You don’t want them to vote, you don’t want them near Power yet you don’t want them to have their beloved Nation BIAFRA.

What do Omo Ale Yorubas and Notherners want from Igbos.

It is time to pick one.

ODUDUWA REPUBLIC NOW/BIAFRA NOW

I got my 1st major Radio gig in Ebonyi state as a Corps member.

Infact a lot of the OAPs at the station (SaltFm) were Yoruba and the people loved us.

I'm not sure where this -ve tribalism talk is coming from but hey, I love & welcome Hausas, Igbos, Tivs etc

No fewer than 50 persons have been feared killed during a four-day attack by suspected herdsmen who invaded some communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the affected communities include Adam, Iyarinwa, Abamde Ityuluv, Waya Boagundu, Agura Ayaga and Azege areas in Turan Council Ward, Kwande LGA.

The immediate past Chairman of the LGA, Tertsua Yarkbewan, while speaking to journalists on the phone on Monday, said over 50 people were killed during the attacks by suspected herdsmen.

He said, “My people are being massacred like goats. What we have been hearing is that there are Fulani attacks, especially in Turan in the Kwande axis. Even places where there were no attacks before are witnessing attacks.

“Now, every day you hear that five or four people were killed, you cannot have the exact number of those that have been killed because some corpses are still in the bush and yet to be recovered. But looking at the number of people being killed in the past few days, I think the casualty figures should be over 50.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, when contacted, debunked the casualty figure.

She said, “They have not given me the report but it is not up to 50; the initial report they gave me there was a change of leadership of the division. The new DPO just reported last Friday and when I asked him to give me a situation report he said the area is calm now.”

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the APC, Hyacinth Alia, in a statement issued by one of his media aides, Isaac Uzaan, condemned the attacks on communities in Kwande and Gwer-West by suspected herders.

 He also expressed deep concern over the herdsmen invasion of communities in the state and the gruesome killing of citizens, adding that the situation had become a new normal in the state.

“The Benue APC governorship candidate faulted the resurgence of the brutal killings of Benue citizens, wondering why such was coming at the heels of the presidential and National Assembly elections that produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement said.

In his reaction, the acting Chairman of PDP in the state, Isaac Teryila, condemned the attacks that resulted in the loss of people’s lives, the destruction of property including farms and the consequent displacement of people from their lands in the state.

“Those attacks, if not halted by security forces, will further worsen the problem of low voters’ turnout at the coming governorship and state House of Assembly elections slated to hold on March 11, 2023, across the state.”

Celebration As Peter Obi Wins Bourdillon Polling Unit in Front of Tinubu’s House #NigeriaDecides2023

In Big Surprise, Peter Obi Surges Ahead Strongly in Lagos During #NigeriaElections2023

[/quote]EFCC Intercepts N32.4m Allegedly Meant for Vote-buying in Lagos

The massive operation by the EFCC to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow's presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends...

The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has implored all personnel of the Commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.

Tactical teams of operatives are currently on ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission

Details of the number are available on EFCC social media platforms.

Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store

They can also reach the Commission through our social media handle, @officialefcc or by email, info@efcc.gov.ng.

JUST IN: Sunday Igboho and other Yoruba nation agitation groups endorse Peter Obi. State will unify with an Obi Presidency. Video’s to follow.

My Dad is supporting Tinubu but I’ve already hidden his PVC where he can’t find it

This, according to the police, is in addition to the council secretariat and the station of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEBDC) torched in the attacks.

Daily Trust reports that the riot attributed to the naira scarcity had begun in front of the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, with some youths barricading roads and setting bonfire.

It later escalated to other parts of the metropolis as riotous youths burnt down banks, invaded council secretariat and carted away with mace.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, described the attack as criminal, senseless, evil, and barbaric.

Adejobi who tweeted via twitter handle said “Almost 10 banks were destroyed, IEDC station burnt, many places torched, why? It’s quite unfortunate that those who orchestrated the act won’t feel the heat, like the innocent, because the perpetrators have nothing.

“Those who instigated them to do so are clueless and will all be fished out. Anyway, many have been arrested, and they will be charged to court with Arson etc, while other perpetrators will be identified one by one, its a matter of time.”

Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, visited Sagamu for on-the-spot assessment of buildings and property affected by the unrest, with a declaration that the state government would go after those involved in the arson and wanton destruction of the public property.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the assessment tour of the affected areas, the governor described the level of destruction of properties as shocking and never seen in the history of the town.

