arrival of military aircraft that pursued and bombed the bandits on their escape routes.

“We learnt that there were massive collateral damages after the aircraft returned and shelled structures that housed families of the bandits on Monday.”

Alhaji Idris who is also Dan Masanin of Birnin-Gwari commended the gallantry of the Nigerian troops in their fight against the terrorists in the state.

A landlord in Bonny Island, Rivers State, Mr Donald Pepple, has been attacked and stabbed multiple times by a Fulani herder for complaining that cows were messing up his compound.

The herder, who is now on the run, it was gathered, always passed through Pepple’s compound with his cattle, leaving the animals to eat crops, defecate all over the place and also mess up washed clothes spread on the line.

As a result of the havoc they wreak each time they pass through his compound, the victim had warned the herder not to bring his cattle into the place anymore.

Defying that warning, the Fulani cattle rearer on Tuesday morning invaded Pepple’s compound again, prompting the man to protest in anger.

The herder reacted angrily, first hitting the victim on the head with a stick believed to be laced with charm before going on to stab the landlord multiple times in his head and other parts of his body.

The herder fled the scene shortly afterwards, leaving behind 20 cows, which have since been seized by members of the community.

An eyewitness, Nengi Chukwueze, who spoke with SaharaReporters shortly after the incident, disclosed that the victim was currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Bonny.

He went ahead to disclose that though the matter was promptly reported at the Bonny Divisional Police Headquarters, officers had yet to apprehend the attacker, who is thought to still be hiding in the island community.

“The victim is still in the hospital. If he was not rescued on time by people around the place, he could have bled to death.

“The Fulani herder is still in hiding. He left his cows and fled the area immediately he attacked Mr Pepple. He is rearing the cattle for a Bonny indigene, so that person has been identified and has been helping with finding him.

“The incident has left residents of the island shocked because it is a peaceful community. We hope the attacker is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

When contacted over the incident, the spokesperson for the police in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, promised to get back to our correspondent after receiving a briefing from the Bonny Police Division on the matter.
However, she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Italian police have arrested a 24-year-old Nigerian man who allegedly beat his wife and dropped their one-year-old baby boy from the upper floor.

According to a report by Ansa News, a police officer dived and caught the child before he hit the floor in a Florence condo on Sunday night.

The man (who was not named) was charged with domestic abuse against his Nigerian wife.

The police said the woman had suffered in silence for years even though her husband had threatened her with a knife to the throat.

The woman and her two children, aged one and three, have been admitted for shock to a Florentine hospital but are otherwise unhurt.

In March 2021, a Nigerian man was arrested in Mantua, a city in the Italian region of Lombardy, on the allegation that he brutally beat his wife, in front of their son.

The woman, a Nigerian, was taken to the hospital with multiple injuries including a knife wound to her arms.

The couple's apartment was found with traces of blood everywhere including a pool on the floor.

He was reportedly being scheduled for deportation.

The National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has come and gone, but the role played by President Muhammadu Buhari on the emergence of Senator Abdullahi Adamu would remain a subject of discussion among party members in the days ahead.

President Buhari’s decision to handpick former Nasarawa governor ahead of Senators Tanko Al-Makura, George Akume, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Musa, Saliu Mustapha and Mohammed Etsu sent tongues wagging prior to the national convention of the party, and this has caused fears within the ranks of the party that the Presidential candidate of the party might be handpicked same way Adamu emerged as party chairman.


Adamu, who has garnered over forty years experience in the political terrain is positioned by his backers to whip party stalwarts into line to support the Presidential candidate of the party, in anticipation of the fierce rivalry among aspirants that have so far declared, including Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi, Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Orji Kalu and Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele are being called upon by their supporters to join the race for the exalted seat.

Although party stalwarts, including members of the Governor Atiku Bagudu-led Progressive Governor’s Forum (PGF), the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led leadership of the National Assembly were left with no option but to buy into President Buhari’s agenda under a consensus arrangement, the development is widely seen as a clear case of imposition of the leadership of the party.

Adamu, who chaired the party reconciliation panel, was dragged into the race after other aspirants from legacy parties, had embarked on intensive and costly campaigns for the plum job.

Though consensus arrangement remains one of the mode of selecting party officials approved by the APC Constitution, also seen as a veritable crisis management strategy, the manner the party adopted it hook, line and sinker smacks of APC’s inability to live up to its democratic credentials as a truly democratic party.

That it took series of meetings, horse trading and arm-twisting to coerce the Chairmanship aspirants to adhere to the President’s decision to anoint Adamu, as against their preference for an elective convention showed how tainted the process was. It showed how the consensus mode is vulnerable to abuse.

APC governors, who were said to have asked President Buhari to cede the Presidency seat to them in return for their support for Adamu took turns to handpick the candidates of their choices for various positions at the national convention of the party.

For instance, Bauchi State APC stakeholders led by the former governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar, also questioned the consensus arrangement that threw up Alhaji Abubakar Kyari, as occupant of the seat of the Deputy National Chairmanship (North), on behalf of the North East geopolitical zone.

Kyari is said to have been nominated by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state.

Party chieftains, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara and other critical stakeholders of the party in Bauchi decried alleged exclusion of the state in the power sharing arrangement by the party in the North East geopolitical zone.

The stakeholders faulted the decision by a section of party stalwarts to micro-zone the seat of the Deputy National Chairman of the party to Borno State.

