A police inspector (name withheld) has reportedly committed suicide in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. The late officer was attached to Gwange Divisional of Borno Police Command. According to community sources, he was looking healthy when he was last seen three days ago. It is unclear why the policeman took the action. His neighbors at Layin Bayan, Wulari Jerusalem area of Maiduguri raised the alarm on Saturday morning when they noticed his door was locked from behind and a strange oduor was emanating from there. The matter was immediately reported to metro Division of Borno Police Command and some officers were deployed to the scene. It was early this morning that people in the compound observed strange odor emanating from his apartment; his door was shut from behind. “The men of police from Metro and Gwange Divisions respectively came to break the door and his lifeless body was found on the floor of his bedroom. They are currently in the compound.” the source said. As of the time of filing this report police authorities have not issued any statement on the incident. Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, ASP Kenneth Daso, did not answer calls when Daily Trust attempted to reach him. The telephone line rang out repeatedly

  The Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan was attacked by suspected O’odua Nation agitators on Saturday. The agitators occupied and attempted to overwhelm security operatives at the State Assembly complex and entire secretariat. According to reports, they were dressed in military camouflage and armed with weapons, hoisted their own flag within the Assembly premises. Security personnel within the state secretariat quickly called for backup, citing concerns about safely neutralizing the agitators. Sporadic gunfire ensued as a combination of security forces including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, the Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) converged on the scene to restore order and overpower the agitators. Eyewitnesses reported that the agitators had arrived in an ash-colored Hiace bus and two motorcycles, which were seized and taken to the State Police Headquarters. The gunmen reportedly headed straight to the State House of Assembly premises, removing the Nigerian national flag and replacing it with their own O’odua Nation flag before security forces intervened. While several of the agitators were arrested, others fled the scene, pursued by security personnel into the nearby bushes and forest. According to unconfirmed reports, a total of 16 suspects have been arrested, with two sustaining bullet wounds, while some others escaped with gunshot injuries. Mr. Fatai Owoseni, the Special Adviser to Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Security, confirmed that the situation has been brought under control, with the combined team of security personnel successfully subduing the agitators. He described the gunmen as “miscreants” and urged the public not to panic. “We were able to arrest some of them while others fled,” said Owoseni. “There is no need to panic. Everything is under control.” Security personnel have been stationed at the secretariat gate to ensure the safety of the area. Adewale Osifeso, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the incident but noted that he was still gathering details about the situation. The situation has since been resolved, and investigations are ongoing.

  The Naira on Friday experienced huge appreciation at the official market, trading at N1,142.38 to the dollar. Data from the official trading platform of the FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), revealed that the Naira gained N88.23. Exploring Ba Vi’s Dragon Fruit Garden [NếmTV] This represents a 7.16 per cent gain when compared to the previous trading date on Monday, April 8, exchanging at N1,230.61 to a dollar before the Sallah holiday. The total daily turnover increased to $281.34 million on Friday up from $125.55 million recorded on Monday.   Meanwhile, at the Investor’s and Exporter’s (I&E) window, the Naira traded between N1,265 and N1,100 against the dollar. Economic experts have continued to praise both fiscal and monetary policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration responsible for the steady Naira appreciation. The CBN, during its policy meetings held in February and March, implemented a total of 600 basis points in interest rate increases. This helped tackle dollar scarcity, reduced volatility, and decreased reliance on parallel markets. (NAN)

  An unidentified man has stabbed six persons to death at a shopping mall in Australia. The incident occurred on Saturday at a six-level shopping centre located at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney. Anthony Cooke, assistant commissioner of New South Wales police, said at a press conference that six persons were killed in the incident, while eight others were injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital. He said the attacker was shot dead by a female police officer. “She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five (of the shopping center) as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned, faced her, raised a knife,” Cooke said. “She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.” An infant is reportedly among those stabbed by the attacker. The attacker was said to have been to the shopping mall earlier, left and then returned to commence the killings.

  Suspected herdsmen have abducted the wife and house help of former Chief of Staff to Benue Governor Terwase Orbunde. Hon.Orbunde was Chief of Staff to former Governor Samuel Ortom. He later resigned to contest the PDP governorship primary. He later joined the All Progressive Congress (APC) but still lost out of the race. The attack was said to have taken place close to the Genocide Cemetery along Mobile Barracks-Welfare Quarters Road in Makurdi, the state capital around 6pm on Friday. The former Chief of Staff escaped with a gunshot on his right arm while the attackers whisked away Mrs Abigail Kashimana Orbunde, and her house help, Patience Ogute. Eyewitnesses said the trio had gone to inspect the weeding of their farm located close to the road. They said after the inspection and payment of the workers, five gunmen suddenly attacked them as they walked back to the car. It was reported that they shot Orbunde on the right arm while ordering the women to follow them to an unknown destination. The shooting was said to have made villagers and passersby to scamper for safety in different directions. As they marched along, the former Chief of Staff was said to be bleeding profusely and slowed down from walking. The eyewitnesses, who watched from a distance, said the leader of the group ordered him to walk away while the gunmen took the women away before good Samaritans rushed Orbunde to the hospital.