He reiterated that despite the violence that broke out in the country as the result of the EndSARS protest two years ago, Ogun State was relatively peaceful, as it did not record any destructive protest or violence, wondering why such happened now.

He expressed thanks to God that no life was lost and to the people for remaining calm in the face of such provocation, assuring that the government would support those who are affected.

The governor further appealed to the people to go about their normal businesses peacefully, saying that adequate security would be provided by the law enforcement agencies

Close up photos of the APC Presidential campaign grand finale at the Teslim Balogun stadium today. All those yellow, green and red spots you saw in the video the APC shared are empty seats. See for yourselves. Tinubu is not coming.

There was drama in Lagos State on Tuesday after a commercial bank resorted to issuing bags of coins to customers as scarcity of the naira notes persists.

BBC Pidgin reports that an unnamed bank customer went to the commercial bank in Lagos to make withdrawal but rather than getting banknotes, the customer was given a sack bag filled with N2000 in coins in two places.

It was gathered that some commercial banks in the country decided to be issuing coins to customers as they did not have the new Naira notes while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had insisted that the old notes ceased to be a legal tender on February 10 as scheduled despite the Supreme Court’s interim injunction.

Nigerians have been subjected to terrible and excruciating poverty and difficulty with the Naira redesign and cashless policy as the scarcity of the new Naira notes have led to total cashlessness in the hands of the people leading to closure of businesses while many pupils and students no longer go to school because they do not have transport fare.

To make the matters worse, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had earlier promised that after the February 10 deadline for the old Naira notes, Nigerians can return all the old notes in their possession to their deposit banks, but the frustration has become worse as the CBN has made the process of returning the old notes more cumbersome with its requirements and the fact that people must return their old notes to the CBN alone.

The Lagos State Parks Management Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo has written to the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow his members to distribute sensitive electoral materials and transport election officials on Election Day.

This appeal is stated in a letter the union wrote to INEC in January 2023, which states that the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had been suspended and that INEC should disregard any relationship with them.

The letter reads: “The Lagos State Parks and Garages Management (LASPG) hereby write to bring to your notice that Lagos State and States such as Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and some States are no longer under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as transportation is concerned. But under the various States Parks and Garages respectively.

“Our notification and request letter become imperative in order for there not to be technical as well as administrative lacuna in terms of transporting logistics and deployment/retrieval of election materials and personnel to and from all election points in the aforementioned States during the forthcoming 2023 General Election which if not quickly addressed might affect the election day.

“We at Lagos State Parks and Garages, under the Chairmanship of Alhaji (Dr.) Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya do hereby request that INEC should conduct an investigation into this information supplied while at the same time request that all transportation related arrangements in Lagos State should be at our preview because the operation of NURTW in Lagos State has been suspended.”

In October 2018, MC Oluomo described himself as a loyalist of Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in an Instagram post. 

According to MC Oluomo, Tinubu owns him and the APC and whatever he (Tinubu) wants is what he (MC Oluomo) will support. 

He wrote on his Instagram page, “I am an Asiwaju Bola Ahmend Tinubu Jagaban loyalist, I wear the Jagaban jersey, I've been a loyalist since 1999, the first mecca i went is through his execellence in the year 2000, moreso, he as done alot for me, he made me who i am today our relationship has been was very cordial and strong in the area that I grew up in.

“So I'm one of his loyalist that have strong believe in him, he own the party and any where his interest belong I Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya Mc oloumo belong. I and my people in Oshodi formerly endorse HE Akinwunmi Ambode for 2nd term because his government is still working in the shadow of the party national leader, but now the case is vice-visa i have to follow the interest of Bola Ahmend Tinubu and the party decision.

If Asiwaju Bola Ahmend Tinubu again says is no more Babajide Sanwoolu but someone else, so shall it be.”

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters earlier reported on Thursday that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, warned INEC against using the Lagos State Parks Management Committee led by MC Oluomo for logistics during the February polls.

This was stated in a press release by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, met with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) on Tuesday and reached an agreement on how to transport election officials and ballot papers to polling units on the Election Day.

But Shaibu noted that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had banned the NURTW because the union's national leadership had suspended MC Oluomo, Tinubu's henchman in the state.

He stated, “It has been brought to our attention that INEC will be using members of the NURTW, RTEAN and other registered unions to transport election materials and electoral officials and corps members on election day. Unfortunately, in Lagos State, there is no NURTW or RTEAN as they have been proscribed by Governor Sanwo-Olu.”

