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“Register Or Lose Your Shops” – Abia Govt  Warns Displaced Traders

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Alex Otti - Abia State Governor
Alex Otti, Abia State Governor

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Government has decried the inability of traders and others affected by the ongoing remodeling and reconstruction efforts at Ekeoha Shopping Plaza, Ariaria International Market, Ngwa Road Market  all in Aba and others across the State, to  participate in the enumeration  exercises.

This is just as it called on  the traders and the State’s business community to continue in their support for  the Government in its quest to transform the State.

The duo of Hon Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha and Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Commissioners for Trade and Commerce and Transport, respectively, spoke separately at a send-off and welcome party organized by the Abia State Market Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA in their honour on Wednesday night, November, 13, 2024, in Aba the commercial hub of the State.

Hon Nwokocha noted that much as the Abia State Government has expressed its unwavering commitment to ensuring that all original shop owners at the various markets have their properties back at the end of the reconstruction, it will not be able to do so in a vacuum.

“His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, has given a marching order for all  shops affected by the on going demolition and reconstructions at some  markets  to be returned to their original owners when the exercise is completed.

“The Governor has also promised that those who don’t have all the money at hand to pay will be assisted to secure facilities to handle the matter under favourable terms.

“But the problem here is that many of the affected traders have refused to complete the registration exercise which is a very vital aspect of the process

“There is no way we can know those who want to retain their shops and those who are not interested if they don’t fill the registration documents.

“So, I am using this opportunity to call on the leaders of the markets to try and sensitize their members on the need to comply with all the necessary processes for the re-allotment of their shops.

“The truth about the situation is that there is no way those who failed to complete the registration documents will be guaranteed of their shops at the end of the day.

This is not the intendment of the Government. Our intention is for all original shop owners to have the choice of first refusal”, Hon Nwokocha stated.

While appreciating the leadership of ASMATA for the event put together to welcome him, Hon Nwokocha one of the new Commissioners appointed recently, enjoined the traders to accord the Government all the needed support to succeed in its mission of restoring the lost fortunes of the state.

According to him, one of the most important ways of showing their support is to always ensure the regular payment of Government statutory taxes and levies.

” I want to use this very opportunity to appeal to the leadership of the markets in the State to appreciate, the fact that without funds, the Government can not do much in terms of the provisions of amenities to the people.

“One of the veritable means Government rely upon for revenue is taxes/rent. Please, let your members know that they will be  encouraging the Government when they pay taxes and rents regularly and promptly.

“There is no magic Government will perform if the people fail to meet their civic obligations. At least, we have seen what the Government is doing with the peoples’ money in terms of infrastructural renewal, prompt payments of salaries, and other emoluments ,road rehabilitations and constructions and others

“Unlike before, Abians are seeing where their collective wealth is going into” Nwokocha stated.

Also speaking, Dr Ukagbu, the immediate past Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, now in charge of Transport, assured the ASMATA leadership and the traders of the continued commitment of the Government towards the provision of enabling environment for the thriving of  businesses across the state .

While appreciating the robust working relationship between the Government  and the traders during his time as Trade and Commerce Commissioner, he urged them to maintain the tempo through his successor, Hon Nwokocha.

The ASMATA President General Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, earlier in his welcome address expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the Government to the provision of enabling environment for business transactions in the State.

He reaffirmed the unwavering determination of Abia traders towards complimenting the efforts of the Governor in creating a conducive business environment.

“Let me put it on record that we, the traders in Abia, after so many years in the wilderness, have seen the light ,courtesy of the present administration .

“We are eternally grateful that today, all the Markets in the State can now be accessed by our customers from far and near.

“There was a time things got so  worse that most of the traders could not even access their shops not to talk of receiving customers.

“But, all that have changed with the rehabilitations and reconstruction of most access roads to the markets within the short period the present administration has been in office.

“The impact on businesses has been unprecedented. To that extent ,we are condemned to swim and  sink with the present administration,. There is no other option , than to fully back it to continue the good job it is doing .

I want to say that ,the  support,will never be in short supply. That is why we have put together this event to on the one hand, thank the immediate past Commerce Commissioner for being a bridge between the traders and the Government ,as well as to appeal to the new one to consolidate on the existing cordial relationship.

Abia traders are assuring our unflinching loyalty and support,,to the Government in its determination to take the state to a new height” the ASMATA President General stated .