APC chieftains in a joint statement remarked that it was unfortunate that they were not allowed to make input over the decision in line with laid down regulations.

The aggrieved APC stalwarts expressed surprise that Bauchi State known as the traditional base of the party in the North- East in both the 2015 and 2019 general elections was relegated to the background.

Party chieftains argued that Borno State boasts more than enough of government patronage under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration than Bauchi State that has carved a niche as a traditional base of APC after Kano State since 2015 general election.

The Bauchi chieftains cited National Security Adviser, Gen Ali Mohammed Mongonu, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, and Managing Director, North East Development Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali. Borno and Yobe States also produced National Secretary and later APC caretaker chairman over the past two years, among others to buttress their assertions.


Mr Emma Eneukwu backed by Governor Hope Uzordinma emerged Deputy Chairman South, forcing former Senate President Ken Nnamani to step down for him.

The situation is not different in the case of the choice of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the party’s secretary, as his co-contestants Adebayo Shittu, Olaiya Olaitan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele put up stiff resistance till the last minute at the venue of the party convention.

Shittu alleged that there was no consultation before Omisore’s name was announced without election and blamed the leadership of the party in the Southwest for the imposition. He, however, stepped down because of the intervention of Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his “love and respect” for President Buhari.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who was a member of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee, backed Omisore’s quest to emerge as the National Secretary zoned to the Southwest.

Head of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan, who monitored proceedings at the national convention, expressed dissatisfaction with the process of selecting the party officials.

She noted: “It’s undemocratic, it belied the new Electoral Act amendment” provision on how consensus candidates should emerge. It’s sad seeing contestants speaking with emotions or teary on stage.

“People were practically forced to concede and it also belies reasoning why people had to be trucked in from all parts of the country just to affirm candidates. The cost, the time, and risks were completely underrated by the APC. Nigeria can’t experience democracy until parties themselves are democratic.”

However, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari threw his weight behind the consensus arrangement, adding that the measure was in tandem with the tenets of democracy and rule of law.

The Borno State born chieftain of the party, who spoke during the Pre-Convention summit of the party said: “It is in order, it is in the party’s Constitution, which is the grund norm and which governs the party affairs. It is also not against the laws of the Constitution of the country.

“It is also culturally correct. It is African and Nigerian. It is also politically correct and agreeable and therefore it is within the context of legalism, which is part of the democratic process. Of course, where it does not happen, then we go for free and competitive elections, which the APC is not opposed to.”

Ironically, Buhari in his address at the occasion frowned on imposition of candidates, adding it behooves the Adamu-led NWC members to promote internal democracy in the party.

The President, who stressed the need for the party to remain strong and united, warned against the conduct of party primaries influenced by moneybags in the party.

The President explained that his resolve to wade into the leadership crisis of the party should not be misconstrued that he was bent on muzzling dissenting voices.
He said, “Recently, l had cause to intervene in the leadership crisis, which was about to cause confusion in the party. Such internal disputes are common in young democracies such as ours, but we must avoid overheating the polity and not allow our differences to tear and frustrate the party.

“Like I said earlier, it does not do anybody or the party any good, when we, as leaders, go down so low and resort to backstabbing and name-calling in the media.

“We should learn how to resolve our differences without jeopardising our personal relationships and the fate of the party. I want to thank the Progressives Governors’ Forum for heeding to my advice and suggestions in settling the leadership dispute.”

Adamu, who was administered the oath of office alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) promised to entrench internal democracy in the party.

Promising to run an open door policy to accommodate all members of the party, he admonished party faithful to resist the temptation to blow every minor personal disagreement into a major party crisis that could be exploited by the opposition political parties in the country.

He noted: “My dear compatriots, the eyes of the nation are on us; the eyes of Africa are on us; the eyes of the world are on us. This is a historic moment.

There is no room for false steps. Our first step is to make our party the bastion of internal democracy. If a party is not internally democratic, it cannot offer the country true democracy.


“Together, let us rise and march towards the sunrise in our party and in our country. The time has come for us to show statesmanship to arrive at the new dawn. The time has come for us to be patriotic in words and deeds. The time has come for us to affirm our being the party of the people, for the people and by the people.”

Continuing, he said: “It is time for us to do things differently. When we quarrel, we open our flanks to our rival political parties that are only too eager to exploit them for their own benefit.

“I promise you here and now that we shall heal any wounds in our party; we shall effect lasting reconciliation among our members, and we shall go into the next general elections as a strong and united party.

“I offer my hands of friendship to all our members. I want to assure you that my colleagues and myself will run an open door policy to all members of the party.”

The former Governor of Nasarawa State enjoined media practitioners to revive and uphold the patriotic spirit of the founding fathers of their profession such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Malam Abubakar Imam, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, and other media pioneers.

The occasion provided party stalwarts in the mould of Osinbajo, Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and Bagudu ample opportunity to call for concerted effort by supporters to ensure the victory of the party in the 2023 poll.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has said the party under his watch will clear anything cloudy on its way to victory in the 2023 general polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed presidential and National Assembly elections for February 25, 2023 while governorship and state assembly elections are slated for March 11, 2023.

In an interview with newsmen at the weekend in Abuja, Senator Adamu said the party would not tolerate any form of failure to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari handed over to another APC government in 2023.

“The first thing is to work against anything that has the potential to failure. We have no excuse; we have to do everything possible to face the election as one united family.

“If we see anything that is cloudy, we will clear it. We will ensure that President Buhari is there to help win the election. We will ensure he hands over to another APC government. So there is no time to play around, it’s time to work,” he said.

