₦airaland Forum

"Yesterday, in the company of other leaders of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) @OfficialAPCNg, I visited the President-elect, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, as we shared good ideas on the task ahead.

"It would interest Nigerians to know that Mr. President-elect has already begun the process of perfecting "Renewed Hope" policies and reforms aimed at repositioning the nation within the first 100th days in office.

"As I have always sought for, the support of Nigerians in this project of nation building, is key to the progress we desire and I implore all to support the President-elect in this regard.

- Hope Uzodimma"

“Dear brother and friend.. Our hearts are heavy with grief as we remember how your life was taken without a tomorrow, leaving a wound that will never fully mend. Your smile once bright, now forever gone.

"Your laughter silenced in a tragic fate. Our memories together as a family in the Xplicits Crew is now a painful song. As we struggle to come to terms with this weight but still we glory in God for a life well spent and that heaven gained an angel.

"You were a man of honour, courage, and grace. A true friend to all who knew you well. This loss has left a void that time can never fully quell. For the dreams and plans you had in store...we refuse to question the all knowing God.

"And though you may be gone, my friend. Your memory will live on forever. Just know That you will always be loved and missed. We will cherish the memories we have in tow. And hold them close with a love that persists. You were a soul so full of life and love. A kind heart and a gentle spirit, now above. You did not deserve to die in such a way. To have your life cut short by those who betray.

"The very essence of humanity and peace. Your memory will live on as a beacon of hope
In a world that desperately needs to cope. Rest in peace, dear Precious and know. That you will always be loved and missed.
Your memory will forever glow. In the hearts of those you have impacted. Rest on Mr. Precious Orogun."

A middle-aged woman, known as Mama Dada, reportedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze in her rented apartment located at the Oke-Keesi, Itoko area of Abeokuta, Ogun state, IGBERETV has learnt.

According to report, the incident occured by 2pm on Saturday afternoon, 18th February 2023.

Speaking to newsmen, an eyewitness and a resident of the area, Bolanle, said that the woman killed herself after she was unable to pay back a loan she took from LAPO.

"I was told that she obtained the loan running into N70,000.” she said.

The secretary of the Community Development Association in the area, Ade Babawale, alleged that that the deceased was owing the bank.

"She is owing the ‘Gbomu le lantern’ the sum of N70,000, because she was unable to meet up with the payment she then sent her last born to buy fuel and also use style to discharge the small boy and she locks herself up inside the room and wet everywhere with petrol including herself and set the whole place on fire.” he said.

Her corpse has been deposited at the state General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta.

Gunmen killed one person at the campaign venue of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Isielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, IGBERETV reports.

According to report, the incident occurred on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Ezzagu Ward 1, when the Ebonyi Central senatorial candidate of the party, Kenneth Eze, visited for campaign.

An indigene of the area, Mr Benjamin Nworie, whose wife escaped death during the attack narrated how the gunmen stormed the campaign ground and opened fire on party faithfuls.

Nworie who is also the Vice Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Ebonyi chapter said the campaign ended successfully. He said that while the supporters were waiting to depart to their various destinations, the gunmen invaded the venue and started shooting sporadically.

“It was around 5:30pm on Saturday, February, that I received a distressed call from my wife, Eunice, that she was in trouble. Her emotions were high and palpitating profusely,” he said.

“She narrated to me that she was calling me from a bush where she scampered for safety, which I sent a rescue team from my nearby village. She was unhurt,”

Nworie narrated that his wife was conveyed to the venue by the National president of Ogboji General Assembly, John Anyalagu; his wife and younger brother, Emeka Nwusulor.

“Unfortunately, why they were standing by the roadside for John to drive out his car for them to return back to Abakaliki, the hoodlums invaded and killed Emeka who was standing-by,” he said.

Nworie said the hoodlums also burnt a Hiace Bus and one ash-coloured Vehicle before zooming off.

