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BREAKING: Train Terrorists Release General Garba’s Six Family Members, One Other Woman

By
Adesina Soyooye
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General Garba

By Adesina Soyooye

The Terrorists who bombed an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train have, on Wednesday,  August 10, 2022, released seven more of the hostages.

The terrorists had attacked the train on March 28, 2022, killing eight passengers, including a young female Medical Doctor, and a Lawyer. They also took 63 passengers hostage, and have been releasing them in batches.

Released on Wednesday are seven of the hostages made up of six family members of Major General Idris Garba, a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States.

The family members are the General’s son, Abubakar Idris Garba, his wife Maryama, and their four children, Ibrahim (10 years), Fatima (7 years), Imram (5 years), and Zainab, (one year). Zainab was only seven months old when she was kidnapped along with her parents and older siblings.

The other released person is a 60 year old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan.

Mallam Tukur Mamu, Publisher of the Desert Herald and Media consultant to Sheik Abubakar Gumi, who has been mediating in the release of the hostages, apparently, on behalf of Gumi, confirmed the release, and explained that Gumi reached out to the terrorists after watching the video where they were mercilessly flagging hostages.

He said that the Garba family was released because two of the children were very ill while Hajia Hassan was released because of a life threatening illness which deteriorated in captivity.

It is not yet confirmed if any ransom was paid before their release, but the Terrorists are, allegedly, charging N100m per hostage before release.

Their negotiation with Government, apparently, broke down even after the Government, allegedly, released about 30 people who the terrorists asked to be released in exchange for the release of the hostages. They, now, obviously, prefer to negotiate with individual families.

So far, 35 of the hostages have been released in batches of one, 11, seven, four, five and now, another seven. The others are still languishing in captivity.

LAWMA Pledges A Cleaner Lagos, Says Attitudinal Change A Major Challenge

By
Akinwale Kasali
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LAWMA Media Parley

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has reiterated its determination to make the State cleaner and healthier for all. Lagos, it pledged, will become the biggest recycling State in West Africa.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Ibrahim Adejuwon Odumboni, in a media parley at its Headquarters, Ijora Olopa, Lagos,  Wednesday, August 10, 2022, said that the Commission is not resting on its oars in addressing the issue of waste retrieval and the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the median of major roads in the State.

He said in spite of the efforts of the Commission in addressing the issue of waste management to make the state the cleanest, some Lagosians still see it as a way of life by dumping refuse indiscriminately.

Odumboni stressed that LAWMA has formed a synergy with the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Watch, to arrest Cart Pushers who dump waste on the streets and roads in the State.

He said these Cart Pushers, after retrieving waste from some Lagosians who do not patronize the Private Sector Participation, PSPs, who are Clients of LAWMA, dump it on the median road at land.

“In addressing this anomalies we have a good relationship with the Police and LNSC to arrest the truck pushers and are charge to Court.

“We want all Lagosians to have a sense of belonging and not disenfranchise anyone that is why the Lagos State Government has subsidized the price of Diesel so that we won’t over charge Lagosians.

“For areas that are not motorable and are in the hinterlands, we are partnering with some Companies to get us Tricycles that we can use to get to the unmotorable areas and hinterlands to evacuate their refuse”.

He urged Lagosians to stop patronizing Cart Pushers and sign up with the PSPs for their refuse disposals.

The LAWMA MD said that Waste Management is recurrent and is a collective responsibility to all irrespective of tribe, religion, political affiliation. He said there is need for attitudinal change in waste management, as every Lagosians have a role to play.

Speaking further, Odumboni lamented that the hike in the price of Diesel is really having a toll on the Commission stressing that the rising cost of operations has prompted the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu administration to subsidize Diesel for LAWMA and all its PSP Operators.

He added that as regards rehabilitation of Landfills, the Olusosun, Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe Landfills are working perfectly well now and have capacity to tip 120 in an hour.

He, also, stated that as from October 1st, 2022, any House that do not have Waste Bin would be penalized as the Commission is partnering with Health Officers to do effective monitoring all around the State.

