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Reprisal: Suspected Military Personnel Invade, Burn Houses At Okuama, As Residents Deny Killing Soldiers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Soldiers Killed in Delta State

By Ayodele Oni

In what looks like reprisal attack, buildings in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where sixteen soldiers were killed have been razed.

Accusing fingers are being pointed at some angry soldiers that want to revenge the killing of their colleagues by yet to be identified youths.

Security Agents have launched a manhunt for the killers while some arrests have also been made by the soldiers led by the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.

Residents of the coastal community have fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of a reprisal by the soldiers who have been patrolling the creeks.

Fourteen lifeless bodies including that of the Commanding Officer were in the early hours of Saturday recovered by the joint task force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at Okuama community, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Some of the recovered corpses were beheaded, while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off.

Meanwhile some people in the community have denied attacking or killing soldiers on peace mission to the area.

Some indigenes alleged hundreds of persons were killed on Thursday and Friday by persons wearing Army uniforms who invaded the community.

An indigene of Okuama community, Onajite Idiaphoro, explained that the men that invaded the community with a Tantita gunboat burnt all the houses in the community.

He claimed that, “We were holding regular Community on Thursday when some men in Army uniforms and carried by Tantita Gun boat invaded the meeting demanding to see our community chairman.

“As soon as our chairman was identified, the men said that they were taking him to Bomadi for questioning but the community women resisted the approach because Okuama is under Ughelli South Local Government Area and the chairman did not commit any crime neither the community that demands military invasion.

“The men started shooting killing two persons instantly and injuring many persons before driving away.”

Mr Idiaphoro said that after the first shooting, residents of the community, especially the men started moving out fearing the worst could happen later.

“After four hours later, the men came back with many gunboats, shooting sporadically into the community and killing many persons including women and children before burning houses.

“How our people who are mere fishermen and potato farmers have guns to fight, talk less killed a whole 15 Army officers as wrongly reported? He queried

Abducted Female University Students In Zamfara State Regain Freedom

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Female University Students In Zamfara State Regain Freedom

By Akinwale Kasali

After over five months in the den of Kidnappers, abducted female students of Federal University, Gusau, FUG, Zamfara State,have regained freedom from their kidnappers.

The months of agony and pains ended on Sunday and relief came for Parents, families, driends and the School, as their Abductors  released them.

The  students were abducted during a raid on three female hostels.

The modalities for their releases remains sketchy, as it still remains unclear whether any ransom was paid or not.

Ekiti Forestry Commission Destroys 20 Hectares Of Indian Hemp Plantation

By
Ayodele Oni
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Elkiti Forestry Commission

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Forestry Commission has destroyed 20 hectare-Indian Hemp plantation at the Ise Forest  Reserves.

The 20 Hectare- Indian  Hemp plantation and nursery was prepared for transplanting of the illegal weeds.

Executive secretary of the commission, Sunday Adekunle who disclosed this in Ado Ekiti, stated that making its forest reserves more productive and flushing out men of the underworld from the reserves across the state were high on the agenda of the  commission .

He explained that the commission is fully committed to actualizing its mandate of reducing the rate of   deforestation  in the State and  combatting of illegalities in the Forest Reserves.

Adekunle stressed that the recent recruitment of  22 new forest officers and 17 boundary guards by the Oyebanji Administration was having the required multiplier effect in terms of improved  security through regular patrols of the forest reserves by the  boundary guards and other officials of the Commission.

He disclosed that efforts were  on to encourage local farmers who would engage in farming activities on some lands within the forest reserves through agroforestry methods.

According to him, they would be encouraged through planting of tree seedlings being currently raised at the Commission’s  Central Nursery at Erinfun in Ado-Ekiti.

Adekunle disclosed that the commission would continue to embark on Public education and sensitization on key areas such as tree planting, wildlife, fire control and other matters in its bid to boost forest conservation and afforestation efforts in the State.

LP Reps Call For Postponement Of Party’s National Convention

By
James Orji
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The House of Representatives Caucus of the Labour Party,, LP,  has called for the postponement of the National Convention of the party earlier scheduled for month end, in order to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.