“To preserve the sanctity of this election and ensure that there is no room for electoral malpractice, INEC must ensure that MC Oluomo is not allowed access to ballot papers. INEC should not make use of the state’s park committee.

Rather, the commission should reach out to the national leadership of the NURTW and or engage the services of any logistic company for the purpose of distributing sensitive electoral materials in Lagos State,” Shaibu said.

An interactive map published by Our World in Data has shown that Nigeria ranks 2nd among the top 10 countries of the world with the lowest life expectancy of 52.7 years.

 

According to the details of the map published by Daily Mail, all the top 10 countries with the shortest life expectancy are African countries with Chad ranking first with 52.5 years followed by Nigeria, Lesotho, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Somalia, Eswatini, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Mali with none of them above 60 years.

 

The report illustrates the huge divide in life expectancy globally and to arrive at its conclusion, it uses the most up-to-date figures from the United Nations Population Division which track how countries are developing.

 

According to the report, neither the UK nor the US made it into the top 30 countries of the world with the lowest life expectancy as the UK has a life expectancy of 80.7 years which puts it in 34th place while the US comes in far lower at 69th position with a life expectancy of 77.2 years.

 

Daily Mail reports that life expectancies have extended drastically across the world over the past few decades due to medical advances.

 

The top 10 countries of the world with the shortest life expectancy include: Chad - 52.5 years; Nigeria - 52.7 years; Lesotho - 53.1 years; Central African Republic - 53.9; South Sudan - 55 years; Somalia - 55.3 years; Eswatini - 57.1 years; Cote d-Ivoire - 58.6 years; Guinea - 58.9 years and Mali - 58.9 years.

 

While top 10 countries of the world with the longest life expectancy include: Monaco - 85.9 years; Hong Kong - 85.5 years; Macao - 85.4 years; Japan - 84.8 years; Australia - 84.5 years; Switzerland - 84 years; Malta - 83.8 years; South Korea - 83.7 years; Liechtenstein - 83.3 years and Norway - 83.2 years.

Hundreds of bandits stormed two communities in Birnin Gwari and killed scores of security personnel comprising of the civil defense, police, soldiers and members of the vigilante fours days ago and a security point on Sunday afternoon .

A resident of the area Abubakar Kakangi told newsmen on Monday that the affected communities are Kubau village and unguwan Zakara village.

According to Kakangi, the bandits have sealed an agreement with the locals, where they allowed the locals to farm.

However, the bandits usually passed through the villages to sell stolen cows which the security are not happy.

“Three weeks ago, the security killed a boy who was looking after their cattle. The bandits were not happy over the murder of the local boy, he declared.

“They attacked Funtua – Birnin Gwari road four days where they killed many security personnel . But that of yesterday (Sunday) one two vigilante, one mopol and one soldier were killed.

“Thus yesterday (Sunday) the bandits stormed Aka security checkpoint along Birnin-Gwari to Kakangi/Randagi road of Western part of Birnin-Gwari LGA

“The attack took place around 2:00pm. The bandits divided themselves into two groups and carried out the attack simultaneously at the two villages where they killed scores of security personnel including the Civil Defence Corps, police, vigilante and soldiers, Kakangi revealed.

As at the time of filing the there was no statement from the police, or security agencies or the state government

The abductors of a retired colonel, Rabiu Yandoto and his two children have demanded for N50million ransom for the release.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits had recently kidnapped the retired colonel and his two children along Gusau-Tsafe road in Zamfara State.

The retired colonel was said to be going back to his hometown together with his children, when they were ambushed by terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, and taken to the forest.

However, one of Yandoto’s relations told Punch that the bandits called him and demanded N50 million ransom.

He said that the money had been reduced to N5 million, following series of negotiations between the bandits and the family.

“They called me three days ago and told me that we should bring the sum of N50 million if we want Colonel Yandoto and his children to be released.

“But after negotiations, they said we should bring N5million. We thought he was dead because we suspected that he was abducted by assassins for political reasons.

“We are trying to gather the amount through donation from family and friends,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the state Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, said he was not aware of the money demanded by the bandits.

He said; “The state police command under the leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf is making frantic efforts to rescue col Yandoto and his children.

“I am not aware of the amount demanded by the bandits for the release of the retired Colonel.

“All I know is that the command, under the table leadership of CP Kolo Yusuf is doing its best to rescue him.”

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has expressed concern over the massive participation of young people in political rallies, saying that the majority of them were as a result of joblessness in the country.

Speaking during the RCCG January Holy Ghost Service on Friday, Adeboye accused political parties of hiring crowd to attend their rallies.

