₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government is lodging a formal complaint to the NPAN Ombudsman on this irresponsible reporting from @daily_trust .

In addition, the Federal Government will use every lawful means to seek redress in the court of law. - @HMMohammedIdris

While respecting the freedom of speech and expression of all citizens and the fourth estate, the FG will make an official report against @daily_trust to the Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria and use the court to seek redress against the misinformation and fake news of @daily_trust - @HMMohammedIdris

Remarks by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the National Press Centre, Abuja.

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained an open arm relationship with the media. It is in line with the philosophy of the President as an avowed democrat who spent a lifetime fighting for the entrenchment of democracy and human rights.

This administration has remained very tolerant of media criticism and guaranteed citizens' rights to freedom of expression. It is however disheartening that some elements are abusing this free environment guaranteed by the Government. We are alarmed by the level of reckless reporting and statements by some media organisations and individuals that border on national security and stability.

While we sometimes view and treat those occasional reporting as part of media's normal work, we have now seen a pattern that is difficult to be wished away as normal journalism.

The insidious and inciting publications by the Daily Trust these past months have come across as nothing but a deliberate effort to brush the government with a tar. On many occasions we have restrained ourselves from believing that this was the case but the consistency of the jejune and mischievous publications leaves us with no option.

In the aftermath of the coup in Niger Republic, Daily Trust championed a jaundiced narrative that the Federal Government was driving the country into a war and twisted it with regional sentiment to cause disaffection. The same newspaper gave a banner headline to a baseless accusation that the Government was working on citing foreign military bases in the country. Neither Daily Trust nor originators of that imaginative allegation provided any shred of evidence.

Then just two weeks ago, Daily Trust concocted and popularised a lie that the Federal Government had renamed the Murtala Mohammed Expressway in Abuja to Wole Soyinka Way. In all those instances all that the paper depended on were falsehood and hearsays. They also showed no remorse or the humility to recant.

We however did not envisage that Daily Trust and people behind it could decend to the reckless level of attempting to set the country on fire by falsely accusing the government of signing a deal to promote LGBTQ. We found that despicable and wicked because the allegation is nowhere in the document signed. Surprisingly, the paper put forward no evidence nor provided the agreement allegedly signed to prove their point.

The baseless and sensational story unfortunately formed a basis for khutba (sermons) by some of our respected imams who were misled by the story thereby raising tempers.

On the part of the Government, we continue on the honourable path of civility by restraining ourselves from taking self-help or draconian measures. While past governments clamped down on the media for infractions much lower than this, we are however toeing the path of civility and the rule of law.

This afternoon, I have the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning to provide more clarity on this issue.

But beyond this, the Federal Government is lodging a formal complaint to the NPAN Ombudsman on this irresponsible reporting.

In addition, the Federal Government will use every lawful means to seek redress in the court of law.

The Federal Government once again restates its friendly policy towards ethical media and free speech. We would however not take fake news and disinformation that would injure the peace of our country and it's national security lightly.

We once again thank you for your support and cooperation.

Iamgrey5:
Alimstu is the best defensive midfilder we have in the falcons.

Replacing a Trojan Like Halimatu Ayinde Will Be Tough

✅️Rock Solid at the Midfield

✅️Utility player we can rely on to add dynamism to our style of play.

✅️Easily adaptable and built to last.

✅️Engine room of our midfield

✅️Strong, Tough, Rugged, Dogged, Agile, Razor-Sharp Recovery Rate

✅️Plays a unique style of football and understands the detailing.

✅️Enviable skills honed over the years.

✅️Invaluable experience

✅️200m+ Nigerians will sorely miss the woman of steel.

We wish our Midfield Maestro soonest recovery.💚🤍💚

It is with a heavy heart that I announce I will not be part of the Super Falcons squad participating in the upcoming France 2024 Olympics due to a knee injury sustained during practice yesterday . While it deeply saddens me to miss this prestigious tournament, I am incredibly grateful for the love and support I have received from my club, FC Rosengård, and my teammates, which ensured that my operation was a success.

To my fellow Super Falcons, I wish you the best of luck as you represent Nigeria on the global stage. Your hard work and passion will undoubtedly shine through, and I have complete faith in your abilities to achieve great success. I will be cheering for you every step of the way and will be back soon, stronger than ever. 💪

Go Super Falcons!

Beremx:
you couldn't decipher the "allegedly ' narrative I said? And where did I say you mention IPOB? I wasn't even referring to you but the police who arrested the kidnappers. And why do you always robe me with IPOB whenever I bring up the matter?

Beremx:
the controversy is that the kidnappers are alleged IPOB members since the kidnappers are from the SE. That's the narrative they want to push for Lagosians to believe.