The Labour Party Reps made this call in a statement by its caucus Leader Afam Victor Ogene, in Awka, Anambra state, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

The Labour Party national leadership had in a letter dated March 13, notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the proposed conduct of the National Convention of the party, announced change of date and venue for the exercise.

The letter disclosed that the venue was changed from Benin City, Edo state, to Umuahia, Abia state, while the date was altered from March 29 to March 27.

Giving reasons for the development, the letter endorsed by both the national chairman of LP, Barrister Julius Abure and the national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the earlier date fell on Good Friday, a very important date for the Christian faith all over the world.

However, the Labour Party House of Representatives members, said that beyond the above reasons, the party needed more time to put its house in order, make proper and wider consultations and make effort to bring every stakeholder onboard, before it would go ahead with such an important party event.

Speaking further,  Ogene said: “National convention of any national political party is such an important event that ought not be conducted without proper planning, or in a hurry.

“While we acknowledge that the various challenges currently being thrown at the national leadership may have been responsible for the seemingly sloppy organization of the proposed convention, we hasten to add that the fact that many stakeholders, including my colleagues in the parliament, were not carried along in the whole process leaves resentment trailing the process.

“While we agree that 29th as earlier scheduled is not appropriate for the reasons given, we also note that 27th is not any better. In deed, many have wondered why a national convention would seem more preferable, as against the bottom up approach of beginning congresses from the wards.

“In fact, even more fundamental is the health and sustainability of our dear party. The party has for some time now witnessed internal friction and glitches, just like every other political party in the nation, so, we in the House of Representatives, as the direct representatives of the people, are of the view that the party needs some more time to smoothen the rough edges in the party leadership system and operational mechanism before the next convention.

“So, for these reasons, we respectfully call for the postponement of the national convention and immediate activation of consultation mechanism that would inject a healing and reinvigorating tonic in the party for a more successful and sustainable future, for the overall good of our teeming supporters and Nigeria in general.”

APC Reacts To Abduction Of Edo PDP Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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Dr Tony Aizegbemi

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Edo State has condemned the alleged kidnap of the People Democratic Party, (PDP) Chairman in the state, Dr Tony Azegbemwin.

The State APC Acting Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, in a statement, said “The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received the news of the kidnap of the State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Azegbemwin with rude shock and has profoundly condemned same, attributing this ugly development to the lack of strong and well oiled security architecture in the state.

“This is one kidnap too many in the State which signposts an overt reminder and wake up call on Governor Obaseki led administration that all is not well, in terms of securing the state which is the primary responsibility of government.

“That the chairman of the party of a sitting governor can be kidnapped, is a testament of the very porous, ill equipped, ill motivated security machinery in the state inspite of the humongous security vote being collected by Governor Obaseki on a monthly basis.

“The APC, Edo State chapter uses this medium to demand of the abductors, the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, while we call on the security agencies in the state to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensuring his release unhurt.”

Delta: Nigerians Demand “Swift” Justice For Murdered 16 Soldiers; Residents Flee Communities 

By
James Orji
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0
Murderers of 16 soldiers in Delta state must be brought to swift Justice, according to the Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI.
The soldiers attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were  brutally killed while on a peace mission  on Friday by some suspected youths.
The victims, according to the Defence Headquarters, included the commanding officer, two majors amongst others.
Following the incident, not a few Nigerians have demanded that the killers to be arrested and punished for their crimes for gruesomely killing soldiers who put their lives on harm’s way for the unity of the country.
If the murderers are treated with kid gloves, according to analysts, security forces in the country would be discouraged to perform their legitimate duties.
According to the AANI, the act is “an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values,” that must not be tolerated.
To prevent such ugly incident from recurring, the killers “including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law,” the association said.
It said: “This is an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values, therefore our hearts bleed for the families of these fallen heroes and all Nigerians.
“AANI stands in solidarity with our military and the families of these heroes who paid the supreme price in quest for peace in Delta State.
“Consequently, this despicable act of barbarism must not be swept under the rug. We demand swift and decisive action from both the Federal and Delta State governments.
“The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law. No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attacks Nigeria should escape justice. The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers, for whatever reason,” he said.
“The culprits, especially the youths involved, must be swiftly brought to justice. The traditional rulers overseeing this tragedy must face consequences for their negligence.”
Meanwhile,the magazine learned that residents have started fleeing the community in panic for fear of a reprisal attack by the military.
When a similar incident took place in Odi part of the state some years ago, the community was totally sacked by the military which turned it to a ghost village.

