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Imo: Gunmen Abduct Four Catholic  Rev. Sisters

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The Source
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By Charles Igbo

Four Roman Catholic Reverend Sisters have been abducted by Gunmen. They were abducted on Sunday morning, August 21, 2022, around the Okigwe-Umulolo axis. This axis has recently become notorious for the incessant abduction of people.

According to a release titled Sad News signed by Sister Zita Ihedoro, SJS, the abducted four – Sisters Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Libertad Mbamalu and Benita Agu – all Sisters Of  Jesus The Saviour Generalate – were on their way to a Thanksgiving Mass when they were abducted.

Ihedoro appealed for intense prayers on their behalf from Priests, People of God and all men and women of goodwill. She prayed for their immediate release and implored “Mother Mary” to intercede.

Abduction of innocent Nigerians has become the norm rather than the exception in the South-east of Nigeria.

On Saturday in Orji, Owerri North, Imo State, four people were abducted while  an auto-mechanic driving three of the kidnapped men was shot dead.

Costa Rica 2022: Netherlands Knocks-out Falconets; World Cup  Dream Ends

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Falconets of Nigeria has seen its quest for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup glory come to an end, as goals from Hulswit and Henry gave Netherlands the World Cup Semi Fonal ticket.

As expected, the Falconets started the game brightly, shooting from all cylinders but could not beat the Netherlands goalkeeper.

The Falconets Coach, Christopher Danjuma, started the game with Omini Oyono in goal, Oluwatosin Demehin, Oshobukola, Rofiat

Imuran and Jumoke Alani in the defense line up.

Esther Onyenezide, Deborah Abiodun, Motunrayo Amoo, Mercy Idoko, Flourish Sabastine, with Precious Okwuchukwu leading the attack.

In the 11th minute, the first major attack and the first shot at goal gave the Netherlands the lead courtesy of Hulswit.

The Falconets didn’t relent. They kept on mounting pressure on their European opponents, hitting the woodwork on two occasions.

The Nigerian Ladies also forced the Dutch goalkeeper to make some brilliant and smart saves, before a defensive blunder from the Falconets Captain, Demehin, who mis-kicked the ball in the Nigerian half, gifting Netherlands midfielder, Henry, the opportunity to slot home the second goal.

The first half ended with the only surviving African team, Falconets, at the competition trailing their European counterpart.

At the resumption of the second half, the Falconets didn’t rest on their oars as they kept looking for the much needed Bola to change the dynamics of the game.

Sadly, all their efforts proved abortive as the match ended 2-0 in favour of the Netherlands.

This is the sixth time the Falconets have failed to go beyond the Quarterfinals in their 10th appearance at the World Under-20 Female Soccer fiesta.

Nigeria was finalist in 2010 and 2014, on both occasions, the African side lost.

With this victory, Netherlands will face Spain in the Semi Final, while Brazil will face the winner between Japan and France in the last Quarter Final match.

PDP: Ayu’s Fate To Be Decided This Week Says BOT Chair

By
James Orji
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Iyorchia Ayu and Atiku Abubakar

There is a twist in the problem rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after the party’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees Walid Jibrin criticized the party for allowing a situation where three key positions are held by Northerners.

Apart from him as the BOT chair, Atiku Abubakar and Iyorchia Ayu hold the position of PDP presidential candidate and National Chairman, respectively.

Jibril described the situation as unfair.

The BOT chairman spoke amidst pressure on Ayu to resign his position following the emergence of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate in June.

Jibrin position, those watching the party said could be a new plot to force the National Chairman out of his position so that peace can return to the party, following the recent divisions occasioned by the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate, and his eventual selection of Governor Ifeanyin Okowa of Delta state as his running mate.

Since Atiku’s emergence as the flagbearer, the party has been polarized between supporters of Governor Nyesom Wike of River state, who came second during the shadow election, and supporters of the former vice president.

