Ondo Security Task Force, Army, In Joint Operation, Arrest 26 Illegal Miners

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September 12, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Security Task Force and Officers of the Nigerian Army in a joint operation, have arrested 26 illegal miners in Laje, near Ondo.

The security task force had last month arrested 12 illegal miners in various parts of the state.

Addressing newsmen during the handing over of the suspects at the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment of the Nigerian Army, the State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe, noted that the arrest of the illegal miners is to prevent future disasters in the state.

According to him, the illegal miners would become the terrorists, kidnappers, killers, rapers in the bush adding that the men of the Nigerian Army are stepping in proactively in the bushes, weeding out the illegal miners.

“Anywhere there is illegal mining, there will be banditry; they acquire arms, kidnapping becomes convenient. They exist in the shadow.

“They also affect farmers because they constitute a direct security threat, they degrade the environment and pollute our waters. Illegal mining is abhorrent to any civilised environment.”

The Commissioner noted that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is more than pleased that the arrest took place, stressing the Governor would leave no stone unturned in eradicating illegal mining in the State.

Obe, who warned other illegal miners that all of them would soon be arrested, commended the officers of the Army for their intervention, expressing his confidence that in no time, there would be nothing like illegal miners in Ondo State.

The Commissioner commended the efforts of the coordinator of the security task force, Mr. Gbenga Atiba, who is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, and his team in fishing out the illegal miners.

He also appreciated other security agencies and relevant stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring that illegal miners have no place in the State, urging the people of the State to report any trace of illegal miners around them for proper intervention.

One of the arrested miners, a 20-year old Suleiman Hassan from Zamfara State, said that the operation, where he was arrested, was his first time of mining gold illegally in Ondo State.

He claimed that he was brought into the business by one Alhaji Abdullahi and Alhaji Sule, both who are on the run.

Dangote Refinery: “Marketers Refuse To Buy Diesel, Petrol From Us Because Our Products Are Cheap”

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James Orji

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September 12, 2024

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Petroleum marketers in the country have refused to lift product from Dangote Refinery because its own price is cheaper than what is imported.

This is the complaint made to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the marketers in a letter they wrote to him on why they have refused to buy from the refinery.

Devakumar Edwin, Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited, who spoke in a Twitter Space session hosted by Nairametrics, said the marketers complained to the president, in a letter, that the cheap price from Dangote is bad for their businesses.

For instance, the marketers have complained that the drop in price of Dangote Refinery’s diesel to N900 per litre, is negatively impacting their businesses..

“Petroleum product marketers in Nigeria have written to President Bola Tinubu to complain that the refinery local prices which have dropped from N1,200 to N1,000 and now N900 per litre are impacting their businesses negatively,” Edwin said.

He said the refinery has managed to sell about 29 tankers of diesel per day due to low patronage from local petroleum product importers.

The 650,000 barrel refinery, according to checks, has the capacity to load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.

The revelation marked the latest face-off by the Refinery owned by Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote and some entrecnhed interests in the country after it started operation last year, energy analysts familiar with the issue said.

Recall that Dangote had last year accused the Nigerian National Petroluem Company Limiterd, NNPCL, of refusing to sell crude oil to the refinery.

Amidst the tug of war between the refinery and some entrenched interests in the country, Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, NMDPA had claimed that diesel from the Petrochemical refinery is below global standard.

Also recently, the NNPCL and Dangote Refinery had squarred up over the retail price of petrol, the latest product from the refinery after it started producing diesel and jet fuel last year.

The government-controlled oil company had said the refinery has the prerogative to set the price for the product, and sell directly to marketers, contrary to claim by Dangote that only the NNPLC can lift the product from the refinery and sell to marketers.

The confrontation, Edwin stated, is affecting smooth operations in the refinery, adding that there’s clandestine plan by some persons to frustrate products from the refinery from getting to the market.

If the blockage contnues, he said, the Refinery may have to look for patronage elsewhere.

Edwin said, “Well, I explained how there has been a kind of a blockade from lifting our products within the country. The traders have been trying to block (it), and so now we have been exporting our petroleum products. PMS, we are ready to pump in as much as possible to the country.