‘’It will never be well with you all. The country is scattered. So you guys have started printing money. Don't worry. Me too I will start buy machine that will be used to print money. I went for a show in Sagamu yesterday. They did not spray original money. See the money they sprayed Super star. I don't know this one o. They have started printing moiney in their house. The government caused this. Uncle Buhari where are you? See what you caused.''

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 25, despite the naira scarcity and protests across the country, IGBERETV reports.

Speaking on the recent crisis in the country, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the commission is working closely with the CBN and security agencies.

Yakubu said;

“The Central Bank has assured us that we will not suffer any encumbrances in that regard, no there are no issues with respect to that.

“On what is happening around the country – the protests – is a security matter and security agencies have assured and reassured us that they will secure the environment for elections to hold peacefully nationwide. So we have no issues in that respect.”

Nigerian actor, Alexx Ekubo has said he is not interested in anything that will lead to his wedding, IGBERETV reports.

He said this after his relationship with his ex-fianceé, Fancy Acholonu came to an end. It could be recalled that Fancy publicly called off their wedding and subsequently said that she and the actor did not have sexual relations for five years.

Reacting to a post of a lady who jokingly said she cannot wait to wed him, Alexx stated that he has since “logged out from anything that will lead to wedding.”

Zazu crooner, Portable, has expressed his excitement as his music colleague, Tiwa Savage, replied to his chat on Instagram, IGBERETV reports.

Taking to his Instagram story on Sunday night, Portable shared his private chat with Tiwa Savage.

He hailed Savage for responding to his DM saying, “Mama Ika of Africa don show love. Wahala wahala wahala. Who go help you no go stress you.”

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has reacted to the trending video of an Abuja pastor carrying an AK-47 rifle while preaching in his church on Sunday, February 12, IGBERETV reports.

A video of the clergyman Pastor Uche Aigbe who is the presiding pastor of House on The Rock Abuja, carrying an AK-47 while preaching got people talking on social media. Some of his church members who came to his defense said he bore the arms just for illustration purposes. They said the weapon was not loaded and that no one in the church was scared.

Some Nigerians kicked against it saying for whatever reasons he had, it is illegal for him to carry a weapon.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Adejobi said the video has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for the FCT. He stated that the clergyman will have a case to answer as no one is authorized to bear arms except an officer of the law.

The Gombe State Police Command has arrested a tricycle operator Sani Abdullahi, for stealing passengers’ goods, IGBERETV reports.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, February 12, 2023, said the suspect specializes in zooming off with passengers’ goods after they alight from his tricycle.

“On the 7th February, 2023 at about 5pm the Operation Hattara which is an operational outfit under the police force Gombe State command have intercepted a suspect named Sani Abdullahi of 28years, a resident of Anguwa 3 quarters who is a tricycle operator popularly known as Keke Napep,” the statement read.

“On the said Date Insp. Hamza Muhammad attached to 34 PMF Gombe boarded a tricycle with his wife from the Gombe main market to Yalan- guruza quarters gombe alongside the goods purchased from the market valued fifty thousand naira N50,000.

“The husband dropped along Bank road leaving his wife to complete the journey to their resident, on arrival, the wife alighted with her child and before she remove the food items, the suspect zoomed off with the items to an unknown destination.

“Unfortunately for the suspect the husband took a grap of his means of identification before he dropped and reported the case to the Police (Operation Hattara).

“Similarly on the 09/02/2023 the suspect repeated same act on one of his customer who boarded the tricycle with 3 bags of charcoal leaving her helpless at Nayinawa quarters which lead to his arrest by the tricycle riders association of Gombe, and immediately handed over to Operation Hattara who gave out his details to the association in connection to the first case.

“The receiver of the stolen items who bought the items for N4000 naira was also arrested for an offence of receiving stolen property. The suspects have confessed to have committed the offence, exhibit were recovered and case will be charge to court for prosecution.”

"Lord I submit.....Rest with the Lord my son Longji Le'an. Thank you for giving me the best 13 years of your life. Till we meet at Jesus feet", she wrote.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Paiko, Headquarters of Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, Mukhtar Abbas and four other policemen have been killed by bandits in Niger state, IGBERETV reports.