What else could be the narrative?

Farouktech:
What's the ned for this post if you won't tell us what he said. We are waiting

Papa Ajao, Mushin, Undersiege, sporadic gunshots everywhere
@PoliceNG @rrslagos767 @PoliceNG_CRU @lagostraffic961

Heavy gunshots just reported in Papa ajao area in mushin. @BenHundeyin @rrslagos767

Have no fear. It's the police.

No be lie oooo.... the gunshots was around ojekunle off ladipo street, siren 🚨 still blazing now

Who get video

Who wan record video but this morning I heard it was kidnapping but sars was able to killed 7 of the kidnappers

Beremx:
the controversy is that the kidnappers are alleged IPOB members since the kidnappers are from the SE. That's the narrative they want to push for Lagosians to believe.

What else could be the narrative?

Poiniyisworld:
Oga, that is your belief....Leave me with my belief as I don't trust the NP....

Poiniyisworld:
Congratulations to the Nigerian police

Although I am finding this news funny sha. Out of eleven kidnappers, nine neutralised and two escaped.

They were so sure they were kidnappers and not armed robbers or even smugglers ...okay I forgot since the dead don't speak, their parrot briefed them earlier... . I don't trust them o jare... Just me with my feelings.

@BenHundeyin please can you give us an update on the sporadic shooting that happened last night at mushin?

Up Area D
Up Mushin Division
Up Lagos Command
Ahead ahead for Nigeria police
No peace for the wicked mop them all

One of them sold them out. He apparently works for the man they wanted to kidnap. Reason why the police was able to intercept them. E be like feem 😹

This narrative has EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLING written all over it.

I hope I am wrong.

Kudos!

Monitoring for 8 months.

They were eleven suspected kidnappers.

And you aimed to neutralise all eleven of them?

In the series of:
"If Nigeria is explained to anyone and you understand it then you have willing accepted insanity sown in you"

They also aimed to kill all of us. We only had superior firepower. We still have bullet holes on our operational vehicle.

But I can guess why you’re sympathetic towards notorious kidnappers.

So they don't have names

Sorry, they didn’t allow us question them. They just started shooting at us. And after searching them, the only identity we saw on them were sophisticated arms and ammunition. That suffices for us.

If they had successfully kidnapped that man in Mushin, we would’ve dragged and insulted the Police for days. Now, they managed to foil the kidnap and neutralise majority of the Kidnappers, you people have the effrontery to ask them why did they kill them?

What would you have them do? Wave back at the kidnappers as they were shooting at the Police officers?

PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY THE LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND ON FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2024 AT THE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, IKEJA

Gentlemen of the press, it is our delight to inform Lagosians that the Lagos State Police Command under the stewardship of CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni recorded a major breakthrough yesterday, Thursday, July 4, 2024. Our intelligence gathering assets yielded very credible and actionable intelligence about a dangerous and very notorious gang of kidnappers planning to kidnap some high net-worth individuals in Lagos.

Upon receipt of this intelligence about two weeks ago, CP Fayoade directed the Command’s tactical teams to commence work on it. They followed up closely, monitored dutifully and were able to determine that the gang was going to strike yesterday in Ladipo area of Lagos State. With the benefit of this information, we were able to proactively prepare for them and more or less laid an ambush for them.

The kidnappers who were caught unawares would not give up easily as they engaged the police officers in a shoot-out. They of course bowed to the superior fire power of the police. Nine of them were neutralized while two escaped with gunshot injuries. Four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, one POS machine and a loud speaker were recovered from them. Also recovered are their two operational vehicles: one black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350. Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

It is worthy of note that the Command had been on the trail of this gang for the past eight months for their numerous kidnapping of wealthy individuals in Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo and Ladipo areas of Lagos State. We are proud to declare that their reign of terror has effectively come to an end.

This breakthrough is in addition to several other breakthroughs we have made in recent times in identifying and apprehending gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers while planning their crimes. Many of these were not made public so as to protect the identity of members of the public that made the information available.

We urge everyone including medical practitioners to be on the lookout for anyone with gunshot injuries and promptly inform the nearest police station or call any of our emergency numbers if they come across any. We also use this medium to call on other well meaning Lagosians not to hesitate in giving us information when they suspect anything amiss around them to enable us act appropriately and swiftly. On our part, we promise to continue to prioritize their safety and security.

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, anipr, mipra
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State Command,
Ikeja.

July 5, 2024.

Stevosty:
Are you saying those men on uniform are not trained combat ready soldiers but religion and their job is to offer chaplaincy services to the combat soldiers?

AndroBlaze:
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Thank you Naptu2 for these rivetting excerpts.