While the Wike group insists on the ouster of the National Chairman, the case is not the same with the Atiku’s group who has maintained that Ayu must remain in office for four years, according to the terms of his election.

Last week, the embattled chairman vowed not to step down from office until his term expired.

“We restate, therefore, that the PDP National Chairman has not resigned and has no plan of resigning. For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years,” the statement reads.

“Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP Constitution are clear on the removal and/or resignation of the National Chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s Constitution for more information on the matter.

“PDP members and the general public are advised to ignore any story of such a phantom resignation,” Simon Imobo-Tswana, a media aide to Ayu said.

The party had also two weeks, ago postponed a meeting of its National Caucus and National Executive Committee, NEC following an alleged plot to force out the National Chairman from office.

Speaking Jubril said the north’s dominance of key positions is the root cause of the current problem rocking the opposition party.

Jibrin who spoke on the Channels Television Sunday Politics said the party will correct the lopsidedness as soon as possible.

According to him, “To tell the truth, it will not be fair for the president of Nigeria to be from the north, the chairman of the party from the north, and the BoT chairman from the north.

“By next week, we will get the report. And when we find out that somebody is wrong in what has happened we will come up openly to tell the party that it is wrong. Whatever we can do, we will do it in the interest of the party to make the party remain as PDP.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that some chieftains of the party working for Atiku may yet try again to force the party to shift the NEC meeting so as to stop Ayu from being disgraced out of office. Sources in the party said the Atiku group would wait for the outcome of the ongoing reconciliation efforts with Governor Wike before it can agree on the ouster of the National chairman. Ayu’s removal is one of the demands of the Wike’s group.

They Are After Me, Ex-Speaker, Dogara Says After Speaking Against Muslim/Muslim Ticket

By
James Orji
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Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives has accused two policemen of trying to kill him. The former Speaker named One Barau Joel Amos as conniving with the policemen to assassinate him.

Even though the politician did not say why he was being targeted, he has now written a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to investigate the matter.

Apart from him, two other persons, Istifanus Bala Gambar, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Markus Musa, are also being targeted.

“I am sure you are apprised of the matter since it involves looting of your armoury in Bauchi by the very officers who are entrusted with the safe custody of your arms and a constituent of mine, Barau Joel Amos, who sought to buy or has been buying assault rifles from the officers,” Dogara said.

According to him, “I find it worrisome that there has been no official advice from the police relating to this credible threat to our lives to enable us to beef up security around us or just to be careful about our movements. More so, there is a spike in cases of kidnappings and killings by unknown gunmen, especially in the Lere District of T/Balewa.

“A case in point was the attack at Boto town where some relations of a former Governor of the State were killed while some were abducted. With all due respect, this is a matter that must not be handled with kid gloves.

“His confession relates to those who gave him or contributed the money for him to be used to procure weapons. His bank statements and phone call logs will definitely collaborate with his confessions.

“Granted his meager salary as a storekeeper in a secondary school, it will have taken him a lifetime saving to be able to raise the N1.2m cash which he wanted to use to buy the two rifles.”

Recall that the former Speaker is among some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC who recently spoke against the party’s Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket.

Electronic Transmission Of Results Stays – INEC

By
The Source
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Independent National Electoral Commission

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has debunked the news making the rounds about its supposed dumping of  electronic means of transmission of election results during  2023 and subsequent elections.

A press release issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman, information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye on Sunday states that the attention of INEC “has been drawn to a misunderstanding arising from a recent short interview granted to a national newspaper on the procedure for result management during elections.

“Some have interpreted the explanation on result management procedure to mean that the Commission has jettisoned the electronic transmission of result and reverted to the manual process. This is not correct.

“For clarity, the procedure for result transmission remains the same as in recent Governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. There will be no change in all future elections, including the 2023 General Election.

