At least nine people have been reportedly killed by bandits during an attack at Ungwan Dakwa village, near Dogon Dawa ward in Birnin Gwari Local government area of Kaduna State.   Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the incident, the House of Assembly member-elect for Birnin Gwari State Constituency, Honourable Yahaya Birnin Gwari, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday. In a telephone conversation, Gwari said the bandits stormed his community at about 2 pm on Saturday and immediately opened fire on the innocent residents who were going about their daily duties. He said that some villagers sustained varying degrees of injuries during the attack and were rushed to hospitals at neighbouring Funtua in Katsina State for treatment, while most of the villagers fled from their homes due to fear of a fresh attack by the bandits. Kaduna is one of the North-Western states that is worst hit by bandits who have continued to wreak havoc in the region. Heavily armed gangs known locally as bandits frequently carry out mass abductions for ransom in northwest and central Nigeria, holding their captives in camps hidden in vast forest that stretch across the region. Intercommunal attacks and abductions for ransom have been on the rise again after a lull during elections in February and March for the presidency and governorship posts. Gunmen killed 33 people in an attack on a farming village in Kaduna last month, part of inter-communal violence between ethnic Fulani herders and pastoral farmers.   Earlier this month, ten school children were also kidnapped in central Kaduna, though eight later managed to escape two weeks after their abduction. Catholic priests are also targeted for kidnappings. As well as battling criminal gangs, Nigeria’s armed forces are also fighting a 14-year-long jihadist conflict in the northeast of the country and simmering separatist tensions in the southeast.

  Hon Emmanuel Akidi the president general of Awgbu town has revealed that five persons were killed and property valued at over N10 million lost during an attack on the community. Awgbu is a town in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State. In a statement on Sunday, Akidi said the attack had no political connotation as reported by the media. The PG’s statement read: “On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a commercial tricycle was chased into Awgbu town through Amaokpala by some commercial motorcyclists who claimed that they were armed robbers and fired series of gunshots in that axis. “A large crowd had gathered to join those who chased them into the town. In the ensuing melee, three of the occupants were caught. The Awgbu Vigilante service was able to rescue one of them and promptly handed him over to the police. “The crowd, which had become uncontrollable at this time, took the other two to the boundary between Awgbu and Agulu and executed them. “Unfortunately, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, Awgbu was attacked by some hoodlums riding in keke, whom eyewitnesses say came from Awka axis. “The hoodlums set the market on fire and shot four persons dead and burnt one in his shop. There were suggestions that the Thursday night attack was linked to Tuesday’s incident and that the attackers were on a reprisal. “This attack had no political connotation as erroneously reported. Awgbu is in mourning and does not need any other external provocation. “We urge the Anambra State Police command to get to the root of this matter and ensure that the culprits are made to face the wrath of the law to give justice to the families of those killed. “We also plead with the Anambra State government to come to the aid of the families of those killed and those who lost their properties in the market.”

  (PenCom) has said that it recovered the sum of N384.28 million from 34 defaulting employers during the first quarter of 2023. Director-General, PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar, revealed this in Lagos, at a workshop organised by the Commission for Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN), where she spoke on the theme, “Securing the Future: The Benefits of the Contributory Pension Scheme to Nigerian Workers.” A breakdown of the amount showed that contributions made up N193.06m of the amount, while penalties from the defaulting employers amounted to N191.22m. According to her, from the commencement of the recovery of pension contributions owed workers in June 2012 to March 31, 2023, the ommission has recovered N24.53b (contributions of N12.44b and penalties of N12.09b) from defaulting employers. Represented by PenCom Head of Communication, Abdulquadri Dahiru, Dahir-Umar reiterated the Commission’s commitment to protecting workers’ interests and ensuring that employers pay pension contributions as at when due. As of March 31, 2023, the PenCom chief said the value of pension assets stood at N15.58t, while Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) membership was 9.95 million. The DG attributed the feat to the commission’s meticulous regulation and supervision of the pension industry ensuring that pension assets and CPS membership continue to grow. n the workshop, she said it marked an essential milestone in the commission’s ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and collaboration with the media. “By enhancing your understanding of pensions, you will be better equipped to educate the public, dispel misconceptions, and foster a financial planning culture and security among Nigerian workers.”

