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Police Arrest 17 Over Planned Violent Demonstration In Kano

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Police on Duty

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Kano State Police Command on Wednesday, February, 26, 2025, informed that it has uncovered a plan by some hoodlums to breach the peace of the  State through the instigation of a violent protest.

This is even as it announced the arrest of no fewer than 17 suspects in connection with the said planned violent demonstration.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa,SP,  the Command noted that following the discovery of the sinister plan, it  has,  in collaboration with sister security outfits enhanced security in strategic places across the State.

According to Kiyawa, Security Operatives and equipment have been deployed to perceived flash points particularly in Kano metropolis, as part of a wider proactive measure to  forstall any break down of law and order.

Similarly, Operatives have been given the marching order to deal decisively with any situation that appears to threaten the peace of the State.

Consequently, the Command warned trouble makers to steer clear of the State as it is ever ready to deal decisively with any person and groups found to be instigating violence .

The Police also warned against any form of unlawful gathering, procession or engagement in violence related activities.

Such unlawful gathering and activities, the Command further warned, will be met with a swift and decisive response from security personnel.

The Command attributed the arrest of the 17 suspects to the enhanced security situation across the state, buoyed by credible intelligence.

The Command, while urging the public to be vigilant, also, solicited prompt reporting of any suspicious movements and or activities.

It reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and properties of the people.

Court Affirms Expulsion Of Odefa, PDP South East Vice Chairman

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Chief Ali Odefa

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The smearing leadership crisis rocking the South East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, once again, came to the front burner with a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State affirming the expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa, the zonal Vice chairman.

The Source reports that the Oguduokwor Ward leadership of the PDP in Ebonyi State had on December 12 ,2025 voted to expel Odefa as a member of the party .

The expulsion was preceded about two months  earlier by a  suspension order.

The Zonal Vice  Chairman’s expulsion order was a direct and immediate fall out from the  ruling of  an Ebonyi State High Court affirming his earlier suspension from the party.

The Court, in addition to affirming his suspension ordered Chief Odefa to pay the sum of N 100 million in damages to the Oguduokwor ward Executives whom he had accused of forgery during the process of his suspension.

The expulsion order in December, 2024, instantly drew the ire of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Party which subsequently declared the efforts of the Oguduokwor Ward Executives a nullity.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP NWC said that going by the party’s constitution and other extant laws, Ward and State Executives lack the requisite powers to  impose any disciplinary actions on National Executive Council NEC,and Board of Trustees BoT members of the party .

According to him, such categories of party officials can only be disciplined by the NWC in line with extant rules and laws .

But in a verdict delivered on Wednesday, trial Judge, Justice Hilary Oshomah, affirmed the expulsion of Odefa by his Ward Executives as valid and constitutional.

The Court, also, maintained that the ward leadership of the party, in carrying out  the expulsion exercise, followed due processes.

The Party Executives had  argued that Odefa’s expulsion followed the recommendations of a validly constituted disciplinary committee which found him guilty of anti-party activities.

Although as at the time of reporting, the leadership of the PDP, both at the State, Regional, and National levels were yet to react to the latest court judgment, indications are rife the NWC in particular will be rejecting the development.

There are strong indications that the melodrama playing out in Odefa’s travails has the imprimatur of some forces loyal to the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

NAFDAC DG Alerts: ” There Are Plans To Kill Me”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Mojisola Adeyeye - NAFDAC DG

By Adesina Soyooye 

The Director General  of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that her life is on the line.

Prof Adeyeye said there is a plan to kill her over a Trillion Naira worth of drugs seized by NAFDAC in recent times. She says the seizure recently made by NAFDAC ranks as the biggest ever made in the history of NAFDAC. She named Aba, Onitsha and Idumota drug markets as the areas targeted by the recent operation by the Agency.

And it is not just her life alone that is on the line. She revealed that the life of every NAFDAC staff and   members of their families were in danger. She disclosed that they are in constant threat of either murdering them or kidnapping them.

For instance, there had been an attempt  life before. The son of a NAFDAC staff in Kano was kidnapped in a bid to hurt the family over his father’s job. Mercifully, he escaped before more harm could be done to him.