The police officers were killed in gun duel with bandits that attempted to attack some communities around Gurara Local Government Area on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday however said some of the bandits were neutralised. According to Abiodun, the Police has already sent a reinforcement team to the scene and recovered the bodies of the deceased personnel.

He said the command had condoled with the families of the affected personnel, before reassuring members of the public that the Command will not relent in the fight against banditry and other criminalities in the State.

"At about 1100hrs, information was received that armed bandits were sighted around Kwakuti-Dajigbe villages area of Lambata, in an attempt to attack some communities around Gurara LGA," he stated.

"Combined teams of police from Gawu-Babangida Div and Paiko Div, military, and vigilante members were drafted to the scene, the hoodlums were engaged in a gun duel and repelled with scores of them being neutralized, while others escaped with bullet injuries," he added.

In a related development, the PPRO said at about 3pm on Friday suspected armed bandits/insurgents attempted to attack the Chibani village market via Sarkin-Pawa, in Munya Local Government Area.

He said the Police tactical teams and vigilante members were mobilized to the market where the hoodlums were routed and successfully repelled without any havoc, though the situation caused some panic but normalcy was restored.

Meanwhile, a commercial driver who ply Minna-Abuja, Adamu Usman, told newsmen that bandits in their numbers blocked Minna-Abuja road around 10am on Saturday for several hours, forcing many travellers to return home.

"Yesterday in our parks in Minna and Jabi, Abuja, passengers were scarce because when people heard what happened, many people went back home. Before I could get passengers from Minna to Abuja yesterday, it was around 1pm. Our colleagues who were caught on road said bandits were in large numbers somewhere around Kwakuti with hundreds of cattle. So, they had to return to Minna and from there, many passengers postponed their journeys. I did not leave until I heard that they had crossed to the other side. If you had gone to Jabi park yesterday, you wouldn?t have seen many passengers going to Minna", he said.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has declared a 39-year-old man, Seun Samuel Ojukannaiye, wanted for receiving double salaries from both the Kogi State Hospital Management Board and Kogi State University, IGBERETV reports.

Spokesperson for the Commission, Azuka Ogugua, in a notice on Thursday, January 26, 2023, said Mr. Ojukannaiye was born on 19th April 1983 and is an indigene of Ekinrin-Adde, Ijumu LGA of Kogi State. His last known address is Hospital Quarters, Ogori, Kogi State.

"Anyone who has useful information about his whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices, or the nearest police station, or call ICPC Toll-Free lines: 0803-123-0280, 0803-123-0281, 0803-123-0282, 0705-699-0190, 0705-699-0191 and 0800-CALL-ICPC (0800-2255-4272)", the notice reads.

The Ogun State-owned Security Outfit codenamed So-Safe Corps has arrested a 19-year-old man, identified as Abiodun Elegbede for breaking into a church and two other houses at Ago Araromi Community, Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State, IGBERETV reports.

The suspect was arrested following a distress call received by the Corps for prompt intervention.

In a statement released, So-Safe's Commander in Ogun state, Soji Ganzallo, said that the Corps at about 2am on Thursday, 26th January, 2023 received a distress call requesting a prompt intervention following the incident.

"The suspect who was alleged of burglary at Ago Araromi Community, Ilaro,Yewa South Local Government Area was arrested after he burgled a Church and two different houses by the Ilaro Divisional Patrol Team led by the Divisional Officer SC Ojenride Wasiu.

The items found on the suspect are ;4 itel phones. And the suspect together with the exhibit had been transfered to the Nigeria Police, Ilaro Divisional Headquarter for further investigation and likely prosecution", he said.

The Federal High Court 4, in Sokoto State has sentenced a 17-year-old boy, Aliyu Ibrahim to one year imprisonment for sodomozing four minors.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in a statement on Wednesday, January 25, said Ibrahim was charged on six count charges for Rape (sodomy) of four male victims and sentenced to one year imprisonment without the option of fine.

