Bandits have killed 15 farmers and abducted scores of people including women and girls from various communities in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. Channels Television reports that the attack which happened on Saturday comes a day after 13 members of vigilante were killed and many villagers were abducted in Kusharki village. Confirming the attack, a community leader in one of the villages, who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons claimed that the bandits have resumed attacks with full force in some villages in the local government. Calling on the state government and security agencies to come to their aid to ameliorate their hardship, he said that the community has been under siege by bandits in the last two weeks as the situation had worsened. Also the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, confirmed the attack to Channels Television on Sunday. The lawmaker expressed concern that the bandits had resumed attacks in four local government councils of Rafi, Paikoro, Munya and Shiroro that form part of his constituency. He is however confident that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would soon deal with such challenges. When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Offiicer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack. He however could not ascertain the casualty figure. Abiodun, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said police in collaboration with the military have been dispatched to Yakila, Tegina, Kagara, Pandogari, Kusherki and other villages to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

  A 39-year-old man, Sunday Ejeh, has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling of a nine years old girl in Edo State. It was gathered that the incident happened In Ugbogi Community in Ighobazuwa, Ovia North West Local government of the state and was reported to the police. The suspect was said to have lured the victim to his room and had sexual intercourse with her and gave her N600 after the act. The Edo State Command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident said the suspect has been arrested by the police. He said the suspect was arrested following a report that he has defiled a nine-year-old girl in the community. Nwabuzor said, “investigation carried out by the gender unit of the command criminal’s investigation department revealed that the suspect has a criminal tendency of assembling young girls between two and nine years and having sexual intercourse with them. He said the suspect at the end of his crime would give them N600 to take home.” In an interview with journalists, Ejeh said he only had sexual intercourse with the said nine years old girl sometime in January this year and has not done the same to any other girl in the area. He said, “The incident happened in January when this girl came to my house and demanded that I should give her money and have sexual intercourse with her. “I said no but she said if I refused to do it, she will shout that I want to rape her. So, I agreed and after sleeping with her I gave her N1,500 and she left.” He said the community youths seized him last week when he came back from the farm and started beating him that he rape the nine years old girl and later took him to the police station.

  A female officer of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) identified as George, has been reportedly found dead in her apartment in Lagos. Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF director of public relations and information, confirmed the incident on Sunday according to TheCable. However, Famuyiwa said he has “no full details to it”. Military sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, that George, until her death, was a master warrant officer serving at 651 base services group in Lagos. One of the sources told the publication that the deceased was found unresponsive at her residence at block T5, Flat 8, in Sam Ethnan air force base in Ikeja. George was reported to have hung herself in her room at about 2 pm on Saturday. The sources told Zagazola that the NAF personnel was pronounced dead by three air provosts who came with another team of officers to evacuate the corpse to the 661 NAF hospital. The sources added that an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of her death by the NAF authorities.

  No fewer than five traders have died in boat mishap in Ugbo-Nla in Ilaje council area of Ondo State. Vanguard learnt that the victims who went to buy seafoods at a local market at Ugbo-Nla were involved in an accident on the waterway. Their boat, a local said “capsized and five of the travellers died, while only one person was rescued, due to use of life jacket. Reacting to the ugly development, the National President of the Ondo State Fishermen Association of Nigeria, Ambassador Orioye Benedict, has urged the state government to enforce the use of life. Gbayisemore, who expressed concerns over the development, advised the state government to enforce the use of life jackets to prevent reoccurrence of the unfortunate incident. According to him, stringent measures should be implemented to enforce mandatory use of life jackets by commuters on waterways. The President added that this will significantly enhance safety and increase the chances of survival during emergency. According to him “the presence of a life jacket saved the life of the sole survivor in this tragic incident, highlighting its critical importance in ensuring the safety of individuals, engaging in maritime activities. “The lone survivor in the Ugbo Nla boat mishap had the foresight to wear a life jacket, before setting out on the ill-fated trip. “The life jacket was vital to his survival, keeping him buoyant until rescue arrived. “This serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to enforce the use of life jackets for all individuals commuting on water.” Gbayisemore urged the state government to prioritise dredging and clearing of waterways, to facilitate safe and unobstructed movement for passengers. He said, “it is crucial to that well-maintained waterways enhance ease of transportation and significantly reduce the risk of accidents, ensuring safety and wellbeing of those who rely on water transportation. “Additionally, the government needs to recognise the significance of investing in water transportation. This mode of transportation can contribute to economic growth in the region. “The government can promote safe and efficient travel for its citizens by encouraging and supporting investment in water transportation infrastructure”. He also advised the state government to support boat workers to develop a robust water transportation system. “Supporting boat workers is crucial to developing a robust water transportation system. Training, resources and necessary support for boat workers will enhance their skills, ensure adherence to safety protocols and foster a culture of professionalism within the industry. “This tragic event serves as a critical call to the government to enforce the mandatory use of life jackets, prioritise dredging and clearing of waterways for improved passenger safety, recognise the importance of investing in water transportation and support boat workers. He noted that ” By so doing, the government can prevent future tragedy and create a safer environment for all water commuters”.