Highlights of the event were the presentation of merit awards to the two Commissioners and the inauguration of ASMATA stakeholders and Sports Committees

OPINION: Is AI Coming for the Journalist?

By
The Source
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Azu Ishiekwene
Mr Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

One year ago, on November 15, 2023, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) invited me to speak on “Nigerian Media, Sustainability and Existential Threats by Big Tech.” Being asked again this year is a privilege, but I won’t be surprised if this is my last invitation.

Perhaps I won’t need to come as a presenter next time. A learning machine, Anaba possibly, might be here to do the job. This may sound incredible, but increasingly, with improvements in infotech and biotech, it seems that what AI cannot do does not exist.

In its most basic definition, generative artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems capable of performing complex tasks that, historically, only humans could perform. Journalists, for example, used to think of themselves as the masters of storytelling in a hurry and God’s gift to the world as gatekeepers. We’re humbler now.

Luddites’ nightmare

The widespread use of AI is causing anxiety among journalists and other professionals, especially the Luddites. Recently, I wanted to redecorate my apartment. I asked a furniture company in Abuja to recommend an interior decorator. The two recommended insisted on a pre-inspection deposit of 100k, which I wasn’t prepared to pay.

I went to ChatGPT and imputed a description of my apartment with measurements, asking for a photo design.I got it in minutes, complete with a floor plan and car park design. ChatGPT even asked if I needed optional designs! Midjourney or AR would give far more incredibly splendid options!

According to Digital News Project 2024, “Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2024” by Nic Newman, apart from rising costs and declining revenues, 300 digital leaders from more than 50 countries/territories also expressed significant concerns about using AI for backend news automation and experimental internet interfaces, including AR and VR glasses, lapel pins, and other wearable devices.

What’s AI up to?

Let us look briefly at two recent examples of the use of AI in storytelling, one in North America and the other in Europe, that have resonated in many parts of the world.

In Mexico, Grupo Formula, the country’s leading broadcasting group with 2.3m YouTube subscribers, created three avatars—NAT, SOFI, and MAX—three robotic journalists who generate content in entertainment, sports, and politics for the company’s social media handles.

The group’s director of technology and AI infrastructure told the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, “The news stories that NAT, SOFI and others present are small stories and very focused towards young people who don’t connect well with the old-style newscast. We are looking to connect with these young people using technology.” Grupo Formula’s subsidiary, TV OAI, is the first news channel in Latin America powered 100 percent by AI.

More recently, a Polish radio station, Radio Krakow, announced the relaunch of OFF Radio, the first experiment in Poland where AI-driven characters take on the role of traditional journalists.

In response to concerns about the increasing role of automation in the physical and cognitive spheres, Yuval Harari said in his book21 Lessons for the 21st Century, “It would be madness to block automation… to protect human jobs. After all, what we ultimately ought to protect is humans – not jobs.” I agree.

What opportunities exist?

What opportunities does AI present, and how might journalists use them for storytelling? a). Streamlined content production: AI tools can significantly streamline content production, allowing journalists to focus on the creative aspects rather than time-consuming tasks and drudgery.

For example, algorithms can assist in generating ideas or first drafts; b). Personalisation of content: Algorithms can analyse user preferences and behaviours to create bespoke narratives with individual audiences; c). Enhanced engagement: AI can create immersive and interactive storytelling experiences.

For example, games and multimedia stories that adapt based on user decisions can attract individuals who may not typically engage with traditional forms of storytelling; c). Creation of new opportunities: The fusion of AI and human effort can create new possibilities previously challenging to imagine.

One good example is the collaborative effort involving 400 journalists from 80 countries sifting through 11 million documents and 2.6 terabytes of data during the Panama Papers investigation; d). Generative AI can repurpose chaos: In an article entitled “AI news that’s fit to print,” Zach Seward wrote, “Faced with the chaotic, messy reality of everyday life, LLMs (Large Language Models), are useful tools for summarising text, fetching information, understanding data, and creating structure…but always with human oversight.” This article also shares some of AI’s best and worst use cases.

Challenges of AI use

Ethical concerns in AI story telling include the potential for generative models to create misleading information, such as fake stories or images that blur the line between reality and fabrication. The Cambridge Analytica case and COVID-19 are good examples. Concerns about legal liability and privacy protection have also been expressed.

Other concerns include quality, coherence and creativity, originality, fairness and bias, and adaptability to genre and audience.

