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Ijaw National Council Debunks Claim That Its Youth Are Planning To Attack Military Locations In Niger Delta

March 24, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Contrary reports making the rounds that Ijaw Youths are planning coordinated attacks on Military Facilities and Locations across the Niger Delta Region the Leadership of the Ijaw National Council, INC, says it’s a complete fallacy.

The planned attack was discovered following an alleged intelligence report directing military formations in the region to be on high alert over the purported plan.

Benjamin Okaba, President of the INC, debunked the speculation, describing it as false and deliberately aimed at tarnishing the image of the Ijaw Nation.

In a Statement on Sunday, Okaba said there was no such plan or any reason or justification that warrants contemplating such devilish plan by the Ijaw Youth Council or any other organization in Ijaw land.

His words, “As the umbrella organisation of Ijaw people worldwide, our attention has been drawn to an orchestrated report aimed at pitching the Federal Government and military against the Ijaw nation.

“We have carried out diligent investigation and found out that the report is not only fake but a figment of the imagination of those who concocted and generated this delicate, devilish and unfortunate idea.

“The region needs peace, tranquility and development now more than ever and we are all united as Ijaw people in condemning the dastardly acts of the criminals who killed the officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

“We, however, wish to reiterate as in our earlier statements on this subject matter that the military should be more professional in fishing out the culprits.

More damages should not be inflicted on the innocent indigenes and that justice be tampered with mercy to the extent of exempting the innocent citizens of the affected communities in their reprisal operations.

“We also wish to use this opportunity to warn and advice members of the political class within and outside the region that they should not take their desperate politics beyond the level of decency.

“The originators of this evil and very dangerous plot are the true enemies of the Ijaw nation.”

Okaba called on all well meaning Nigerians, and particularly, the military authorities, “to disregard this fake and unfounded rumour and treat it as such.”

Tragic Death of University Students: Falana Holds Nasarawa State Officials Responsible, Cites Negligence

Akinwale Kasali

March 24, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate Of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has said that the death of the Students of Nasarawa State University in a stampede, was due to the negligence of the Nasarawa State Government.

Falana described the death of the students as unfortunate, noting that the authorities of the University failed to draw any lesson from the recent stampede which claimed the lives of seven persons during the distribution of 25kg bags of rice in Lagos by the Nigeria Customs Service.

It would be recalled that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nassarawa State had ordered the distribution of two 7.5 kg bags of rice and N5,000 to each student of the State University at Keffi. But the failure of the Officials to coordinate the process triggered a stampede which led to the death of four students last week.

Falana faulted the failure of the those in charge to properly organize the distribution exercise and the poor University Health Centre which was ill- equipped, and was unable to attend to the injured Students who were transferred to the Federal Medical Center, Keffi, where they lost their lives. Over 17 others were left with varying degrees of injuries arising from suffocation at the venue of the distribution of rice.

In a statement by Falana over the unfortunate incident, he said: “No doubt, the tragedy would have been averted if the University management had distributed the 7 kg bags of rice to the students through their departments.

“Indeed, there was no justification to have assembled thousands of students without a standby ambulance.

“As if that was not enough, the University Health Centre was not equipped to attend to the injured students. Hence, they were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi where two female students were certified dead.”

Falana, however, said, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the tragic incident, the Nassarawa State police command should be directed to investigate the allegations of criminal negligence which led to the unfortunate death of the two students.

He said: “The culprits should be prosecuted without delay. In view of the official statement that hoodlums hijacked the distribution exercise, the State Government and the University Management are required by law to compensate the bereaved families of the two students.”

NDLEA Launches Massive Raids In Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Seizes 44,948kg Drugs, 11 Vehicles, Busts Syndicates, Arrests Four Kingpins

The Source

March 24, 2024

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have launched massive raids across Lagos, Edo and Ondo.

The raids, according to a statement by Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, led to the seizure of over 44,948.1 kilograms (44.9 tonnes) of illicit drugs and arrests of eight suspects as well as the seizure of 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels.

While a total of 7, 687.8kg of cannabis was destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state with another 670kg evacuated, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, no less than 14,310.8625kg of same psychoactive substance was razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State on Tuesday 19th March, where five suspects including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45;

Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44, were arrested.