  SUSPECTED gunmen Saturday night at Ekredjebor community of Ughelli North Local Government Area kidnapped an unnamed Businessman after several gunshots. This is coming just as two others were allegedly kidnapped at Amekpa and Bris & Bina area of Ughelli metropolis. An eyewitness account narrated that the victim was taken away in a Lexus Utility vehicle through the Ekredjebor/Saniko axis by the abductors after sporadic gunshots. That the unnumbered suspected kidnappers left the victim’s Toyota Corolla car behind after intercepting him with their vehicles. Vice President General of Ekredjebor Community, Comrade Igho Ogedegbe who confirmed the attack said that efforts to get security operatives during the incident wasn’t productive. According to him, “I was in my house when I heard the gunshots. I rushed out and discovered that a man was kidnapped near Atmosphere School leaving his car. “We searched the car and found a driver’s license with address at Egbo Close suspected to be of the victim. “We called police but none came. Sunday morning police from Ofuoma Division came to tow the car away. “As I speak we don’t know anything about the victim, they took him through Saniko axis. We pray that he’s safe.” He stated. Although our Correspondent was able to confirm the Ekredjebor incident, a popular facebook user ‘Ughelli Aproko Gist’ stated that there were three kidnap cases. A post on his Facebook account read, “OKAMOKA! Dem kidnap Asore Frank yesterday night for around second Amekpa, same yesterday night other two kidnappings take place for Ekrejebor around Powo church and around Bris and Bina for Ughelli.” As at the time of filing this report, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe was yet to respond to enquiries about the incident.

  The policy advisory council of President Bola Tinubu has recommended that the federal government becomes a minority shareholder in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited before May 2027. The report, dated May 2023, was submitted by the energy and natural resources subcommittees of the council. It forecasted that the federal government will rake in about $17 billion from the sale of NNPC’s majority stakes in oil and gas assets. The members of the committee are Austin Avuru, Olu Verheijen, AbdulRasaq Isa, Bashir Bello, Ifeanyi Ajuluchukwu, Doyin Akinyanju, Tinuade Sande, Ahmad Zakari, George Etomi, Nasiru Wada, Mohammed Abbas, and Segun Lawson. Before the end of the present administration, the committee advised the NNPC to form global strategic partnerships with other coventurers. The committee projected that the NNPC will sell down interests in joint ventures (JVs) to a minority position and develop an operating model that eliminates cash calls. The committee said the current administration should divest its interests in the country’s refineries as well as build Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) operating model. “Bring remaining Brownfield project on-stream including 10 critical gas projects, oil and gas projects post field development plan (FDP), and pre-FID,” the report reads. “Bring Greenfield projects to FID to grow production, such projects included deepwater oil and NAG (non-associated gas) projects, develop offshore gas hub, and FLNGs (floating LNGs).” According to the report, Nigeria is currently producing 3.5 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day in gas output capacity, 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, and 2,500 thousand tons per annum (kta) in petrochemical capacity. By 2030, the committee projected that gas production capacity will increase to 12 bcf per day, oil production capacity to 4 million bpd, and petrochemicals capacity to 7,5000 kta. TARGET FOR FIRST 100 DAYS The committee advised the government to unify the exchange rate window before the end of August 2023 — a policy Tinubu had said his administration would implement. The re-organisation of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as well as head-hunting of “competent, tested, reform-focused leaders” in NNPC were also proposed by the committee. The council asked the government to deregulate petrol pricing (a recommendation which has been implemented) and execute a federal direct cash transfer programme. The council called for a reform of the operations of the military task force on oil theft with clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs). The government was enjoined to “signal determination to end insecurity in oil-producing states (Imo, Delta, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom) by engaging key political and community stakeholders” as well as “transition to market prices for gas”. TARGET BEFORE DECEMBER 2024 The council advised the government to consider integrating NUPRC, NMDPRA, and Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into a single regulator or place all midstream activities under NUPRC. Tinubu’s administration was advised to “mandate NNPC and NUPRC/NMDPRA to close out outstanding divestments and contract issues for project delivery clarity”. The council also recommended that the administration should strip “NNPCL of policy-making roles and keep NCDMB within its Act mandate”. The advisory council also called for the expansion of domestic gas reserves and the promotion of the development of a diversified oil and gas industry by implementing reforms in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), including the National Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC). Proposing the development of a sustainable financing model to boost oil and gas development projects, the council stressed the need for the government to facilitate a third-party gas pricing framework for the export market. Tinubu’s administration was also urged to “enact fiscal enablers for NAG and deepwater via Finance Act and expand stabilisation in PIA to cover full credit for post-FID levies and taxes”. “Bring ready Brownfield Project onstream from 10 critical gas projects and oil projects at FID,” the report added.