LAWMA said that by January 1st, 2023, if every household do not have the Waste Bin after been warned, the abatement letter will automatically turn to a prosecution letter.

He appealed to all Lagosians to comply because it is mandatory and compulsory for all Lagosians to have the Waste Bin.

Odumboni also said that the price of Waste tenement will be reviewed and implemented as from September 1st, 2022.

He said that LAWMA is working on making Olusosun Dumpsite become a Waste to Energy for the economic development for the State, just like the LAWMA Medical Waste Management in Ibeju Lekki and Odogunyan.

Costa Rica 2022: Falconets Begins Quest For World Cup Glory; Coach Danjuma Optimistic

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

As the Ninth Edition of the FIFA Under-20 Female World Cup begins in Costa Rica Wednesday August 10th-28th, 2022, the Falconets of Nigeria are upbeat of surpassing their runners-up feat achieved in 2010 and in 2012 editions of the World Showpiece.

Coach Chris Danjuma is optimistic that his Nigeria Under-20 girls have the strength, the savvy and the right spirit to cause a stir at the World Championships and make history as the first African nation to achieve the feat.

The Falconets arrived in the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, Saturday morning after travelling through Istanbul (Turkey) and Bogota (Colombia).

In the words of Danjuma on their arrival at San Jose, Costa Rica Capital, “We are finally here, and we are happy to be here at the FIFA World Cup. The World Cup is always an interesting experience for the coaches and the players, and I am sure it is the same for other professionals who get to be involved.

“We took a long route to get here, having to play four different teams in the qualifying series. I can tell you that we are prepared to do Nigeria and Africa proud. It is not about being here to make up the number; it is about being here to make an impact.”

The two-time runners-up are ensconced in the Intercontinental Hotel in San Jose, and already having  training sessions.

On Sunday, the Falconets made use of the San Rafael Stadium for one hour, to knock off the jet lag, and then utilized the same facility for two hours on Sunday morning.

Organizers scheduled Africa’s top team to train at the Alajuela Stadium, and this has begun since Monday, while Tuesday training took place at the Stadio Piedades Santa Ana.

The competition begins, Wednesday with the Falconets set to play their first match against France at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose as from 5pm Costa Rica time (12 midnight Nigeria time) on Thursday.

Nigeria’s other group phase matches are against Korea Republic, as from 2pm Costa Rica time (9pm Nigeria time) on Sunday, 14th August and against Canada, as from 8pm Costa Rica time on Wednesday, 17th August (3am Nigeria time on Thursday, 18th August).

Both matches will hold at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium.

Africa’s other flagbearers Ghana are up against Cup holders Japan, The Netherlands and three –time champions United States of America in Group D.

The list of Falconets hoisting the nation’s flag at the World Soccer fiesta are;

Goalkeepers: Nelly Ekeh, Monle Oyono, Peace Obidinma

Defenders: Oluwatosin Demehin, Omowunmi Oshobukola, Rofiat Imuran, Jumoke Alani, Chidinma Ogbuchi, Oluchi Ohaegbulem

Midfielders: Bashirat Amoo, Esther Onyenezide, Adoo Yina, Motunrayo Amoo, Chinyere Kalu, Deborah Abiodun

Forwards: Blessing Okpe, Joy Jerry, Mercy Idoko, Flourish Sabastine, Chioma Olise, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu

Highlighted below are the participating teams in their respective Groups.

GROUP A: Costa Rica, Australia, Spain, Brazil

GROUP B: Germany, Colombia, New Zealand, Mexico

GROUP C: France, Nigeria, Canada, Korea Republic

GROUP D: Japan, The Netherlands, Ghana, USA

Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra 12 Others Top States Which Failed To Implement N30,000 Teachers’ Wage

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Teachers in A Class Room

By Akinwale Kasali

Three Years after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the N30,000 National Minimum Wage Act into Law, over 14 States have failed to fully implement this directives, while some States have been dilly-dallying.