Asked to state when the party would refund monies for expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants who stepped down at the March 26 national convention as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Adamu said, “We are meeting with them.”

He added, “We have met some of them already. We will forge understanding and unity.”

On how APC would field candidates for the 2023 elections, Adamu said the party was yet to decide on the mode of nomination of its presidential candidate.

The APC Constitution provides room for direct, indirect primaries or consensus for the selection of its candidates.

Adamu said, “It is not as if it is already decided and just waiting to happen, but these are guides as to the methods of choosing candidates.

“When we get there the party will decide which of the options we are going to adopt in nominating candidates,” he said.

The INEC had in a new timetable released recently ahead of the 2023 polls said all political parties shall hold their primaries between April and June 3, 2022.

Senator Adamu also cautioned APC chieftains against taking the party to court and asked aggrieved members who have pending cases in court to withdraw them and bring their grievances before the new National Working Committee (NWC) for possible solutions.

Meanwhile, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has asked Adamu led NWC to reveal the zoning formula ahead of the 2023 primary elections.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State also said he would only run for the office of the president if the party zones it to the South East.

In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Kalu said the revelation would guide aspirants on the right path to follow and in accordance with the demands of the party.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Temitope Babs, has accused Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, of blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for his own failure.

After the Abuja-Kaduna rail attack, which occured on Monday, Amaechi told journalists during an interview that he had predicted the attack and presented a memo to Federal Executive Council for the procurement of security equipment but it was rejected.

Minutes of the meeting sighted by SaharaReporters marked EC (2021) 236 on September 24, 2021, presided over by Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria, at a time when the President was out of the country for the United Nations General Assembly, showed that Amaechi proposed that a two-year-old company, which has a father, mother and child as its directors, should be given the contract worth N3.7billion.
Incorporated on August 6, 2019 by Prince Godwin Momoh, Chioma Momoh and George Momoh, the firm had a turnover of only N84.9m.

Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Babs accused the minister of blaming the attack and failures of his ministry to secure the lives of Nigerians using the facility on his ‘colleagues’ and by extension the Nigerian Government.
He added that Amaechi had been fingered for procuring low quality and out of use locomotives coaches into the country and if he had opted for a digital train, the bandits won't have gained unhindered access to the train from outside whilst in motion.

The statement reads, “The response of the Minister of Transport, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to the sad occurrence at the Abuja- Kaduna rail line left a lot of Nigerians in shock.

To some who are very familiar with his usual antics and ineptitude, it was rather an expected reaction from a man who is known for his usual attempt to rather cringe from realities and resort to apportioning blames.
“In his statement on Tuesday, the minister had blamed the attack and the failures of his Ministry to secure the lives of Nigerians using the facility on his ‘colleagues’ and by extension the Federal Government.

“While on an on-the-spot assessment of the scene, the minister showed no empathy at all to the victims of the attack, their families or Nigerians in general but he went on and on blaming every other person except himself.

Isn’t it high time the Rotimi gave up his wool-gathering approach to solving problem?
“In spite of President Buhari's commitment to the rail revolution, his Transport Minister has rubbed tar on the project. Recall that the minister had been fingered for procuring low quality and out of use locomotives coaches into the country. If the minister had opted for a digital train, the bandits won't have gained unhindered access to the train from outside whilst in motion.

“How far can arrogance and clueless ness take Amaechi in today’s Nigeria? To begin with, we must accept the fact that vast swathes of our country are increasingly becoming bandit territories. Authorities, at all levels and in all spheres (traditional, religious, civic), need to ask themselves what they can and must do to change this narrative. We must also understand that in the face of a national tragedy, divisive rhetoric and bigotry stemming from petty politics will only compound our problem.

In times like this, we must collectively commit to do all we can to take back our country from criminal gangs.

“The Abuja-Kaduna Road has been practically ceded to kidnappers who operate freely at several points along the expressway.

Many have therefore opted for the train, considered to be safer and more convenient. Not anymore. Before last Monday’s attack, there had been attempts to breach security at the Kaduna Airport.

“Ameachi’s reaction is an affirmation that a leopard cannot change its spots.

The country's rail project is about to witness a repeat of his poor outing as governor in Rivers State for eight years where he had no legacy project to his name apart from white elephants projects littered across the state like the failed Shongai farms and the cable car construction from government house towards Mile 3 Market.

“The ministers' outburst adds credence to a leaked audio of him some time ago to a section of the media that the President doesn't read. With this coming from one that is arrogating to himself the sobriquet of ‘anointed’ successor without proven record of performance and ability to interpret the President's vision into reality, there is need to access individual’s antecedents before certain responsibilities are bestowed on them.

“Families of victims should take heart as this incident has gone down in history as rewarding to the Minister for Transport.
Rotimi has been enriched by the blood of innocent Nigerians to the tune of N3billion. While we await Chinese enforcement of their sovereignty clause after poor workmanship frittered away their billions of dollars loans granted Amaechi’s ministry.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been overwhelmed by the insecurity.

There have been a series of attacks across the country but Monday’s attack on a Kaduna-bound train sparked a nationwide outrage.

At least nine persons were killed, 21 passengers were declared missing after terrorists bombed the train, which was 30 minutes away from its destinantion.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State had vowed to hire foreign mercenaries to fight against terrorists if the Federal Government does not end the ongoing spate of terror attacks in the region.