Limits and success stories:

AI is a work in progress. Again, from Seward’s article, we could use lessons from some excellent and ugly examples of its application even in countries where automated storytelling appears to be well-established already. First, the nasty experiences:

 

CNET and the tech error soup: Last January, CNET, a tech website, published financial advisory stories on short-term saving instruments, how to manage and close bank accounts, and other topics. Although the byline said the stories were written by the platform’s “Money Staff,” they were not. Language machines wrote them, but the massive errors (described as moments of hallucinations) exposed the site! Actual staff members saved the day by cleaning up the copies.

 

Sports Illustrated’s Street Spin: The Street, a publication from the stable of Sports Illustrated, published a raft of bot-generated stories and made matters worse by curating and attaching fake author identities to the stories. The spin didn’t end well.

Good news

But there have been good experiences, as well:

Modelling for pattern or image recognition machines has proved valuable when analysing large data caches. Media houses such as Buzzfeed News and The Wall Street Journal have used AI to establish significant trends in otherwise desperate and solitary occurrences or patterns.

Examples range from the Mauritius Leaks, which involved 200k highly technical documents, to the story on the miles of dangerous lead cables around New Jersey streets that posed severe public health risks to residents. Zach Seward also documents a few other examples in his piece entitled “AI news that’s fit to print.”

Where is the Nigerian storyteller?

Professor Farooq Kperogi and I collaborated on an academic paper for the Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies entitled “Light in a Digital Blackhole: Exploration of Emergent Artificial Intelligence Journalism in Nigeria.”

The study found that social media and the rise of citizen journalists have changed the landscape and accelerated the mainstream adoption of automated journalism.

More media houses use tools, including social media integration software like Echobox, Hootsuite, Revive, and Dlvrit, to drive audience and revenue goals. The election watchdog Yiaga Africa collaborates with some TV stations to collate and analyse election results using AI tools. Automated fact-checking systems, drones, and language management tools are also being deployed.

While costs and infrastructure remain significant barriers to adoption, attitudinal differences between younger journalists and the older, more established ones were also noticed, with newsrooms embracing more diversity in age cohorts and educational backgrounds.

Job losses? What jobs?

Our study did not justify the fear of imminent job losses among Nigerian journalists. However, the impact of the disruption on readership/audiences and revenues due to economic reasons and changing demographics is undeniable.

It would be good if anxiety about job losses led to greater introspection, retooling, and adoption of technologies and practices that improve journalism, especially the core business of storytelling.

If the destination is uncertain, the least we can hope for is that we are in good company, human or otherwise. And it won’t matter if the chatbot delivers this lecture next year!

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and the author of Writing for Media and Monetising It. This modified version of AI-Generated Storytelling: Opportunities and Challenges was based on my presentation at the 20th Annual Conference of the NGE on November 8.

2027: Wike Dismisses Atiku’s Chances Of PDP’s Presidential Ticket

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike

By Akinwale Kasali

Nyesom Wike, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and member of opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has stated that the chances of Atiku Abubakar getting the Party’s Presidential Ticket in 2027 does not arise. He said it is unrealistic, not possible.

Downplaying the chances of the former Vice President, who was the Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Election, Wike categorically stated that for Atiku to become the Party’s Flagbearer in 2027 will simply not happen.

The former Rivers State Governor made this assertion during a live media parley on Wednesday evening in Abuja. He said that Atiku had severally presented his blueprint to Nigerians and he had been serially rejected.

Following the hardship faced by Nigerians as a result of the policies of President Bola Tinubu and the dwindling economic fortunes of the Nation, Atiku had said that if he had won the 2023 Presidential Election, he would have done things differently from President Tinubu and Nigerians would not have been faced with the current level of hardship.

Countering Atiku’s submission, Wike said; “Did he (Atiku) not present it (blueprint) before Nigerians? Did Nigerians choose him? He is lobbying for another chance. The chance will not be there. In which party? How can we use one man for how many years? He will even be too old then.

“Look at America, I am sure you all did not support Trump saying he is this, he is a racist, he is that, we are crying, Americans were thinking about something else, thinking for the good of their own country, and made a decision.

“You presented your blueprint in 2023, Nigerians heard you clear and said thank you, but it will not work, we will not support you. Criticisms do not mean opposition is working”.

Kano: NDLEA Records 22 Convictions In One Month

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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NDLEA officers

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s  fight against drug trafficking and consumption in Kano gained an unprecedented impetus in October. In the month alone,  the agency secured over 22 convictions .