Most Teachers in Primary and Secondary  schools  are yet to enjoy the N30,000 minimum wage increase.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), disclosed that the States which failed to implement this law  are; Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Benue, Taraba and Zamfara.

While States that have fully implemented this directive, according to the NUT Data, are: the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers State and FCT.

Though Kogi, Cross River, Kaduna and Yobe also complied when it was first implemented but they later reverted to the N18,000 minimum of 2011.

Documents from the NUT read: “The following states are experiencing non-implementation of N30,000 minimum wage.

“They are Anambra and Imo with no reasons from their government; Benue, Taraba and Zamfara are due to paucity of funds.

“In Kaduna and Yobe states, the implementation of new minimum wage was reversed to N18,000 in April and November 2021 respectively.

“There is non-implementation of minimum wage in primary schools in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu and Nasarawa State and governments in these States have given no reason for their action.

“While Adamawa, Gombe and Niger States are experiencing the non-implementation due to either lack of funds or insufficient funds from their Local Governments.

“In Borno State, the government complained of insufficient funds but promised to implement it in July or August 2022 for primary school teachers.

“The Sokoto government is planning on carrying out a verification exercise to determine qualified teachers as NCE holders.

“States with non-implementation of the N30, 000 in both primary and secondary schools are Anambra and Imo with no reasons from their government; Benue, Taraba and Zamfara are due to paucity of funds.

“In Kaduna and Yobe States, the implementation of new minimum wage was reversed to N18,000 in April and November 2021 respectively.

In Abia State, the secondary school teachers are receiving N10,000 from the N30,000 minimum wage and no reason has been given for this.

“In Cross River State it has not been fully implemented due to insufficient funds by the State government.

“While in Nasarawa State, the senior cadre teachers in secondary school are waiting for their capturing exercise before partaking in the N30,000 minimum wage.

“Kogi State on the other hand has implemented only 40% to teachers handling primary 1-6 and JSS 1-3. The secondary schools in Kogi are under ASUSS.”

The document, however, detailed some of the steps taken by the State Chapters of the NUT to ensure the successful implementation of the new minimum wage for teachers.

The document stated: “NUT in Abia State has requested the Abia State government to implement the new minimum wage for teachers in the State with strike actions yet no positive action has been taken by the government.

“The NUT in Adamawa and Anambra State is negotiating with their state governments for the implementation of the minimum wage.

“The NUT in Bayelsa mounted pressure on the State Government which resulted in the setting up of a Special Committee to create a framework suitable for the implementation of the minimum wage.

“NUT Benue State Wing in collaboration with NLC met with the state government on the implementation yet no result.

“In Enugu State, strike action was embarked upon by the Union for one month by the primary school teachers in the state from 9th May-7th June, 2022. Also, dialogue is still ongoing with the state government.

“In Gombe, a committee was set up by the Deputy Governor on how to implement the minimum wage where the state NLC Chairman and NUT Chairman who doubles as the NLC Deputy Chairman were fully involved.

“All efforts by the NUT in Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi and Yobe to get their State governments to implement the minimum wage for teachers in their respective states have proved abortive.

“After the strike action declaration in Niger, the state government agreed to implement yet nothing has been done to date.

“In Taraba State, there is no room for an interface with the State government due to the ongoing problem between the union and the state government.

“All efforts of the NUT Nasarawa State wing to implement the New Minimum Wage has been difficult due to the Local Government Autonomy in the State.

“In Zamfara State, the union, NLC and the state government had met severally on the non-implementation of the minimum wage which the state government promised to implement but to date, no action has been taken.

“Hence, the Organised Labour have resolved to embark on a strike action to press home their demands.”

Reactions have trailed the failure of this States to implement the N30,000 Minimum Wage, as cross section of Nigerians lament the insensitivity of the State Governments to the plight of the Teachers.

Akinnugba Caroline, a Public Analyst, said that the prices of Commodities in the market have sky-rocketed with the nation experiencing economic downfall which has also affected the strength of the Naira, and the failure of implementing the Minimum Wage is impoverishing the Teachers who are impacting the younger generations.