He was arraigned on January 23, 2023 and convicted the same day by Justice Isah Muhammad Bargaja.

Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo described how politics in Nigeria affects Nigeria's development, IGBERETV reports.

Obasanjo in a keynote address tagged ‘Respecting the principles of democracy’ at the international conference on ‘Deepening democratic culture and institutions’, which was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, January 26, lamented that the political campaigns in Nigeria has been overtaken by insults, lies and selfish interest instead of addressing issues of national interest and progress. He also said that campaigns have been taken over by minions who have now built iron-rings around candidates at all levels.

The former President said;

“At the end of all the rigmarole, people get elected: they never believed in or shared a common platform, failed to carry Nigerians along, lacked a deep understanding of the trends and tendencies in the social and economic system.

“Everyone in this room, whether we admit it or not, is an expert in Nigerian politics. We all have opinions and we have prescriptions for all the problems of Nigeria. Yet, the country is not making progress. Most of us are experts in what we know little or nothing about and ignoramus in what is our duty and responsibility. We have tried all sorts of regimes, ideologies, planning strategies and personalities in power: the so-called new breed did not show that they were different.

“Equally, states run by professors, retired military officers and other professionals including teachers did not experience visible and substantial improvements. True, there have been some outstanding leaders at various levels of power but no tree has ever made a forest; the good ones are few and far in between and did not form critical mass. The lack of conversations across fault-lines and primordial proclivities mean that our leaders are unable to share ideas and have durable and sustained policies for long enough time. This prevents useful cooperation, collaboration, stability and sustainability. It means that whatever best practices are in one location remain there and may die there."

Obasanjo further said that the way Nigeria's democracy is practiced has deepened contradictions, negative coalitions, distrust, disloyalty and unpatriotic tendencies within and between communities and constituencies all over the country, while he lamented that Nigeria leaders are not showing clear capacities to provide a transformative leadership that unites Nigerians and contains ethnic, religious, regional and clannish, selfish, class proclivities.

Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Arepamowei Koru, for allegedly beating his 22-year-old lover, Toma Serve-god Angolo, to death in their apartment in Ogobiri community in Sagbama local government area on Tuesday, January 24, IGBERETV reports.

According to reports, the two lovers were said to be cohabiting in the man’s community before the tragic incident occurred. They were said to have had a minor misunderstanding and this degenerated into a fight. The suspect is alleged to have hit the victim on her body causing her to bleed.She was rushed to the hospital where she was confirmed dead.

The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect has been arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

"Gunned down by a hunter in the forest today at Nembe, Bayelsa state. A good meal." he captioned the post.

"Did You Know That Nembe LGA Has A Forest Reserve? This forest reserve is called the "Edumanom Forest Reserve" The reserve is along the Nembe/Ogbia road in Bayelsa state,"

"This forest is home to the world's biggest chimpanzee, sclater’s guenon amongst other important primate species. This reserve was the last known site for chimpanzees in the Niger Delta region. It also shelters the endemic Sclater's guenon, the red list species olive colobus and the Niger Delta red colobus and the Sclater's monkey.

"This area was proposed as a forest reserve by the then old Rivers State Govt but is now essentially being used and managed as community forest land.

"This forest is where hunters from Nembe annually kill Chimpanzee and other primate species. Most of these chimpanzees have been captured and butchered by local hunters in Nembe and they are at risk of going into extinction.

"But one good thing we failed to realize is that there is a lot to gain from "Ecotourism" if only our government can engage in conservation of these species for more research like Jane Goodall did with the mountain gorillas of Zaire.

"Kenya, as of today, is raking in millions of dollars through tourism by preserving their forest reserve. The country is ranked 7th largest economy in Africa and the 1st in East Africa because of ecotourism. Kenya has the largest ecotourism in Africa. Millions of people travelled to Kenya all over the world for tourism.