In another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest on Thursday 21st March, over 6,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36;

Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested. In the same vein, 5,000kg of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West LGA by NDLEA operatives with support from the military on Friday 22nd March.

In Lagos, a well-coordinated operation on Wednesday 20th March led to the seizure of 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.

The recovered vehicles include:

Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV.

In another raid at Ago Palace Way Area of the State on Friday, 22nd March, a suspect, Miracle Obi, was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection. Another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier on Tuesday 19th March nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

While 58kg cannabis was recovered at Jagindi village, Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State on Friday 22nd March, Abdulqadir Muhammad, 34, was arrested with 45 kilograms of same substance by NDLEA operatives along Kaduna- Zaria expressway.

In Borno state, Salisu Yusuf, 20, was nabbed with 30kg Arizona, a strain of cannabis at Njimtilo checkpoint on Saturday 23rd March, while another suspect, Rabiu Husseini, 27, was arrested with 34kg cannabis along Gwagwalada/Abuja highway on his way from Lagos to Katsina state on Wednesday 21st March. The following day, 22nd March, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gashua-Baymari road, Busari LGA, Yobe state arrested Haladu Hassan with 160 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg.

In Kano State, a syndicate dealing in cocaine and heroin was successfully dismantled with the arrest of 42-year-old Onyeka Uba at Sabon Gari area of Kano where 1.805 kilograms and 7grams of the illicit substances were recovered from him on Monday 18th March. Another suspect, Ubale Sani, 49, was also arrested with 51.5kg cannabis at Chiromawa area of Kano.

Operatives of a special operation unit of NDLEA also disrupted criminal activities of another cocaine syndicate in Abuja at the weekend with the arrest of three leaders of the group. While Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu, 41, and Okoro Chigozie Christian, 35, were arrested.

On Friday 22nd March at Paint House Hotel, Umar Garba Benna Street, 21 Road, First Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja with 718 grams of cocaine, a follow up operation at the residence of Okoro Chigozie at House 30, 69B Road 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, led to the recovery of 19 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 9.823kg and monetary exhibits: N545,500 and $250, as well as property documents. Two vehicles: Toyota Camry 2007 marked BWR 94 BM and Toyota Camry 2012 marked RBC 154 BS were also recovered from them.

Another follow up operation to the residence of Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu at 49 Mercy Orjiakor street, Becky Estate 11, Karu, Nasarawa state on Saturday 23rd March also led to the recovery of various quantities of Arizona and methamphetamine while his girlfriend and accomplice, Ifemenam Oge was arrested.

With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country

continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe; Government Secondary School, Afaha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom; Total Child School, Awka, Anambra and Celestial Church of Christ High School Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and FCT Commands as well as the Special Operations unit of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and work places.

OPINION: On Fr. Edeh’s Virginity Thesis

The Source

March 24, 2024

By Valentine Obienyem

A few days ago, during the 25th anniversary of Madonna University, Fr. Edeh made remarks about virginity in the school. Whenever virginity is mentioned, it immediately brings to mind the gender disparities in our society and the historical exploitation of women. Why is it that virginity is always associated with women in our customs? There is no equivalent term for a virgin man. This aside, the reference to virginity by Fr. Edeh has sparked widespread discussion. What is it about sex and related topics that incite such heated debates? Why should we be concerned if students who entered Madonna as virgins graduate as virgins?

I have previously stated that s*x and its associates rank high in the hierarchy of desires. Once basic needs like food and shelter are met, man spares time and money in pursuit of sexual pleasure. This is a societal problem, affecting both humans and animals. Have you ever seen lions fight to the death over territory? It’s not the territory itself that intrigues the lion, but the prospect of having exclusive access to females.

Modern civilization has exacerbated this problem by irresponsibly stimulating the sexual impulse, leading to increasingly immoral behavior. Our fathers would have pretended not to hear what Fr. Edeh said. Not any more! Many individuals now see no issue with using their bodies to earn money, and there are few moral restraints on desire. While our ancestors downplayed this issue, the current generation has magnified it through various forms of stimulation, advertising, emphasis, and display, promoting the dangerous notion that inhibition is harmful, whereas restraint – the control of impulses – is a hallmark of decency.

In the past, many of our mothers married as virgins. Today, however, youths driven by hormones may question why they should restrain their se*ual desires. Instead of valuing purity, they boast about their se*ual conquests and shamefully talk about “ body count.” Numerous terms have been coined to describe various forms of se*ual deviance.