“We wish to reassure Nigerians that the electronic transmission of result has come to stay. It adds to the credibility and transparency of the process when citizens follow polling unit level results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal on real-time on Election Day. There will be no change or deviation in subsequent elections.

“The entire gamut of result management is provided for in Sections 60, 62 and 64 of the Electoral Act 2022. In line with the provision of the law.

“The Commission, in April this year, released a detailed clarification of the procedure for transmission, collation and declaration of results which was shared with all stakeholders and uploaded to our website.

“The Commission then appealed to all Nigerians to avail themselves of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Commission’s detailed explanation of the procedure and not reach a conclusion on the basis of media headlines.”

Media report on dumping of the project has blamed it on sudden transfer of a top official of the commission in charge of ICT from headquarters to a state in the east.

Knocks For Govs Ayade, Abiodun For Harassing Journalists

By
James Orji
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Some state governors have received knocks from Nigerians over their constant harassment of journalists. The criticism comes on the heels of the detention of an Ogun State publisher, Ahmed Olamilekan, for publishing a story on the state governor Dapo Abiodun.

“Journalists are now being hunted for trying to hold public officials to account for their actions. The situation has become worst under this dispensation, particularly with state governors using security men to intimidate media men for doing their job.

“From all indications, journalists are fast becoming an endangered species in Nigeria. This is not a good development for a young democracy,” Justus Imagbe said.

Olamilekan had in May this year republished a story detailing Governor Abiodun’s alleged criminal record in the United States of America, USA following which he was arrested by the secret police and detained against his wish. The blogger has now spent 100 days in detention

His unlawful detention has continued to raise dust among Nigerians, family, and friends who criticized the current government at both federal and state levels for being repressive against the media.

The Source magazine had reported the harassment and detention of Agba Jalingo publisher of CrossRiverWatch by Cross Rivers state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.

Jalingo was arrested in his Alapere, Lagos home on Friday, detained, and later released by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF after the intervention of rights activist Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

Speaking on Olamilekan’s detention his lawyer, Festus Ogun said his client has been detained by the DSS since May 13, after honoring an invitation from the Ogun State command of the DSS.

Ogun said, “Ahmed was invited for questioning by the Ogun State command of the Department of State Services over a publication relating to the controversial criminal past of the state governor.

“Thereafter, he was forced against his will to pull down the story from his news blog.

“On Friday (May 13), last week, he was invited again and because my client had nothing to hide, he again honoured their invitation. Since then, he has been held incommunicado. He has not been granted access to his family or lawyer and he has been detained beyond the time contemplated by law.

“Currently, he is being arbitrarily tortured, intimidated and denied his fundamental rights to liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the constitution.”

Meanwhile, those who spoke to the magazine said any public official who felt aggrieved as a result of any publication should go to court to seek redress instead of harassing journalists, for doing their job.

BUA Group: The Other Side Of The Story

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The Source
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By Femi Adesina

The common, and perhaps, popular narrative for political, baleful and pernicious reasons, is for people to say that the Muhammadu Buhari administration has run down the economy of the country completely since its advent in 2015.

The fact that the global economy is spiraling out of control with inflation, stagflation, recession and depression staring hitherto vibrant countries in the face does not matter. The United Kingdom battles worst inflation figures in 40 years. The United States of America is not faring better, with an all time high in 41 years. Turkey and South Korea, 24-year high. Russia, 20-year high. Israel, 11 years, South Africa, 13 years, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Botswana, facing 19, 17, 14, and 14, years inflation spike, respectively.

Those playing politics with the economy want Nigerians to believe that we are the only ones in the bind. Not true. It is a global phenomenon.

Nigeria recently recorded its best Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate since 2014, but it does not matter to the naysayers. All they love to trumpet is the negative part of things. No room for redeeming developments.

But something happened at State House, Abuja, on Friday, last week, which shows that like a double-faced drum, what faces one direction turns the back in another direction. President Muhammadu Buhari hosted the Management Team of BUA Group, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, and it was, indeed, an eye-opening session.

