March 2021 – Page 26

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Gunmen Kill Naval Officers, Policemen In Anambra

At least three naval officers and three policemen have been killed in different locations across Anambra State. The incident, which has created tension, fueled the rumours that the state has been invaded by a syndicate targeting security operatives. The armed gang was said to have killed three policemen at Neni junction in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, while their vehicle was set ablaze. While three Naval officers were reportedly killed at Awkuzu, in the Oyi Local Government Area of the state. A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the gunmen attacked the officers at Awkuzu Junction and killed three of them on the spot before carting away with their fire arms. According to the source, four naval officers were on duty at the junction when the hoodlums attacked them around 2pm. “Please seek alternative route if you plan going towards that axis. Please lets be safe first then ask questions later. A Similar thing happened moment ago at Neni junction, just before Oraukwu ” read a message circulated on social media. The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, who assumed duty on Wednesday, DSP Tochukwu Ikenganyia, confirmed the incident but said he had no details. He said, “I’m making contacts to get details before I would issue a statement on the matter before long”. A senior police officer in the command, who pleaded anonymity, said “The two incidents happened but I cannot ascertain the number of casualties as of now.” Anambra is among the states where policemen were killed and stations torched in February.

Post Date : March 18, 2021

“Since FG has politicised the issue of insecurity, It won’t end in Nigeria, says Wike

The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has explained that the reason banditry would not end was that the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal Government has continued the politicisation of security. Wike said by politicising insecurity, the APC Government plunged the security troubled states into an unimaginable scale of banditry that may not end soon. The governor disclosed this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri. Wike explained that when Rivers experienced issues of insecurity in 2015, he ran to the FG but instead of support, the FG dismissed it as politics out of hatred for the State and desire to see the state remain ungovernable. He said: “They didn’t send special forces to Rivers as they’re sending to other states now. They refused to support me because they didn’t want the State to be governable. “Crime knows no boundary. It can be you tomorrow. If they had brought out zeal to fight crime, with seriousness, and collaboration irrespective of the party you belong to, good result will be achieved. “Banditry will never end since they’ve politicised the issue of security. I told them don’t politicise issues of security. “They’re paying the price. Whatever you sow, you will reap. If you sow peace you’ll reap peace, if you sow trouble, trouble will always be with you.” Wike said it is difficult to fight crime in situations when cultists are arrested, people go to Abuja to tell the Inspector General of Police(IG) and the Chief of Army Staff that those arrested are their boys just to secure their release and let them off the law. Governor Wike commented on the denials trailing the $1billion Dollar withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account and said it is shameful that a government that is fighting corruption will condole such, allowing both the money and the weapons to go missing, unaccounted for. “Now, the National Security Adviser says the $1 billion they took from our Excess Crude Account without even paying us our 13 per cent derivation is gone. They said they’ve not seen the weapons. “But this one the National Security Adviser is saying that they misquoted him. I tell you, nobody is misquoting anything. We are aware that there was no weapon. “Even the Chief of Army Staff said he didn’t collect money. So where did the money go? This is a government fighting corruption and the press is not talking,” he said.

Post Date : March 18, 2021

My comments were false’ — Oshiomhole retracts 2018 allegations against Ortom

Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has retracted allegations he made against Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state. At a press conference on July 27, 2018, Oshiomhole had alleged that the governor mismanaged bailout funds and Paris Club refund. He also accused him of refusing to pay salaries, thereby deepening poverty in Benue. Oshimhole’s comments had come in the wake of Ortom’s defection from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ortom had immediately demanded a retraction, and N10 billion to be paid as “punitive, general, exemplary and aggravated damages”. Almost three years later, Oshiomhole has now admitted that the allegations made against the governor were false. He issued the retraction in the pages of some national dailies on Thursday. “On the 27th day of July, 2018 at the National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and particularly in my capacity then as the Chairman of the Party, I addressed different national issues as well as some events which occurred in Benue State, including the movement earlier that day of his Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom (Executive Governor of Benue State) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party,” the retraction signed by Oshimhole read. In the course of the press conference, I made certain comments about Dr Ortom on the basis of information I have since found to be false and baseless. “His Excellency Dr Samuel Ortom felt embarrassed, defamed and deeply aggrieved by the comments I made at the said press conference, culminating in litigation. “That politics aside, Governor Samuel Ortom is a dear friend and brother with whom I have shared so much in common, including mutual respect. “That as former colleagues and one time members of the Nigerian Governors’ forum and most importantly as someone whom I am just a phone call away from, any ridicule, embarrassment, spite and insult caused Dr Samuel Ortom is regretted. “Owing to the relationship we share and in the larger interest of peace, harmony and brotherliness, I believe a complete retraction of my comments made on 27th July, 2018, and which Dr Samuel Ortom found offensive is proper and necessary. “In view of all the above, I hereby retract the comments made during the press conference on 27th July, 2018, as it relates to Dr Samuel Ortom.”