This is even as it intercepted hard substances worth over, 709 .979 kg ,including 309 .991 kg of cannabis sativa .

A statement on Wednesday November 13, 2024, from the Command’s spokesperson, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, said the NDLEA within the same period, arrested a total of 129 suspects in connection with drug related activities.

The Kano Sector Commander, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, informed that all the 22 convictions were secured at a Federal High Court Kano

According to him, the convictions, as well as the seizures and arrest, are clear messages to drug dealers in the commercial hub of the Northern region of Nigeria that it is not business as usual.

The seizures and arrests, he further noted, were all made across the 44 Local Councils of the State ,noting that the operations are a testament to the Command’s determination to rid the State of the dangerous activities of hard drug traffickers.

“All 129 suspects are male, and the total illicit substances recovered during this period amount to 709,979 Kg including,309,991 kg of cannabis sativa .

“The other substances seized consist of 741,600 tablets of Tramadol ,2,789 kg of pregabalin ,and 0.027 kg of methamphetamine among others ” the commander stated .

Among the convicts who received an average of between seven and nine years jail terms is a dismissed police inspector, Salisu Mohammed, who had been previously jailed for five years for cocaine trafficking.

“These convictions serve as a strong deterrent to those involved in drug related activities and underscore  the agency’s commitment to enforcing the law

“The suspects arrested have been profiled, and those warranting prosecution have been charged, while others have been referred to the Counseling Unit for support and rehabilitation.

“The Command will continue to work tireless in collaboration with all stakeholders to combat drug trafficking and raise awareness on the dangers associated with drug abuse”, the statement noted.

Appeal Court Bans LP From Ondo Gov Election

By
Ayodele Oni
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Court and Law

By Ayodele Oni

The hope of the Labour Party, (LP) to participate in the November 16, Saturday governorship election has been dashed by the Court of Appeal.

On Wednesday, November 13, the Court of Appeal,  Abuja Division, disqualified Olusola Ebiseni as the Party’s candidate for the election.

A three-member panel of the Judges, in a unanimous decision, led by the Honourable Justice Hamma Barka, and delivered by the Honourable Justice Adebukola Banjoko, ruled in favor of the appeal brought by the Labour Party on its own Candidate.

The Court stated that the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, was “allowed.”

Justice Banjoko further noted that the Certified True Copy of the judgment would be provided to the parties involved for review as soon as possible.

Justice Abba Mohammed, in his contributory judgment, expressed agreement with the ruling of the other Justices.

Earlier, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and recognize Olusola Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s candidates for the offices of Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively, for the 16 November election.

Justice Nwite had affirmed the validity of the second primary election conducted by the Labour Party, which produced Ebiseni and Awude as candidates. He also directed INEC to uphold the outcome and publish their names as the party’s official nominees.

In his judgment on the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, Justice Nwite noted that Ebiseni had paid N20 million for the nomination form and was issued the form for the second primary election.

He further observed that the Labour Party had instructed Ebiseni to pay N5 million to one Festus Olorunfemi as compensation for his withdrawal from the governorship race.

But on Wednesday, the Court of Appeal overturned the Judgment, disqualifying Ebiseni from the race.

Meanwhile, Ondo State government has declared Friday, 15th November, 2024 as Work-Free Day for Public Servants in the State to enable them travel to their various communities to exercise their civic responsibilities.

This was contained in a statement issued by O. F. Ayodele, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service.

“Nobody Dares Tinubu And Wins” –  NSA Ribadu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

For those fighting or challenging President Bola Tinubu, and/or preparing to do so, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, has an important information for you. “It is not possible. You cannot”.

Ribadu gave this information on Wednesday in Abuja when he spoke at a Conference organized by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Addressing the Conference, an excited, confident and self-assured Ribadu told anybody trying to fight or dare Tinubu that the person has, literally, jammed a rock.

“Nobody dares Tinubu and wins, never, nobody”, the NSA warned.

That warning,  also, especially, went to the new terrorist group, Lakurawas which has just surfaced in parts of the North. The NSA told the group: “You came at the wrong time. What is that their name. We shall kick them out.”

He asked Nigerians to watch out for 2025 and see the real Tinubu effect. The country will be fixed, he said with emphasis.

“Let them wait till 2025. We’ll fix this country.”