What did Alhaji Rabiu tell the President? I call it the other side of the story of the Nigerian economy since 2015.

“Your Excellency, we are here today to thank you for your support to business and industry, as well as acknowledge the work that has been done so far by you and your government in creating an enabling environment that will secure a better Nigeria for investments, and the future. It is in this environment that BUA has thrived and become one of the success stories out of Nigeria to Africa and the world, despite the numerous global economic shocks that have occurred in the past few years since you became President in 2015.”

Shocking. Revelatory. Insightful. Those are the words of a chieftain of the second largest conglomerate in the country. Under the Buhari administration, BUA has thrived, “and become one of the success stories out of Nigeria to Africa and the world.” And that is not what the so-called ‘economic experts’ want us to believe.

But the BUA Chairman was just warming up. He went ahead to reel out facts and statistics.

“Your Excellency, in 2015, when you became President, we were on the verge of transitioning from a company focused on commodity trading to one that is focused on production using locally available raw materials. We were also constructing our first greenfield cement production plant in Edo State, which the Vice President commissioned. That project became a pivotal moment in our history as a proudly Nigerian foods, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure company because due to the success of that investment, we became even more convinced of the need to invest further in local production across various industries in Nigeria, in line with your charge to Nigerian businesses to do more in adding value to our God-given natural and mineral resources.”

Sounds like music in the ears. Sonorous. Resonant. Resounding. But Alhaji Rabiu was still shooting from the hips. He enumerated the successes of BUA Group under Buhari to include the following: three new cement factories of 7.5 million metric tonnes capacity in Edo and Sokoto States, additional cement plants of 6 million metric tonnes nearing completion to give BUA Cement a total capacity of 17 million metric tonnes upon completion in the second quarter of 2023.

In sugar, the Group has added a new 750,000 metric tonnes factory in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, acquired two shipping vessels to enable it export sugar seamlessly to the rest of Africa.

“We also have a 20,000 hectares, 4-in-1 fully integrated sugar plantation in Kwara State with a sugar mill, refinery, ethanol plant and 350MW power plant…and upon completion, we will be producing 200,000 tonnes of refined sugar and 20 million liters of ethanol on site from the plantation.”

All under Buhari. But that is not what the ‘economic experts’ usually want us to believe!

And still more from Alhaji Rabiu, a renowned philanthropist leading a socially responsible conglomerate:

“We have built flour and pasta factories and are expanding additional lines in Port Harcourt, to be completed at the end of this year. That should give BUA Foods a total capacity of 1.5 million mtpa of flour and 600,000tpa of pasta on completion.”

In the construction space, the Group has acquired the well known PW Nigeria, and in the oil and gas sector, has commenced a 200,000 barrels per day refinery with a petrochemical plant to also produce 300,000 tonnes of polypropylene in Akwa Ibom State. All under Buhari. But didn’t revisionists and so-called ‘experts’ say the President has run down every aspect of the economy? Liars. Big, fat liars, playing crude and damaging politics.

Under Buhari, BUA Group has gone to the capital market, and listed two of its businesses, BUA Cement PLC, and BUA Foods PLC. The latter is now the most profitable publicly listed company in the Nigerian foods industry, creating value for shareholders.

Alhaji Rabiu concluded: “Your Excellency, I must say that you have done so much and tried in creating an enabling environment for businesses across Nigeria going by the strides we-and many others-have made. The results can-and will speak for themselves-long after you have left office. We know where we were in 2015 when you came in..Nigeria is indeed filled with opportunities, and we want to, therefore, identify with you.”

Alhaji Abulsamad Rabiu is already blessed, but I pray that God will bless him more for this truth he has spoken. It is uncommon, a very courageous thing to do, in the light of what the ‘economic experts’ say. Thanks for telling the other side of the story. Nigeria is, indeed, filled with opportunities, a thing BUA Group and many others are tapping into, and making conquests.

