The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has pledged the loyalty of the military leadership to democratic rule in the country. Irabor made the pledge on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he commended the efforts of military personnel ahead of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. “Today, I believe that Nigerians are no longer in doubt as to the subordination of the military to civil rule; I believe that no one is in doubt that democracy has come to stay,” he said amid the recent military takeover of government in some African countries. “I believe that no one is in doubt any longer that the current military leadership, and of course, since the democratisation in 1999, that the military is well focused to perform its constitutional roles.” Recently, some countries on the continent witnessed a forceful takeover of power by the military, including Mali, Guinea, and Sudan. The people of Guinea were taken by shock on September 5, 2021, when army putschists in the country said they had arrested President Alpha Conde and staged a coup. Seven weeks later, Sudanese armed forces detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok over his refusal to support their coup on Monday. Back in the country, General Irabor admitted that some Nigerians might still be struggling with their experience regarding military involvement in politics in the past. He believes those who have very strong reservations in this regard may not actually give room for escalation of discussions that have to do with repositioning and bringing the military to full focus in terms of what good it has brought to the nation. Speaking about the significance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the defence chief stressed the need to educate the upcoming generation about the nation’s history “I am sure you also know that issues that have to do with civic responsibilities still require a little push; I am sure you know that literacy level in the nation still requires a little push; and so when you bring these factors among several other things, you know that quite a lot of work needs to be done,” he said. “Going forward, I believe that some of these misperceptions that some Nigerians have had with respect to military engagement will begin to change.”

He was arrested last week over the killing and dismemberment of a 9-year-old boy in Gusau. The suspect told journalists shortly after he was paraded by the state police commissioner, Mr Ayuba N Elkanah, that he has three wives and 19 children. According to DailyTrust, he said he employed two teenagers to scout for young boys to kill for him and they had done that twice, getting N1million in return. “I paid them N500,000 for each of the killing of the two young boys. We removed penis, eyes, intestines and Esophagus and I used to eat these human organs and sell some to those who need them,” he said. He, however, kept mum about where he raised the money he used to pay the killers and also did not disclose whether he had collaborators in the state. The police commissioner said the other suspect, Abdulshakur Mohammad, had confessed that that was the third time he was contracted by Baba to source for human parts. He said he got N500,000, after the first and second operations before he was arrested. He said connived with Baba and Ahmad Tukur to deceive the victim, who was taken to an uncompleted building. Mohammad said after killing him, they removed his intestine, Esophagus, Private part and two Eyes, which they took to Baba who in return gave them N500,000 as agreed. Two weeks ago, the remains of the nine year old boy identified Ahmad Yakubu Aliyu was found in an uncompleted building in Barakallahu area of Gusau metropolis. Ahmad went missing shortly after he came back from Islamiyya School in Gadar Baga area of the city. The owner of the building spotted the decomposing body of the little boy when came to continue his construction work. He immediately closed the site and reported the matter to the police who later confirmed that Ahmad was killed and dumped.