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have uncovered a secret laboratory producing deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine, in a residential community located in Ikeja Lagos state where already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production were recovered. The clandestine laboratory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the Agency on Tuesday 6th June after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, notes that at the end of the search, one kilogram of already produced and packaged methamphetamine, quantities of precursor chemicals and other items used for the production of the deadly drug were recovered from the house while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house. ADVERTISEMENT Similarly, officers of the Lagos Command of the Agency the previous day, Monday 5th June arrested two suspects: Wasiu Saliu and Afolabi Banjo with 247 kilograms of skunk at Oyingbo area of Lagos while Tijani Damilola was nabbed at Isheri with 12.5 litres of skuchies and 98kg of cannabis sativa belonging to a fleeing suspect recovered at Akerele area of Agege just as 12.5kg of the same substance was seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin on Thursday 8th June. Meanwhile, a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom has been intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday 7th June and a freight agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi arrested. In a similar vein, a bid to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, through the MMIA was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at departure gate of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. ADVERTISEMENT In Benue, a suspect, Emmanuel Onah was arrested during a routine stop and search of vehicles at the Vandeikya check point with a total of 61, 790 pills of tramadol seized from him on Thursday 8th June, while another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan Udeze was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East LGA, Edo state with 208kg cannabis hidden in his Toyota Camry car marked ABJ 117 MR. No less than 235 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23.5 litres and 1,500 pills of Tramadol and Swinol were recovered on Friday 9th June from Agara Ogbonna, 35, along Owerri – Onitsha expressway, Imo state, just as operatives in Ondo state arrested two suspects: Friday Augustine, 25, and Segun Akintudoye, 20, with 30kg cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre and 10.4kg of the same substance recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect at Oke Odowo, Idanre on Tuesday 6th June when operatives raided some drug joints in the town. Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, Alin Bala (45), and Danzaki Alhaji (52), were arrested on Thursday 8th June at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu LGA with 5.9kg cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam while 18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed on Friday 9th June along Mararaban Yauri-Kebbi road, with 6kg cannabis and 658 tablets of diazepam. In Osun state, a total of 115.9kg cannabis was recovered from Adewole Abidemi, 31, who was arrested at Araromi Oke Odo in Ife South LGA; Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same LGA on Monday 5th June. While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Imo, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, Edo and Ondo Commands for the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their counterparts across the country to remain vigilant and keep their focus on the corporate goal of the Agency.

