Crime Facts

APC Set For Third Straight Victory Since 2015 – Buhari

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set for its third victory since 2015. He stated this during a meeting at the State House Abuja that drew in attendance members of the APC National Advisory Council, where he appraised the series of consultations held so far towards getting a widely acceptable presidential standard-bearer. “I am pleased to inform you that those meetings have been fruitful and indicative of a party that is prepared and marching towards a third straight victory since 2015, at the presidential polls,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his media aide, Femi Adesina. “I am optimistic that the outcome of this consultation with the National Advisory Council will in addition to sharpening our focus, help to fortify the positive democratic principles, practices and culture that already exists within the party system. “In the course of these consultative processes, I have already met separately with the Progressive Governors and with all our eminent members who are aspiring to become the Presidential flag bearer for our party during the 2023 elections.” See the full statement issued below: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE APC SET FOR 3RD STRAIGHT VICTORY SINCE 2015, SAYS PRESIDENT BUHARI At a meeting held Sunday night at State House, Abuja, with members of the National Advisory Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari appraised the series of consultations held so far toward getting a widely acceptable presidential standard-bearer, and concluded: we are on the way towards winning our third straight victory since 2015. Saying the meeting was convened to provide leadership and direction during the transition period, the President added that the motive was “to strengthen our unity and to focus on building upon our electoral fortunes.” He added: “I am optimistic that the outcome of this consultation with the National Advisory Council will in addition to sharpening our focus, help to fortify the positive democratic principles, practices and culture that already exists within the party system. “In the course of these consultative processes, I have already met separately with the Progressive Governors and with all our eminent members who are aspiring to become the Presidential flag bearer for our party during the 2023 elections. “I am pleased to inform you that those meetings have been fruitful and indicative of a party that is prepared and marching towards a third straight victory since 2015, at the presidential polls.” President Buhari recalled that at the meeting with the Governors and the aspirants, “I underscored the important roles consensus building and consultation have played in the survival of successful political parties around the world, adding that our party should not be an exception. “Recognizing the foregoing, therefore, I also emphasized the need to strengthen our unity, stabilize our internal cohesion and system as well as present a formidable Presidential candidate who has the ability to build a unified nation and the capacity to deal with our challenges. “The party machinery has also screened all our aspirants to the office of the President and found that they consist of eminent personalities, rich in experience, capacity, commitment to service and accomplishment in life. This gives us a lot of confidence but it also comes with its challenges.” He said that in the circumstances, in order to prevent any post-convention acrimonies and also reduce noticeable anxiety among members on the possible outcome of the process, the party leadership has recommended the intensification of consultation and consensus-building to reduce the number of aspirants as it approaches the convention, which commences Monday, June 6, 2022. The President said in order to further support the efforts of the party, he has admonished the aspirants to consult among themselves and with the party, so that the objective of the recommendation by the leadership would be actualized. And as members of the National Advisory Council of the APC, the President says he recognizes the fact that they all have diverse interests, spheres of influence and expectations. “You similarly possess the collective ability to ensure our victory at the 2023 polls by strengthening the stability and unity of the party. “My charge and appeal to all of you, therefore, is to reach out to your various spheres of influence to actively promote the spirit of consultation and consensus-building so that a formidable candidate for the 2023 Presidential elections would emerge from the convention. Our citizens do not expect less from us.” President Buhari assured as he did to the Governors and the aspirants, that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would lead the transition processes and ongoing consultations, “till we successfully choose our candidate for the 2023 presidential elections and record our third straight victory, thereafter, by God’s grace.” Responding on behalf of the National Advisory Council (hitherto known as Board of Trustees) members, former Internal Affairs Minister and Senator, Major General Mohammed Magodo (retd), former Osun State Governor and first Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, thanked the President for the consultative meetings and commended him for the great service he had rendered to the country, particularly in the areas of agriculture and infrastructure. They were unanimous that with hard work and a united front, the APC would win the presidential election billed for February next year, as well as National Assembly, governorship, and State Assembly polls.   Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) June 5, 2022

Nigeria Air To Get Operating License On Today

  The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected to present Nigeria Air, the country’s proposed national carrier with Air Transport Licence (ATL) today. The licence will be presented to the interim management of the airline at the headquarters of the aviation regulatory body in Abuja. This was made known on the Instagram handle of the Ministry of Aviation @fmaviationng which reads, “The @NigerianCAA will on Monday, June 6th, 2022 present the Air Transport License (ATL) to the interim management of the #NigeriaAir, Nigeria’s national carrier at the NCAA’s Corporate headquarters, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja”. The new national airline is expected to provide scheduled and non-scheduled services. It is one of the licenses received by airlines before they can commence operation just as they await the all-important Air Operator Certificate (AOC) that fully guarantees them the right to begin air services. Nigeria Air Limited, the country’s proposed national carrier had in April 2022 applied to the NCAA for a license to operate scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo services.