He urged the affected States Government to do the needful adding that the N30,000 minimum wage wasn’t even enough to cater for the welfare of the Teachers at this present state and time.

Tinubu Qualified To Be President; Atiku Is My Candidate

By
James Orji
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Chimaroke Nnamani

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is qualified to be president, and should not be mocked due to his alleged ill-health, former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu state, now senator representing Enugu East in the Nigerian Senate, has said.

Nnamani said “he detests the shameless campaigns and parody targeting Tinubu’s health.”

Senator Nnamani said there’s no evidence that the APC governorship candidate is suffering from dementia, referencing Tinubu’s critics who alleged that the Lagos strongman is not well. He said sickness is a natural occurrence for human beings, that Tinubu should not be mocked.

The former Enugu helmsman spoke not long after Nobel laureate, Professor Woke Soyinka criticised some members of Pirates Confraternity, which he belong for mocking the former Lagos Governor over his alleged ill-health.

Tinubu spent some months in London, last year treating an undisclosed ailment, making some Nigerians to suggest that he abandons his quest to contest for president in 2023 to take care of his health.

But speaking in series of tweets on his verified handle, Nnamani who is the founder of ‘Ebeano’ political group said the APC strongman is one of the most  hardworking and successful Nigerians, and qualified to run for president.

He however said he will vote for Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP which he belongs next year.

“As a health worker, I am amazed by the ignorance, foolishness, wickedness and callousness of these idiotic operators.

“I believe they are unwarranted, extremely unprofessional, and have no place in our polity. As the GenZ grow and Nigeria merges with the new world, they will cry at the foibles of their progenitors. Get it folks, life is turn by turn.

“Since we all desire a better Nigeria, our politics should be grounded in facts and reliable evidence.

” This is the only way we can advance this nation. Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the most successful Governor in modern Nigeria bar none.

“While my vote is covered by the Umbrella per my party PDP and our candidate, HE Atiku Abubakar, I take a bow for the hardest working Politico of this generation. He (Tinubu) patiently paid his dues.

“Guess what, the Igbo are not going anyway. Rather in the spirit of their fathers and forefathers more are pouring into Lagos every day. Tinubu is qualified to run for president of Nigeria in 2023 as there is no evidence that he has dementia”.

How Fake Medical Doctor Defrauds POS Operators In Ekiti

By
Ayodele Oni
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Fake Medical Doctor Arrested in Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,(NSDC) in Ekiti State is in custody of a 36-year-old man for, allegedly, parading himself as a Medical Doctor and defrauding Point of Sale Operators, (POS) in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.

The State Commandant of the Agency, John Fayemi, who disclosed this, said the suspect, Ayodeji Ademiluyi, defrauded the operators by sending fake alerts after collecting cash from them.

According to him, the suspect used an application on his phone, which also triggered a call from his fake hospital that a patient needed his attention.

“The PoS operator will then consider his status as a doctor and allow him to go. Later, the PoS operator will discover that he or she has been duped.”

The Commandant paraded Ademiluyi and another suspected fraudster, Innocent Ekpako, 26, who was tracked down in Cross River State for allegedly defrauding his boss in Ekiti.

“The fake doctor had defrauded over 25 PoS operators before men of the Counter-Terrorism Unit launched a manhunt for him with their dragnet, which paid off when he was arrested early this week. Preliminary investigation shows that he is not a doctor but an okada rider.”

Fayemi said Ekpako, who was arrested in Ikom, Cross River State, ran away with a huge sum of money belonging to his master in Ado Ekiti.

“The suspect is a former employee of a store in Ado Ekiti where he worked as a sales representative before he was sent on an errand with some money and he did not return.

“He disappeared into thin air until he was tracked, traced and arrested in Cross River State. The two suspects have confessed to the crime.”

Fayemi cautioned PoS operators and shop owners in the state to be careful of their workers and customers as the state command has been inundated with complaints bordering on PoS fraud and stealing.

Buhari Says Two Civil Wars Will Be Catastrophic

By
James Orji
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President Buhari of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned politicians not to plunge the country into another civil war.