Abduction: Northern Elders Back Gumi, Demand Negotiation With Bandits

By
James Orji
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0

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must consider the offer Sheikh Gumi to negotiate the release of the 287 students abducted by bandits in Kaduna state.
 
 
This is the position of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, as the hope of rescuing the students alive remain doubtful.
 
 
The magazine reports that the students were kidnapped two weeks ago by the daredevil bandits
 from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
 
 
The Kaduna-baes islamic cleric has offered to serve as a negotiator for the release of the abductees.
 
 
The federal government has insisted that it was not prepared to negotiate, ordering security forces to go after the criminals.
 
 
 
Speaking to Punch Newspaper on Saturday,  NEF’s Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, urged the federal government to pull its weight behind Gumi’s quest to negotiate the release of the students.
 
 
 
According to him, negotiating with the bandits did not necessarily legitimise their activities, stressing that Gumi’s offer present an opportunity to save the students, and ensure their safe return.
 
 
 
Suleiman said, “While some may question the legitimacy of negotiating with criminals, it is important to consider the potential benefits of engaging in dialogue. In conflict resolution, dialogue is often seen as crucial to finding peaceful solutions.
 
 
 
“By engaging with the bandits, Gumi may be able to understand their grievances and motivations, which could potentially lead to the safe release of the abducted children. Additionally, opening lines of communication with the bandits could pave the way for addressing underlying issues such as poverty, lack of education, and marginalisation that contribute to the cycle of violence.
 
 
 
 “Moreover, pursuing a dialogue with the bandits does not necessarily mean condoning their actions or granting them impunity. It is a strategic move to de-escalate the situation and protect the lives of innocent victims.
 
 
 
“By initiating talks, Gumi may be able to secure the release of the schoolchildren and potentially prevent future abductions. While dialogue with bandits may seem controversial, it can be a necessary step in resolving conflicts and ensuring the safety of hostages; Gumi’s intention to engage in dialogue should be supported as a means to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Kaduna.”
 
 
 
Recall that Ajuri Ngelale,  President Tinubu’s  Special Adviser on Media and Publicity recently accused some leaders from the north of supporting the bandits.

Hunger: LASG Launches ‘Ounje Eko’ Discounted Food Prices

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Babajide Sanwo-olu Launches Ounje Eko

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Government has launched the ‘Ounje Eko’ Food Market for Lagos Residents.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that the Food Market should begin from March 17  across the State.

The markets have been tasked with selling discounted food items across the five divisions.

The State Government made the announcement in a statement by the Commissioner, Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho on Saturday.

It noted that “In order to prevent sharp practices and ensure the foodstuff reaches a large number of Lagosians, a voucher system will be introduced as the pilot scheme kicks off.

“Independent payment solution providers and food vendors have been identified and carefully selected to operate the process.

“They will also provide real-time data on the exercise for monitoring.

“ For the purpose of transparency, prices of the items have also been listed. A 5kg bag of rice would sell for N5,325 while 1kg goes for N1,065; 5kg bag of Beans – N6,225 while 1kg would sell for N1,245. Prices of other staple food items will also be made available through various media outlets.

“The markets will be open at 27 locations in Ikeja; six in Lagos Island; nine in Ikorodu; five in Epe; and 10 in Badagry divisions.

“Mr. Governor has called on all Lagosians to cooperate with the operators at the various locations, monitor the process, and provide feedback through official channels of the Lagos State Government.”