“But if the traders or NNPC are not buying the product, obviously, we will end up exporting the PMS as we are doing with the aviation jet and diesel,” he declared.

Edwin expressed surprise that the company started facing different challenges it never expected when the refinery was set to commence operations.

He recalled that the philosophy initially was to add value to the raw materials available in the country, regretting that Nigeria is still exporting crude and importing refined petroleum products after over three decades.

“The philosophy is to take the crude, and instead of exporting the crude, refine it, add value; export the finished products, and supply the finished products locally. But unfortunately for us, we started facing challenges with the crude supply.

“What is happening today? We are struggling to get the crude. We are now importing the crude from the US, we are importing from Brazil, and from other parts of the world. So, the whole philosophy has gone upside down. After all these decades, we are exporting crude, importing products,” he added.

“The same thing is continuing. We are not getting enough crude allocation, and the crude is still being exported. We are forced to import crude from outside. Yes, we are getting some crude locally, but it’s not adequate,” he stated.

Edo Gov Election: Parties Still Have Chance To Sign Peace Accord – Abdulsalami Abubakar

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Ayodele Oni

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September 12, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar led National Peace Committee has expressed hope that political parties in Edo state which boycotted the signing of peace accord on the governorship election will still do so before election date.

True to its threat to boycott signing of the peace pact, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declined to sign the accord for the Edo State Governorship election set for September 21.

While receiving the former Head of State on Wednesday, Governor Godwin Obaseki informed that the electoral commissioner and police boss posted to the state to conduct the election are allies of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesome Wike.

According to the governor, free and credible election could not be guaranteed under these two major stakeholders.

Former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar after other participating political parties, signed the accord, on Thursday, in Benin, announced that PDP had listed certain conditions under which it will endorse the peace accord.

“They had made some observations and I was expecting the chairman of the PDP to come and make that statement, having waited for him this long he chose to announce that the PDP said they are not going to sign and they have got some conditions.

“They said that after these conditions have been met, they will come to Abuja and sign.

He was however silent on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) which had earlier threatened to boycott the event eventually showed up.

Eighteen political parties have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the election.

Bandits Ambush Security Convoy, Kill Policemen, Soldiers In Zamfara

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 12, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

No fewer than eight Security Personnel early Thursday morning September 12, 2024, lost their lives in a fatal attack by suspected bandits in Zamfara State .

Five Police men, three soldiers, were killed. A number of others sustained varying degrees of injuries, following the ambush. The Security Team was escorting some construction workers to site in Tsafe Local Council of the State.

The Source reports that Thursday’s ambush came on the heels of the abduction on Wednesday September 11, of several travelers by suspected bandits on the Gusau/Funtua road .

Zamfara and neighbouring Katsina State are two of the most severely affected by banditry and other criminal activities in the North West region of Nigeria.

According to information from both Security Personnel and Locals ,the combined team of Security operatives was escorting workers of the construction giant- Setraco to site when they were ambushed and attacked.

Before help could come from security formations, five policemen and three soldiers had paid the supreme price .

However, the security intervention was said to have averted more casualties, and the abduction of the Workers, who were the primary target of the bandits.

“Troops escorting Setraco workers on their way to Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara encountered an ambush.

“Unfortunately, we lost three soldiers and five policemen ,and their riffles were taken by the terrorists.

“But despite the ambush and the loss, troops neutralized many of the terrorists during a fierce gun battle that followed the ambush”, a source revealed.

Bodies of the deceased Securityu Personnel, according to the Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson, Yalzid Abubakar, have been retrieved.

He informed that a detailed statement will be made as soon as the team dispatched to the scene turn in their report.

The Source reports that of late, bandits within the Zamfara/Kebbi/Sokoto axis have been operating with unprecedented audacity.

This has led to the abductions and killings of several people, including high profile figures such as the District Head of Gatawa in Sabon Birnin local councils of Sokoto State , Alhaji Abdullahi Bawa Isah.