President Buhari appreciated the BUA Team, and said he was impressed and proud of the transformation the outfit has made from trading concern to a manufacturing conglomerate. He added:

“A key pillar of our administration’s policy thrust is import substitution especially when it comes to essential items such as food, household consumables and shelter. A nation of our size and with our natural and human resources is exhibiting its weakness if it continues importing essential commodities.

“For every grain of rice, wheat or maize we import, we destroy the livelihoods of our local farmers while creating jobs abroad. It is because of this that seven years ago, our Government introduced numerous laws, executive orders and incentives that support businesses with import substitution projects.

“Our immediate goal then was job creation, and economic security.  In the medium term our hope was to see Nigerian companies expand their production expertise and capacity to other African nations helping them to also achieve their food and economic security goals. In the long term, our desire is to create a peaceful and prosperous continent with its young and talented population feeding, clothing and housing themselves.

“Today, through the BUA story, it is clear that we are on track!  The company has continued to invest in domestic production and processing, leveraging our local raw materials and youthful talent.

“As a Government, this is a clear testament to the correctness of our programs and policies. We have also seen similar successes especially in the food and agri-input value chain.

“You have shown through your efforts at BUA, what is possible in our country and this is what I have always been working towards, a situation where we have businesses that can add value, create employment opportunities and reduce our dependence on imports whilst positioning ourselves for exports and global competitiveness.”

“Your success story, and those of many more Nigerian entrepreneurs, give us the motivation to do more as a Government to support the aspirations of all businesses big and small.”

BUA Group has done what all Nigerians should do across sectors; in business, education, security, healthcare, everywhere. Appreciate whatever Government has done, and encourage it to do more, rather than endless caviling, bellyaching and bad-mouthing everything. Whatever we say about our country is what we get.

Adesina is Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity

2023: Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Organization Names Onanuga, Keyamo, Alake Heads Media Directorate

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 Presidential Election gathers momentum, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed and his running mate, Kashim Shettima have announced the composition of the Media and Communication Directorate of its campaign.

The directorate, approved by the presidential candidate is made up of three departments.

The three departments are Public Affairs, Media and Publicity and Strategic Communication.

In the approved directorate, Bayo Onanuga, the Managing  Director of The News/PMNews and former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, will continue his role as Director of Media and Publicity.

Dele Alake, a former Commissioner of information and veteran Journalist, will serve as Director of Strategic Communication. He served in this role for the Buhari campaign in 2014-15.

Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo will continue his role as spokesman of the Campaign as Director of Public Affairs.

The Directorate will also have six Deputy Directors that include Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Deputy Director, Communication Strategy, Hannatu Musawa, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Deputy Director, Media relations.

Mallam Modibbo Kawu will be Deputy Director of Media and Publicity, while Mohammed Bulama will be in charge of multi-media. Seun Olufemi-White will be the deputy director New Media.

The tripodal arrangement, the first in a presidential campaign, has a line of other assistant directors and senior officials, representing the nation’s various regions with job specifications spelt out.

The campaign structure will also soon unveil representatives and spokesmen in all the States of the Federation.

FG, States Must Develop Rural Communities To Decongest Cities – NIESV

By
Ayodele Oni
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Johnbull Amayaevbo

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers has made case for rapid development of rural communities to check over population of major cities. NIESV charged federal and state governments to extend infrastructural development to rural areas in the country in a bid to decongest the cities.

The institution also urged that the most appropriate way to prevent cities from being overpopulated by those in search of greener pasture, was to ensure that institutions, industries among others thrived in communities outside the cities.

NIEV President, Mr. Johnbull Amayaevbo, made the remarks in Akure over the weekend during the investiture ceremony of Mr Idris Oloruntoba as the 15th Chairman of the Ondo State Branch of the institution and the inauguration of the 2022/2024 executive committee.