“I watched it on the news. If human beings promote you, oh, I don’t know whether I should say this. I’m sure you have been watching the campaign rallies. I watched it on the news. I don’t know if you have noticed that two different people don’t hold their campaign simultaneously in a town. Have you noticed that? You don’t know why? Because majority of the crowd, majority are rented. So I come, I pay, you gather. After I’ve gone, another man comes, he pays, you gather.”

He added, “Somebody said ‘Daddy, you keep on saying that you haven’t heard from God about who will win or who will…’ Maybe because there are several things occupying my mind and one of it is; when I see the crowd gathering and if you look at the crowd majority of them crowd are young. When I see the hundreds of thousands of youths, you have to be jobless to be attending all these rallies. What is going to happen when the campaigns are over?”

Members of the South-East outfit, Ebubeagu, have reportedly shot dead the chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Ibeme ward, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Comrade David Uche.

The officials, who stormed the Uche's family house with some personnel of the Nigerian Army, at about 7:30am on Wednesday shot him three times at the head and chest.

After killing him, they allegedly took his body to Federal Medical Centre mortuary Owerri (FMC) where they tagged him an “unknown gunman.” 

SaharaReporters reliably gathered that the assailants drove a Sienna and a Lexus 300 jeep.

An eyewitness who spoke to some journalists in Owerri, Imo State capital, said that residents believed that the assailants were hired by a man who came to settle a score with the him over N100,000 debt.

State Chairman of YPP, Victor Diala, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Owerri, condemned the unprovoked killing of the party chieftain.

Diala called on the Imo State Government and the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

 

He said: “It happened. The young man was shot right in front of his house. The funny thing is that they took his body to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri (FMC) where they tagged it ‘unknown gunman’.”

SaharaReporters’ efforts to speak with the Imo Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abattam, were unsuccessful as he could not answer his calls or respond to a text message.

 

Nigerian Police Force Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has explained why patrol vans used by police officers are usually dirty and scattered.

This explanation came as a response to a Twitter user who asked why the Hilux used by police officers are always scattered.

According to Adejobi, the number of hours the vans spend on the road for patrol, as they are always being used, is responsible for the state of the vehicles.

The Twitter user that goes by dat_Afikpo boi @sparoswagg in response to a photo tweet by Adejobi on new operational trucks, water canons, and Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, shared to commands and formations in preparation for the 2023 General Elections wrote: “Abeg wetin dey always skata the hilux wey dem dey give una?”


Adejobi in response tweeted: ”See, police patrol vans work 24 hrs. When u park ur car in the evening, that’s when another team on night duty will take over the same vehicle for night patrol. Operational vehicles can’t be that neat like private vehicles. Anything operational looks rugged.

“So, the rigour these vehicles pass thru make them look rough and dirty. Many of them ply bad roads, etc. However, we always encourage DPOs and HODs to try and put them in good shape.”

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigerian government has announced that it would hand over 613 rehabilitated “low-risk, repentant” terrorists to their state governments.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, made this known during the fifth stakeholders’ meeting of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), on Thursday in Abuja.

Irabor who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training and Operation, Maj Gen Adeyemi Yekini, said the 613 rehabilitated terrorists were currently undergoing deradicalisation and rehabilitation handled by the OPSC.

The military boss said that the meeting would exhaustively discuss the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) Programme ahead of the transfer of the rehabilitated clients to their state governments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Irabor said the OPSC was established by President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2015 as a window for willing and repentant terrorists to lay down their arms and undergo a structured DRR programme.

The CDS also noted that the scheme was a multi-agency and humanitarian operation utilising the expertise of over 17 services, ministries, departments and agencies, supported by local and international organisations and friendly nations.

He said that “It is also important to mention that upon graduation from the programme, each client will be provided some food and personal items, as well as a start-up pack according to the trade learnt during training to enable them set up small businesses and start a new life.”

Irabor therefore recommended that the receiving state governments should provide necessary support to enable the ex-combatants wade through the transitional and most challenging phase of their lives.

“We are optimistic that working closely with local and traditional authorities, the states can deploy security apparatus at their disposal to effectively track and evaluate the re-integrated ex- combatants.

“I must emphasise that it is critical for all stakeholders involved in the reintegration processes in order to mitigate, or completely eliminate incidences of recidivism,” the CDS said.
He added, “These sustained operations continue to put pressure and confusion within the ranks of the adversary causing many to surrender to the armed forces.