"Forest products are also capable of raking in cash to the economy of our state if we can stop illegal deforestation activities and create a huge economy through preservation of our forest. Look at our state, we can not even boast of a zoo that can attract visitors to our state. Why is it so difficult to conserve our rare wildlife and the ecosystem."

"The Government of Bayelsa State should matter to the occasion and temporarily put a stop to animal hunting in the Nembe Nature Reserve. I am very certain those hunted or captured chimpanzees are from the Nembe Forest Reseve, the "Edumanom Forest Reserve" located along the Nembe/Ogbia road in Bayelsa state as reported by Mr Ebi Dressman a few days ago.

It is established that the Edumanom Forest Reserve is home to the world biggest chimpanzees and other important primate species.

The nonchalant disposition of Government over the years to protect the habitat of Chimpanzees and other endangered animals is becoming increasingly worrisome especially to conservationists.

Unchecked, community folks and hunters from neighbouring states gain access into the marked area on daily basis to hunt and kill wild animals mostly for meat.

Now the Chimpanzees which are considered an endangered specie are constantly reducing in population due to continuous hunting in the area.

If Bayelsa State is thinking of better ways to enhance Internal revenue generation, then "Ecotourism" should be considered and exploited to the fullest for a developing state like ours.

The state stands to gain enormously if deliberate efforts are made to conserve her rare wildlife and unique ecosystem.

Bayelsa State is Blessed!"

A man who gave his name as Rasaq has been arrested with three human skulls, IGBERETV reports.

The police arrested Rasaq on January 16 during a stop-and-search operation.

During interrogation, Rasaq said he found the skulls in a gutter in the Ayobo axis of Lagos state and decided to take them for his personal use.

''My life has spoilt. My life has spoilt'', Rasaq said during the interrogation.

An eight-day holiday for schools has been declared by Borno State Ministry of Education ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, IGBERETV reports.

Director, Schools Management, Ministry of Education, Borno State, Mr Mustapha Umara, said the holiday would allow eligible staff and students to exercise their civic rights.

The letter titled, ‘Addendum to the school calendar 2022/2023 academic session’, read;

“I am directed to release an addendum to the 2022/2023 school calendar by declaring eight day holidays during the forthcoming 2023 general elections to enable staff and eligible students exercise their civic rights and allow for the usage of schools as collation centres.

“The eight days holiday is slated between Thursday, February 23 to Wednesday, March 1, 2023 for presidential and national assembly elections and Thursday March 9 to Wednesday March 15, 2023 for governorship and state Assembly elections.

“All schools are to strictly comply with this addendum. ”

"I was lost but now I’m found, O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this life and the next. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth. O Allah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay, and preserve me from the front and from behind and on my right and on my left and from above, and I take refuge with You lest I be swallowed up by the earth."

"Old things shall pass away and new things shall come our way. May Allah (SWT) continually do new things in our lives. I pray Allah (SWT) Light every path we follow, gives us the Wisdom & Guidance to every step we take, bless every decision we make, and make us excel in all aspect of life & grants us & our family Al-Jannah Firdausi. Ameen. Jumat Kareem."

"Out of the 74million youths eligible voters , 26million of them are students and they are all back in school, most of them registered during the ASUU strike .. it’s 10days remaining for collection @inecnigeria why are students still in school by now ?"

Properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed as fire gutted the Araromi spare parts market in Ibadan, Oyo State, IGBERETV reports.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday, January 14. About 45 shops were affected by the fire incident at the spare parts market, which is one of the major markets in Ibadan.

The fire started at about 2:00am and the state fire service succeeded in quenching it around 5 a.m.

General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Rev. Canon Yemi Akinyinka, blamed the fire on refuse burning.

He said: "Our men are at Araromi Market Agodi Gate since 2:30 a.m. where they are putting off the fire caused by indiscriminate refuse burning.

"The fire was suppressed at 5:00 a.m. Cooling down operation is ongoing to suppress re-ignition. On my way for on the spot assessment.

"I cannot say specifically the number of shops now, you know it is an emergency. It started in the night. About 45 shops."