Unknown gunmen Sunday night invaded Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka communities in the Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State and killed six people. According to a local, the attackers were said to have ridden on motorcycles, stormed the Igba Ukyor community and shot sporadically killing five people. The local who did not want to be mentioned said that the gunmen later moved to a nearby community where they killed one person. “As a result of the invasion, some of the villagers ran into the bush last night for fear of being attacked. They only returned this morning from their hiding,” the local said. Confirming the attack, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, who hails from the local government, said that six people were killed during the attack. He said, “Finding available to me indicate that unknown gunmen riding on Bajaj motorcycles stormed Igba-Ukyor settlement area of Daav, Ikóv Council Ward of Ushongo LGA at about 8 pm yesterday (Sunday) and shot indiscriminately with automatic firearms killing five persons on the spot. “They were said to have proceeded to a Tse Baka which is a nearby settlement and killed one person. “Information regarding their identity and motives are yet to be ascertained,” Iortyom said. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, however, told journalists that she had not been informed about the incident.

  The Federal Government has withdrawn the Mobile Police Force personnel attached to several Very Important Persons, including ex-governors, former ministers and lawmakers. The order, which was contained in a police wireless message from Mopol 45 Force Headquarters, Abuja, affected Daura Buhari, brother to former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as former First Lady, Aisha Buhari’s sibling and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The development came a few weeks after the IG vowed to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort and guard duties. He had also announced plans to establish the Special Intervention Squad, which according to him, would have 40,000 highly trained police officers including selected officers from the Police Mobile Force. This, the IG said, was to allow the police to take back its place in the “internal security architecture” of the country. Egbetokun, who spoke during a meeting with Squadron leaders and Tactical Commanders in Abuja, on June 26, stated, “We shall effect the withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIP escort/guard duties. While the protection of dignitaries remains paramount, it is imperative that we realign our priorities to address the escalating security challenges faced by the nation as a whole. By relieving the PMF of VIP escort and guard duties, we can redirect their focus and efforts toward addressing critical security concerns that affect our communities at large. “In a bid to kick-start the process of regaining our pride of place in the internal security architecture of our dear country first and foremost, modalities for the creation of a new special squad – the Special Intervention Squad have been initiated. “This special squad shall consist of 40,000 specially trained elite officers. The Squad will be formed by selecting officers from the pool of existing Police Mobile Force personnel and all tactical units in the country. “These officers will undergo intensive pre-deployment training to make them combat-ready for frontline operational duties in all the states of the Federation, with a particular focus on areas plagued with unrest and turmoil. “By pooling together the expertise and experience of our PMF personnel and other tactical units, we can establish a formidable force that is well-equipped to handle the evolving challenges we face.” Egbetokun set up a committee headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Adeleke Bode, to assess and advise on how the new policies could be implemented seamlessly. The committee submitted The PUNCH reports that thousands of police operatives were attached to public officials, ex-political officer holders, businessmen and other private individuals, thus reducing the number of police personnel required to protect the public while fewer officers were available for core police duties like investigations and patrols. Though previous IGs had withdrawn the police orderlies deployed to protect some politicians in the past, the cops found their way back to the VIPs. Statutorily, only the president, vice president, governors, local council chairmen, legislative principal officers in the states and at federal level, magistrates and judges are entitled to police protection. But this privilege has over the years been extended to just about anybody who can pay, leaving ever fewer personnel for real police work. However, the Force headquarters in its order with reference CB: 4001/DOPS/45PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.15/353 signed by the AIG MOPOL, directed the addressees to implement the directive with immediate effect. The message was addressed to DSPs Lauretta Iruonagbe; Yusuf Ishaq; Okeme Emmanuel; Ilesanmi Temidayo; Emmanuel Akaniro; Yakubu Francis; Chindo Atege; Zakari Mohammed and ASPs Osori Sani; Job Andrew; Iyabo Oluwadamilola, and Yakubu Anthony who are believed to be attached to some of the affected dignitaries. VIPs affected by the withdrawal order include former governors of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha; former governor of Bauchi, Adamu Muazu; ex- Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje and former governors of Ogun and Zamfara, Gbenga Daniel and Bello Matawalle, respectively. governors of Ogun and Zamfara, Gbenga Daniel and Bello Matawalle, respectively. Related News Police confirm killing of Enugu councilor by gunmen Anambra police recover stolen cement truck, CP orders manhunt for hijacker Anambra police rescue three abducted victims chained to building pillars Similarly, the MOPOL attached to some former ministers who served under the Buhari administration were withdrawn. They are ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Gbemisola Saraki; former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Henry Ikoh; former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and former Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba. Also, the orderlies working with the former Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Dauda; former Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Rabiu Lawan, and Senator Stephen Adey, were equally withdrawn. The mobile police officers to the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu were also affected. The order read in part, “You are directed to withdraw all personnel mine attached to the under-listed politicians: Former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; former governor of Bauchi, Adamu Muazu; former governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha; former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje; former governor of Ogun, Gbenga Daniel; former governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; former Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva; former Clerk of the National Assembly; Aisha Buhari brother; Daura, brother to the former president Buhari ; APC National women leader; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel; former Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Dauda; former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation; former Minister of State for Power; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyocha Ayu; former Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Rabiu Lawan; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and former Senator Stephen Adey. Treat as very important.” Reacting to the action of the police authorities, the media aide to Senator Gbenga Daniel, Steve Oliyide, said it was in the power of the IG to