“As at today, over 83,000 insurgents and their family members have surrendered, while those captured have been tried and convicted to various jail terms by the law courts.

“As we speak, many more captured combatants are being held in several correctional facilities and their trial is ongoing.”

There was excitement on Wednesday morning as the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Father Ejike Mbaka, returned to Adoration ground in Enugu State.

SaharaReporters had reported that the fiery Catholic priest was transferred out of Adoration ministry after months of suspension.

The Catholic Bishop Enugu diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga, had on June 3, banned Fr Mbaka, from commenting on partisan politics.

Shortly after the initial ban was lifted Mbaka violated the political neutrality and went into verbal attack on Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, describing him as a “stingy man.”

Following outrage and condemnation that trailed the attack on Obi, the Bishop issued a pastoral injunction on attendance to Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu, and enjoined all Catholics to stop visiting the ministry till further notice.

The Bishop also advised Catholic faithfuls to also pray for Mbaka.

Onaga had said, "In the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu; capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry; and after having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated.

"And in fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.

"My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church," the bishop stated.

However, on Wednesday morning, hundreds of Mbaka's supporters trooped out on the road to welcome his return to Adoration.

SaharaReporters reports that Mbaka's supporters marched alongside a vehicle conveying him to Adoration Ground in Umuchigbo Nike caused serious traffic gridlock along old Emene - Abakaliki road.

The jubilant adorers as his supporters were fondly called were seen very excited as some were dancing along the road.

Pandemonium broke out yesterday at Second  Rainbow, on the Oshodi\Apapa expressway, Lagos, after some men suspected to be soldiers attacked some touts who inflicted injury on one of their colleagues.

This is just as a tanker loaded with petroleum products rammed into a commercial motorcyclist at Alaba bus stop on the same expressway, in the driver’s bid to avoid being extorted by touts.

There were different accounts as to how the trouble started between the soldier and the touts. A version of the account said the soldier was escorting a truck which was stopped by some touts on an extortion spree.

The soldier reportedly refused and was dragged out of the truck and gang beaten.

Another version of the account said  the  soldier in murfti was in a commercial bus heading towards Cele, when some touts popularly called agbero clustered round the vehicle, demanding for money.

He was said to have ordered the touts to leave the vehicle. When they refused, he reportedly  alighted from the bus to shove one of the touts away, only to be gang beaten by over ten touts.

One hour later, the injured soldier returned with his colleagues who descended on any tout in sight. They were still unleashing mayhem on the touts at 8pm.

Tanker crushes okada

Meanwhile , tragedy struck the same day on the same expressway  when a tanker laden with  33,000 litre of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol, overturned, crushing a commercial motorcyclist to death.

Eyewitness said  the incident happened  about 6.45 pm , as driver of the truck tried to evade being extorted by touts

The impact led to the tanker overturning and spilled its content in the process.

The deceased whose identity could not be determined as of press time was later recovered and taken to the mortuary.

Permanent Secretary, of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr.Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, said upon receipt of the report, the agency promptly dispatched a rescue team to the scene for the recovery operation.

According to Oke-Osanyitolu, “The agency responded to an incident at the above location in which a fuel-laden tanker overturned due to a collision between the tanker and a motorcycle.

“Unfortunately, the motorcycle rider was crushed to death underneath the tanker and its contents are spilling onto the road rendering the scene extremely hazardous to other motorists and passersby. Meanwhile, the agency worked in collaboration with men of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps, LNSC and the  Nigeria Police to secure the scene and carry out secondary incident containment measures while heavy duty equipment by LASEMA had been dispatched to remove from the road.

“Residents are urged to avoid any naked flame until the incident is contained,” Oke-Osanyitolu stated.

AGAIN, residents of Ajowa community in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday, raised the alarm over the unending criminal activities of herdsmen in their community.

It will be recalled that, last week, residents of three communities—Ijagba, Imoru, Arimogija, in Ose council area of the state, fled their communities to neighbouring towns and villages, over incessant attack by suspected herdsmen.

The traditional ruler of the town, the Oloso of Oso Ajowa, Oba Jimoh Omoola, was recently abducted and spent 10 days in captivity before regaining his freedom.

Other monarchs in the neighbouring communities in Akoko, contributed the ransom paid to his abductors before he was released.

However, the spokesperson of Ajowa community, Mr Jaco Adegoke, at a town hall meeting to discuss the activities of the herdsmen, narrated a bitter experience of residents in the last two years.

Adegoke said: “Our experiences in the hands of these criminals in the last two years are unimaginable.