Reacting, Obasanjo described the attack as a “serious situation.”

He spoke at his penthouse residence, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr Ugochukwu Williams, and his team.

Obasanjo expressed concern that Nigerians “are no longer safe on the road, in the train and at the airport,” calling for a concerted effort of stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

The former President said the present administration has been overwhelmed by the situation, but Nigerians must not allow the situation to overwhelm the country.

He said “So, if anybody comes to say I want to see you, I want to talk to you, I will say ‘you’re welcome’. This is because I believe very strongly, and I have said it publicly and I will say it again that the situation we are in this country is not a situation where one man will say yes, he has a solution, unless we are deceiving ourselves. I believe we need to sit down collectively and look at the situation.

“A situation where you are not safe on the road, you are not safe in the train, you are not safe at the airport, that shows a very serious situation.

“I believe that all right thinking Nigerians must know that we have a situation that has overwhelmed the present administration, but we should not allow that situation to overwhelm Nigeria.”

He, however, wished Williams well in the pursuit of his presidential ambition.

In his remarks, Williams, flanked by House of Representatives aspirants from Plateau and Imo states, said he had visited Obasanjo for consultation on his presidential ambition.

He described Obasanjo as a leader who is passionate about peace and unity of Nigeria.

The young presidential aspirant said he was on a mission to “rescue Nigeria”, which he said has been deviled with insecurity and other socio-economic challenges.

If elected, Williams vowed to end “money bag” politics, provide jobs, tackle insecurity and other challenges in Nigeria.

Here we are all over again. Exhausted by the pain, suffering and helplessness of having to mourn fellow citizens cut down in their prime in yet another set of needless attacks by murderous bandits on the prowl in our neighbourhoods and homes, at our airports, and on our highways and rail tracks. Where else can we be safe?

On Saturday 26th March, bandits stormed the Kaduna International Airport in an attack in which they killed one Shehu Na’Allah, a security guard with the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Two days later, they doubled down on this with a horrific attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train, killing at least 9 persons and abducting an unknown number. This was inspite of repeated security alerts on the impending attack which was however ignored by the responsible agencies.

The ticket racketeering in the Nigeria Railways Corporation which made it impossible to even know the actual number of Nigerians on that train on that day is itself condemnable. We also strongly condemn the remorseless attempt to trade blames and score cheap political points by the Ministry of Transport and its Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, the National Assembly, and other officials in the presidency leaking government memoranda on the case. Government is a unity and all officials must accept responsibility for their inactions and resultant avoidable loss of lives. We also commend Nigerians who trooped to the 44 Military Hospital in Kaduna to donate blood to the victims of the train-attacks. When it comes to security of our own lives, hearts and mouths should be in one place.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of the federal government. Kaduna has in fact lately become the hotbed of senseless slaughter by bandits in recent months. In just the past one week (25th -31 March), terror groups have killed 82 and abducted many more in Kaduna and Zamfara states alone, according to news report data compiled by Daily Trust. Moreover, in the past three months alone (1 January – 31st March 2022), according to data published 2nd April by The Punch, some 927 Nigerians have been killed and 907 persons kidnapped in various banditry attacks in the three states of Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara alone. That’s over 10 people dead and 10 kidnapped every day, a casualty figure that maybe worse than in some actual wars. There is only one explanation left for how we got here in three short years or so: the federal government lacks the political will to protect Nigerians, or at least, does not demonstrate it enough. And this has added to the problem by itself. Because bandit-terror groups have sensed a lack of political will to engage them, they now roam freely in broad daylight across several states, sometimes for hundreds of kilometres on hordes of motor-cycles, in daring and chest-thumping show of power against the federal government and military forces, as the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El- Rufai put it, correctly, last weekend.

The government also scarcely has any proactive strategy for engaging the bandits head-on with boots on the ground. As El-Rufai again said, everyone knows where the bandits are located, at least in the main; and the security agencies even know some of their plans. Why has no one thought to take the war to them in their camps and enclaves? How come bandits freely demand for ransom payments and taxation using cell phones to communicate, despite mass registration for the National Identity Number (NIN)? Moreover, reports from independent sources indicate little presence of a Nigerian fighting force on the ground in the affected states, leaving some Governors with only the dangerous choice of calling citizens to arms.

Furthermore, even when attacks do occur, the government’s attitude leaves much to be desired. If the presidency bothers at all, the only response is usually to issue directives to heads of security agencies to bring culprits to book. But the next day, or the next week, there will be yet more attacks, often deadlier than the last. Then more directives from the presidency and meetings with the service chiefs, in a merry-go-round that, were it not so tragic, amounts to playing second fiddle with the lives of ordinary Nigerians killed again and again in those attacks.

Nigerians are tired of those directives because they only mean that the President does not hold his security appointees to account nearly enough for the positions they hold, or the monetary budgets expended on them, or yet, the confidence and respect Nigerians repose in them. Only the person who appointed the service chiefs can realistically and effectively hold them accountable: President Buhari himself.

We are convinced, and concerned that the government’s approach to his security appointees also demonstrate a lack of political will to deal with banditry. Notably, the presidency has been very reluctant to fire any appointees, even as the number of dead Nigerians continues to pile up weekly, as if loyalty to appointees matters more for a president than loyalty to the voters. This only creates the impression that under this government, even rock-bottom performance can pass.