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday inaugurated five key projects in Ogun State, assuring Nigerians that two major Federal roads under construction, the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, would be commissioned before the end of 2022. Addressing residents of the State, the President heaped praises on Governor Dapo Abiodun, for delivering visionary and trail-blazing projects for the people, even in the midst of prevailing and challenging circumstances occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement by his special media aide, Femi Adesina, the president described Abiodun as the ‘‘performing Governor of Nigeria’s Gateway State,’’. President Buhari added that the governor is a worthy example of ‘‘promises made, promises kept.’’ The President noted that the lofty projects: the Gateway City Gate; the 42-Kilometre Sagamu Interchange-Abeokuta Road; the 14km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway and two Housing Estates for low, medium and high income earners at Kobape and Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta, respectively, could not have materialised without the State government’s huge investment and commitment to security of lives and property. ‘‘This has made Ogun State one of the safest and most peaceful States in the country and investors’ destination of choice. ‘‘You (Prince Abiodun) have justified the mandate of the people of Ogun State. You have represented our Party very well,’’ the President said. The President expressed delight that the 14km Ijebu Ode-Mojoda-Epe Road commissioned by him has been reconstructed into a modern expressway by the State government. He noted that the impressive road would complement the Sagamu-Benin Expressway that the Federal Government is currently reconstructing; also due for commissioning this year. ‘‘Just across the road is the 42-kilometer Sagamu-Interchange-Abeokuta Road which the state Government has reconstructed and equipped with street lights. ‘‘That road enjoys a direct linkage with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that the Federal Government is rebuilding and due for completion later this year. ‘‘I am particularly impressed by the quality and standard of your road projects, and the creative way you have deployed resources to reconstruct and rehabilitate them. ‘‘It is significant to note that the two road projects being commissioned today are federal roads. This is an example of constructive engagement, cooperation and collaboration between the States and Federal Government. ‘‘These roads also fit well into our rail transportation masterplan that connects Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital to Kano, with Ogun State having more rail stations, along the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor.’’ On the housing programme of the Ogun Governor, the President commended its inclusiveness, saying it is equally heart-warming that it cuts across different social strata, capturing the low, medium and high income earners. Admiring the Gateway City Gate Project, the Nigerian leader said ‘‘it is not just a Park beautification project. It depicts that something new is happening in Ogun State, a welcoming entrance into the State Capital at the centre point of the State.’’ He added that the project is also an ICON depicting the joining of hands for building the future of Ogun State in togetherness. ‘‘Your Excellency, well done! I am proud of what you have done for your State and your people. ‘‘You have made our great Party, the APC, proud too. You are a worthy example of promises made, promises kept. ‘‘These lofty projects could not have materialised without your huge investment and commitment to security of lives and property.’’ Responding to requests by the State governor to give priority to the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta and the Sango Otta-Idiroko Roads respectively, the President assured the people of Ogun State that these roads will receive Federal Government attention. The President announced that the Federal Government would consider extending tax credit as funding option for the reconstruction of these roads, as done for the 100km Sagamu Interchange-Papalanto-Ilaro Road. Similarly, the President promised to consider the approval of the reconstruction of Sagamu-Ogijo Road by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited under the tax credit scheme. The President thanked the residents of the State for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage in the Gateway State, which is his first visit to any State in the New Year. ‘‘This welcome by the large crowd brings back the nostalgia of my first arrival on this soil as a young infantry officer in the Nigerian Army at the then Lafenwa Barracks in Abeokuta, not long after independence. ‘‘The traditional hospitality of the people of this State has not waned a bit. Today, I am “Omowale” and very happy at this homecoming to meet my brothers and sisters whose goodwill I have always enjoyed. Thank you.’’ The President also congratulated the people of Ogun State for having such a focused, deliberate and inclusive Administration under the watch of Prince Abiodun, urging them to continue to support the governor for the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda of his Administration. ‘‘The reward for success is more hardwork to meet the increasing expectations of the people. ‘‘When state governments deliver impactful projects, in consultations with stakeholders, like we have witnessed in Ogun State, the trajectory of our national development will be enhanced.’’ The President, who was bestowed with “honourary indigeneship” of the State, said: “It is also with a sense of responsibility that I receive and cherish the honourary indigeneship bestowed on me as symbolised by the presentation of the key to the Gateway State by Governor Abiodun. “I will leave Ogun State with fond memories and look forward to enjoying the privilege of my honourary indigeneship.”

The father of a 16-year-old Senior Secondary School 3 student, Stanley Ejekwu, has accused a school teacher, identified as Caleb, of impregnating his daughter and absconding with her. Ekekwu alleged that her daughter’s teacher in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt may have absconded with the girl as a result of the pregnancy and appealed to the public to prevail on the matter and help disclose their whereabouts. Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, Ejekwu disclosed that he saw a WhatsApp chat of a man with his teenage daughter where the man was asking the girl when they were going to have sex, as they have been dating for about six months. Ejekwu explained that he had put a call across to the man and warned him to steer clear of the girl, not knowing he was her teacher. The father of the teenage girl said the girl left the house since December 2021, after it was discovered that she was pregnant and found out that the teacher was responsible for her pregnancy, the matter was reported to the Mile 3 police station. He said, “I am suspecting the teacher that he impregnated my daughter and I suspecting him over my daughter’s disappearance. “Why is it that my daughter cannot contact any person in my house but the teacher? He forwarded my daughter’s number to me. I gave every belief that he is holding my 16-year-old daughter. “The other pupils in the school told me that the food my daughter takes to school, that they eat it together every day in school. “So I went to the Mile 3 police station because I discovered that my daughter was pregnant and she ran away from the house, I saw a love message this man sent her and I called to warn him against what he was doing. “Later I found out she was pregnant. I asked her who impregnated her, she then ran away from the house. “I called the school proprietor to report that my daughter was missing since last month and that the only person I am suspecting is a teacher in their school. Later, the owner of the school called me and said they had been communicating. “That is why I went to the police station to ask them to help me find my daughter,” he stated. Caleb, on the other hand, in an audio message obtained by our correspondent, denied any knowledge of the student’s whereabouts. “I don’t know anybody’s whereabouts, I had about this matter when Mr. Ekekwu came to the school to report that his daughter was pregnant and missing. But I don’t anything about it,” he stated. When contacted, the state acting Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she will find out from the Mile 3 police station and get back to our correspondent. She had yet to give feedback at the time of filing this report.