Prof. Adeyeye narrated her ordeal when she spoke to State House Reporters in Abuja. Given the situation, she appealed for adequate protection for the staff and families of the Agency as they have all become targets.

For her own protection, she said she has two Policemen assigned to her in her Abuja and Lagos homes. Inadequate as that number is, Adeyeye said she finds their presence uncomfortable, atimes, as it does not suit her lifestyle because she can no longer go to anywhere alone.

She said: “I told you about the attempted murder about six months ago. One of our staff members in Kano had his child kidnapped because he was doing his job. Fortunately, the child escaped. 

“For me, I have two Policemen living in my house 24/7 in Abuja and Lagos. I don’t have a life. I can’t go anywhere without Police escorts. That’s not my way of living, but I don’t have a choice because we must save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”

In the ongoing crack down on the merchants of death, Adeyeye said the Agency has seized fake and counterfeit pharmaceutical products worth over one trillion Naira, recently 

He disclosed that NAFDAC has seized 87 truck loads of expired, substandard medical products including USAID and UNFPA- donated antiretroviral, male and female condoms and other corrupted medical supplies.

Prof. Adeyeye re-emhasised her call for death penalty to be imposed on these merchants of death.

Recall that a former NAFDAC DG, late Professor Dora Akunyili, escaped death by whiskers when she was shot inside her car while she was in office as DG. She later died of cancer years later.

No Oil Exploration In Our  Land, Until Past Issues Are Resolved – Ogoni Women 

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Ogoni Land

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

Ogoni women, on  Wednesday, February 26, 2025, warned the Federal Government and Multinational companies  against any plans to  resume crude oil explorations in the area without first resolving teething issues .

They have, therefore, expressed readiness to go naked on the streets of major towns and cities in Rivers State to press home their demands .

The women, under the aegis of “Ogoni ,Women Coalition for Sustainable Environment, OWCSE, in a statement, insisted that certain grey areas have to be straightened before the resumption of oil extraction in the area.

The Source reports that the Federal Government recently commenced moves to resume oil exploration activities in Ogoniland after many years of break owing to restiveness from the communities 

But making its intentions known, the people of the area have continued to oppose the idea on the grounds that the conditions that precipitated the halting of oil extraction remain unresolved.

In the statement jointly issued by over 10 groups, Spokesperson, Dr Patience Osaroejiji, noted that oil explorations in Ogoni will only resume  after the resolution of some fundamental issues that led to the suspension of oil explorations in the 1990s .

The women expressed serious concerns over the decision by the authorities to re-commence activities without first taking practical steps to amicably resolve existing areas of disagreements.

They described the posture of the authorities as highly insensitive, and disrespectful to the plights of the Ogoni people in the face of the well known environmental hazards caused by past activities.

However, the women warned that they are ready to hit the streets of Rivers state nude should the authorities turn deaf ears to their demands.

“If the Government disregards our position and goes ahead with oil exploration, we, the women of Ogoni, will come out en masse and protest naked until the world hears us.

“It is disconcerting that in the rush to resume oil extraction, concerns in the Ogoni Bill of Rights remain unaddressed.

Families who lost loved ones, livelihoods and properties, due to repression have not received justice”, the women stated. 

Dr Osaroejiji decried the poor level of Government’s engagement with all relevant stakeholders in the countdown to the resumption of oil exploration activities in the area .

Particularly, she lamented the deliberate exclusion of women from the ongoing consultations among stakeholders.

According to her, Ogoni women, having endured neglect and disrespect over the years in matters concerning  their land,  especially environmental issues, have resolved to resist further mistreatment .

The women, therefore, called on the authorities to, as a matter of urgency, revisit some of the contentious issues such as the UNEP-brokered framework for the cleaning up of decades long oil pollution in Ogoni land.

The Women coalition, among other things demanded the prioritization of the implementation of all existing blueprints for the restoration of the environmental integrity of Ogoni land.

They, also, sued for the deployment of modern and eco-friendly equipment by oil exploration  companies so as to avoid  a repeat of the activities that brought about the massive environmental degradation in the area.

In the same vein, the women insisted on justice for all victims of past  repressive activities  as a necessary precondition for the resumption of any further oil extraction .