The unfortunate surge in banditry activities have since forced the Federal Government to direct Security Chiefs ,including Minister for Defence(State), Bello Matawalle, to relocate to the Zone.

Edo Guber: Peace Accord Suffers Setback As PDP, APC Shun General Abubakar Committee

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Ayodele Oni

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September 12, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Even before it is signed, the Peace Accord among contending political parties ahead of the September 21 governorship election, in Edo state seems to have collapsed.

This followed the last minute declaration by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it is not disposed to signing the peace accord.

This is coming barely 12 hours after Governor Godwin Obaseki while receiving the Chairman of the Presidential Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar said his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the peace accord.

Obaseki had told Abubakar that his party has lost faith in the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Jarret Tenebe APC spokesman, said the reasons for declining to sign among others was that for over two months after a police Inspector Onuh Akor, who was the orderly to the candidate of the party, Monday Okpebholo was shot and killed along Airport Road, no arrest has been made.

According to him, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted, despite claims by the former Commissioner of Police, Funsho who “told Nigerians that the command had the names of those who murdered Inspector Onuh Akor at the Benin airport.”

He pointed out that instead of them being arrested, Governor Godwin Obaseki is allegedly keeping them in the government house.

“This failure of the police has emboldened the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Peoples Democratic Party to attack members of our political party at rally grounds and in their private business premises ceaselessly.”

He claimed that the governor has made inflammatory statements that have undermined his position as the Chief Security Officer of the State.

He chronicled the various attacks the APC campaign team have suffered in different communities Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Esan West local government area while mobilising supporters for the election.

“In the wake of this very worrisome and dangerous trend, Governor Obaseki kept mute and refused to condemn the attacks as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

“Instead, one Odion Olaye, the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Edo State, while in the company of Obaseki, openly threatened the country that, “Nigeria will burn if INEC fails to declare the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.”

He mentioned several other chieftains of the PDP who he alleged have publicly boasted that they would do anything and go away with it and that the party’s petition to the police about these incidents with the names of suspects attached have not been treated.

“The summary of these episodes is the unwillingness of Obaseki to embrace peace and the refusal of the security agencies to guarantee a peaceful environment for the conduct of September 21st, 2024 scheduled election.”

As part of its demand to sign the peace accord, Tenebe said the police should be seen to taking steps to declare those fingered in the killing of the police allegedly being hidden in government wanted.

NGF Delegation Visits Borno, Condole Flood Victims

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Ayodele Oni

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September 12, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

A delegation of the Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF), led by its Chairman, Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak of Kwara State, has visited Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, to express condolences to the Government and people, following the flood disaster which destroyed thousands of residential houses, farms, shops, markets, schools, and hospitals.

The three-member delegation included the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a statement, stated that the NGF delegation was later joined by some members of the National Assembly.

Their visit was also to pledge their support for the Borno government and to convey a message to the federal government of further support to cushion the sufferings of victims.

Receiving the delegation, Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, thanked them for the visit and asked for greater assistance for victims.

Governor Zulum later conducted his colleagues round some of the affected areas of the state capital.

Anambra: Govt To Shut Down Over 2000 Illegal Schools

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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September 12, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Government has decried the proliferation of illegal and substandard educational institutions in the State .

The authorities fear that over 2000 of such unaccredited and unregistered schools dot the system across the 21 local councils of the State .

A statement issued on Thursday September, 12, 2024, by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, warned that effective, September 17, the resumption date for the new academic session, any schools that fail to be duly accredited and registered by the relevant supervisory organs will be shut down.

He noted that the Anambra State Government will no longer condone a situation whereby schools are operated without recourse to due standard.

According to the Commissioner, allowing such avalanche of unregistered and unaccredited schools to be operating amounts to compromising the standard of education, and endangering the future of the children of the State.

Sir Nwosu insisted that any of the identified 2000 schools currently operating without accreditation and approvals that fail to meet the dateline for the normalization of their operations will be closed down before the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session.

The statement said the Anambra State Government is concerned that such schools operating without accreditation and approvals, will never be in alignment with the set standards by the Ministry of Education.