He listed a couple of what he chose to call “Tinubu Gains.”  Said he: :The CBN is clean. Nobody takes a kobo. Tinubu gains.”

Security-wise, the NSA gave Tinubu a thumbs-up. He said Nigerians can now travel to anywhere in the country without any fear, and disclosed that the terrorists disturbing the Country are being taken out in hundreds as never before. “Tinubu gains.”

He looked at the South-south and said the Zone is quiet. Proof: The NSA said the barrels of crude oil from the zone has increased as never before. It has never been that much before.

”Tinubu gains”, he added.

He emphasized again that: “Subsidy is gone. We have been subsidizing our neighbors. Republic of Benin, Niger Republic, Cameroon, Ghana.”

He lashed out at Oil Marketers. He said the so-called Oil Marketers are those being subsidized. The welfare is gone, he said.

And the Naira?: The NSA said forget it. “Naira will be stabilized. We shall stabilize the Naira.”

Ribadu was the pioneer Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He surprisingly dabbled into politics on retirement from the Police Force and was the Presidential candidate of the Action Congress.

On President Tinubu’s ascendancy to the top seat, he appointed Ribadu the National Security Adviser, the first time a  Police Officer, retired or serving would be appointed to the high profile office.

Pastor Adeboye: Oil Marketers, IOCs Plotting To Destroy Dangote Refinery

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye

Man of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has accused oil marketers in the country of diabolical plot against the Dangote Refinery.

The respected clergy made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja the nation’s capital during his address at the November 2024 Abuja Special Holy Ghost service.

He spoke amidsts the clash between the marketers and management of the $20 billion refinery.

The owner of the refinery who is also the wealthiest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote recently accused oil marketers and some government agencies of trying to frustrate his business.

Dangote had accused them of importing petroleum products rather than buying from him, the marketers in turn accused Dangote of selling products above the competitive price.

The protagonists appeared to have come into agreement after a recent intervention by the federal government.

Speaking yesterday, Adeboye said some oil cabals of working alongside international oil companies, IOCs, are trying to ensure that Dangote do not succeed.

The cabals are trying to kill the refinery the same way they did to the country’s four refinery, he said, noting that despite the huge amount spent to revive the refineries they are still moribund, stressing that the Dangote Refinery will save the country from continuous reliance on importation of petroleum products.

Adeboye said, “We have four refineries, we poured all kinds of money into them, none of them is working.

“But God raised someone to build a refinery that works. He is not my relative; he is not from my village. He is not even a Christian, but he is a Nigerian who says, ‘Why should my people suffer when I have the means to build a refinery that can work?’ Now he is refining petrol, and some people want to stop him from selling it, so they can keep importing.”

Miyetti Allah Distances Self From Terror Group, Lakurawa

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Miyetti Allah

The Kebbi State Chapter of the Miyetti Allah has distance itself from the Lakurawa terrorist group.

The cattle breeders association made their position known in a statement by  secretary of the state chapter of the group on Wednesday, saying they are also victims of the deadly terrorists group.

“Lakurawa are hardened criminals, and should be treated as such. We are not associated with them. We are worst affected by their illegalities,” the statement said in part.

According to the Miyetti Allah, the terror group has been rustling their cattles and destroying other belongings of their members, it called on the authority to destroy the criminals.

The magazine reports that Lakurawa, a new terrorist group has recently sprung up in the north, unleashing mayhelm on the people and destroying farmers crops because they refused to pay tribute to them.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered security agencies to wipe out the terrorists, who are believe to be operating within Nigeria and Niger Republic borders.

According to Miyetti Allah, they are also victims of the terror group, which according to reports have been terrorising pastoralists through forceful taxation called (Zakat, apart from  confiscating herders animals and collecting large sums of money from them.

Reports claim that the criminals forcefully collect huge sums of money ranging from N300,000 to N20 million from farmers and herders.

They collected ,120 cows, 51 goats and sheep from Fulani cattle rearers in the Augie area of the state, those familiar with the criminal activities of Lakurawa said.

Sokoto: Anger Over Police Harassment Of Woman Activist; Ndume Condemns Act

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Sokoto Woman Activist Sidi

Senator Ali Ndume has condemned the arrest and prosecution of a woman activist, Hamdiya Sidi by the police and Sokoto state government.

The senator, representing Borno North in the National Assembly said the woman should be encouraged by the authority rather than being vilified and harrased by them.