Tinubu Says Economy On Path Of Recovery, As APC NEC Passes Vote Of Confidence

By
The Source
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his determination to work harder for the country’s greater good, assuring that the Nigerian economy was on the path of recovery.

 

The President spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, at the All-Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee, (NEC) meeting, during which he received a vote of confidence for his administration’s good performance.

 

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser media to the president, quoted Tinubu as saying that the commendation from the party’s highest decision-making organ was a call for more hard work. He promised not to fail the party faithful.

 

“I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it. The vote is a challenge to do more work; we will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development.

 

“I am happy with food prices coming down, especially as Ramadan approaches. The Sun is high, and the sky is bright outside. 

“While the rest of the world unravels, we see growth in Nigeria. We are seeing a gradual return to stability. We are seeing improvements. I thank you, governors, ” President Tinubu said.

 

President Tinubu thanked Nigerians for their continued belief and trust in the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

 

He pledged to continue working assiduously with other arms of government to ensure the greater good for Nigerians and commended APC governors and executives for their continued and unwavering commitment.

 

“I’m grateful to all Nigerians for the electoral successes recorded from one state to the other. Governors, you have embraced these changes, and I thank the leadership of our party. I also thank members of the National Assembly for expeditiously considering the budget.

 

“We can only build the party on a progressive platform to deliver good service to Nigerians.

 

The President also commended the party’s National Working Committee for its performance and called for measures to end some of the crises in the states.

 

“The National Working Committee is doing a very good job; I am pleased with them. However, there are a few conflicts in the various states. 

“Let’s set up committees to look into the lingering problems in the states and appeal to these party leaders in various states to please be calm and be collaborative

Kaduna Electricity Employees Set To Resume Suspended Strike

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Residents of Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states have appealed to the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) not to resume their suspended strike over the sack of a number of workers in their franchise.

 There are indications that the proposed strike may likely affect the Ramadan period.

An industrial crisis between the management and the staff of the company in January, which lasted for many days, put some states in the northwest in total darkness.

It took the intervention of the Governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani and other stakeholders who waded into the crisis, before the electricity was restored.

NUEE is now threatening to go back to the trenches and put back the areas into another blackout, which if not quickly resolved may again affect the economy of its covering states.

A letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Union, Sheyin Wakili and Ado Ali, dated 24th February, 2025, ordered that at the expiration of a seven day ultimatum, the services of the union be shutdown.

The letter titled: ‘Notice of Total Withdrawal of Service and Shut Down of Kaduna Electric, reads: ” I am mandated by the entire state council to notify you of  total withdrawal of service and shut down of Kaduna electric which should take place on 00:00HRS of 1st March, 2025 as at the expiration and compliance of the aforementioned notice.

“All chapter Executives are by this notice to begin preparation and mobilizing for action immediately.”

Group Urges Tinubu To Extend State Pardon To Ken Saro Wiwa, Calls For Compensation

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ken Saro Wiwa

By Akinwale Kasali 

A Group, Clean Environmental Foundation, CEF, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to declare Environmental Activist, Ken Saro Wiwa a National hero, with a National Monument named after him.

Saro Wiwa and eight others were sentenced to death and hanged during the regime of General Sani Abacha after they were found culpable in the gruesome murder of four prominent sons of Ogoniland in the cause of   Saro-Wiwa’s  alleged Environmental activism. The bodies of those Ogoni Four, were never found for a decent burial by their families.

The Group also urged President Tinubu to grant State pardon  Saro -Wiwa  who was hanged in November 1995 alongside the other eight.

In a statement on Tuesday, CEF called on the Nigerian President not only to extend state pardon to Saro Wiwa but, also, pay compensation to his family. 

It said President Tinubu needed to understand the pain, misery and agony the Niger Delta people face due to the hanging of Saro Wiwa.

They, however, inexplicably, said nothing about the gruesome murder of the four Ogoni prominent leaders which included a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Albert Barde, who was dragged out from a Church where he ran to take refuge from the instigated mob, and murdered.

Saro Wiwa was arrested in 1995 by the Military regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha following the murder of those four leading Ogoni leaders.

The military government blamed him for the killing but many see it as a plot by the Government to nail its avowed enemy.

He had raised the banner of resistance against environmental injustice to the global level.

