As part of measure to help the vulnerable and the less privileged ones in respective of religion background in Nigeria, especially at this festive period, coupled with the heat of COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Arch Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, on Wednesday, donated food items to 57 Muslim women residing in Anambra and other 300 selected aged people and less privileged in the state. Donating the items at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral Church Awka, said that the aim and objective of the Diocese was to take care of the aged and less privileged in the society. He said that the gifts are not for Christians and Roman Catholic members alone, noted that the Muslim women that benefited are human beings and cannot be discriminated against. “We are one people and hunger do not know if you are from the North or the South or that you are a Muslim or Christian so we try to extend the hand of love across the board and this is what Christmas is all about,” he said. He said apart from the donations, they were educated on how to stay safe during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Bishop, I also educated them on the need to follow the precautionary measures put in place by the federal and state government against the spread of the virus. The Bishop further urged Nigerians to use the Yuletide season to pray for the country and its leaders in view of the present condition of affairs in the country adding that the respective state and federal governments should also look inward towards bettering the lives of the poor masses.

The Federal Government has declared Friday, December 25, Monday , December 28, 2020, and Friday, January 1, 2021, as public holidays to mark the Christmas , Boxing Day , and New Year celebrations , respectively . The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , announced this on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry , Dr Shuaib Belgore , on Wednesday. It was titled, ‘ FG declares December 25, 28, 2020; January 1, 2021, public holidays . ’ The minister felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the Christmas and New Year celebrations . Aregbesola urged Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on faith , hope , and love. “ We must emulate the life of humility, service , compassion , patience , peace , and righteousness that the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth ” , he said . The minister noted that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable the government to accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years. Aregbesola advised Nigerians and Christians, in particular , to adhere strictly to the COVID – 19 protocols and guidelines , as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the yuletide , especially with the second wave of the outbreak of the disease . The minister while reiterating the FG ’ s commitment to the fight against banditry , kidnappings , and other crimes and criminalities in the country, called on Nigerians to support the efforts of the security agencies by providing them with information that will enhance intelligence gathering. While admonishing all Nigerians to remain focused , determined, patient , and patriotic , Aregbesola expressed the confidence that 2021 would be a better year for all Nigerians. He , therefore , urged Christians to use the period to pray for Nigeria . He wished all Nigerians and Christians in particular a happy Christmas and New Year celebrations .

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, says Nigeria will be safer and more secure when politicians stop the use of thugs and criminals during elections. Bello made this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily. “When politicians begin to stop the use of thugs, touts, or some group of criminal that is when we will begin to have safety and security,” Bello said. The governor also stressed that he won the November 16, 2019 Governorship Poll without the use of ‘boys’ or thugs. According to him, political thuggery and use of ‘boys’ during elections was the order of the day in Kogi before he came into power but he “refused to play that kind of dangerous politics.” “When I came on board, I inherited a state that was largely divided along several lines. For you to aspire to be anything politically in Kogi State then, you must have what we call ‘boys’ or thugs or touts and then use it to intimidate people during political dispensations. “Once the political exercise is over, the so-called boys or thugs or foot soldiers would be abandoned and left to themselves and by that, they breed into something else or a hydra-headed monster that you will not be able to curb at the end of the day. There are several histories, records, and intelligence to that effect across the country. “But I refused to play that kind of dangerous or unnecessary politics when I came on board. My ascension to the office is known to everybody across the world. I chose my path immediately and decided to deal with criminals irrespective of political affiliations by simply utilising the laws passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly and the existing security architecture,” he said. He boasted that Kogi State “run an open-door policy,” widely embraced by the residents. Speaking further on how he was re-elected governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, Bello said evidence abound to show that he won the election freely “I won my election free and square. The police, the DSS, the military, and all law enforcement agencies have their facts. Don’t listen to the lies they peddle out there. When I see those things, I simply laugh and say how I wished they come to Kogi State to see for themselves. “There was no time in my campaign that any of my supporters or followers goes into the destruction of billboards, signposts, or installations of the state government, before, during, and after the election. I can say this boldly.” The governor also spoke concerning the case of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Woman Leader of Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Mrs Acheju Abuh who was killed by suspected political thugs after the election. Abuh was burnt alive after the thugs invaded her house around 2.00 p.m. and poured petrol on the building before setting it ablaze. Governor Bello assured that investigation is still going on into the incident and promised to follow-up the case till the end adding that findings will be made public.

A woman was killed on Tuesday after she was hit by a stray bullet reportedly shot by an officer of the newly inaugurated security Operation Delta Hawk in Asaba, Delta State capital. According to eyewitnesses, some of the officers were in pursuit of two young men in a vehicle when they suddenly opened fire on them on the road. Unfortunately, the woman who was selling at a corner of the road was hit by a bullet and died instantly. The Coordinator of Operation Delta Hawk, David Tonwe, confirmed the incident to Channels Television. He said the team was chasing after a car without a plate number after the driver refused to stop. The team fired at the vehicle but unfortunately, an unidentified woman was hit by the bullet, killing her on the spot. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa weeks ago launched ‘Operation Delta Hawk’ at the Police Headquarters in Asaba and urged residents of the state to assist in tracking down criminals and their collaborators. The governor said security operatives have given their best in the fight against cultism, herders and farmers clashes, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other heinous crimes, adding that Operation Delta Hawk is to assist in this regard.

Kano based Arewa singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, may face prosecution for featuring a married woman in one of his music video production recently. Rarara had featured one Maryam Muhammad, 20 in one of his music videos titled ‘JAHATA JAHATA TACE’. According to a report, the Kwali Police Division in Kano State was ordered to probe the political Hausa musician, for the act that was tagged ‘unIslamic’ after Maryam’s husband filed a suit against him for featuring his wife in the production. The state Shariah Court demanded the police to investigate the singer and present its findings to the court for further decision. In his ruling, the Shariah court judge, Sarki Yola, noted that ‘the court can not dismiss the suit instituted by the husband of Maryam, on the claim that the singer was not aware of her marital status.” Yola, therefore, asked the Kwali Police Station to look into the matter thoroughly and present its findings to the court. Further reports revealed that the woman in question, Maryam Muhammad had left her husband Abdulkadir Inuwa at home a few months after their wedding without his knowledge until she appeared in the music video with Rarara. The counsel for the singer had asked the court to dismiss the case, as no investigation has been done by the police on the claims of the husband. However, the court judge, Khadi Sarki Yola has asked the DPO Kwalli Police division to summon the singer Rarara and his producer, Bashir Maishadda, with a view to investigating the veracity of the claims, and thereby adjourned the case till further notice. Rarara is the official political singer for President Muhammadu Buhari and many other APC leaders in the country.