“The Government of Anambra State is concerned that about 2000 unaccredited/ unapproved schools are operating across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.

“This is unacceptable, given the priority, that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a first class academic himself, has accorded quality education.

“Setting up and running a school without requisite accreditation and approvals is an indication that the school is not operating in accordance with the standards set by the Government through the Ministry of Education.

“The Government is of the view that our children, irrespective of their location in Anambra State deserve the best learning environment, teachers and curriculum” Nwosu stated.

He said that the affected schools have been issued with final warnings to either get their institutions accredited and approved, or risk closure, and other punishments deemed necessary.

Hell In Zamfara As Unspecified Number Of Travelers Are Abducted

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Ayodele Oni

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September 12, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

An unspecified number of travelers have been abducted in Zamfara State by suspected bandits.

The bandits reportedly blocked the busy Gusau-Funtua highway of the State early Thursday morning.

The State Police Command Spokesman, Yezid Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, stated that the Command has deployed several personnel to the scene of the attack. But he said the Command has yet to receive information on the exact number of people kidnapped by the terrorists.

“It is true, but we are on top of the matter. Our men have been deployed to the place but they are yet to come back so I don’t know the exact number of the people that were kidnapped. I will get back to you when I get the information,” said the Police Spokesman.

A viral video seen on X captured the aftermath of the attack, with many travellers who escaped expressing their distress over the abductions.

This marks the second attack on the highway within one month.

On August 13, terrorists blocked the road and abducted all passengers in three vehicles at Margazu village in Tsafe Local Government Area.

On the same day, they also blocked the road near Unguwan Chida and other nearby communities, and abducted passengers in five vehicles.

One of the bandits that have been terrorizing the area had written to communities in the state, demanding N30 million from them to avoid being killed.

Kidnapping: FUTO Raises Alarm, Alerts Its Students Of Dangers Around

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The Source

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September 12, 2024

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By Charles Igbo

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, has raised an alarm over the activities of kidnappers around the University environment especially, around its main gate.

A number of abductions just by the gate of the University, and the stretch leading to it, have taken place in recent times. Worried, the University Management has officially, alerted its students on the dangers ahead.

It revealed that the ugly incidents usually take place early in the morning and late evening. It, therefore, warned students of the Institution to avoid the stretch which leads to the gate as before 6.00am and after 6.00pm.

It also advised them to always let their parents and/or guardians be aware of their whereabouts at all times.

The warning/alert notice signed by the University’s Registrar, Chidozie Uba, dated September 10, 2024, reads in part:

“Management of the University has noted recent kidnapping incidents on the Obinze-Ihiagwa Road, very close to the University main gate.

“Management, also, noted that these incidents happen very early in the morning and late in the evening.

“Students are directed to shun unnecessary movements out/into the University (before 6.00am and after 6.00pm) to avoid falling victim to the activities of these hoodlums.

“Students are, also, enjoined to be vigilant and inform their parents, guardians or any significant other of their movements.”

FUTO sits on the hundreds of acres of land owned mostly by Ihiagwa, Obinze and Eziobodo, all in Owerri-west Local Government Area of Imo State.

Owa Obokun Of Ijeshaland, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran Joins His Forebears

By

Akinwale Kasali

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September 12, 2024

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Owa Obokun Of Ijeshaland - Oba Gabriel Aromolaran

By Akinwale Kasali

After 40 Years on the throne as the revered Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, has joined his ancestors.

The Monarch passed after a brief illness, according to sources within the Palace.

:Oba Aromolaran passed away yesterday” – (Wednesday), a Palace source told our correspondent.

Even though the news of his passing has become public, the Palace of Owa Obokun is yet to issue any official statement. But sources within the palace has confirmed his death.

“Baba has passed, but we are waiting for official announcement from the palace.

“You can see that they have started performing some traditional rites. This has to be done before any announcement can be made”, she added.

It was gathered that the Security in the Palace have been beefed up, with sources disclosing that

some traditional rites typically performed following the passing of a king are being carried out.

The Osun State Government is also yet to issue a statement on the status of the Monarch.