A tribunal was subsequently set up by the military which culminated in the death sentence passed on Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders.

The trial drew global condemnation from leaders across the world including the then South African President Nelson Mandela.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend state pardon to Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others judicially murdered by the Nigerian State under Gen Sani Abacha. The President should declare Saro Wiwa a National hero after the state pardon granted him and eight others” the statement signed by the CEF Executive Director, Isaac Omomedia stated.

CEF is a leading environmental group in West Africa. Only recently, the group’s Technical Team conducted an extensive research and tour of the Niger Delta to access damage to the ecosystem and other biodiversity issues.

Omomedia said “The return of oil exploration in Ogoni is not as important as building broken trust between the Ogoni and the Nigerian authorities. The Government should not give the impression that it is more interested in profit than in Justice.”

He said today, an average Ogoni man feels depressed, marginalised and traumatised by the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa who stood out as a man of peace that never resorted to armed insurrection, yet he was killed by the Nigerian state.

Onomedia said “President Tinubu should do the right thing. He will instantly enjoy the support of Ogoni people and the entire Niger Delta if he can be courageous enough to reclaim the lost trust between Ogoni and the Nigerian state” Omomedia said.

He called on President Tinubu to also name a National Monument after the late environmental activist.

 Saro-Wiwa wad born in October 1941.

He was a Nigerian writer, teacher, poet, television producer, and social rights activist who lost his life in 1995

He led the struggle for envionemtal justice in the Niger-Delta with specific focus on Ogoni people.

Instructively, he was, also, an Abacha friend, a fact he allegedly, reconfirmed while he was being led to the gallows.

Against Expectations, Ganduje  Gets Extension As APC Chair, Minister Applauds

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Minister of State ,Housing and Urban Development, Hon Abdullahi Ata, on Wednesday February 26,2025 , lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National caucus for extending the tenure of the National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to 2026.

The Source reports that the APC, at its National Caucus meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, on Tuesday ,February 25, passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Ganduje as the National Chairman.

Dr Ganduje,  the immediate past Governor of Kano State, had mounted the saddle in 2023 after the unceremonious exit of erstwhile National chairman and former Governor of Nasarawa state Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The endorsement of Ganduje’s tenure till 2026 waa one of the highpoints of the first APC National Caucus meeting in more than one year.

In a statement issued on  Wednesday by Seyi Olorunsola, the Minister’s Media aide noted that Dr Ganduje’s leadership has   brought about remarkable unity and successes  for the party.

“The Hon Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, congratulates, APC  National  Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on the extension of his tenure as the National Chairman Chairman of the APC till 2026.

“This decision, ratified during the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting held on February 25, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, and presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflects the party’s unwavering confidence in Dr Ganduje’s leadership .

“Since assuming the role of National Chairman on August 3,2023, Dr Ganduje has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, steering the APC to remarkable successes in various elections.

“Under his guidance ,the party has recorded significant victories in off-cycle Governorship elections ,notably in Imo ,Kogi,Edo and Ondo states.

“These electoral successes underscore the strategic sense of direction, and unity that he has instilled among party faithful.

“In Edo State, the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, secured a decisive victory in the September 21,2024 Governorship election.

“Similarly in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s election in November, 2024 further cemented APC’s dominance in the South West region of the country.

“The Party’s success stories extended to Kogi state with Usman Ododo emerging victorious at the November 2023 Governorship polls.

“In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodinma was re-elected for a second term .These electoral feats reinforce the APC’s commitment to delivering good governance and the electorate’s trust in the party’s vision for sustainable development”, Ata stated.

The Minister who recently steered up controversies with his alleged threat to quit APC should the tenure of  Abdullahi Abbas ,the Kano state Chairman be renewed, attributed the modest achievements of  Dr Ganduje to his vast political experiences.

He expressed the optimism that Dr Ganduje will bring his excellent political trajectory to move APC to the next level.

Before Wednesday’s endorsement, speculations had been rife that Dr Ganduje was to be supplanted as the National Chairman owing to his recent appointment as the Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN.

Benue: Police Confirm Abduction Of Two  Students As Edo Command Arrests Pastor Over  Murder Of  Seven-Year Old

By
Ayodele Oni
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Police Officer

By Ayodele Oni

Benue State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi by gunmen.