“In the last two years, these criminals have killed, maimed, raped and kidnapped our people.

“Our people live in fear. Our farmers are afraid to go to the farm, for fear of being killed or kidnapped.

“Those who summoned the courage to go in a bid to feed their family members, go alone. They now sneak to and from the farm.

“Our wives and daughters do not follow us to the farm again for fear of being raped or killed by the herdsmen.”

Also, speaking at the meeting, the chairman of Ajowa community and a retired Anglican Bishop, Rev Ezekiel Dahunsi, lamented that anxiety reigns in the community following the activities of the criminals.

On his part, the recently released monarch, who spoke at the meeting, called for the establishment of a Divisional Police Headquarters at Ajowa to curtail the criminal activities of the bandits.

Oba Omoda said: “Military personnel should also be deployed to support security system in the community.”

We’re on top of situation—Ondo govt

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said that the government has been flushing out the herdsmen who attack communities in the state which shared borders with neighbouring states.

Dojumo, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “We are not relenting; we will continue to ensure the safety of our people in the border towns and communities. We shall continue to prevent these herdsmen from further encroachment from neighbouring states.”

Dubai has scrapped its 30 per cent alcohol tax in an attempt to make the city more attractive to foreigners, in the face of competition from neighbours.

The oil-rich state will also stop charging for personal alcohol licences - something anyone who intends to drink needs to carry, BBC News reports.

The oil-rich state will also stop charging for personal alcohol licences - something anyone who intends to drink needs to carry.

Dubai has been relaxing laws for some time, allowing the sale of alcohol in daylight during Ramadan and approving home delivery during the pandemic.

This latest move is thought to be an apparent bid to boost tourism.

The two companies which distribute alcohol in Dubai, Maritime and Mercantile International (MMI), and African & Eastern, said they would reflect the cut in tax for consumers.

"Since we began our operations in Dubai over 100 years ago, the emirate's approach has remained dynamic, sensitive and inclusive for all," MMI spokesman Tyrone Reid told AP.

"These recently updated regulations are instrumental to continue ensuring the safe and responsible purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Dubai and the UAE."

It is not clear if the move, which took effect on Sunday, will be permanent. The Financial Times described the move as a one-year trial, citing "industry executives informed of the decision".

Expatriates outnumber nationals by nine to one in Dubai, known as the Gulf's "party capital", and residents commonly drive to Umm al-Quwain and other emirates to buy alcohol in bulk.

Dubai has historically managed to attract more tourists and wealthy foreign workers than its neighbours, in part because of its tolerance of a more liberal lifestyle.

But now it faces increasing competition from rivals developing their hospitality and finance sectors.

Non-Muslims in Dubai must be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol and carry an alcohol licence - a plastic card issued by police.

While bars and nightclubs rarely ask to see the cards, those consuming alcohol without it can face fines or arrest.

THE apex body of the Yoruba self-determination struggle, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, on Thursday, announced that it would formally unveil Radio Ijangbara as the official broadcast radio of the struggle on January 1, 2023.

The announcement was contained in a statement jointly signed by the group’s Chairman and General Secretary, Wale Adeniran and Tunde Amusat, respectively.

According to the statement, the online radio will be broadcasting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

It said the radio would serve the interest of the Yoruba self-determination struggle within and outside Nigeria.Everyone can listen to the radio through its website, www.ijangbararadio.com, and the mobile application of the radio can be downloaded via Google play store.

“We are inviting all Yoruba self-determination activists to the launching and formal unveiling of Ijangbara Radio on January 1, 2023. This radio is being donated by Ilana Omo Oodua, being the apex body, to serve as the official broadcast radio of the Yoruba self-determination struggle,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the group has announced the appointment of an Ado-Ekiti-based medical doctor, Adebayo Orire, and a former Chairman of Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State, Alhaji Alli Oyedeji, as patrons.Both Orire and Oyedeji shall work with the worldwide executive council of Ilana Omo Oodua to ensure that its aims and objectives are actualised, impeccably,” the statement added.

Military airstrikes aimed at neutralizing bandits had mistakenly killed 11 soldiers and seven villagers with two soldiers and over 70 villagers sustaining various degrees of injuries in Malele and Mutungi communities of Zamfara State.

According to an eye witness, Nuhu Dansadau, the bandits had on Saturday invaded Malele community of Dansadau Emirate in Maru Local Government Area, with the youths in the village putting up resistance.