  The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Party (APC) Senator Abubakar Kyari, has taken over the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party. The development confirms the widely reported resignation of the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the weekend. Adamu was reported to have tendered his resignation with the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Around 10:40 am on Monday, the Deputy National Chairman led a team of seven other members of the NWC to a meeting in his office. The Nation also noted that the official car of the Deputy National Chairman was parked in the slot reserved for the National Chairman. Around 11:20 am, the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, arrived at the secretariat and joined others in the meeting. Kyari came in with the Deputy National Chairman (South) Emma Enukwu; National Vice Chairman (North West) Salihu Lukman; National Vice Chairman (North East) Salihu Mustapha; National Vice Chairman (North Central) Muazu Bawa; National Vice Chairman(South West) Issacs Kekemeke; National Vice Chairman (South East) Ejoroma Arodiogu and the Deputy National Secretary, Barrister Festus Fuanter Security around the national secretariat has been beefed up with those driving into Blantrye Street, where the party headquarters is situated subjected to checks while passers-by are also stopped for questioning.

  An Enugu State lawmaker, Nelson Sylvester has been shot dead by suspected assassins. Mr. Sylvester who’s popularly known as Ofunwa, represented Eha-Ulo ward, in Nsukka Local Government Area Legislative Council, until his death. He was killed by gunmen on Sunday night at his residence in Eha-Alumonah. A close friend of the deceased said his death might not be unconnected to the security situation in the village which the late lawmaker was deeply involved in seeking for solution. The friend who wants to remain anonymous said he traveled to the village on Saturday after attending a weeding in Enugu capital. He travelled to the village on the said day to attend a security meeting because of the deteriorating security situation. He revealed that the assailants pursued him to a neighboring village where they followed him into a fence compound and shot him dead. “For more than 12 years, Ofunwa has been involved in maintaining peace in his community. He has been instrumental in disarming so many criminal elements in Eha-Alumonah. “It was the same security meeting that he attended two days ago after we attended a wedding together. Ofunwa told me he called the Elders to come for the meeting because their community is becoming uninhabitable. It was this meeting that he went to and he didn’t come back. “They went to his house, he escaped and they pursued him into another village where he scaled the fence and entered the compound. They came inside there and shot him directly to the chest.

  At the backdrop of sustained supply gap in Nigeria’s foreign exchange (forex) market, the local currency, Naira, has hit a new low at the weekend, trading N803.9 to a dollar in the Investors & Exporters (I&E) window which is the official forex market and N822/$ in the parallel market. Financial Vanguard’s findings indicated a 6.6 per cent decline in volume of dollars traded in the I&E window as dealers said they were disappointed that the increase in supply they expected last week did not materialize. A week-on-week trend in the parallel market shows a 5.5 percent depreciation to N822/$ as against N779/$ closing rate previous week. In the I&E window, the local currency depreciated 3.9 percent W-o-W to N803.9/$ from N776.9/$ the previous Friday. Financial Vanguard currency monitor shows that after the initial massive depreciation on June 14th, 2023 when the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, introduced reforms in the market, exchange rate had remained volatile with daily fluctuations until the record low was hit last weekend. The reform majorly eliminated multiple exchange rates and reintroduced the ‘Willing Buyer Willing Seller’ market model in the I&E window. Since the new measures were introduced, the Naira has depreciated cumulatively in the I&E window and parallel market by 70 per cent (N321.23) and 7.0 per cent (N58) respectively. Meanwhile last week’s closing rate also indicated that the parallel market margin that narrowed to almost elimination following the new policy has started widening. While the measures announced by CBN was aimed at increasing transparency and boosting confidence in order to attract increased forex supply, forex market operators who spoke to Financial Vanguard said the expected increase in supply is yet to materialize, adding that this, coupled with rising demand, and hoarding, are the factors driving the renewed depreciation of the naira in both segments of the forex market.