We urge Mr President to rise up to the moment and show better that he has the will to tackle banditry actively from the front. A first step is to breathe new life into the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The second will be to mobilize actual fighting boots on the ground. A third is to roll-out, simultaneously as the on-the-ground offensive, an all-inclusive approach for dialogue and understanding among all the groups involved. Empty directives do not save lives.

Tein Jack-Rich, President and Founder, Belemaoil Producing Ltd., and presidential aspirant under the All Progressive Congress in the 2023 General Election, has donated N15 million to the victims of Kaduna-Abuja train attack.

Mr Jack-Rich, who made the donation in Kaduna on Friday during a courtesy call on the Kaduna State Government, called for collective and concerted efforts towards tackling security challenges in the country.

The presidential aspirant, who was received by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, explained that he was in Kaduna to commiserate with the State Government and the victims of the attack.

He expressed concern on the spate of insecurity in the country, and called for concerted efforts and support from all Nigerians to address the security challenges across the country.

”We need to come together as one indivisible Nigeria, and with determination, we can take back our dear country from the enemies and restore the peace and tranquillity Nigeria was known for.

Jack-Rich also called on the public to support ongoing efforts by providing relevant information to security agencies to enable them take proactive steps to address the challenge.

Leke Baiyewu


THE Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Effiong Akwa, over non-payment of N2.2bn to contractors.

The committee said it was acting on petitions filed by Akom Survey Services Limited over alleged refusal by the minister and the NDDC administrator to pay for the survey carried out in nine states under the commission, based on a N2.2bn contractual agreement.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, on Wednesday, stated that Akpabio and Akwa must appear before the panel unfailingly on April 12, 2022, by 2pm.

Akinyelure, while briefing journalists on the summons, said the committee had written several letters of invitation to the minister and the NDDC boss on petitions against them but they neither responded to the invitations nor honoured them.

He said, “It should not be business as usual. Akpabio and the NDDC Sole Administrator must appear before the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, failure of which will lead to issuance of warrant of arrest on them.

“The committee wants to believe that as far as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is concerned, breakdown in communication must have caused his non-appearance before the committee, because as a senator he should know the implication of that.

“This press briefing is being done to solve the perceived communication breakdown between the committee and his office. If our letters are not delivered to him, he will read and hear about the invitation in the media.”

Akinyelure explained that the petitioners, totalling seven different companies, lamented in their petitions that the non-payment for the services they rendered was pushing them into insolvency from unbearable interests on loans they secured from the banks.

The lawmaker said, “Aside from the N2.2bn contract yet to be paid to the seven companies by NDDC, there is an outstanding of N6.25bn contracts yet to be paid to affected companies and a N2.5bn job racketeering scandal.”

Boko Haram terrorists have ambushed the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists killing dozens of the fighters in a renewed ‘war of supremacy’ between the two extremist sects.

A video obtained by PRNigeria, showed the Boko Haram faction loyal to Buduma paraded and later slaughtered dozens of ISWAP fighters at a makeshift gravesite.

The Boko Haram elements later burnt alive some ISWAP terrorists in gun trucks.

Meanwhile, troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, on Wednesday eliminated no fewer than 33 ISWAP fighters.

It was also gathered that the MNJTF troops also rescued dozens of women and children during a military operation in Gamborun Ngala Local Government Area of Borno state.

PRNigeria gathered that items recovered from the terrorists included guns trucks motorcycles and sophisticated weapons.

Facebook parent company Meta has allegedly paid one of the biggest Republican consulting firms, Targeted Victory, to orchestrate a nationwide campaign seeking to turn the public against TikTok, a report by Washington Post stated.

According to the report, employees of Targeted Victory worked to undermine TikTok through a nationwide media and lobbying campaign portraying the fast-growing app, owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance, as a danger to American children and society.

“The campaign includes placing op-eds and letters to the editor in major regional news outlets, promoting dubious stories about alleged TikTok trends that actually originated on Facebook, and pushing to draw political reporters and local politicians into helping take down its biggest competitor.

“These bare-knuckle tactics, long commonplace in the world of politics, have become increasingly noticeable within a tech industry where companies vie for cultural relevance and come at a time when Facebook is under pressure to win back young users," the report partly reads.

In an email by a director for the firm, “Targeted Victory needs to get the message out that while Meta is the current punching bag, TikTok is the real threat, especially as a foreign-owned app that is #1 in sharing data that young teens are using.”

Also, campaign operatives were encouraged to use TikTok’s prominence as a way to deflect from Meta’s own privacy and antitrust concerns.

“Bonus point if we can fit this into a broader message that the current bills/proposals aren’t where [state attorneys general] or members of Congress should be focused,” a Targeted Victory staffer wrote.

Meanwhile, the hired firm, Targeted Victory refused to respond to questions filed by the Washington Post about the campaign, saying only that it has represented Meta for several years and is “proud of the work we have done.”

Targeted Victory was said to have urged partners to push stories to local media tying TikTok to dangerous teen trends in an effort to show the app’s purported harms. “Any local examples of bad TikTok trends/stories in your markets?” a Targeted Victory staffer asked.

“Dream would be to get stories with headlines like ‘From dances to danger: how TikTok has become the most harmful social media space for kids,’” the staffer wrote.

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone defended the campaign by saying, “We believe all platforms, including TikTok, should face a level of scrutiny consistent with their growing success.”

A TikTok spokesperson said the company is “deeply concerned” about “the stoking of local media reports on alleged trends that have not been found on the platform.”