Fr. Edeh, perhaps owing to his age and vocation as a Catholic priest, belongs to an older school of thought. He understands that unchecked youth, devoid of customs, morals, or laws, may ruin their lives before realizing that s*x, if not restrained, can lead to chaos for both individuals and society. I understand that in his schools, students have limited freedom to leave campus, reducing opportunities for se*ual escapades. Is it right? This is a subject for another day. With the confidence of someone who has exercised restraint, he made his statement. However, given current societal trends, what he seeks to prevent may still occur in his school without his awareness.

Nevertheless, considering the nature of his school and the constraints in place, Fr. Edeh is justified in making his statement. It’s akin to discussing the Catholic Church, which provides numerous avenues for spiritual growth. Despite this, many fail to take advantage of these opportunities. In the end, should the blame fall on the Church or the faithful?

I stand with Fr. Edeh and find it troubling that many are attempting to discredit his statement. To illustrate the prevailing mindset, Bidemi Edwards came forward to admit that she did not graduate as a virgin, implying that even the most devout societies have their deviants.

Verificationist among us are currently working on Fr. Edeh’s statement.

Obienyem, a Lawyer, wrote from Awka

Police Killings: Arase Says CPs Found Wanting Will Be Sanctioned, Condoles IGP

The Source

March 24, 2024

The Police Service Commission has condemned in strong terms the new wave of killings of Police Officers on official duties stressing that these Officers are also Nigerians who deserve the support, encouragement and protection of the citizens.

“The Commission wishes to condole the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Olukayode Egbetokun on this unfortunate developments especially at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck to rid the nation of militancy and banditry”, the Commission said in a statement by its Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations.

Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police, said the killings in some States across the Nation have become worrisome and called on the Inspector General to take another look at the capacity of State Command Leaderships in the Country.

Dr. Arase noted that there must be consequences for this avoidable incidents adding that any State Commissioner of Police found incompetent, derelict and operationally/tactically porous should be eased out to avoid these huge Police casualties.

He lamented that “we have had more than a fair share of these ugly developments in recent times.” He called for an integrated intelligence policing.

The PSC Chairman condoled the families of the slain Officers and said time has come for State Command Commissioners to rise up to the occasion.

He enjoined the serving Officers not to be demotivated by these ugly developments but to reenact their indomitable fighting spirit that the Force is known for to ward off this new wave of assaults.

Repeal Of Pension Law: Governor Otti Pursuing Personal Vendetta, Massaging His Ego – PDP Fires

The Source

March 24, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

“Governor Otti has not paid any of his predecessors a kobo as pension since he came on board. So, which Pension Law is he repealing and celebrating?” – PDP

The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has described the repeal of the Abia state Governors/ Deputy Governors Pensions Laws of 2021 as a pursuit of personal vendetta against perceived political foes,as well as a vain attempt at ego massaging by Governor Alex Otti.

The Source reports that the Abia State House of Assembly had, on Tuesday, March 19 2024, passed in to law a bill abrogating the payments of pensions to former Governors of the State, as well as their Deputies, citing the need to cut down on cost of governance as a major reason.

The repealed pensions law which has since been hailed by not a few, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as a step in the right direction ,was on Wednesday March 20 signed into law by Governor Otti.

But in a statement issued on Sunday March 24 by the Abia PDP Spokesperson Comrade Abraham Amah and made available to The Source ,the opposition party in the State ,said it has reasons to believe that Governor Otti is using his offices to pursue personal vendetta against the former Governors of the state as shown in this ” singular act which has not added value to the Abia treasury ” .

The statement noted that, it is on record that the present Government of Abia state has not paid any of the past Governors and their Deputies a dime since coming on board , and therefore ,wondered how an administration that has not paid pensions to its predecessors would quickly rush to repeal the law if not to massage its ego..

Below is the full text of the statement:

“The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn once again to another attempt by the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti to resort to populism to draw undeserved attention to himself by repealing the Abia Pension Law for former governors, a law he has never obeyed since he assumed office as governor.