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Aisha Buhari Returns To Nigeria After Six Months In Dubai

First Lady Aisha Buhari is back in the country after spending six months in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sources told Daily Trust that the first lady, who quietly relocated abroad after Hanan, one of her daughters, got married in September, is currently at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. She was said to have returned to the country on Wednesday night. There were concerns over her whereabouts during the long absence but the presidency avoided making comments on the issue. But one of Hajiya Aisha’s aides, Kabiru Dodo, finally opened up on the current absence in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, in December 2020. Dodo, who spoke on the development while presenting some items to widows on behalf of the president’s wife, faulted the report that the first lady left the country because of rising insecurity. According to Dodo: “The first lady travelled for her medical trip, she did not flee the country because of insecurity. “What people are saying is baseless and worth nothing to be considered. “I want to tell the whole world that I do speak to her daily and she is ready to return to the country as soon as she is done with the medical treatment abroad.” It is not clear if she has finally returned to the country or if she is in Nigeria on a temporary basis. Daily Trust understand that a book written in her honour will be launched in a few weeks from now and it is unknown if that is the reason she returned to the country. When contacted over the return of the First Lady, Aliyu Abdullahi, Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the First Lady, said: “I don’t know anything about that”.

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Buhari: Border closure failed to stop smuggling of illegal arms into Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari says if Libya remains unstable, illegal arms and ammunition will continue to flow into the Sahel region of the African continent. The Sahel region includes parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Buhari said the closure of Nigeria’s land borders for over a year did not stop the influx of illegal arms. According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari spoke on Thursday at the state house, Abuja, when he received Mohammed Ibn Chambas, outgoing special representative of the United Nations secretary-general. Chambas is also the head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). Buhari was quoted as saying Muammar Gadaffi, ex-Libyan president, held a grip on power in Libya by recruiting armed guards from different countries, who then escaped with their arms when “the Libyan strongman was killed”. A recent report by SBM Intelligence had said that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons has driven the rise in violence in Nigeria. “They didn’t learn any other skill than to shoot and kill. So, they are a problem all over the Sahel countries today,” Buhari was quoted as saying. “We closed our land borders here for more than a year, but arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally. As far as Libya remains unstable, so will the problem remain. “We have to cope with the problems of development, as we can’t play hop, step and jump. But we will eventually overcome those problems.” The president described Chambas, who spent many years in Nigeria in different capacities, as “more of a Nigerian than anything else”. Responding, Chambas thanked Buhari “for personal support I received from you, and from Nigeria as a country,” adding that the country will continue to play a leadership role on the continent. On terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin area, Chambas said Nigeria was playing a yeoman’s role, particularly in giving support to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Post Date : March 18, 2021

EU Regulator Says AstraZeneca Is ‘Safe And Effective’ Vaccine

EU regulator says AstraZeneca ‘safe and effective’ vaccine. More to follow…

Post Date : March 18, 2021

REPORTS: 56 villagers vomit, urinate blood over mysterious disease in Kano

About 56 residents of Gwangwan village in Kano state have reportedly been vomiting and urinating blood due to an outbreak of a mysterious ailment that struck the village. Gwangwan village, which is 136 kilometers away from Kano city and located at Rogo local government were seen in a terrified situation, with people confused and scared. A member of the community from the Muhammad Tukur said six places within the village were affected and about 56 persons have contracted the ailment since the outbreak. “Areas affected by the outbreak of the disease include Unguwan Rijiyan Dadi, Gwanwan Gabas, Gwangwan Yamma, Unguwar Tsarmai, Gangare, and Unguwar Kofar Fada. “We rushed no fewer than 30 people to the Rogo General Hospital since within a day of the outbreak. “So far only one person has died as a result of the outbreak. Most of the victims of the disease have complained of spending a lot money on the disease” he explained. A family man whose two kids have been affected complained that he has so far spent over twenty thousand naira in the hospital trying to get them treated despite the hard times they are facing financially. Another victim in whose house eight people were affected, said he is completely devastated. Some of the affected family members, that include his wife, mother and children cannot even stand on their feet as a result of the severity of the disease. He complained that he has so far spent N100,000 between Rogo Hospital and Gwarzo Hospital without any fruitful result. A staff of the village clinic, who wants to remain anonymous said that the disease is beyond what they can handle at the clinic, that was why the victims were referred to Rogo Hospital. However, officials of the Rogo Hospital who don’t want their names in print said they were not aware of any disease outbreak. But a personnel in charge of diseases outbreak at the Ministry of Health in Kano said the ministry received report of the outbreak but only four people were affected and have since been treated and discharged.