Washington Post reports that Targeted Victory worked to amplify negative TikTok coverage through a Google document titled “Bad TikTok Clips,” which was shared internally and included links to dubious local news stories citing TikTok as the origin of dangerous teen trends.

Local operatives working with the firm were encouraged to promote these alleged TikTok trends in their own markets to put pressure on lawmakers to act.

Targeted Victory also contracted with dozens of public relations firms across the United States to help sway public opinion against TikTok. In addition to planting local news stories, the firm has helped place op-eds targeting TikTok around the country, especially in key congressional districts.

On March 12, a letter to the editor that Targeted Victory officials helped orchestrate ran in the Denver Post. The letter, from a “concerned” “new parent,” claimed that TikTok was harmful to children’s mental health, raised concerns over its data privacy practices and said that “many people even suspect China is deliberately collecting behavioural data on our kids.”

The letter also issued support for Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s choice to join a coalition of state attorneys general investigating TikTok’s impact on American youths, putting political pressure on the company.

A very similar letter to the editor, drafted by Targeted Victory, ran that same day in the Des Moines Register. The piece linked to negative stories about TikTok that Targeted Victory had previously sought to amplify. The letter was signed by Mary McAdams, chair of the Ankeny Area Democrats. Targeted Victory touted McAdams’ credentials in an email on March 7.

“[McAdams’s] name on this [letter to the editor] will carry a lot of weight with legislators and stakeholders,” a Targeted Victory director wrote. The email then encouraged partners across other states to look for opportunities to add to the campaign, “especially if your state AG suddenly joins on.”

The report further quoted emails showing how the firm has effectively promoted its anti-TikTok messaging without revealing that it came from a firm working on Meta’s behalf. None of the op-eds or letters to the editor were published with any indication that the Meta-funded group had been involved.

Launched as a Republican digital consulting firm by Zac Moffatt, a digital director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, Targeted Victory has routinely advised Facebook officials over the years, including during a high-profile congressional hearing after the 2016 election.

Meanwhile, the firm is one of the biggest recipients of Republican campaign spending, earning more than $237 million in 2020, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. Its biggest payments came from national GOP congressional committees and America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC.

Some of the emails targeting TikTok were sent in February, shortly after Meta announced that Facebook had lost users for the first time in its 18-year history.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told investors then that TikTok was a major obstacle, saying, “People have a lot of choices for how they want to spend their time, and apps like TikTok are growing very quickly.”

The company has unveiled a TikTok clone, a short-video feature called Reels, and promotes it heavily in its Instagram app.

The anti-TikTok campaign follows in a long line of Facebook-funded advocacy groups working to boost its standing in the public eye.

Marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly called cooking gas, on Monday said the cost of LPG had continued to increase on a weekly basis due to the fall of the naira against the United States dollar and the rise in global crude oil prices.

Speaking under the aegis of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, the LPG dealers stated that the cost of the commodity was currently determined by market forces.

The NUPENG LPG retailers’ branch Chairman, Chika Umudu, told our correspondent that in the past two weeks, the cost of 12.5kg LPG had increased by about N300.

About two weeks ago, marketers of the commodity raised the alarm in a statement issued by the union over the continued rise in the price of cooking gas.

They had urged the government to intervene, considering the energy crisis in Nigeria as seen in the drop in power supply and prolonged petrol scarcity.

When asked on Monday if the cost of the commodity was stabilising, Umudu replied, “The price has continued to increase. Between the time we issued that press statement and now, the 12.5kg gas has increased by between N200 and N300.

“In some cases, the dealers don’t usually detect the increment immediately. There’s a way we suppress it but when we cannot we release the price.”

On whether there had been any response from the government based on the recent call by the body, he responded in the negative, stressing that the cost of LPG was currently determined by the rate of foreign exchange and crude oil prices.

Umudu said, “No response at all from the government. The situation now is tied to market forces, which include foreign exchange rates and the price of oil in the international market.

“The recent hike in the dollar rate is one of the major factors causing the increase in the price of cooking gas. The rise in dollar price is a major factor, coupled with the increase in global crude oil prices.

“The weakening naira is a factor that has really impacted the cost of LPG. However, there are other minor concerns such as low capacity in the utilisation of resources.”

Umudu, however, noted that the call of the union on government for intervention was still tenable, adding that if the naira continued its fall against the dollar, the cost of cooking gas would keep rising.

He stated that the cost of 12.5kg LPG currently ranged between N9,000 and N10,000 depending on the location of purchase and that this might increase further going by the prevalent market forces.

Umudu has stated that the NUPENG branch union considered it as an irony that such price increases were happening at the time when the government was, through policy statements, assuring Nigerians of adequate supply of the product at affordable prices.

“Recall that between December 2020 and early months of 2021, the government through its various schemes, inaugurated the gas expansion programme which is tagged, ‘Decade of Gas’,” he stated.

He said the programme’s aim was not only to make LPG available to all Nigerian homes irrespective of income level but also to expand the use of gas for other purposes such as automobile and public/private electric generation.”

Umudu said, “It supposes that enabling infrastructure would have been in place before the inauguration but the events immediately after the inauguration prove the contrary.

“This is not equally good at this time when efforts should be at the top gear to expand the use of LPG in the country as a means of reducing environmental pollution, deforestation and desertification.”

The trial of Ngozi Olejeme, former chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), was stalled on Monday owing to the absence of the defendant.

According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Paul Erokoro, counsel to Olejeme, told the court that the former NSITF boss slumped at 6:30am on Monday.

