No fewer than 18 passengers were feared dead, following an auto crash that occurred on Friday at Zakirai town, on Kano-Ringim Road in Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The Kano State FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, also said that 12 other passengers suffered varying degrees of injuries in the crash, while five others escaped unhurt, It was learned that some of the dead in the accident, which involved two commercial vehicles, were given mass burials at the accident scene, while others were handed over to their relatives. Abdullahi, who made the confirmation in a press statement issued by the sector’s spokesman, Mr. Abdullahi Labaran, said, ”We received a call about the accident at about 8:35 p.m. on Friday and dispatched our personnel to the scene to rescue the victims.” He attributed the accident to excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overloading, which resulted in a head-on collision and the bursting into flames of one of the vehicles. the crash, while five others escaped unhurt, It was learned that some of the dead in the accident, which involved two commercial vehicles, were given mass burials at the accident scene, while others were handed over to their relatives. Abdullahi, who made the confirmation in a press statement issued by the sector’s spokesman, Mr. Abdullahi Labaran, said, ”We received a call about the accident at about 8:35 p.m. on Friday and dispatched our personnel to the scene to rescue the victims.” He attributed the accident to excessive speeding, dangerous driving and overloading, which resulted in a head-on collision and the bursting into flames of one of the vehicles. “The accident involved a total of 35 passengers in two buses, out of which 18 were burnt beyond recognition, while 12 others suffered varying degrees of serious injuries,’’ he said. Ibrahim, who disclosed that the injured victims were rushed to the Murtala Mohammed General Hospital, Kano, advised motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, wrongful overtaking, dangerous driving and any infraction that could lead to road crashes. Also, the sector commander expressed regret at the magnitude of avoidable road crashes recorded in Kano State in the past week. According to him, during a visit to the crash scene on Saturday, he warned motorists, particularly intercity and inter-state drivers, to desist from overloading, excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and other traffic violations. However, Abdullahi assured that the FRSC would intensify public enlightenment campaigns as well as undertake stringent patrol interventions, including the operation of mobile courts, to curb the rising trend of fatal intercity auto crashes.

  The Enugu State government has directed all schools, markets, banks, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, malls and the general members of the public to go about their normal businesses following the recent cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home in the state. In a public service announcement, the state government directs all the aforementioned institutions to comply to the directive as a task force has been set up to ensure compliance. The announcement reads: “This is to inform all schools, markets, banks, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, malls and the general members of the public that, in view of the recent ban/cancellation of Mondays’ sit-at-home by the Government of Enugu State, in all nooks and crannies of the state, they have been directed to go about their normal businesses and activities every day of the week, including Mondays. “The above-mentioned bodies and others alike are required to comply with the directive as adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee their safety. Members of the government’s taskforce will be moving around to monitor compliance. Let’s build a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Enugu State together.”

  The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says it will embark on a nationwide protest next week Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy. On Friday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert to the old price of petrol or face a nationwide protest. Joe Ajaero, NLC president, said the federal government had until Wednesday to revert to the old price of N185. Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Shuaibu Leman, NUJ national secretary, said an emergency central working committee (CMC) meeting of the union was convened virtually. Leman said discussions at the meeting centred on issues surrounding the decision by the federal government to remove fuel subsidy and the position taken by the NLC. He said members unanimously adopted the position of the NLC. “CWC reiterates the argument that although the removal of fuel subsidy will free allocations which can be channelled to the provisions of infrastructure and creation of additional jobs, the sudden removal could, however, lead to social unrest and protests as people may perceive Government as being insensitive to their plight,” the statement reads. “CWC also notes that already there is an astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products and high inflation which have drastically reduced the purchasing power of citizens. “Accordingly CWC directs all State Councils of the Union to mobilise members to withdraw their services and commence protests nationwide from Wednesday next week, 7th June 2023, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNCPL) refuses to reverse the new price regime in the oil sector.”

  No fewer than 82 Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters and their families have drowned in a river in the north-east axis of Damasak in Borno state. Zagazola Makama, a publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the terrorists and their families from the Lake Chad area drowned in an attempt to escape massive troop incursion between Friday and Saturday while trying to cross over to the Niger Republic. The report said the drowning, which happened in separate incidents, occured in Bulama Modori, Kaneram, Dogomolu and Jokka communities, adding that the river stretches from Komadougou Yobe into Lake Chad. According to the report, most of those killed in the incident were women and children, noting that while many others are currently in the hospital receiving treatment, excavation of bodies is ongoing. In another development, at least two soldiers were reportedly killed when ISWAP fighters attacked reinforced troops with a Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at a base in Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno. The troops were said to be on reinforcement to boost a task force when they came under attack by a group of terrorists. On May 28, TheCable reported that the troops of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) reportedly killed three ISWAP terrorists in Borno.   The troops had encountered the terrorists during a fighting clearance operation between the boundary of Lake Chad and Malam Fatori in Abadam LGA of Borno.