“Since the news made its debut, all the former governors through their spokespersons have come out to disclaim having received any pension from the State governor since he assumed office. So it beats our understanding why a governor who has not paid pension to his predecessors would quickly rush to repeal the law if not to massage his little ego and portray himself as a patron Saint when he is not.

“The Abia PDP has reasons to believe that Alex Otti is using his office to pursue personal vendetta against the former governors as shown in this singular act which has not added any value to the Abia treasury. Let us assume that the said pension law and some of its letters are outrageous as it is being portrayed in the public to buy cheap popularity, there is no evidence that the money saved from the non-payment of pension to former governors has been used to offset the pension arrears of Abia pensioners even many civil servants are still being owed. So what is the whole hullabaloo of the repeal of the Pension Law all about if not to shore up a popularity which many Abians have come to see as empty and an enterprise on the pages of newspapers and social media.

“It has become a penchant for governor Alex Otti to go into overdrive in his quest for vendetta and this has been displayed in reckless ways that do not even add any political value to his person. Ordinarily, a man of good conscience who means well for a society of humans would have amended the law to purge any section or sections of the said law which he deems outrageous or inordinate. By outright repeal, is Alex Otti telling Abians that a person who serves Abia State for either four or eight years in such high capacity and highly demanding position as governor and deputy governor does not deserve a pension, no matter how little, to take care of oneself in old age? Is Alex Otti more conscionable than the National Assembly that has allowed the pension of former Presidents to stay? Is he telling Abians that a governor should help himself enough while in office because the State would abandon him/her once he/she leaves office?

“It is very easy to read through Alex Otti’s desperation for self glorification because there are other more pressing issues he should address to show that he is interested in good governance. The Abia PDP challenges Alex Otti to obey the Local Government Autonomy bill passed by Abia House of Assembly. Why is he more interested in repealing the Pension Law when he has since seized the Local Government seals and centralized inflows from Local Governments? Why did he change the nomenclature of Local Government Chairman to a non-constitutional Mayoral system? Why has he not constituted the House of Assembly Service Commission? His inability to focus on these indicates that he is chasing personal glory at the expense of collective good of the masses.

“Some of his hastily thought out laws and policy statements point to the fact that there are some hidden motives which are not altruistic but are churned out to persecute known and unknown enemies and opponents of the governor. About a month ago, governor Alex Otti went on national television, Channels TV to be very precise, to tell the world that Abia State government had no equity participation in the Abia Geometrics Power Plant, days after the promoter of the business, Prof. Barth Nnaji had written him officially to state that the Abia government had subscribed to 3.5% shares in the concern, amounting to N1.4b as at the time it was paid for and currently valued at about N27b with the prevailing naira to dollar exchange rate. What was the blatant denial with executive lie for?

“Abia PDP appreciates the little efforts governor Alex Otti is making to deliver good governance to Abians by building on the foundations laid by his predecessors. What is unacceptable is his efforts to rubbish the honest intentions and best efforts of his predecessors by acting in a manner that suggests that he is the one that is building Abia from scratch. That is an eminent falsehood which is being consciously patterned into a destructive myth by his horde of media merchants and the good people of Abia should not allow that to stay.

“Worst of all is the perception being spread by the same merchants that it is an anathema, a disservice and a crime against Abians to hold Alex Otti to account. The first step to authoritarianism is the destruction of the truth and the building of walls of perfection around a leader who pounces on such fantasies to emasculate contrarians and push the estate into totalitarianism. That is what is happening in Abia and all well meaning Abians should resist it.

“The only way Abians can keep our democracy safe is to hold our governor and his operators to account at all times and push down the walls of infallibility being built around his government.

“We also call on the good people of Abia State to desist from chorusing non-existing performance of Alex Otti, give him accolades for things he has done well and knock him constructively when he errs. No human is infallible.”

Ondo: Fmr Reps Member Kicks Against Move By ‘Aborigines’ To Impose Gov Candidate On APC

Ayodele Oni

March 24, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

A move by some old members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state to impose one of the aspirants as governorship candidate in the November poll is causing ripples within the party fold.

A Former House of Representatives member, Afe Olowookere, condemned the action of the so called ‘aborigines’ who abrogate to themselves power to impose a candidate on the All Progressives Congress APC in the state.

Olowookere said that, members of the group are those who have been given problems to the party before now and are still bent in continuing in the act.