The List of Prices of the Produce are;

5kg bag of rice – N5,325

1kg bag of rice – N1,065

5kg bag of Beans – N6,225

1kg bag of Beans – N1,245

5kg bag of Garri – N3,975

1kg bag of Garri – N795

2kg Tomatoes – N1,800

1kg Atarodo – N1,875

1kg Tatashe – N1,275

1kg Onions – N450

1 crate of eggs – N2,700

Bread – N750

The Market Locations are; Eti Osa LGA – Ikota Primary School, Lekki -Epe Expressway, Ikota

Eti-Osa East LCDA – Admiralty Farmers Market: Plot 33 Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1

Ikoyi Obalende LCDA – Old Nursing Ground, 1-9 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi

Iru Victoria Island LCDA – Victory Island Snr. Secondary, School, Opposite Eko Hotel

Lagos Island LGA – Elegbata Junior High School

Lagos Island East LCDA – Lafiaji Senior Secondary School

Ikorodu

Ikorodu LGA – Ikorodu Grammar Schoo

Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA – Zumuratu Islamiya Grammar School, Igbogbo

Ijede LCDA – Luwasa Jnr High School, ljede

Ikorodu North LCDA – Odogunyan Grammar School, Odogunyan

Ikorodu West LCDA – Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School

Imota LCDA – LGA Pry. School, Imota

Kosofe LGA – St Emmanuel Pry Sch, Ogudu

Ikosi Isheri LCDA – Ikosi High School, Ketu

Agboyi Ketu LCDA – Comprehensive Jnr High School, Agboyi Ketu

Ikeja

Agege LGA – Dairy Farm Secondary School

Orile Agege LCDA – Saka Tinubu Memorial School, Orile Agege

Ajeromi-Ifelodun – AFRICAN Primary School, (Close to the Secretariat)

Ifelodun LCDA – LA Primary School Layeni, beside the Layeni Police Station, Ojo Road, Ajegunte, Apapa

Alimosho LGA – Ebenezer/Egbeda Primary School, Egbeda

Mosan Okunola LCDA – Alimosho Secondary School, Alimosho

Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA – Oke Odo Primary School

Igando-Ikotun LCDA – Igando Community Grammar School, Igando

Ayobo -Ipaja LCDA – St Andrews Anglican Pry School, Church Bus Stop, Ipaja

Lagos Mainland LGA – Nawarudeen Secondary School, Cemetry Street, Ebute Metta

Yaba LCDA – Lagos City College, Sabo, Yaba

Odi Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA – Ilupeju Grammar School, Ilupeju

Oshodi-Isolo – Owoseni Primary School, Oshodi

Ejigbo LCDA – Oke Afa Snr. Secondary, Jankande Estate

Isolo LCDA – Ire Akari Snr Secondary School, Isolo

Shomolu LGA – Gbagada Comprehensive Jr High School.

Bariga LCDA – Alubarika Primary School

Surulere LGA – Lagos Progressive Pry. Sch, Mbah Str. Surulere

Coker Aguda LCDA – Aguda Community Senior Secondary School

Itire-Ikate L…

Presidency Says FG Will Not Import Foods Amid Rising Hunger

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Government has said that it is deploying resources to critical sectors in order to significantly impact on the welfare of Nigerians. It, also, insisted that the administration will not import food amid the rising hunger facing Nigerians.

Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential Spokesman to emphasised that the Government would not allow the importation of food but rather turn the lack in the country into abundance.

President Bola Tinubu made the commitment at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) led by its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House on Friday in Abuja.

The President assured that the Government was working round the clock to improve the living conditions of all Nigerians.

He called on leaders at the grassroots to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number for planning, structured interventions and full integration into government relief programmes.

“The programme of our government will be truly progressive; student loans, a national consumer credit system, and social welfare for the unemployed, as well as graduates.

“Every Nigerian will find a place of belonging in our country.

“In the eye of even the biggest hurricane, we will find that place of tranquility and prosperous harmony for the benefit of all.

