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Ondo: Amotekun Arrests 149 Armed Suspected Criminals

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The Source
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By Ayodele Oni

As the Western Nigeria Security Network, code-named Amotekun continues with ridding Ondo state of miscreants in the wake of increase in criminal activities, no fewer than 149 suspected criminals have been rounded up at different black spots within three local government areas of Ondo State.

Ondo state commander of the corps,Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this  on Tuesday while parading the suspects before newsmen.

He said that the majority of the suspects claimed that they came into the state as hunters.

Adeleye said that the suspects were arrested with guns, bags of Indian hemp and cutlasses and dogs.

According to him, the suspects were arrested  where robbery  and kidnappings are rampant in the local governments.

“They surprisingly and carefully concealed and kept their weapons, bags of Indian hemp and cutlasses under their vehicles, and they claimed that they were coming from the various parts of the country

“The pertinent question we are asking is:  “Why are they hiding their guns?” If they are genuine hunters, why not come out openly?

“One begins to wonder why they would come from the extreme parts of the country to hunt in a village, in a forest they had never been to.

“We have very strong reasons to believe that they   are the people that turn, at night, to kidnappers and armed robbers and commit various crimes, especially on the bad portions of the roads and in the forest reserves of the state.”

The commander maintained that every Nigerian has the right to go anywhere in the country, but does not have the right to go with weapons.

Adeleye said that after conclusion of investigations, the suspects would be taken  to relevant government agencies for detailed profiling.

“The government is very clear that if you are a hunter and want to go into the forest, you have to register so that the government, the kings and the hunters will know that you are there.”

MOUAU Boils, Closed Down By University Management

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The Source
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By Daniel Maduka

The Management of the Michael Okpara  University of Agriculture Umudike,  Umuahia, Abia State,  on Tuesday  announced an indefinite closure of the institution ..

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Maduebibisi  Iwe , in a statement said ,the decision to close the institution and suspend all academic activities  is to prevent hoodlums from hiding under students protests to destroy lives and property of innocent people.

Spates of students protest which kick-started on Monday February 5, 2024, continued unabated on Tuesday February 6. The students were protesting against the “No – fees- no exams policy” put in place by the university authorities.

The protest march, which  was on Monday restricted to the University Campus, however, saw the students block the ever busy Ikot Ekpene/ Umuahia road on Tuesday,  and resulted in a heavy traffic grid lock.

The students who began their semester examination on Monday, were also protesting an increase in school fees , as well as the general harsh economic situation in the country.

However, the immediate cause of the protests, which entered its second day on  Tuesday ,is the Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe led management’s insistence on implementing its earlier no fees- no exams policy, despite students appeal for a period of grace .

Some students who volunteered comments said that owing to the current difficult situation, they (students) had appealed to the University authorities to allow them sit for examination, while continuing to make efforts to pay ,before the end of the examination period.

According to them ,they decided to take to the streets following the decision of the  university Vice Chancellor to personally supervise the  eviction of students from examination halls for non- payments of school fees.

Some of the protesting students, also said students are equally not happy with an increase in the school fees, adding that the students were not consulted by the authorities before effecting the increase.

The students were protesting against the “No – fees- no exams policy” put in place by the university authorities.

“Mr President, You Have Broken Our Hearts, Reduced Us To A State Of Hopelessness ”  – Fr. Mbaka To Tinubu

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ejike Mbaka Fr

By Akinwale Kasali

Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Catholic Priest, and Founder of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfill his electoral promises to Nigerians.

The controversial Clergyman said Nigerians are heartbroken and hopeless over the deplorable state of the nation’s economy that has further impoverished  them.

He urged President Tinubu to sit up and tackle the insecurity challenges bedeviling the Nation.

Mbaka, who said this during a sermon he delivered at the Adoration Ground in Emene, Enugu, said the President Tinubu-led administration has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians following the escalating level of insecurity and hardship in Nigeria.

Mbaka said since coming into office in May last year, the President has yet to exhibit political will towards solving the country’s problems.

He also acknowledged that there were obstacles on Tinubu’s path to becoming the President as well as tackling the myriads of problems facing the country, and urged him to step on toes and wipe out the hopeless situation.