Erokoro added that the defendant was subsequently rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.

In October 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Olejeme before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Jabi.

The former NSITF boss was arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of public funds and money laundering to the tune of N69 billion before Maryam Hassan Aliyu, the presiding judge

She had pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her.

In July 2020, a federal high court sitting in Abuja had ordered the interim forfeiture of 48 properties allegedly owned by Olejeme.

At the continuation of Olejeme’s trial on Monday, counsel to the former NSITF boss presented a letter informing the court about the development on his client’s health, and prayed for an adjournment.

Erokoro added that he could not present a medical report as the hospital was still reviewing her case.

Responding, Steve Odiase, the prosecution counsel, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

“My lord, they served us with a letter seeking for an adjournment based on the defendant’s ill health, and being the defendant’s first time absenting herself in the court and for the interest of justice, we are not opposing their application seeking adjournment,” Odiase was quoted as saying.

“Meanwhile, for record purposes, we came prepared with five witnesses in court, and all of them stood up for recognition.”

The matter was thereafter adjourned till April 13 for continuation of trial.

Two cleaners and workers of the attacked Abuja-Kaduna train identified as Loretta and Abdul have been confirmed dead, SaharaReporters learnt.

SaharaReporters learnt that some security personnel and passengers have also been confirmed dead but their names have yet to be released.

A lot passengers were also injured or abducted, it was learnt, it was gathered.
"Meanwhile, two dead bodies have been deposited at St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna while some persons are being treated for gunshot injuries," a source told SaharaReporters.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the terrorists who attacked the Nigerian Railway Corporation train from Abuja to Kaduna on Monday evening had abducted some of the stranded passengers.

SaharaReporters had obtained victims’ accounts which confirmed that some other persons were shot dead by the rampaging terrorists who operated for hours due to the absence of the Nigerian military and other security agencies.

“Some people have died, and the bandits kidnapped several persons,” a woman on the train confirmed to SaharaReporters.
“The army hasn’t been able to secure the area but people are running towards them in a staging area,” another source added.

In a Facebook post, another passenger, Anas Danmusa, said, “Please this is an emergency. We are inside the train at the moment.

Kidnappers planted explosives and the train engines have been ruined. We are helpless. Abuja to Kaduna train; gunshots still being fired around us. We are just under the seats praying to God while waiting for help. Since 8pm we have been here/ between Katari to Rijana; I am a living witness.”
He later added, “We are safe now.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the NRC could not yet reach its driver nor its engineers onboard the ill-fated train, adding to the anxiety of the already distressed passengers.
“The management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation claims they haven’t been able to speak with the train engineers and the driver.

The train was travelling to Kaduna and was already 45 minutes from Rigasa Police Station.
“Even though the Nigeria Army states they’ve arrived and secured the trains and passengers, the management still hasn’t been able to touch base with the crew. They are not sure if military secured or not.

“They are on standby to send another coach from Abuja. The train tracks were bombed and the train was derailed. The terrorists derailed the whole train,” one of the sources explained.
SaharaReporters also reported that the attack was still ongoing as of 9.42pm press time, while security agencies had yet to deploy to the scene.

One of the passengers who confirmed the incident in a telephone call said the attackers had surrounded the train and were shooting sporadically.

“All the passengers are currently lying on the floor of the train. The bandits are shooting sporadically. We are in serious danger,” said one of the panic-stricken passengers.
There are at least 970 passengers onboard the train, according to official sources familiar with the train service.

By Muideen Olaniyi
Senate President Ahmed Lawan has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be able to produce a ‘Unity List’ as a product of consensus ahead of Saturday’s convention.

He said this Thursday while fielding questions from State House reporters after President Muhammadu Buhari held a meeting with the National Assembly APC Caucus at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Lawan said the North East had already reached a consensus and agreed on positions zoned to various states in the region.

Asked whether the party had arrived at consensus across board since the President, the governors and the National Assembly were talking about the matter and what would happen to those that had purchased the forms, he said: “I think that question should not be put to us because we’re not the party. But because we are asked and we are in your territory we’ll make some effort to say something to it. The essence of this engagement is for the party to achieve consensus, and consensus is a process. It doesn’t just happen like that.


“So, I believe that before we go into the convention square on Saturday, by the grace of God, we would have a lot of consensus reached and maybe the sort of document that we call or refer to as unity list that is bringing all the agreed positions where consensus have been achieved in the various sections or geopolitical zones of the country.

“Only yesterday we had a meeting of the Northeast, and we have achieved consensus, and other zones are either about to conclude or will conclude before the end of tomorrow, Friday. But by Saturday, I think the answers will all be there for everybody to see.

“So, on the issue of why allow other people to buy forms. I think democracy does not prevent anybody from buying forms, what democracy does is to provide opportunity for everyone having some guiding principles. If a position is zoned until a consensus is reached, everybody who thinks he or she has something to offer can go and buy the form and also throw his or her hat into the ring.”

The senate president said the APC with 22 governors and control of the federal government needed to remain “very focused, energetic, and purposeful as it has always been, and ensure that we maintain the trajectory of development for our country. Because that is trust Nigerians gave us in 2015 and renewed that, in 2019.”


He expressed the commitment of the APC caucus in the National Assembly to ensure that the political party did not only have a successful convention but a very successful, peaceful and safe electioneering campaign during 2022/2023 general elections.

“By the grace of God, we’ll see Nigerians voting once again, for APC, because we have so far done so much in the areas that matter for the people of this country.