Police Order Investigation Into Owo Church Attack, Move To Fortify Community

  The Ondo State Police Command has ordered an investigation into the attack on a Catholic church in Owo town, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state. This was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the command Odunlami Funmilayo, hours after assailants killed many and injured several others at St Francis Catholic Church on Sunday. ‘…the CP has equally ordered Forensic Investigation into the attack to ascertain the actual or remote cause(s) of the attack and for immediate arrest of the assailants as all hands are on deck to forestall any similar attack in any part of the state,” the spokesman said in the Sunday statement. While narrating how the incident happened, the police image maker explained that the attack took place in the early hours of the day. “Today, Sunday 5th June 2022 at about 11:30 am, while the Church service was ongoing, some armed men invaded the church and attacked members of the church, where some lives were lost and some sustained varying degrees of injuries,” the statement issued on behalf of the Ondo Police Commissioner Oyediran Oyeyemi read. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the assailants approached the church during the service, and started shooting from outside the church while others numbering about 4 (four) shot directly into the church. “The CP while commiserating with the Church, families of the deceased, the people of Owo and Ondo State Government, has ordered immediate deployment of armed and specialised policemen to the area to restore normalcy and fortify the entire community.”

Gunmen Kill Police Officer In Delta, Cart Away AK-47 Rifles

  Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers has killed a Police officer and a commercial motorcycle operator (Okada rider) in Warri area of the state. Reports says the gunmen took away two AK-47 rifles from the police officer. The incident which caused pandemonium and saw residents running helter skelter occured at about 9pm around Uti junction in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. According to a source, the Police officer was being conveyed on the motorcycle when the gunmen attacked them. The source said that the officer was carrying two rifles, one suspected to be for his colleague who was not on duty and the second for him. As at press time, the identities of the deceased persons are yet to be ascertained. The Delta state Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe couldn’t confirm the information as he said he was yet to be briefed about the incident.

2023 Presidency: I Am The Voice Of Young People – Yahaya Bello

  Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a presidential aspirant and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Sunday said he is the voice of the young people. The governor made the assertion on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, a few hours before the commencement of the presidential primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “By June this year, I will be 47. I am still the young of the young people, the voice of the younger generation, the voice for the women, the voice for people living with disabilities, and the voice for Nigerians irrespective of religion, region, or tribe because we have demonstrated it in Kogi State,” the governor said. If the APC gives him the opportunity to fly its flag next year, the Kogi governor boasted that he will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He claimed that he would be celebrating his victory by 2 pm on the day of the presidential election if the APC gives him the ticket. Bello also spoke on his plans to revamp Nigeria’s security challenges, recalling that when he came on board as Kogi on January 27, 2016, the state was experiencing security challenges. When asked if he has the solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, the governor did not directly answer the question. Rather, he explained that he has demonstrated his ability to solve tackle insecurity based on his experience in Kogi State. “I have demonstrated that well enough in Kogi State. By the special grace of God, we are going to achieve it within the first 12 months of Governor Yahaya Bello’s presidency,” he added.

Mother of APC Senatorial Candidate Kidnapped

  Gunmen has in the early hours of Monday, abducted the aged mother of A.A Zaura, the Kano Central senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Victim identified as Hajia Laure Mai-Kunu, was kidnapped before the Muslims’ call to prayer Monday morning. Confirming the incident, Chairman of Ungogo Local Government, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat, said he was informed of the incident by security agents. Also speaking on the incident, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Police Command, SP Haruna Abdullahi confirmed the incident. He said the aged woman was abducted at about 2am in the morning when the gunmen stormed her residence in Zaura village. He said men of the command have been dispatched to go in search of the woman, rescue her and arrest the perpetrators.

2023: Buhari never discussed power shift to South — Presidency

  Contrary to media reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had, during a meeting with presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, discussed that the Presidency should go to the South in 2023, the Presidency has said nothing of such was discussed. Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this as Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, accused some governors of APC in the North of “trading off” Arewa’s right to choose the next president of the country. However, the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation, ABATCO, has described the 11 northern APC governors asking for power shift to the southern part of the country as worthy patriots. The presidential spokesperson in an interview, yesterday, with the BBC Hausa Service, said: “The meeting was among the series of meetings President Muhammadu Buhari commenced with the chieftains and party bigwigs in the APC to ensure the APC presidential primary election is conducted peacefully; and to make sure APC is placed on the right pedestal that will bring victory to the party during the presidential election in 2023.” Asked if the issue of power shift was discussed at the meeting, Malam Garba Shehu said: “No, that was not discussed. What President Muhammadu Buhari said was that he had called them to advice them that they should go and discuss within themselves, in their capacity as presidential aspirants, they should deliberate among themselves and with the party on how they could bring forth a sole candidate for the presidency.” When told that some Nigerian newspapers had written that the President was in support of power going South, Shehu said: “Nothing of such was discussed, as even if the President had such an opinion, he did not come out to say it at the meeting.” When reminded that there were rumours President Buhari might come out to announce the person he was supporting to succeed him, Shehu explained: “What the President was saying was that he was prepared to continue providing the leadership that would lead to the emergence of a candidate through a peaceful and harmonious process that the aspirants, governors and other party leaders would adopt.” On what President Buhari would do if the aspirants failed to arrive at a consensus arrangement, Shehu said the President would have no choice, adding: “We have to follow the election process.”