Mbaka: “Mr President, you can do it; to fix Nigeria is not difficult if the leader has the willpower. I know that this one will make national news but let it be. What is happening in the oil sector? How many barrels are being produced and how many dollars are in the Nigerian account?

“A country like Nigeria that exports millions of barrels of oil per month, how much are we saving?

“Why is it difficult up till now to fix other refineries? Who are the cabals? Can’t they be de-canibalized?

“Cabals can be de-cannibalized if the President has the willpower; hell will not fall, heaven will not fall.

“These people can go to jail; after all, many of them did not support you; so why are you protecting them? Mr President, wake up, God is watching you to see what you can do.

“Our hearts are broken; go to our schools, see how messy the government schools are; are we taking care of our teachers and our doctors? Look at how they are, when they travel abroad, they begin to make money in pounds and dollars.

“Heartbreak everywhere; look at our Police and Military, their hearts are also broken; what kind of guns are the policemen using? When the senior squad passes, they will kill the policemen on the watchpost, carry their guns and run away. What happens to their families when their husbands die on the duty post?

“No compensation; the next one minute, they chase them out of the barracks; those who are in Borno forest fighting Boko Haram, what is happening to their families at home? Who is taking care of them?

“The hearts of their family members are broken, shattered; they are fighting those with bombs with catapults; those people they are fighting are carrying launchers. How many young men have we buried and still burying; insecurity everywhere.

“We are asking people to go to the farm and produce; but if you enter the farm, herdsmen with AK-47s will enter the farm and kill the farmers, who will go to the farm anymore?

“Hunger, as I told you last two years, has not even started; I won’t tell you lies; everybody should be meaningfully engaged, start something.”

Kano: Governor Yusuf Moves To Douse Crisis Amidst High Cost Of Living

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The Source
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Abba Kabir Yusuf - Governor of Kano State

In an apparent bid to stem a possible spill over of the unrest by irate Niger State youths over the escalating hard economic situation in the country to Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf Kabir has appealed to the State’s business community to show compassion and empathy to the plight of the masses in the conduct of their businesses.

The Governor who made the appeal during a meeting with some stakeholders within the business community expressed deep concern over the rising cost of living and its effects on the common people and its likely consequences, lamenting that many are finding it difficult to  fend for themselves.

He decried the escalating  inflationary trend in the country which in all, has negativity affected the living conditions of the ordinary man in the street.

Governor Yusuf blamed the high costs of prices of essential goods ,on  monoplistic and exploitative tendencies , noting that the trend can be mitigated if the business community upholds moral and ethical values in the conduct of their businesses.

Notwithstanding the fall of the country’s currency against major currencies of the world, the Governor  believes that corrective measures can significantly alleviate the situation.

In a release issued by his spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Monday February 5 , Governor Yusuf ,said it is a compelling responsibility of the state to ensure that the people feel a sense of belonging ,while highlighting his commitment to appreciating the challenges that are being faced by the masses.

According to him, a comprehensive market survey of prices of basic commodities recently conducted ,have revealed a  very distressing inflationary trend ,adding that his administration is determined to address the issue through collaborative efforts.

In this regard ,the Governor said a high powered  Business Community Consultative Forum will be set up with a view to combating monopolistic and exploitative tendencies ,as well as create a conducive business environment.

He is also mulling an implementationof a price regulatory mechanism to stabiize inflationary trends ,aiming to provide relief to the people.

On their part, leaders of the kano business Community, blamed the harsh economic situation on the high inflationary trends in the country occasioned by high exchange rates, increase in cost of productions,  unstable power supply and closure of some Nigerian border posts .

They, therefore, appealed for  urgent interventions from the federal government to stabilize the exchange rates.

The biting economic situation in the country which  on Monday February 5, forced Niger State youths to take to the streets, is being perceived by Northern states as a huge threat to the already fragile security situation in the Region.

APC Accuses Opposition Of Fanning Embers Of Hatred, Anti Tinubu Protest

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Following the protest by youths in Niger State over the killing economic situation, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused opposition parties of sponsoring the anti-Tinubu protest.

The APC alleged that the opposition are instigating mass protest across the country against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to create a bad impression of the Government, and soil his name in the mud.