“Nigerians will all partake on this national journey to prosperity,’’ the President said.

Tinubu told the APC State chairmen that his Government had already drawn up a blueprint for large-scale livestock farming.

“We are bringing mechanised farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity.

“Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak. Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems.

“We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again,’’ he said.

Tinubu added that the repositioning of the economy was a top national priority and urged party members not to wait for appointment before embarking on exemplary civic engagements.

“As we are fighting corruption, smugglers, and old subsidy beneficiaries, they most certainly will fight back.

“All those who falsified records and became losers with the subsidy removal, they will fight back, but we will defend our people.”

He urged all party chairmen in states, regardless of party affiliation, to mobilise citizens to go for NIN registration.

“Some are poor Nigerians who have not experienced formal education and have no understanding of what NIN is and how it will benefit their lives. We must teach them. We must care for them.

“We will be making faulty moves without accurate data and iron-clad, digital intervention structures,” Tinubu said.

He said a Committee of Governors, headed by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is working on what must be done to further lift the people.

Ganduje had earlier told the President that the Party was set to establish an Institute of Policy and Development, for the benefit of its members and the broader Nigerian public.

He pledged their loyalty and support as the administration strives to implement its economic programmes and policies.

Professor Yusuf To Akpabio: “Return N21b You Took For Constituency Project And Resign From Office”

By
The Source
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0
Usman Yusuph and Godswill Akpabio

By Gideon Njoku

Usman Yusuph, a Professor of Haematology/Oncology and a specialist in Bone Marrow Transplant, has called for the resignation of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, from office.

Professor Usman, a regular commentator on political issues and former Executive Secretary of the NHIS spoke on Arise Television Saturday just as the ante has continued to go up over the allegation of padding the 2024 Budget made against the Senate by Senator Abdul Ningi.

Ningi, PDP, representing Bauchi Central District, had, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, alleged that the Senate padded the Budget with the sum of N3.7trn. He also alleged there are two different versions of the Budget.

Irked by his allegations which they dismissed as totally false, and according to the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, a civilian coup, Ningi was slammed with a three-month suspension on Tuesday, during Plenary.

However, instead of the allegations to go away, they have been worsened by more uncomfortable revelations. For instance, a couple of Senators who spoke at Plenary, revealed that each Senator received a whopping sum of between  N200m and N500m for what they called Constituency Project.

Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe revealed that some Senators got N500m from the Budget, a revelation confirmed by Bamidele. In confirming it, Bamidele asked constituents to watch out if the money would not be spent by their Senators within one year. Revelations were also made   of (another) two to five billion Naira to Senators for their Constituencies. Ningi, for instance said while his Constituency got two billion Naira, only, some others got five billion.

However, the most confounding was the revelation that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, got an unbelievable sum of N21bn for his Constituency.

Professor Usman, who expressed outrage over what has been described as “an obscene so-called money for Constituency Project”  to National Assembly Members, told Arise Television that he was ashamed of the Senate. He urged the Senators to return the hundreds of millions of Naira given to them for Constituency Projects, and noted that they should be ashamed of carting such an amount of money while the masses were dying of hunger. But he reserved the harshest criticism for Akpabio.

While describing the N21bn allegedly allocated to Akpabio for his Constituency as sacrilegious, he asked the Senate President to not only return the money but to resign from office.

For the records, Usman is not the only one who has called for the resignation of Akpabio from office. Main Opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its reaction to the “largesse”, also, asked Akpabio to step down. But in a swift response, the Senate has said Akpabio is going nowhere.

And lending its voice to the raging controversy, the Association of Northern Nigerian Students issued a 48-hour notice to the Senate  to recall Ningi to the Senate or expect an occupation of the National Assembly by its members.

While the controversy  rages, Senator Ningi has alerted of a plan to arrest him. But arrest or not, one thing is certain. The sh$t has already hit the fan, and confirms Ningi’s assertion that neither he nor the Senate can contain the can of worms he has opened – courtesy, his BBC Hausa Service outing.

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