The bandits later reinforced and attacked the village in large numbers leading to the villagers sending SOS messages to military operatives in Dansadau who responded swiftly and engaged the outlaws in a shootout.

The bandits reportedly ran to the nearby village of Mutungi and sought cover in a market from where they exchanged fire with military operatives. Eyewitnesses who spoke to DAILY POSTclaimed most of the bandits were killed or injured.

Dansadau, however, said the bandits’ collaborators had informed them that soldiers were coming after them, leading to the bandits setting up an ambush for the soldiers which led to a protracted gun duel.

According to him: “When the tension became too much, the commanding officer of the army in Dansadau axis requested forthe support of the Nigeria Air Force. It was the air strikes that affected many villagers.”

About 67 villagers in the Mutungi community sustained various degrees of injuries with seven of the injured Dead-On-Arrival at the Ahmad Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, the state capital.

“For 11 soldiers and seven civilians to die and scores injured by airstrikes is very unfortunate, perplexing and embarrassing to the Nigerian military,” he lamented.

He also noted that 26 villagers were also seriously injured in Mutungi community, with 20 others receiving treatment at Dansadau General hospital at the time of filing this report.

When newsmen visited the Ahmad Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, some of the victims said it was a serious gun battle between the military and the bandits.

The victims claimed they were not injured by bandits or military operatives but rather sustained injuries during their struggle to escape.

Some of them spoke fearfully of a bandit kingpin popularly known as Damuna whom they claimed had kidnapped 225 persons in the nearby village of Randa, with 61 of the victims killed by guns while 50 others were slaughtered by knife and 10 subjected to serious tortures that killed them.

When contacted, the 207 Quick Response Command of the Nigeria Air Force was reluctant to answer questions. DAILY POST correspondent was directed to get in touch with the NAF headquarters.DAILY POST recalls that a large number of armed bandits on Saturday blocked the Dansadau road that connects many parts of the state, thereby preventing traders and farmers from carrying out their legitimate endeavours for several hours.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked Raka village of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State and burnt down many houses and food items before they made away with an undisclosed number of domestic animals.

DAILY POST gathered that a 120-year-old woman and five other community members were also killed by the marauders.

When contacted on phone, the district head of the area, Alhaji Sa’idu Wakili confirmed theattack, saying that although no one was kidnapped, the bandits burnt down two-thirds of the houses and food items and also rustled cattle.

He urged the federal and state governments to intensify more efforts toward solving the security challenges in the area.

The district head also called on wealthy individuals in the axis to formulate formidable means of protecting the lives and properties of the people in the area.

The acting chairman of Tangaza Local Government Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal Junju, accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Roads Maintenance, Engr. Mai Damma Tangaza visited the community and commiserated with thevillagers and also promised to forward his findings to the government for necessary assistance to the victims.

DAILY POST reports that there have been no official statements from either the state government or security agencies at the time of filing this report.

The Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has said that security would be adequately provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the planned distribution of the permanent voter’s cards, PVC, in the state.

Uzodimma, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, when he visited the Imo police command regarding the Police killing of three hoodlums who attacked INEC headquarters along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, in the early hours of Monday.

The governor linked the attack to politicians in the state, who swore to make Imo state ungovernable and to stop the election.According to Uzodimma, “You can see why INEC, is the target if you collaborate it with the past where I have continuously said that what is happening in the Imo state is politically inclined and that Imo state will be ungovernable and there will be no election in Imo state.

“However, Security agencies are prepared. INEC is prepared and there will be an election in Nigeria. I was told the majority of them who came on this journey are lying critically ill, some are neutralised and others fled with gunshot injuries. The police are ever committed. The other sister agencies are also committed to ensuring security in the state.”

“My assurance is that we will have a very beautiful environment for Christmas God’s willing. Because in everything we do on this earth the will of God must prevail. This is a holy week. The period our lord Jesus Christ was born. The anointing and blessings bring peace in Imo.

According to Uzodimma, “You can see why INEC, is the target if you collaborate it with the past where I have continuously said that what is happening in the Imo state is politically inclined and that Imo state will be ungovernable and there will be no election in Imo state.

“However, Security agencies are prepared. INEC is prepared and there will be an election in Nigeria. I was told the majority of them who came on this journey are lying critically ill, some are neutralised and others fled with gunshot injuries. The police are ever committed. The other sister agencies are also committed to ensuring security in the state.”

“My assurance is that we will have a very beautiful environment for Christmas God’s willing. Because in everything we do on this earth the will of God must prevail. This is a holy week. The period our lord Jesus Christ was born. The anointing and blessings bring peace in Imo.