In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, the APC said “in their arrant desperation to portray the APC-led administration as underperforming, opposition parties have resorted to instigating unsuspecting young people to protest in the streets of some major cities.”

It said the protests in Minna and Kano on Monday were the manifestation of this devious and unpatriotic plot.

“That the protests happened simultaneously in both cities is not coincidental. It bears the bold stamp of an orchestrated and coordinated effort to instigate unrest and undermine the government. This mercenary opposition tactic is a clear and present threat to public peace and national security.

“While we recognise the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, we urge our good people to be vigilant and not lend themselves to the treacherous attempt by the opposition to promote social strife through its incendiary rhetoric and manipulative plots.

“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is solidly committed to doing everything in its power to mitigate the transient pains of critically important reforms that are crucial to economic recovery and sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians.

“It behoves us as good citizens of our beloved country to stand fast with our government in this noble stride. In due time, these policy reforms will yield an enduring beneficial transformation of the material conditions of life in the country.

“We implore Nigerians to shun the guile and unpatriotic attempt by opposition elements to destabilise the country for their own base and parochial political gains,” said party spokesman Felix Morka.

Wife Of Slain Kwara Monarch Abducted By Kidnappers Regain Freedom, Police Confirm Arrest Of Suspects

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Kwara State Police Command has announced the release of the wife of  slained Olukoro of Koro, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole.

The Command, confirmed her release in a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesman, Ejire- Adeyemi Toun, after a joint operation by  the Military, Police, DSS and Local hunters.

The Command stated: “We wish to update the good people of Kwara on the case of assassination  of the Olukoro of Koro Kingdom, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, who was gruesomely murdered in his palace on 1st February, 2024.

“In the course of investigation, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM, approved the deployment of a police chopper for aerial surveillance. This is to help comb the forest/boundary between Kwara and EKITI state.

“A joint operation comprising the Police, Military, D.S.S, Vigilante/Hunters who tirelessly combed the forest yielded positive results.

“This operation led to the successful rescue of the wife to the late monarch and one other at about 22:3O hours of 05/02/24.

“The rescued kidnap victims have been re-united with their families, hale and hearty. The operation also led to the arrest of 13 male suspects who are presently in custody.

“These suspects are undergoing vigorous interrogation with a view towards aiding the arrest of members of the gang at large.

“Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, psc(+) remains resolute, maintaining his stand that the perpetrators of this dastardly act will face the full wrath of the law.

“He further urges the public to be calm and security conscious as they go about their daily activities without fear or anxiety.”

Ekiti Attorney General Queries NSCDC Over Bail Of Rap€ Suspect, Orders Re- Arrest

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) are at loggerhead over the release of a rap€ suspect in custody of NSCDC.

Attorney General and commissioner for justice, Dayo Apata SAN  wrote to the NSCDC Ekiti State chapter to query the release of a rap€ suspect on administrative bail, rather than prosecution.

The command has earlier been accused of trying to cover up the case involving a 59 years old Oyedele Emmanuel, who allegedly rap€d a 14 year old girl, by granting the suspect bail.

The command in its response, denied the allegation that it was planning to cover up the case, rather it hinged its action on delay in the  medical report of the survivor.

In the letter addressed to the  Commandant of the corps with the title “ARREST AND RELEASE ON ADMINISTRATIVE BAIL OF A RAP€ SUSPECT” the Attorney General frowned that the security outfit on its own volition, granted a rap€ suspect administrative bail on flimsy excuses of non-availability of medical report and purported sickness of the suspect which he said was unacceptable.

The letter reads:”You are well aware of the position of law and the zero tolerance of the present administration towards gender based violence especially against women and children.

“It behoves on you upon the arrest of the suspect to have timeously forwarded the case file to the police for discrete investigation.

“It is to be noted that, it was when this matter went viral on social media that you hurriedly packaged the case file and sent same to the Ministry of Justice on the 1 February, 2024 at around 3pm a clear 15 days after the arrest of the suspect.

“By all standards, a case of rap€ is a serious crime which leaves an everlasting psychological trauma in the memory of the Survivor and therefore should not be attended to with kid gloves.

“While I appreciate your efforts in administration of Criminal Justice System in Ekiti State, I wish to inform you that pending the resolution of your operational challenges, your office should as a matter of urgency endeavor to transfer any arrested suspect with the case file to the Police forthwith.