Use your influence to push for consensus candidate, Buhari tells APC caucus

  President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the national advisory council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “actively” promote consensus building among the presidential hopefuls of the party. The president met with the APC stakeholders and some governors at the state house on Sunday night. Speaking at the meeting, Buhari said the ruling party is on course for a third straight electoral victory. He said the meeting was convened to provide leadership and direction during the transition period, adding that the goal was “to strengthen our unity and to focus on building upon our electoral fortunes”. Buhari said: “I am optimistic that the outcome of this consultation with the National Advisory Council will in addition to sharpening our focus, help to fortify the positive democratic principles, practices and culture that already exists within the party system. “In the course of these consultative processes, I have already met separately with the Progressive Governors and with all our eminent members who are aspiring to become the Presidential flag bearer for our party during the 2023 elections. “I am pleased to inform you that those meetings have been fruitful and indicative of a party that is prepared and marching towards a third straight victory since 2015, at the presidential polls. “I underscored the important roles consensus building and consultation have played in the survival of successful political parties around the world, adding that our party should not be an exception. “Recognizing the foregoing, therefore, I also emphasized the need to strengthen our unity, stabilize our internal cohesion and system as well as present a formidable Presidential candidate who has the ability to build a unified nation and the capacity to deal with our challenges. “The party machinery has also screened all our aspirants to the office of the President and found that they consist of eminent personalities, rich in experience, capacity, commitment to service and accomplishment in life. This gives us a lot of confidence but it also comes with its challenges. “My charge and appeal to all of you, therefore, is to reach out to your various spheres of influence to actively promote the spirit of consultation and consensus-building so that a formidable candidate for the 2023 Presidential elections would emerge from the convention. Our citizens do not expect less from us.” The president said he understands that members of the advisory council have “diverse interests, spheres of influence and expectations”, but added that they also “possess the collective ability to ensure our victory at the 2023 polls”.

Blasphemy: Police yet to arrest Abuja vigilante’s killer 48hrs after

  The Abuja Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force has yet to arrest the prime suspect fingered in the gruesome murder of a vigilante operative, Ahmad Usman, 48 hours after. Usman, a 30-year-old resident of the Federal Capital Territory, was stoned to death and burnt by a mob over an alleged blasphemous comment against the Prophet Muhammed and Allah, in the Lugbe area of the country’s capital city. The suspect whose name is unknown, according to the Police, is a Muslim cleric who also resides in Lugbe. Hours after the incident, the FCT Police said it was investigating the killing which occurred on Saturday. “We understand that one Ahmad Usman a 30-year-old member of the local vigilante around Tippa Garage at Federal Housing Estate in Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory got into an argument with a cleric (Mallam) whose name is yet unknown from the same area. “The heated argument degenerated into violence that led to the murder and setting ablaze of Ahmad Usman by the enraged mob mobilised by the cleric numbering about two hundred,” the Police said in a statement acquired by PUNCH Metro. Our correspondent, however, gathered that members of the vigilance group guarding the Timber-shed market at the Federal Housing Estate in Lugbe, Abuja had arrested some wanderers around the market in the early hours of Saturday. The residents were said to have begged the vigilante cadets to let them off in the name of Prophet Muhammed and Allah, however, Usman had disagreed and allegedly made comments said to be blasphemous, leading to the suspects pouncing on him and calling on over a hundred others to stone him to death before he was set ablaze. Traders within the market who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity also affirmed that the vigilante cadet was beaten and stoned before he was set ablaze. Since the incident, citizens across the country, many of whom took to social media, have shown their discomfort concerning the gruesome killing. Meanwhile, a reliable source within the FCT Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed to our correspondent that the police were yet to arrest the identified Muslim cleric or others among the mob that were fingered in the gruesome killing.

Native Doctors Working For Unknown Gunmen Flee As Security Operatives Raid Nine Anambra Shrines

  Security agencies in Anambra State have reportedly busted nine camps belonging to ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Anambra South Senatorial District. Nine shrines used by the hoodlums for oath-taking were also raided by the joint task force on security in the state. A police source said natives who acted as informants to the hoodlums were also in detention and making useful statements. Some of the areas raided by the task force included Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area; Ebenato community in Nnewi South LGA; Ezinifite community also in Nnewi South LGA; and Ichi, in Ekwusigo LGA. Other areas include part of Osumoghu, Lilu and some parts of Ukpor in Nnewi South and Ihiala LGAs. The source said most native doctors had fled from their homes because some of their colleagues who were arrested had been providing names of those involved in killings and kidnappings in the state. The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said it was too early to begin to count the successes in the war against terror in the state.