The president’s warning was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Buhari spoke on the verge of ethnic and religious divisions in the country, for which his administration has received scathing remarks.

Keen watchers of his government say the country has  been more divided under him, pointing to some of his divisive policies, including his government’s promotion and leaning towards a certain ethnic group in the country.

Since he swept to power in 2015, the rate of self determination groups has scaled up from across the country, fueling fear of another civil war.

But speaking on Tuesday, the president said the cost of another civil war will be too much for the country to bear.

Buhari spoke while receiving former State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC at the presidential villa, Abuja.

He said selfishness led to the first civil war between 1967-1970, which led to loss of many lives, adding that a repeat of such will not augur well for the country.

The president who fought in the civil war said many Nigerians paid the supreme price for the country to remain one and “God willing we remain Nigerians and Nigeria will remain one.

“Our main objective is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are human beings. We have our weaknesses, but I can assure you that the patriotism in us is hard-earned. We have gone through all the troubles from the 15th of January 1966 to date.

“You know what I mean by this, we have killed a million of ourselves in order to keep this country together.”

He urged CPC members to always work to foster unity and progress of the country, thanking them for their support for his administration and promotion of democratic ideals.

I accord great significance to this visit as it demonstrates a determination and commitment to identify with our administration.

“This visit recalls the solidarity with the successes that we have recorded in critical areas of our society. The visit also affords us the opportunity to discuss other issues of interest to the forum.

He said “I commend members of this forum and all members of the legacy party-CPC, for their continued dedication to the ideals of democratic governance that we all believed in.

“The doggedness with which we pursued our vision and goals that culminated into the success we recorded remain like bright stars in the history of our dear nation.”

The Chairman of the Forum and former Chairman of the party in Niger State, Umar Shuaibu, assured the president of their continued support, adding that the party had maintained all its structures across the country.

Shuaibu said the CPC will support any candidate backed by Buhari for next year’s presidential election.

Petrol Subsidy: Reps Summons Finance Minister

By
James Orji
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0
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

Bent on getting to the bottom of billions of petrol Subsidy payments to marketers in the last nine years, the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee investigating the issue has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed.

The committee has directed the minister to appear before it next Tuesday to expand who got what between 2013 and 2022.
The period covers the administration of President Good luck Jonathan and the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, under which several trillions of naira was believed to have been paid to marketers as subsidy.
The committee had decried the appearance of one of the directors in the ministry as representative of the minister, Stephalen Okon before it, saying he has no authorisation letter from the minister.
The Chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Aliyu has therefore, ordered the minister to appear before the committee next week with all necessary documents relating to subsidy payments within the period under review.
 

Ahmed is to appear before the committee with all the documents demanded by the lawmakers relating to subsidy claims and payments in the period under review.

The committee said the minister must appear with documents detailing “the total amount released from the Consolidated Revenue Account as subsidy payments from January 2013 to date; the total amount released from other accounts other than the Consolidated Revenue Account to subsidy payments from January 2013 to date; breakdown of beneficiaries; companies that enjoyed releases from the Consolidated Revenue Account and other revenue accounts as subsidy payments.

“Identify each beneficiary with the amount sent to them, month by month, covering the period from January 2013 to date; all correspondences between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding subsidy payments from January 2013 to date; evidence of lodgement of forex into Consolidated Revenue Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation now (Nigerian National Petroleum Company) Limited as revenue from January 2013 to date.”

Meanwhile, analysts insist that the current probe is not likely to achieve much considering what has happened to similar probes in the past.

Lawan, Akpabio Not On Our List As Senatorial Candidates – INEC

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has insisted that names of the President of the Senate,Ahmad Lawan and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio are not on its list as candidates for 2023 election.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday that the commission is not aware of any doctored list from any political party, which contains their names.

The statement titied, ‘Spurious allegations in respect of candidates in some senatorial districts,’ it also clarified that the position of Yo e North and Akwa Ibom North West senatorial districts has not changed.

“As evidence of the alleged role played by the Commission, a certified true copy of Form 9C uploaded by their political party and received by the Commission on 17th June 2022 when the nomination portal closed was presented.