“Against the above backdrop, the suspect earlier granted administrative bail, should be re-arrested and handed over to the Police without further delay.”

Breaking: EFCC Detains Hadi Sirika Brother Over N3bn Fraud

By
James Orji
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Hadi Sirika

Abubakar Ahmad Sirika has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC for alleged fraud.

Sirika is the younger brother of the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hardi Sirika, according to the anit- graft agency which said he has been questioned over an alleged N8.06 billion contract fraud in the Federal Ministry of Aviation during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He was arrested on Sunday, the commission, and has been quizzed on several allegations including money laundering, conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, and criminal breach of trust.

The agency said Abubakar benefitted from contracts awarded by the former minister of which over N3 billion has been traced to Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by Abubakar, a deputy director, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

Abubakar is the managing director of the firm which got four contracts from the former minister, EFCC said..

According to the facts provide by the commission, the four contracts the ex-minister awarded to his brother are:

  • Construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport (N1,345,586,500.00);
  • Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport (N3, 811,497,685.00);
  • Procurement and installation of elevators, air conditioners and power generator house in Aviation House, Abuja (N615,195,275.000);
  • Procurement of Magnus Aircraft and simulator for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (N2, 296,897, 404.00).

The former minister, the magazine recalls is currently under probe over alleged corruption in the Air Nigeria deal he brokered with a foreign airline while in government.

Not True, Nigeria Is Not Finished – Reno Omokri

By
The Source
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0

Nigeria is not finished because there was a power outage at Murtala Muhammed International Airport for three minutes. It is your anti-Nigerian bias that makes you think so.

Please fact-check me. There was a power outage at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The blackout lasted far longer than it did at MMIA.

Remember, Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe. Yet, British citizens were not all over social media de-marketing their country and telling anyone who cares to listen that The UK is finished.

Mind you, that was not the first time there was an outage at Heathrow. The attached photo is from another power cut on Monday, March 27, 2017. Again, please fact-check me.

Two months ago, on Thursday, December 7, 2023, there was a power outage on the London Underground that lasted hours. Passengers were trapped in trains under London. They could not get out. Yet, Londoners did not tear down their city with vicious hate filled words on X and Facebook.

Two weeks ago, Nigeria’s Stock Exchange overtook Argentina’s as the world’s most profitable. How come these sets of influencers and media did not carry it? A foreign media carried the story. It got almost no traction in Nigeria. Because it was not bad news!

Electricity supply is a human creation, and as such, it can suffer hiccups. When it happens in sensitive national infrastructure, like airports, it is regrettable.

However, it should be outsiders that use it against us, not we using it against ourselves. You can hate Nigerian leaders. You can hate Tinubu. But when you hate Nigeria because you hate Tinubu, you are like a man who hates himself because he hates his parents.

FBNH Double Awards As Coy Of The Year

By
James Orji
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0

First Bank Nigeria Holdings, FBNH, has emerged the Holding Company of the year in Nigeria.

The Nnamdi Okonkwo-led Holder won the award at the New Telegraph Awards that took place last Friday in Lagos, barely three months after it best others to emerge winner in the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Awards,  BAFI awards.

’The diversity and quality of our portfolio, which cuts across, commercial and merchant banking, asset management, trusteeship, capital markets, insurance brokerage, pensions fund administration provides the veritable platform for our Group to impact the Nigerian economy positively, serve our customers excellently and with the unflinching commitment of our highly motivated workforce,’ Okonkwo, the Group Managing Director, GMD, said last October while reacting to the BAFI awards.

According to the organizers of the latest award, the parent company of Nigeria’ premier bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, FBNL was selected as the winner among other top holding companies in the country based on verifiable performance during the last financial year.

The conglomerate had last year won the same award at the BAFI, organized by BusinessDay Media Limited.

The BAFI organizers said basic metrics were considered before awarding FBNH the prestigious prize: ‘‘Strong Financial Performance. FBNHoldings has consistently demonstrated strong financial performance, showcasing its ability to effectively manage its diverse portfolio of subsidiaries and drive sustainable growth. Furthermore, its solid financial results, including profitability, asset quality, and capital adequacy, reflect its robust financial management and strategic decision-making.’’

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