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Lecturer, twin brothers jailed over internet fraud in Kwara

Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, on Thursday, convicted a lecturer of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Abdullahi Opashola, and twin-brothers, Taiye and Kehinde Adebayo, over offences bordering on personation and internet fraud. A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, said that Opashola and the twins were prosecuted by the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC, on separate charges to which they pleaded guilty. Delivering judgment on the two cases, Justice Akinpelu found Opashola guilty of the charge against him and sentenced him to four months imprisonment. The 26-year old lecturer, who is to serve his prison term at the Correctional Service was, however, given an option of fine of N150,000. For Taiye and Kehinde, Justice Akinpelu also pronounced each of them guilty of the charge and sentenced them to six months imprisonment on each of the counts against them, which is to run concurrently. The judge also gave the twin-brothers option of a fine of N50,000 on each of the count. While ordering that the laptops and phones used by the convicts to commit the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government, the judge said the sentences would serve as a deterrent to others. “While Opashola was prosecuted on one count, Taiye and Kehinde answered to seven counts each. The charge against Opashola reads: “That you, Opashola Abdullahi, (alias Devin Snow), sometime in the month of August 2020 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did attempt to cheat by personation, by portraying yourself as a female named Devine Snow via your email address devinesnow677@gmail.com to one Eugene Myvett in order to induce him to send you $200 USD, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Law.” Particulars of count six of the charge against Taiye reads: “That you, Taiye Adebayo, sometime in January 2020, at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did cheat one Gary Brenton who you met on TWOO dating site of the sum of $490 (Four Hundred and Ninety Dollars) received vide gift cards when you pretended to be female and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the penal code and punishable under Section 322 of the same Penal Code.” For Kehinde, count seven of the charge reads: That you, Kehinde Adebayo, sometime in January 2020 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, did cheat one Gary Brenton who you met on TWOO dating site of the sum of $410 (Four Hundred and Ten Dollars) received vide gift cards when you pretended to be female and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 322 of the same Penal Code.” Following the ‘guilty plea’ entered by the defendants, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, had led Paul Kera and Emezie Dominic in evidence to review the facts of the case against Opashola and the twins, respectively. Documents were tendered and admitted in evidence following which the court adjourned for judgement.

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Despite Uzodimma claims of not owing any worker, Imo civil servants protest at govt house over salary arrears

Over one thousand civil servants on Thursday blocked the entrance gate to the Imo State Government House in Owerri. The civil servants who arrived at the Government House in Owerri as early as 8am, stopped vehicles from going in and out of the premises. The development caused panic at the Government House as security men manning the gate battled in vain to disperse the protesting civil servants. Carrying their letters of appointments and postings, the resolute civil servants said that they were at the Government House to prove to the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, that they were not ghost workers. The governor had said that those who had yet to receive their salaries up to date were ghost workers. One of the protesting civil servants who simply identified his name as Celeb told journalists that the statement of the governor was “discouraging” to them. He said, “We have come to puncture the statement of the governor that those who have not received their salaries update are ghost workers. That is why we have come with our letters of appointments and that of our postings. “We are over one thousand here. There are others who have not received their salaries in the last one year among us here. For me, I have not been paid in the last eight months. It is unfortunate that the governor is owing us and he is still lying against us and painting us in bad colours.” The protesting Civil servants said that they would not vacant the entrance gate of the Government House until they were paid. Another civil servant who didn’t want his name in print said, “We will resume 7am here every day going forward until we are paid. I am a secondary school teacher and I have not been paid in the last 12 months. This is the 13th month. Since this governor assumed office, I have only received one month salary and that was January 2020. What kind of wickedness is this?. What kind of leaders do we have in this country?” When contacted for comments, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on print media, Modestus Nwamkpa, promised to get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. Culled from The Punch

Post Date : March 18, 2021

Yorubas are ready fur anything, we’re no longer part of Nigeria, Igboho declares

Sunday Adeyemo, youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, has declared that the Yoruba are no longer part of Nigeria. Igboho made the declaration while speaking in Ibadan on Wednesday. In a video of the event that has gone viral, Igboho said all the borders will be opened, while lamenting that major institutions in the south-west are headed by people of Fulani origin. The youth leader came to prominence after he issued an eviction notice to herders in Ibarapa area of Oyo state. He also forced Seriki Saliu Abdulkadri, Fulani leader in Igangan, to leave the town and relocate to the north. “We no longer have peace in our home. We have a good country but our leaders are bad. The Tin Can and our two ports are controlled by Fulani. We don’t want them again. In our airports, they put Fulani as the head. (Same in) Seme border, we don’t want Fulani there again,” he said. “After this discussion, we will hold meeting and open our borders so that rice, food and other things can enter easily. Enough is enough. All our borders that Nigerian government closed, we are telling them we are no longer under them, we will go and open the borders. “We are ready for everything they want to do to us. I am speaking on behalf of Yoruba people.” The youth leader said the Yoruba are now united and with traditional rulers backing them. He also dared any traditional ruler that is against his own people to declare it publicly. “Some people can say that Yorubas are not united, we are united. If you want to know how united we are, touch one of us, you will know that all Yoruba kings are behind us. Any king that is not with us can go and do a video (and declare that he is against us), he won’t see tomorrow,” he added. Igboho also asked the Yoruba in the north to return home and end their ”suffering”. “I call on all Yorubas in the north to return home. This suffering is enough. I appeal to all Yorubas to unite against it. It is time to come home,” he said.