  The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the federal government. The MoU was signed on Friday during a meeting at the office of Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment. Uche Ojinmah, NMA president, and Innocent Orji, NARD president, signed on behalf of the doctors. NARD began a five-day warning strike on Wednesday following the refusal of the federal government to meet its demands such as massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals, immediate payment of the 2023 medical residency training fund (MRTF) and the immediate increment in the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) to the tune of 200% of the gross salary of doctors.   Olajide Oshundun, spokesperson of the ministry of labour, said parties agreed during the meeting that the federal government cannot compel state governments to effect payment of salaries and allowances in the health sector. Ngige said the federal government also could not compel state governments to domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act. He advised NARD to reach out to states that are not paying and negotiate with them, even if the rates are lower than that of the federal government.   “The meeting also discussed the bill on bonding of doctors for five years before licensing, sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson,” Oshundun said. “It was agreed that the executive arm of government could not interfere with it being a private member’s bill and not an executive bill. “The meeting resolved to await the public hearing on the bill, where the doctors will deal with it through the NMA to ensure it does not see the light of day.” Meanwhile, the NARD president told TheCable that the resolutions reached at the meeting and the MoU signed will be discussed with the association’s national executive council (NEC) on Sunday.   He added that signing the MoU did not translate to calling off the strike as only the NEC can call off a strike. “What usually happens after such a meeting, an MoU is signed to confirm the things discussed in that meeting. There’s usually a clause in the MoU that whatever is being signed will be taken back to the NEC for discussion and to determine the next line of action. That was in the MoU we signed,” he said.

  The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has jailed two fraudsters seven years for defrauding a South Korean of $600,000. Aso Morrison and Frank Biobarakuma swindled the money out of the South Korean under the guise of selling Nigerian crude oil to him, according to a statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on Saturday. The ICPC statement said the convicts and others at large fraudulently took $260,000 and $402,300 from the South Korean, Jung Yongmin, to sell Nigerian crude oil to him. The convicts perpetrated the fraud between March 2012 and February 2013 in Port Harcourt, the ICPC said. Delivering judgement, the Chief Judge of the Rivers State, Simon Chibuzor-Amadi, found the convicts guilty on all 17 counts preferred against them. The date of the judgement was not given in the ICPC statement. But the statement said the judge rejected the defence lawyers’ plea to impose non-custodial sentence on the convicts. The judge went on to sentence the two convicts to three years in prison for counts 1 to 4, seven years in prison for counts 5 and 6, and three years in prison for counts 7 to 7. The sentences are without any option of fine. Since the sentences are to run concurrently, the convicts will spend seven years in jail – the stiffest sentence imposed for any of the counts. The court directed that the judgement be communicated to the South Korean Embassy, whose petition led to the trial. ICPC’s statement, signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, said the convicts were first arraigned in March 2017 before the Rivers State High Court in Porth Harcourt. They were arraigned on 17 counts of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence. The offences were said to be contrary to Sections 1 and 8 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004 and Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004. The convicts had earlier entered a “not guilty” plea.   Their first arraignment was before the former trial judge, B. A. Georgewill. But following the elevation of Mr Georgewill to the Court of Appeal bench, the case was transferred to Chief Judge of the state High Court, Mr Chibuzor-Amadi, who saw the case to conclusion.

  Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has advised hopefuls vying for leadership positions in the 10th assembly to respect the zoning formulas of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on Saturday in Kaduna, Wike asked the hopefuls to consider national interest above their ambitions and submit to the leadership of the party. The APC had nominated Tajudeen Abbas, a member of the house of representatives, and Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, as candidates for the speaker and president of the senate. The ruling party also picked Barau Jibrin, senator representing Kano north, as deputy senate president, and Benjamin Kalu, current house spokesperson, as deputy speaker.   Nevertheless, some party stakeholders and aspirants in the national assembly leadership race have protested against the selection of the four candidates. Wike urged the aspirants to accept the party’s zoning decision and withdraw from the race. “No president can do very well if he does not have that leadership that will corporate with him,” he said.   Wike said President Muhammadu Buhari’s performance in the first term was affected by the tussle between the leadership of the national assembly and the administration. Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara served as senate president and speaker of the house of representatives from 2015 to 2019. They defied the party’s zoning arrangement at the time to emerge as presiding officers of the national assembly. “You remember what happened in 2015 — that affected the performance of the present administration,” Wike said. “I think for the interest of Nigeria, let them respect the leadership of their party and the president to move the country forward.”   Wike also said he believes President-elect Bola Tinubu will set up the “best team” to get the country running after he takes the oath of office on May 29. “I believe that he means well for this country. I have that belief that he is ready for the job,” Wike said.