In a statement on Sunday, Olowookere pointed out that “Recently, a group of individuals emerged in the Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and called themselves “the Aborigines” of the party in the state.

We recognize the fact that it is a normal development to have tendencies within a large political organisation. But we find it worrisome to see a few individuals arrogating to themselves the absolute right of ownership of the APC in the state.

“Members of this group, in their self-conceitedness, have decided to impose a governorship candidate on the APC in Ondo state even before the conduct of the party’s shadow election which has been slated for April 25, 2024.

“Media reports said they had set up a committee to screen aspirants for the ticket of the party and that the committee had shortlisted three among the contenders. The reports added that the group would make its report public and announce its preferred aspirant this week.

“What gave rise to this intervention is the gusto with which members of this divisive group advertise their “aboriginal” right and the putrid smell of discrimination in their language and disposition.

“We see it as an insult to the sensibilities of other members of the APC in Ondo state for members of this group to arrogantly claim membership superiority. If we may ask, what exactly does the group mean by the “APC aborigines?” It needs to explain its concept of the term.

“We would like to warn that the claim of sole ownership of the APC and the unwarranted sense of entitlement of members of this group is unhealthy and dangerous for a political party that cherishes cohesion and national unity on a daily basis. It is, no doubt, that these people have been consistently disrupting the peace of the party.

“It is no more a secret that members of the group like Ambassador Sola Iji, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and Hon. Bola Ilori have identified with the aspiration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. They have openly declared their support for the gubernatorial ambition of the governor.

“Given this fact, we wonder if they have not lost their neutrality in the issue of the party’s governorship candidacy in the state.

“It is our belief that these few diaspora individuals only want to use Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s gubernatorial ambition to create underserved political image for themselves and thereby gain from the largesse that would be sourced from the state coffers to fund the election of Mr Governor.

“Many of us who have been around Ondo state for years are aware that many of these few individuals, who have proclaimed aboriginal rights in the state chapter of the APC, live outside the state and have not made any known investment, both human and financial, to the party in the last five years and above.

“Let these diaspora political lords tell the APC leaders and members in Ondo state their impact in the recent bye election we had in Ondo state and the 2023 elections.

“One of the things that promote democracy and enhance participation in its process is inclusiveness. That, of course, would explain the reason the APC national leader and president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is running a government of national unity.

“If President Bola Tinubu could accommodate former Governor Nyesom Wike, Senator Dave Umai and other individuals who are not even members of any political party as well as support Godswill Akpabio to be Senate President, claiming to be aboriginal members in a party that desires inclusiveness is fraudulent and anti progressive. It also smacks of direct attack on the liberal political principle of President Tinubu.

“In Ondo state, leaders and committed members of the party could testify to the effort of some individuals who recently joined the APC. They have not only invested their resources, but they have made productive efforts to mobilize for the APC.”

Return Funds Recovered From Bank Frauds – NDIC To EFCC

Ayodele Oni

March 24, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Hope has risen for depositors that felt they had lost their funds in banks as a result of frauds. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return funds recovered from banks’ fraudsters to its coffers.

A statement on Saturday by its spokesman, Bashir Nuhu, informed that the Managing Director of NDIC, Bello Hassan, spoke when he visited the Commission ’s Headquarters in Abuja.

Hassan assured the EFCC of his commitment to ensuring that those responsible for the failure of banks were properly investigated and prosecuted.

The statement reads in part:

“The NDIC boss called for enhanced collaboration in the recovery of depositors’ funds to ensure that liquidation dividends are paid to depositors, whose monies were lost as a result of bank failures.

“He, therefore, solicited for the return of recoveries made by the EFCC on behalf of the NDIC to the Corporation’s coffers to facilitate the timely reimbursement of depositors.”

Hassan explained that the NDIC played a critical role in combatting financial crimes within the banking sector through its mandate, which includes bank supervision and liquidation of licensed banks.

The NDIC boss stated that the ultimate objective of the corporation was to protect depositors’ funds and ensure the stability of the financial system.

Hassan commended the EFCC for its relentless efforts in the fight against corruption and financial crimes and its role as a key member of the task force on the Implementation of the Failed Banks Act chaired by the NDIC.

Hassan said the existing partnership between the two organisations, which led to 10 high-profile cases referred to the Commission currently under investigation, should be strengthened.