“For clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the Form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal.

“This is clearly indicated on the title of the Form which was received on 17th June 2022 when the portal closed.

“What follows is the publication of the personal particulars of nominated candidates which was done a week later.

“The Forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the Commission. The decision of the Commission triggered legal action which are still ongoing.

“It therefore defies logic and common sense to go around and submit doctored documents purportedly recognizing the duo as candidates when the matter is clearly sub-judice.

“As part of the ongoing case in Court, a law firm requested the Commission for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Form EC9 submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District which we are duty bound to oblige them under the law.

“The Form was certified on 15th July 2022. If minimum care has been exercised by the promoters of the story, they would have seen the two stamps of the Commission bearing different dates on the Form. It is this Form that is now misconstrued as INEC’s endorsement.

“For the record, the Commission has not recognized any of the two personalities as  Senatorial candidates.”

During the primary of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) the former Minister, and senate president did not participate as they were presidential aspirants.

It was after they failed at the presidential primary they they are putting pressure on candidates with senatorial ticket to step aside for them.

Akpabio was reported to have sponsored a family member to contest the primary on his behalf.

Owo Catholic Church Attack: Gov Akeredolu Confirms Arrest Of Landlord

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Landlord of the apartment, where two suspects of the Owo Catholic Church attack, whose arrest was announced by Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor,  stayed has also been nabbed.

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Akure also confirmed the arrest of the attackers of St Francis Catholic Church, Owo.

The Governor, who spoke shortly on the arrest after  General Irabor made the announcement in Abuja, disclosed that the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the incidence is now five

Mr Akeredolu further disclosed that the suspects lodged at the house before they carried out the June 5 attack at Catholic church.

He noted that Government did not spare a moment in trailing the terrorists since the horrendous attacks on innocent worshipers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo.

He spoke during a courtesy visit to his office by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the Chairman of the Council, Prince Leke Adegbite.

”Now that the Military has announced it, I can tell you that five of them have been arrested now.

“They are still on the trail of the rest. The home where they lodged in Owo and the person that accommodated them before the attack, has also been arrested.

“We did not spare a moment. I am happy that the Chief of Defence Staff has announced it. We have known for a while but we needed not to come out with it because more works are still ongoing. I can confirm that this arrest has been made. And they are still on the trail of some of them.”

Governor Akeredolu advised leaders of the Ebira community in the state to warn their young ones not to copy the bad venture of kidnapping.

The Governor said recent reports from victims of kidnap in the state have established that some Ebira indigenes are now involved in the unwholesome act.

He noted that the Ebiras have lived together with the people of the state peacefully for several decades, adding that they have always been supportive and hardworking.

“I want to use this medium to urge our brothers to concentrate on their farming trade. It will be unfortunate to know that the Ebiras in our midst are now involved in kidnapping.

“We are appealing to them not to copy bad thing. The traders selling by the road side should not become informants. We are not fighting them.

“We have seen their numbers, they supported and voted for us during elections. I will call their leaders and talk to them.

“Our brothers who were  kidnapped on their way to Ikare, talk to them. They were taken to Ebira farmsteads.

“For me, we have lived together for too long for this to happen. I am ready to make any effort to ensure that the conviviality that we have enjoyed continues.

“But we are begging their leaders to urge them not to copy bad thing. They are in our midst, we are surrounded by them. The issue of security is key and it’s dynamic.”

The Governor, who  thanked the NUJ in the state for the cooperation extended to his administration, assured members of sustained efforts at developing the state.

On the issue of Security, Governor Akeredolu disclosed that aside the recent recruitment and training of new Amotekun personnel, 20 hunters and local vigilantes will be trained by the Amotekun corps in each of the eighteen local government areas in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ, Ondo State Council thanked the Governor for his support for the state owned media, adding that the upgrade of facilities in the two state-owned media outfits is commendable.

He equally appreciated the Governor for the approval of the Weigh-in allowance for journalists and information officers working in the State and Local government service.

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