“But that is not to say that we are not facing some challenges we are, but we are squaring up to ensure that we deal with those challenges,” he added.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners, Kyiv announced on Thursday, in what it said was the first swap of soldiers since Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine one month ago.

“Following an order from President Volodymyr Zelensky, the first fully-fledged exchange of prisoners of war has taken place,” Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook.

“In exchange for 10 captured occupiers we rescued 10 of our servicemen,” she said, referring to Russian and Ukrainian troops.

Vereshchuk also said that 11 Russian civilian seamen rescued near the Black Sea port city of Odessa were exchanged for 19 Ukrainian civilian ship crew members held by Moscow.

Russia’s foreign ministry said earlier this week that Moscow had completed two prisoner swaps since it launched its invasion of Ukraine late last month.

On Monday, Russia’s human rights ombudsman, Tatiana Moskalkova, said that nine Russian prisoners were exchanged for the mayor of Melitopol, a city in southeastern Ukraine captured by the Russian army.

Vereshchuk on Wednesday confirmed the Melitopol swap but denied any others had taken place.

The Nigerian police authorities have launched an operation to clampdown on officers planning to embark on industrial actions on Saturday.

Some policemen had last week said they would embark on the warning strike to protest poor working conditions, poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare benefits and outdated weapons.

A protest tagged “We are tired of negligence” is also scheduled to be held at the Eagles Square in Abuja to reiterate their demands to the Nigerian government.

The officers condemned the continuous killing of their colleagues by armed robbers and terrorists, without adequate compensation for their families.

They accused the Nigerian government of lying about the increment of police salary and other promised benefits and demanded improved conditions of service, particularly salary increase and provision of modern weapons as they tackle the security challenges facing the country.

Reacting, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, warned the officers against such action.

According to Baba, a strike action by a lead security agency such as the police was tantamount to mutiny.

However, the policemen insisted that there was no going back on the planned industrial action.

A police signal exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday showed that one Inspector Adebimpe Olorundare had been arrested as one of the leaders of the aggrieved officers.

Police source said Olorundare’s WhatsApp had also been diagnosed and more arrests would be made soon.


“IN LINE WITH YIUR VERBAL DIRECTIVE REGARDING TRACKING ANALYSIS O/C SIB MINE X ARRESTED AP/NO 252426 INSPECTOR ADEBIMPE OLORUNDARE ‘M’ ATTACHED TO BOMBPOL BASE 14 JOS MINE WITH GSM NO 080607153** AND PRESENTLY ON HIS WAY TO FHQ ABUJA X WITH THE SUSPECT AS DIRECTED X ABOVE FOR YOUR INFORMATION FOR FURTHER DIRECTIVE X PLEASE XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX,” the signal read.

There are fears that several mobile policemen might have been killed late on Tuesday evening after terrorists, otherwise known as bandits, attacked a security checkpoint in Katsina State.

SaharaReporters gathered that the incident happened along Sheme- Kankara road in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state around 11pm.

Some residents were said to have been killed from stray bullets as the policemen engaged the terrorist numbering over 300 in a fierce battle.

The gunmen also abducted a yet-to-be ascertained number of people.

Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.

Over 700 people have been reportedly killed by the gunmen in Jibia, Kankara, Dutsinma, Musawa, Danmusa and Safana local government areas of the state in the last five months.

On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. They were released about a week later.

Also on December 19, 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area of the state were abducted but rescued shortly after.

There was frustration, chaos and show of muscular force on Tuesday night at the Katsina State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro Abuja, as the All Progressives Congress screened aspirants vying for various positions in the party’s National Working Committee.

Our correspondent who was on the ground observed that the several deputy national chairman, national women leader and deputy national women leader, national treasurer hopefuls were shut out of the premises even as new arrivals struggled in vain to brute-force their way in.

There was also a heavy security presence as chairmanship aspirants such as Tanko Al-Makura and Sani Musa barely made it through the crowd.

Other aspirants and their aides were seen communicating with security agents through the fence to identify themselves (by showing their nomination forms) so as to be granted access to the premises.

They were later instructed to join a queue before being marched in.

Also present were several supporters wielding placards with the picture of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’Aziz Yari, and branded T-Shirts chanting the names of their favourite candidates.

Speaking to our correspondent, an aspirant from the South-East, who identified himself as Dozie Ikedife, lamented the state of affairs at the gate.


He said, “I am a zonal aspirant but I have been told that ours will be tomorrow morning at 10am.”

Our correspondent also learned that tonight, only aspirants to the office of the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (all zones), and National Secretary will be screened.

Tuesday’s drama followed an invitation by the APC 2022 National Convention Screening Sub-Committee on Monday.

The invitation called on all aspirants vying for party offices at the national and zonal levels to its screening slated for 10pm.

According to a notice signed by the Secretary of the Screening Committee, Emmanuel Otagburuagu, the aspirants will be screened in two batches at the Katsina State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Although the forms were pegged at high costs, The PUNCH gathered that an aspirant can be disqualified and without a refund if he is found wanting by the screening committee.

The seven chairmanship aspirants, who have purchased forms and are expected to be screened, are Niger-East lawmaker, Senator Sani Musa; a former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura; a former governor of Benue State, George Akume; an ex-governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari; another former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu; Saliu Mustapha and Mohammed Etsu.

At the time of filing this report, only two chairmanship aspirants, Al-Makura and Musa, had arrived.