In his remarks, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, stressed the interconnection between criminal activities and bank failures, urging NDIC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to intensify oversight to prevent the risk of bank failure.

He pledged the EFCC’s commitment to deepening collaboration and synergizing efforts in combating financial crimes, thereby safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s banking sector.

How 300 Abducted Kuriga ,Kaduna School Children Finally Regained Freedom, President Tinubu Hails Release

The Source

March 24, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

It was a comic end to an otherwise tragic episode early Sunday morning March 24 2024 ,following the announcement of the release from captivity of about 300 school children. They were abducted by bandits in the Kuriga area of Chikun Local Council Area of Kaduna State. The announcement of their release was made by a relieved Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.

The release of the hapless pupils/ students of LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School Kuriga is coming after 16 days in the kidnapers den. They were whisked away early morning of Monday March 7 2024.

The Kaduna state Governor did not mention at what cost, human and/or material their freedom was secured .

Neither were Nigerians and the global Community informed about the eventual role played by the self acclaimed banditry and kidnappings negotiator ,Sheikh Abubakar Gumi in securing the freedom of the abducted school children.

However, Governor Sani thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering commitment and dedication to securing the release of the school children unhurt.

In a statement which he personally signed, the Governor paid tribute to the National Security Adviser NSA ,Malam Nuhu Ribadu whom he said spent several sleepless nights coordinating activities that eventually culminated in securing freedom for the school children.

The statement which was posted on his official site ,also, acknowledged the patriotic and professional roles of the Nigerian Army and other Security Agencies in ensuring the safe release of the abducted school children,while also appreciating all Nigerians whose fervent prayers contributed to the rescue operation.

Although released, the audacious and brazen Kuriga abductions have re- awaken in not a few Nigerians and in deed ,the civilized world, the sad memory of the infamous kidnap of the Chibok School girls during President Good luck Jonathan’s administration. Many are questioning the real motives, as well as when Nigeria will see the last of such barbaric expeditions.

Meanwhile President Tinubu on Sunday hailed the released of the abducted Kuriga School children, promising to ensure the safety of the country’s school environments

In a statement issued by his Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale , the President emphasized the need for collaborations between the Federal Government and State authorities in periods of challenges for maximum results. He, also, appreciated the efforts of the Kaduna State Government and the National Security Adviser for their commitment to the safe return of the school children.

The President also acknowledged and appreciated the release of the 19 Tsangaya school children in Sokoto State.

NDDC Condemns Vandalization Of Electricity Transformers In Ondo Community

Ayodele Oni

March 23, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Efforts to reconnect some communities in Ondo South to national grid after 15 years of power cut, has suffered a setback following the vandalization of some newly installed transformers at Igbokoda in Ilaje local government.

The Commissioner representing Ondo State on the Board of Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Otito Atikase, while giving anupdate on the electrification project said it would be ready for commissioning next month.

However, a report on Saturday stated that some of the transformers already installed at Igbokoda have been vandalized.

A statement by media aide of the commissioner, Rotimi Oyeneyin, said “The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) expresses grave concern over the recent vandalism of electric transformers in Igbokoda, as part of the ongoing electrification project aimed at enhancing the lives of residents in the region.

“This wanton act of destruction not only undermines the progress of the electrification project, but also poses a significant setback to the socio-economic development of the community.

“The transformers, recently installed by the NDDC, were meant to bring much-needed electricity to Igbokoda and its environs, thereby improving the living standards and economic prospects of the residents.

“However, the senseless act of vandalism threatens to deprive the community of this vital infrastructure, which was implemented at a significant cost to the commission.”

The NDDC Commissioner called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Amotekun security outfit, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant security agencies to intensify efforts in protecting critical infrastructure facilities across the region.

“We urge these agencies to collaborate closely with local communities and stakeholders to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“It is imperative for the Ilaje communities to understand the grave implications of such dastardly act. While Okitipupa town and its surroundings would continue to revel in consistent and uninterrupted electricity, Igbokoda town would remain entrenched in perpetual darkness.

“Without adequate protection of infrastructure, the goal of bringing light to these communities will remain elusive, hindering progress and development.

“The NDDC remains committed to the electrification project and calls upon all stakeholders, including community leaders and residents, to join hands in safeguarding the infrastructure that is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of the region.”

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