There’s palpable anger in Bauchi over the removal of a 16-year-old teenager’s eyes by a ‘friend’ who allegedly deceived him to the bush to carry out the dastardly act. Confirming the incident to newsmen on Friday, the Bauchi Command of the Nigeria Police, through its PPRO, Ahmed Wakil said that One Ibrahim of Rafin Zurfi whom the victim has known for some time lured him to the bush for a menial job on his farm where he forcefully removed the teenager’s eyes. “At about 1800hrs (on Thursday), a distress call was received from the Ward head of Birshi Mohammed Lawal, that a boy of about 16 years was found in his pool of blood with two of his eyes removed at Dutsen Jira of Yelwa area Bauchi in metropolitan area. “A team of Policemen led by DPO of Yelwa division moved to the scene of the crime and evacuated the victim to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi (ATBUTH) for treatment. “Preliminary investigation reveals that the victim’s name is Uzairu Salisu ‘M’ of kwanan Gulmammu Jahun Quarters. The victim stated that One Ibrahim of Rafin Zurfi whom the victim has known for some time lured him to a Bush for a menial job on his farm where the suspect used a cable wire to strangulate the victim and remove his two eyes. “While the victim is currently in the hospital receiving medical attention as demanded by global best practices, the general public will be updated as the investigation unfolds. “To this end, the commissioner of Police reiterates the need for parents and guardians to maintain strict vigilance of the activities of their wards,” he said. The PPRO further noted that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Sanda has vowed to get to the root of the matter and ensure that erring culprits of the dastardly act are brought to book. Some residents who spoke with our reporter expressed their anger at the incident while promising to cooperate with all relevant security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the act.

  Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda visits Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on June 23, 2022. Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda on Thursday led the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate to meet with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt. Senator Aduda who has been a long-time ally of Governor Wike was nominated as Minority Leader two days ago to replace the former, Enyinaya Abaribe who defected from the PDP. On the entourage are, Deputy Minority Leader, Shuaibu Lau, Minority Whip, Chukwuka Utazi, and Deputy Minority Whip, Danjuma La’ah. Senator Barry Mpigi from Rivers State was on hand to receive the guests alongside Governor Wike. The meeting was held behind closed doors in the private residence of Governor Wike in Port Harcourt. The senators who arrived at about 3:10 pm, departed at about 6 pm, without stating the purpose of their visit. The visit of the Senators happened a few minutes after the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe equally visited Governor Nyesom Wike at his residence. Governor Wike had in the past days received top political figures at his private residence in Port Harcourt. Some of whom have visited the Rivers State Governor include the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Like the other visits, that of Elder Orubebe was also private. Elder Godsday Orubebe who served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party this week. In his resignation letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Party, the former Minister said the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023 because the party disregarded its constitutional provisions and threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s presidential candidate, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after the emergence of another northerner as the National Chairman.

  PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, has told the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson that there have been apprehension in admitting on bail detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because he jumped jumped bail the previous time he was granted bail. President Buhari stated this on Thursday, when he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Great Britain on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda. The President at the meeting reiterated his resolve to respect the maximum term limit in the Nigerian Constitution. The PM, obviously not quite familiar with the maximum two terms limit, had asked if President Buhari would run for office again. To which the latter responded: “Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well.” (General laughter). On the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, not being allowed to see his lawyers privately, the President dispelled such insinuation, saying the detained separatist was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.” Said President Buhari: “He felt very safe in Britain, and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he has said there. His lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again, if he’s admitted to bail?” On the keenness expressed by the PM to help Nigeria in the area of security, the President said helping to stabilize Libya could be an initial good step, as the fall of Muammar Gadaffi after 42 years in power unleashed his armed guards on countries in the Sahel, “and they are causing havoc everywhere, as the only thing they know how to do is to shoot guns.” On Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari said there was serious effort to educate the people on the fact that only an unserious person could kill innocent people, “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). God is justice. “You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. And the education process is working, the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.” PM Johnson said he was delighted about the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria. He described the relationship between the countries as “very strong attachment,” adding: “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us, and we need to capitalize on it.” The Prime Minister offered condolences on some recent attacks in Nigeria, particularly on churches.

  The twenty-nine abducted Zamfara wedding guests have regained their freedom, a source told Channels Television on Thursday. The Secretary of an association to which the victims belonged in Zamfara State, Ashiru Zurmi said that the victims are currently on their way to Gusau, the state capital. “Our members have regained their freedom today, I can confirm to you. They are currently on their way to Gusau,” he said. He, however, did not disclose whether the union or families of the victims paid any ransom for their release. “I can only tell you now that they have been released,” the source added.   The victims were abducted while returning from a wedding in Sokoto State on June 11 in Dogon Awo, a community between Tureta and Bakura located on the borders of Sokoto and Zamfara States. They are smartphones and accessories dealers at a popular Bebeji Plaza in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital. The bandits had earlier demanded the sum of N145million ransom to secure the release of the 29 victims.