Sunday 04 June 2023 Tinubu meets opposition lawmakers-elect Monday over N’Assembly leadership Buhari’s Assets Didn’t Increase As President, Says Garba Shehu Thugs Attack Yahaya Bello’s Convoy, Injure Aides Erdogan Sworn In For Third Term As Turkish President, Vows Unity Bala Mohammed Emerges PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Under PDP, We Initiated Subsidy Removal, Would Have Provided Palliatives First – Atiku ‘FG is insensitive’ — NUJ joins NLC’s planned strike over petrol subsidy removal FG prohibits children below 11 years from taking entrance exams into unity schools ’82’ ISWAP fighters, families drown in Borno river — after military invasion Kano: Demolition Of ‘Illegal’ Structures Raises Dust How River Kaduna Denies Girls Access To Higher Education Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has given his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, an ultimatum of five days to return vehicles allegedly taken away by officials of his administration. The governor gave the ultimatum in a statement which Sulaiman Bala Idris, his spokesman, issued on his behalf. He gave the details of the alleged missing vehicles, while vowing to recover looted funds and properties of government. “Our government is determined in fulfilling the campaign promises made to the good people of Zamfara State which involves the swift recovery of looted public funds and properties.”   “The mischievous statement is only aimed at distracting us from doing the work that positively touches the lives of the people. Our time is precious and we cannot waste it in engaging or bandying words with a political party that spent four years without a single project beneficial to the people of Zamfara, instead their only achievement is massive looting of the state’s treasury. “We have the facts and records available that expose Matawalle’s impropriety. Where is the lie? A contract was awarded by the former Governor, for the purchase of vehicles to be distributed to dignitaries and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the cost of N1,149,800,000.00. The contract for the purchase of the vehicles was awarded to Hafkhad Properties and Facilities Management Nig. LTD. “The money was meant for the purchase of a Toyota Lexus VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V6 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V4 2021 Model; Peugeot 2021 Model; Toyota Hilux 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser Bullet Proof 2021; and Toyota Lexus 2021 Model. “On the 4th of October 2021 the former Governor paid MUSACO for the supply of three bulletproof Jeeps at the sum of N484, 512, 500; to supply seven sets of bulletproof Prado Jeeps and Land Cruiser at the sum of N459, 995, 000; to supply seven Toyota Hilux vehicles at the sum of N228, 830, 000. “On the 19th of May 2021, Matawalle paid for the supply of 30 sets of Peugeot 406 cars to TK Global Services at the sum of N61,200,000. Also, on the 15th of December 2021, Nadeen Butta was paid for the supply of one bulletproof Land Cruiser in the sum of N130, 000, 000 Naira. “On 26th of February 2022, a contractor, Dapiyau B. Linus was paid the sum of N160,000,000 for the supply of two Land Cruiser Jeeps 2021 model; On the 20th of March 2022, Matawalle’s government paid MUSACO the sum of N120,000,000 for the supply of three vehicles for the office of the Deputy Governor. “It is the height of indignity for the Zamfara APC to continue to fizzle at a time when all the above official vehicles were looted by the immediate past government . None of the vehicles is available in the Government House. This is a show of shame, not only to the state chapter of the APC but to anyone justifying the action of Matawalle. “We have communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his Deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five working days.” Ibrahim Dosara, spokesman of Matawalle, could not be reached for comments as his line was switched off. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said it was probing Matawalle for alleged N70 billion probe, but the former governor had fired back saying Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the commission, demanded $2 million bribe from him.

  At least two soldiers were killed and many others injured when the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), terrorists attacked reinforced troops with a Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device(VBIED), at the firm Base of Arege community in Malam Fatori of Abadam Local at Government Area of Borno State. This is even as scores of Terrorists (ISWAP) fighters and their families were feared dead after drowning in a River, North East axis of Damasak town, also in Borno state. Multiple Sources have said. It was gathered that the troops who were on reinforcement to boost the task force of Sector 3 and Sector 4 Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF), in Gerere and Arege, came under attack by a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) over the weekend. An intelligence source, told Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region, that the ISWAP terrorists made an audacious attempt to infiltrate the advancing troops’ harbour using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), but was instantly neutralized, He said that during the attack, 2 soldiers were killed while many others were injured. Sources said that “the troops later repelled the attacked and held their position and equipment. The number of terrorists killed including the suicide bomber was unconfirmed”. Latest reports indicated that ISWAP terrorists have intensified attacks using VBIED and mines to prevent troops’ incursion into their enclaves. The troops of Operation Hadin Kai and Multinational Joint Task Force had since May 6 and 28, eliminated 55 ISWAP terrorists, including some top Commanders in a major offensive in the terrorist’s hideouts in Arege, in the Fringes of Arege in Malam Fatori, Abadam Local Government Area of Borno state. Some of the top Commanders such as Fiya Abouzeid, Qaïd Abou Oumama and Qaïd Malam Moustapha, as well as several religious leaders whose identities are not yet known, were neutralized during the incursions. The troops also recovered sizeable catches of arms, vehicles and motorcycles from the terrorists. In another development, no fewer than 82 Islamic State of West African Province(ISWAP), fighters and their families have been drowned in River in North East axis of Damasak in Borno state It was gathered that the terrorists and their families from the Lake Chad axis drowned in a desperate attempt to escape massive troop incursions between June 2 and 3, 2023 while trying to cross over to Niger Republic. Intelligence sources revealed that separate incidents were recorded between Bulama Modori, Kaneram, Dogomolu and Jokka communities. The River stretches from Komadougou Yobe, into Lake Chad through Niger Republic. The sources said that the terrorists attempted to escape for fear of battlefield elimination after they heard of the Operation Launched by the military within the general area. “Most of those killed were women and children who could not swim, while many others are currently recuperating. As we speak more dead bodies are still being discovered.” Reliable Source informed.

  Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Saturday attacked the convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and injured some of his security aides. The attack occurred around 12 noon on Saturday near the Naval Base, a few kilometres from Lokoja, the state capital. The hoodlums blocked the road and shot sporadically at the convoy of the governor, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo stated. Fanwo, who accused one of the opposition figures in the state of masterminding the attack, however, said the governor was not hurt. “The Governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic as the Governor is in high spirit,” the commissioner stated even as he called on security agents to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.   “The Governor has warned that no APC member should involve in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties,” the statement added. The attack occurred as the political climate in Kogi is becoming charged ahead of the November 11 governorship poll in the North Central state. Bello’s two-term tenure of eight years ends in November. Earlier in April, Bello’s ally and former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, Usman Ododo emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state. Ododo is in the race alongside Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), amongst others.