  South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has condemned in very strong terms the re-appointment of sacked Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, as the Chairman of Police Trust Fund, PTF. According to the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the re-appointment of Abba appears to be compensation for the roles he allegedly played during the 2015 general elections.   In a letter to President Nuhannadu Buhari, Clark, who urged Buhari to re-examine his actions as he winds up his tenure, stressed that Nigerians could not also forget in a jiffy the perceived disloyal action of the PTF boss when, as IGP, he went to the airport to receive Buhari, without the knowledge and or authorisation of his principal, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was the President at the time. That action, according to Clark, led to Abba’s sack from the Police Force. The Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, also advised Buhari to obey court rulings, including those delivered on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by releasing him. “Today, Buhari is eulogising and praising the legacy of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, his peaceful conduct during the 2015 general elections, when he conceded defeat”, he said. “The question the president should ask himself is what legacy does he want to leave after his years as civilian president? Is that of compensating people with appointments, most times the juicier ones, for aiding and executing wrong acts, such as he has just done for Suleiman Abba and his cohorts, who were alleged to have conspired and worked to remove Dr. Jonathan from office at all cost? “Is it that of breaching the Constitution of the country? Is it that of nepotism? Is it that of leaving the country more divided and more devastated than he met it? “There is still room to make amends within the remaining few days that Mr. President has embarked on appointing people to offices if it can be evenly distributed to all sections of the country, as stipulated in the Federal Character laws, and not in a manner of compensating wrongdoing. “I also advise President Buhari to obey court rulings, including that delivered on Nnamdi Kanu. And as he winds up his tenure, to re-examine his actions.”

  Air strikes and artillery exchanges shook the Sudanese capital Saturday and armed men ransacked the Qatari embassy as the country’s warring generals kept up their struggle for control.   Khartoum residents told AFP that heavy fighting raged despite repeated international calls for a humanitarian truce. The area around the state television building in Khartoum’s sister city Omdurman was one of the sites bombarded, witnesses said. The power struggle between regular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), erupted into fighting on April 15. The conflict has killed hundreds of people, most of them civilians, and displaced more than one million.   The United Nations has warned of a fast-deteriorating humanitarian situation in Africa’s third-largest country, where one in three people already relied on aid before the war. On Friday, Burhan sacked Daglo, giving his title of vice president of the ruling Sovereign Council to former rebel leader Malik Agar, and appointed three allies to top jobs in the military. A former rebel leader who signed a peace deal with Khartoum authorities in 2020, Agar said in a statement Saturday he was determined to try to “end the war” and press for negotiations. He also addressed Daglo directly saying “Sudan’s stability can only be re-established by a professional and unified army”. A former rebel leader who signed a peace deal with Khartoum authorities in 2020, Agar said in a statement Saturday he was determined to try to “end the war” and press for negotiations. He also addressed Daglo directly saying “Sudan’s stability can only be re-established by a professional and unified army”. Integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces has been the main bone of contention between Daglo and Burhan. The force, which traces its origins to the notorious Janjaweed militia recruited in the early 2000s to crush a rebellion by ethnic minority groups in Darfur, is highly mobile but has a reputation for being ill-disciplined. Its fighters have been accused of widespread break-ins and looting, including at diplomatic missions and aid group offices. – ‘Maximum restraint’ – On Saturday, Qatar’s embassy was the latest diplomatic mission to be attacked, drawing condemnation from Doha.   “The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the irregular armed forces’ storming and vandalising its embassy building in Khartoum,” the foreign ministry said. “The embassy staff had previously been evacuated and… none of the diplomats or embassy staff were subjected to any harm,” the ministry said. It renewed calls for “an immediate halt to the fighting in Sudan, exercising maximum restraint… and sparing civilians the consequences of the fighting”. Qatar did not specifically identify Daglo’s RSF as responsible but a statement from the pro-Burhan authorities put the blame squarely on the paramilitaries. The embassies of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have also come under assault in recent weeks. Saturday’s attack came a day after Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Saudi Arabia urged Sudan’s feuding generals to halt the fighting. There have been multiple failed truce efforts since the fighting started, and representatives of both sides have been holding talks in Saudi Arabia. Asked about those discussions, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday that the focus was “on reaching a truce that allows Sudanese civilians to take a breather”. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement on Saturday through his spokesman, “urged flexibility and leadership” from Burhan and emphasized that a ceasefire would facilitate “humanitarian assistance and essential services that are desperately needed by the Sudanese people.” Although the main fighting is being played out in Khartoum, the violence has also spread to the war-ravaged western region of Darfur, where the RSF has its roots. In South Darfur capital Nyala, fighting since Thursday has killed 22 people forcing civilians to flee for safer areas as shells crash on their homes, the bar association in Darfur has said. On Friday, UN aid chief Martin Griffith said he was allocating $22 million in emergency funds to help Sudanese fleeing the violence. The funds will help relief efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt and South Sudan where Sudanese have sought refuge, he said. The United States promised $103 million for Sudan and neighbouring countries to support displaced people. AFP