  The immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has reacted to the Friday invasion of his two private houses by security agents to remove vehicles. Matawalle who spoke to BBC Hausa service in an interview on Saturday morning accused the security agents of looting the personal belongings of his wives and children, including clothing materials. He maintained that he was not issued with the copy of the court order which allowed the security agents to invade his houses as claimed by his successor, Dauda Lawal. He described the action of the security agents as a breach of his fundamental rights, especially the right of privacy. Matawalle explained that majority of the vehicles taken away by the security agencies from his two houses in Gusau and Maradun were procured by him before he became a governor. He also alleged that the security agents went beyond vehicle recovery and picked up valuables and belongings of his wives and family members. He also alleged that the security operatives moved away the matrimonial facilities he secured for the scheduled wedding of his daughters. Reacting to the claim by the security agents that 40 vehicles were recovered from his houses, Matawalle said, “The security agents should display the 40 vehicles for the public judgment. Anybody who knows Bello Matawalle will believe that I have been in car business ever since I became the governor of Zamfara State.” Reacting to the claim by the security agents that 40 vehicles were recovered from his houses, Matawalle said, “The security agents should display the 40 vehicles for the public judgment. Anybody who knows Bello Matawalle will believe that I have been in car business ever since I became the governor of Zamfara State.” Related News Present evidence to reclaim impounded vehicles, Zamfara police tell Matawalle 40 vehicles recovered from Matawalle’s residence – Police Zamfara govt confirms recovery of 40 vehicles from ex-gov Matawalle I have been in car business for a long period of time and most of the vehicles the security personnel impounded from my two houses are those that I bought from America long before I became a governor. “The vehicles they impounded at Maradun were those donated to me by well-wishers and were all branded with my images and that of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But surprisingly, they said that the vehicles belong to the state government.” He expressed disgust over the action, saying, “I have never seen the worst scenario like what happened in my residences last Friday.” The former governor said he was in Abuja and nobody called to notify him that his attention was needed in relation to the issue. “But all I heard was that the security agents invaded my private residences as if there is no law and order in Nigeria,” he lamented. He described the incident as a complete drama and lack of the fear of God. He said it was beyond the recovery of vehicles, adding that, “The security agents went as far as impounding some items belonging to my family.” He charged his successor to face the problems affecting the state. “He should not create another problem by fighting me since he knows that I also have supporters who will not fold their hands and allow me to be humiliated,” he added. Matawalle said he would not ask the security agents or the state government to return the vehicles, concluding, ‘I will however follow an appropriate channel as stipulated by the law.”

  The Kano Government, early Sunday, continued with the ongoing demolition of illegal buildings in the state, despite the said intervention by the presidency. The latest demolition was of shops, built beside the fence of Sani Abacha stadium, Kofar Mata, GSS Kofar Nasarawa opposite IBB road, including the buildings by GGSS Dukawuya, Goron Dutse. An eyewitness told our correspondent that the exercise was carried out in the early hours of Sunday by KNUPDA, following the directive of the governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. It should be recalled that the immediate past governor, Dr Abdullahu Ganduje on Friday addressed State House Correspondent, at the Presidential villa Abuja, that he had informed President Bola Tinubu and the IGP of what is happening, with the demolition exercise in the state cumulating to the invitation of the Presidential candidate of NNPP, leader of the party and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Similarly, Rabiu Kwankwaso told Journalists at the villa on Friday that his meeting with President Bola Tinubu allowed him to brief the President on the atrocities committed by Ganduje while administering the state as a governor. The state deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Gwarzo also said last week that the demolition of illegal buildings, at schools, prayer grounds, markets, and other places is a continuous exercise.

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over “the failure to probe the allegations that $2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds of oil revenues and budgeted as fuel subsidy payments are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.”   In a statement on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the suit followed the grim allegations documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation in the 2016 and 2019 annual reports that the public funds are missing. SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to promptly probe allegations that USD$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion public funds are missing and unaccounted for between 2016 and 2019.” In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1107/23 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the group also seeks “an order of mandamus to compel President Tinubu to direct the anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe fuel subsidy payments made by governments since the return of democracy in 1999, name and shame and prosecute suspected perpetrators, and to recover any proceeds of crimes.” It also ants the court to compel President Tinubu to use any recovered proceeds of crime as palliatives to address the impact of the subsidy removal on poor Nigerians, and to put in place mechanisms for transparency and accountability in the oil sector. “The allegations that US$2.1 billion and N3.1 trillion of public funds are missing and unaccounted amount to a fundamental breach of national anticorruption laws and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party,” the statement read. “The Tinubu government has constitutional and international legal obligations to get to the bottom of these allegations and ensure accountability for these serious crimes against the Nigerian people.” According to SERAP, directing and compelling President Tinubu to promptly probe, name and shame and bring to justice the perpetrators and to recover any missing public funds would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition. “Allegations of corruption in fuel subsidy payments suggest that the poor have rarely benefited from the use and management of the payments,” the group stated. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Adelanke Aremo, Ms Valentina Adegoke, and Ayomide Johnson, read in part: “There will be no economic growth or sustainability without accountability for the human rights crimes.” No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.