According to Amayaevbo, the institution has been making moves to partner the government on how the decongestion process can be achieved seamlessly.

“Take for instance, a country like South Africa, if you have been to Sun City, it was a bush, but some people came up and did a proposal. Sun City is one of the best cities in South Africa today.

“So we will partner and collaborate with the state governments to extend infrastructural facilities to rural communities to decongest the cities.

“If we have good infrastructure outside the cities, if we have higher institutions outside the cities, if we have good industries outside the cities and if there is power, many people will not come into the city and start dragging for nothing.

“So we will advise the government and we have been doing that but we will not be tired of doing it to making sure that they take our proposal and I know that this state governor (Akeredolu) listen a lot and most other governors too.

“So we will collaborate with government to ensure that infrastructural provision is key and we will give them more technical advice and report on how to achieving the decongestion of our cities in collaboration with other professional bodies.”

On quackery within NIESV, Amayaevbo, said “However, we are doing a lot of advocacy right now to let the public know who the quacks are and who the estate agents are.

“Currently, we are part of those sponsoring a bill at the National Assembly regarding estate agency law in Nigeria. The last visit we had with the Chairman of EFCC, he was very much interested.

“We are doing everything as a professional body to bring across the country agents, train them and asked them to belong to that association, so that if anything is done wrongly by them, they can be traced. As it is, you hardly can trace them.”

While pledging that the general interests of the profession will be the focus of the his executives, the new state Chairman advised that the public and government should rely on the professional body on policy formulation, valuation as well as land administration.

“The Executive Committee members have met and wish to let you know that we have hit the ground running knowing that two years is such a short time.

“We have made up our minds to leave the branch much better than we met it. We wish to let you know that we have a number of strategies in place which we shall strive to execute.”

How Politicians Lure Our Kinsmen To Crime – Ebira Community

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Ebira Community resident in Ondo has said politicians in the state aided involvement of some of its kinsmen in criminal activities.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had last week addressed representatives of the Kogi state indigenes resident in the state and implicated them in series of kidnappings.

Representatives of Ebira from 18 local governments in Ondo state accused some politicians of recruiting their kinsmen as thugs during elections and thereafter take to crime.

Spokesman of Ebira Community in the state cautioned against politicizing the fight against insecurity so that the war against banditry and kidnapping will not be difficult.

The spokesman, Barrister Vincent Abiodun lmoru noted that Nigeria’s security challenges could not have gotten to its present alarming level if stakeholders have not been politicizing it and called for collaborative efforts to win the war.

They particularly pointed out the listing of one Idris Ojo, who was an Escapee from Kuje prison that was attacked on July 5, 2022 in the list of those arrested for carrying out the massacre in Owo on June 5, 2022 a month after.

He  lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for making the clarification shortly after the list was released by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Lucky Irabor.

The spokesman maintained that Ebiras are not ready in any way to support or defend any of their kinsmen arrested for criminal activities in the state.

He advised that instead such persons should be reported to appropriate authorities and called on the security agencies to always carry out thorough and verifiable investigations before going to the press as their intelligence gathering, investigations and conclusions are always open for public evaluation and analysis.

“We advise security agencies in the country to always extend their intelligence and investigative tentacles for thorough investigation of crimes so as to come up with clearcut conclusions which will command public interest and trust.”

Imoru pleaded with the Ondo state government to establish Amotekun Posts in some communities which are predominantly inhabited by Ebira people.

He warned politicians, who have cultivated the habit of importing Ebira youths from their state to Ondo State as political thugs, saying that they are ready to deal decisively with such youths.

The spokesman announced that the forum has banned all Ebira traditional festivals from being held in any part of Ondo State for now.

According to him, the forum will be collecting data of suspected criminals of Ebira origin in the state for periodic presentation to the Paramount Ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim for further tracing, invitation and interrogation of their parents at the palace of their monarch in Okene, Kogi State.

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