Report stated that the incident happened in the late hours of Tuesday outside the University campus.

A student of the institution on Wednesday, Ashar Lubem, however, told newsmen that four students were kidnapped by the gunmen adding that there was panic among the students following the incident.

Lubem said, “Some gunmen kidnapped four students outside campus yesterday evening. We have yet to hear from them. Everyone is in  panic mood because of the incident.”

The Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, on Wednesday confirmed the incident and noted that an investigation had commenced.

She stressed that the Command only received a report of two students being kidnapped.

“We received the information yesterday evening that two students were kidnapped. We have commenced an investigation, and further details will be provided soon.”

 In Edo State, the Police Command on Wednesday arrested a 45-year-year-old Pastor Ijebor Simon and Destiny Okojabhole, 23 years, over alleged murder of a 7-year-old boy, Evans Okojabhole.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Moses Yamu said the incident was reported by the deceased’s father, John Okhojibole who lives on Jehovah Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua.

Yamu revealed that the late Evans was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet severed from his ankle and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house, 24 hours after he was reported missing.

“The Command is in receipt of a case of murder reported by one John Okhojibole of Jehovah Witness Road, off Elebesunu Street in Irrua.

“The unfortunate incident was reported on the 22/02/2025 at about 13:45 hours, when the remains of his seven year old son, Evans Okojabhole, was sighted with his stomach ripped open, his feet from his ankle and some fingers cut off and dumped in the bush close to their house at the above named address, 24 hours after he was reported missing.

“During preliminary investigations, two suspects, Pastor Ijebor Simon (45 years) and Destiny Okojabhole (23 years), have been arrested by operatives of Irrua Divisional Headquarters and transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department Benin-City for further investigation.”

Police Trail Abductors Of Afenifere Youth Leader, As IGP Orders Deployment Of Special Squads

By
Ayodele Oni
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Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni

By Ayodele Oni

Hope rises over possible rescue of the Afenifere Youth leader, Eniola Ojajuni as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun ordered the immediate deployment of the FID – Intelligence Response Team (IRT) tactical team to prioritize his safe rescue.

The victim had in a viral video at the kidnappers hideout, pleaded with Nigerian to help him raise N100 million being demanded by his abductors with rifle pointed at his neck.

In a press statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Wednesday stated that the NPF is fully committed to the safe return of Ojajuni and is deploying all necessary resources and expertise to achieve this objective. 

He however urged members of the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging in social media speculation or sharing unverified information regarding the ongoing rescue efforts. 

He said such activities can inadvertently jeopardize the operation and potentially endanger the safety of the victim. 

According to him, the Nigeria Police Force will continue to actively pursue and dismantle all criminal elements operating within our communities in the ultimate goal to establish peace and safety. 

ACP Adejobi also noted that in line with the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to combat crime, particularly organized crime, the Force has made significant breakthroughs, including the recovery of illegal firearms, the arrest of suspects, and the rescue of kidnapping victims. 

“These successes underscore the commitment of the police force to ensuring the safety and security of the good citizens of our dear country.

“Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force across the country have geared up efforts in combatting various sorts of organized crime including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and the likes. 

“In Taraba State, Police Operatives acting on credible intelligence, successfully stormed a criminal hideout in the Wamunchi dry season rice farms on February 26, 2025. 

“The operation resulted in the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, seven rounds of live ammunition, the arrest of twenty (20) male suspects, and the recovery of one motorcycle, three Dane guns, and a bow and arrow. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and the suspects are currently being profiled.

“Meanwhile, in Oyo State, following a report of a kidnapping incident at Agede Village, Moniya, Ibadan on February 25 2025, a coordinated response by the tactical teams of the Oyo State Police Command, and local security outfits, resulted in the safe rescue of three abductees: 

“Olori Hakimat Sadia, ‘F’ 50 yrs, Olori Rakyat ‘F’ 45 yrs, and Monsuru Ganiyu ‘M’ 20 yrs, who were all abducted from the palace of Baale Tajudeen Inaolaji on February 24 2025, by ten armed men, and the arrest of one of the abductors. 

“The IGP commends the bravery and swift action of these gallant officers who have demonstrated their commitment as police officers to ensuring the safety and security of citizens.”

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