Recall that anger had recently greeted the arrest and arraignment in court of Sidi by the state police command  after he openly condemned the government for failing to contain the activities of terrorists and bandits disturbing her community.

Not a few Nigerians expressed their support for the young woman for daring to speak out for her peoples, calling on the authority to stop harassing her.

Speaking Ndume said the police should stop harassing the woman for drawing attention to the killings by bandits, saying Sidi should not be silenced for speaking truth to power.

Following her arrest last week, serious pressure was mounted on the police which later released her.

But not long after she was released, suspected hoodlums from the state government were said to have attacked her home, abducted ans beaten her up leaving her with serious injuries.

They accused her of embarrassing and inciting the public against the state government.

Following the anger that greeted her arrest, last week, the state police command said Sidi was arrested for inciting the public against the government.

A statement releaed by the spokesman of the command, Ahmad Rufai claimee “Sidi was inciting the women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties in Wammako local government area of Sokoto state.’

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The statement read, “The attention of the Nigeria police force sokoto command has been drawn to the ongoing falsehood and misinformation circulated by gistcore media and other social media handles on the purported story that the Nigeria police Sokoto command secretly arrested and arrainged a woman who lamented on the recent rise in killings in Sokoto for embarrassing Governor Aliyu Ahmed Sokoto.

“We wish to make the record straight, i. On the 3rd of November 2024 at 1700hrs one  Marafa Yakubu ‘m’ the village head of Sabon Birnin Daji village in Wurno local government area reported to the police that a woman later identified as one Hamdiyya Sidi ‘f’ of Munki village in Wurno local government area came to the village and deceived him that she is a member of that community representing a charitable organization meant to assist women and youth, that she wanted to address woman and distribute relief items to the less privileged in the society.

“To his greatest dismay while she was addressing the women he noticed that rather than distributing relief items as she claimed, she was inciting the women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties in Wammako local government area of Sokoto state, stating that it belongs to them. Noticing the tension in the community as a result of her incitement, he quickly alerted the community guards who arrested her and handed her over to the police.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the offence and was charged to court within 24hrs for the offence of inciting disturbance.

“ii. One of our constitutional responsibilies is to investigate crimes both simple and capital in nature, to this end, the case of Hamdiyya is no exception.

“iii. Therefore, the Commissioner of police urges all citizens to be wary of the kind of information they throw into the public space and refrain from false and misleading information that could ignite disaffection and disrupt the fragile peace the state is enjoying.

“iv. Sokoto state police command remains resolute in upholding the fundamental human rights while discharging our duty.”

PDP Leaders Attacked In Idanre, Ondo Police Command Launches Investigation

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ade Adetimehin

By Ayodele Oni

As political parties in Ondo are round off campaigns for Saturday’s Governorship election, the home town of Ade Adetimehin, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Idanre, has been turned to a battle ground by suspected thugs.

Some armed persons suspected to be political thugs, in early hours of Wednesday, attacked some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

Director, Media and Publicity of PDP in the local government and a chieftain of the party, Mr Adeyemi Fasoranti, and Hon Bosede Agbaje Salami respectively alleged that the attackers were suspected APC thugs.

They said the attack came as a result of the successful campaign of PDP on Tuesday.

The Ondo State Police Command has ordered an intensive investigation into the incident, which happened after the command had brokered peace among politicians in the area.

Command’ spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami, stated in a statement that “the command has intensified efforts in addressing the Idanre rivalry incident, which has surfaced amidst preparations for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election.

“In light of recent developments, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abayomi Peter Oladipo, has directed the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) to launch a full-scale investigation into the matter.

“It is important to note that CP Oladipo had previously convened a peace meeting on November 12, 2024, bringing together leaders of the two major political parties in the area.

“During the meeting, he urged them to maintain peace and take all necessary precautions to prevent their supporters from inciting violence. Despite these efforts, however, disturbances erupted overnight, resulting in shootings and a breakdown of public order.

“The case, which has escalated into violence and attempted murder, is currently under investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that peace is restored in the area, particularly at such a critical juncture in the state’s history.

“The CP has made it clear that the Command will exercise zero tolerance towards any individual or group, whether directly or indirectly involved, who engages in or permits actions that could disrupt the peace before, during, or after the election.

“He calls on parents, community leaders, and influential figures to warn their followers, children, and loved ones to avoid any form of disruptive behavior during this period.”

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