Also, we urge our people to come out and collect their PVC, there will be security agencies from the ward, local government areas to the state level. It will be a fruitful exercise. Let us remind our people that the collection of voters card is key and the government in collaboration with the security agencies will do our best, Uzodimma said.

Terrorists in army uniform have stormed Kurutu community in the Kachia local government area of Kaduna State, killing six people.

The gunmen also injured seven residents and kidnapped over 12 victims including a nursing mother and her baby.

It was learnt that the bandits invaded Kurutu market during the weekend and operated for hours without being challenged by security officers.

The villagers were said to have reported the matter to the police and army, but that none of them showed up.

The village is located near Kateri, along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, one Birmorit Gombwer, disclosed that three members of a family were among those killed.

“If to say I know u will gone I for no go back to kaduna, I don't know who I go call if chizo is not with his phone but I can question God and I know you resting with the lord almighty

“Gogwim Martins will take from where you stop accept my condolences the family of Gogwim may the soul of ur son,ur father, and also brother rest in peace is hard for me to type rip,” she posted.

Many communities in Kaduna have been living at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, who have been killing, maiming and kidnapping residents with reckless abandon.

PDP G5 Bonded To Save Nigeria, Says Wike

You have lost Wike, Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi & now Bala Mohammed.

Instead of reaching out to them you send your butt-loving, rectum-sucking, skin-bleaching tout of a boyfriend to a town hall meeting to harass and insult Peter Obi.

Waziri, your world is falling apart!

This was announced on Twitter by the Commanding General. United States Army Cadet Command, Maj. Gen. Antonio V. Munera on Thursday morning.

“Congratulations to USACC’s newly promoted @dcg_armyrotc, Brig. Gen. Amanda Azubuike! Today, she received her 1st star from Gen. James Rainey, @armyfutures, during a ceremony with family, friends, & fellow community leaders, the US Army chief tweeted.

In the United States Armed Forces, a brigadier general is a one-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. A brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below a major general. The pay grade of a brigadier general is O-7.

Her profile, according to the US Army reads: Azubuike graduated from flight school as a UH-1 pilot in 1995. She began her military career as a platoon leader with the 924th Aviation Support Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia.

She then became the Flight Operations Officer and Platoon Leader for the Aviation Company, Multinational Force, and Observers in Sinai, Egypt. She served as an Operations Officer and RC-12 pilot with the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Exploitation) in South Korea after completing the Military Intelligence Captain's Career Course and Fixed Wing Multi-Engine Qualification Course.

After her assignment in South Korea, Colonel Azubuike was assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as the Commander of Alpha Company, Victory Brigade. After attending the Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Colonel Azubuike was assigned to the Coalition Forces Land Component Command in Kuwait from July 2005 through June 2006, where she served as a Public Affairs Operations Officer.

She was then assigned to the U.S. Army Central Command’s Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia. After attending, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Colonel Azubuike then served as the Chief of Media Relations and Public Affairs Operations Officer with the U.S. Army Central Command’s Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Although she was assigned to Fort McPherson, she spent much of the time in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

She attended Georgetown University earning a Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. She was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon in the Community Outreach Division. Following her attendance at the U.S. Army

War College, she was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as the Public Affairs Director, and deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, with the Division Headquarters.

After her promotion to Colonel, she was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters/Military District of Washington at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. as the Public Affairs Director, where she led the joint public affairs team that supported the 58th Presidential Inauguration.

Next, Colonel Azubuike served as the Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Doral, Florida. Later, she served as the Chief of Staff and Senior Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.

Her operational deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom include Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and Bagram, Afghanistan. She has earned the Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Parachutist Badge. Her awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.


.

Professor Banji Akintoye, leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, a secessionist group, has expressed confidence that the Yoruba people of Nigeria will have their own country by the end of 2022.

Akintoye, however, raised the alarm over the alleged invasion of some parts of South-West Nigeria by foreign terrorists.

Akintoye, who made this disclosure on Tuesday while addressing the Ilana Omo Oodua Congress in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, added that “foreign terrorists” have invaded the South-West region.

According to him, the “foreign terrorists that Fulani has brought are now in our territory”.

He described the Nigerian system as faulty, saying there is a need for the actualisation of the Yoruba Nation.

The popular historian expressed confidence that it would be achieved by the end of 2022, saying, “Before the end of December, we will have our own country.”

Akintoye urged Yoruba descendants to “demand change” and “improvement”, saying Nigeria is in serious danger.