  Saturday 13 April 2024 How I collected dollars in cash for Emefiele, dispatch rider tells court Seven drown in Lagos within a week, says PPRO My certificates genuine, Aiyedatiwa tells APC committee Troops eliminate 188 terrorists, arrest 330 Nigeria First Country To Roll Out New Meningitis Vaccine – WHO Lagos-London Flights: Nigerian Airlines Must Be United Against Foreign Carriers, Says Air Peace Chairman IMF Confirms Kristalina Georgieva For Second 5-Year Term Emefiele Released After Meeting Bail Conditions Why Seven APC Members Of Plateau Assembly Weren’t Sworn In – Speaker Container Crushes Woman To Death In Lagos Tinubu Should Convoke National Conference To Produce Draft Constitution – NADECO Chieftain ‘I Am A Man,’ Bobrisky Tells Court Fraud: Court Sentences Vietnam Billionaire To Death Court Sentences Bobrisky To Six Months Imprisonment Without Option Of Fine UNICAL Announces Release Of Three Abducted Students Owolabi Olakulehin Nominated As 43rd Olubadan Of Ibadanland Navy Arrests Two Suspected Oil Thieves, Seizes Truck With Refined Products N2trn constituency project fraud: ICPC toothless bulldog, fails to prosecute suspects NIMC clears air on new National ID card Jnr Pope: Untold story of the boat mishap that killed 5 Lagos has only one Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo President — Igbo leaders It’s too early to threaten Nigerians with 2027 election, Hayab tells Northern Elders We’re investigating alleged drowning of military cadet in Abia hotel — Police Ondo Guber: Ayedatiwa dares co-aspirants, says no vacancy in govt house Naira Could Trade Below N1,000/$, Goldman Sachs Predicts Senate Begins Probe Of 774 Federal Agencies’ Financial Records Impeachment: Court to hear Shaibu’s suit April 19 FIRS generates N12.3trillion in 2023 – CEO Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  No fewer than 83 people have been killed in road accidents in the last three months in some parts of the nation. According to findings by Saturday PUNCH, the accidents which occurred between January and March 2024, also left 102 people with various degrees of injuries. It was gathered that most of the road crashes occurred as a result of high speed and violation of traffic laws by motorists. For instance, due to speeding and reckless driving, on January 2, six persons lost their lives while 11 sustained injuries in a multiple road crash at Aliko Filling Station on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway. Also, on January 10, three persons died, and three others were injured in a road accident that occurred on the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway, in Ebonyi State. Two days after, an 18-seater bus belonging to Katsina State Transport Agency, which was travelling to Abuja from Kankara Local Government Area was involved in a road crash, killing seven people, including two children. It was gathered that the accident occurred as a result of the ongoing repairs on the Kaduna/Abuja highway. On January 13, a truck at excessive speed lost control and hit four individuals waiting to board a bus at Toll Gate on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. One of the victims died, while three others sustained injury. A woman was also killed while another sustained injuries when a truck loaded with gravel and two smaller vehicles crashed along Airport Road, Lugbe Abuja, on Monday, January 15. In what may be described as a black Sunday, on January 21, a fatal road accident on the Kano-Kaduna expressway claimed 16 lives, and four individuals sustained various degrees of injuries. Similarly, in the same month, seven people were killed while 14 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in two separate accidents which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. While five people died in the first accident, which occurred around the Foursquare Gospel Camp in the Ajebo axis of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, two others lost their lives in the second accident which happened at the old Toll Gate at Ogere in the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. It was gathered that the accident occurred as a result of “tyre burst, speed, and fatigue, which led to the loss of control.” According to the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, the driver of the Mazda bus fell asleep at the wheel and rammed into the moving truck. Also, on February 1, multiple accidents involving four vehicles along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway claimed the lives of two passengers, while eight others were injured in the late-night incident around Danco Petrol Station. On February 20, excessive speed and route violation reportedly caused a head-on collision between a truck and a Mazda bus along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway on the Kere bridge in the Ewekoro, Ogun State, killing nine people, while seven others sustained injuries. In Osun, a head-on collision involving a private car and commercial DAF truck, which was reportedly caused by road traffic and speeding violations around Prism Steel Mill, Osogbo-Ikotim Road, claimed three lives, while one adult male sustained varying degrees of injuries on February 27. While that was on, another fatal accident involving two trucks and a bus occurred around NASFAT along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killing five people. Ten others were critically injured. On February 29, five people died and four others were injured in an accident that occurred around the Fidiwo Bridge, near Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The crash was reportedly caused by wrongful overtaking, speeding, and tyre bust, which led to the loss of control. Similarly, at 7.36 am on Monday, March 4th, 12 people died while 28 others sustained injuries in a fatal road traffic crash that occurred at Tashar Yari village, along the Zaria-Kano expressway. Again, the cause of the crash was wrongful overtaking, speeding, and overloading. The front tyres of a Ford vehicle at high speed pulled off causing it to crash into a Nissan car in its front. The incident, which occurred on March 5, along the Owerri-Ihiala expressway by the Ihiala Local Government Area secretariat, claimed one life, while eight others were injured. On March 9, a fatal road accident that occurred along the Benin-Ore-Shagamu expressway in the Akinfosile area of Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State claimed the lives of five people. The bus was said to have swerved off the expressway and somersaulted several times before landing in the bush. Reacting, the FRSC, Public Education Officer and spokesperson, Oyo State Command, Mayowa Odewo, expressed concern over the increasing rate of violation of traffic rules. According to him, there are continued efforts by the corps to ensure that motorists comply with the rules while violators are brought to book. He said, “The rate at which people are going against the rules and regulations is quite higher than before. “However, the Public Education Department of the FRSC has been doing a lot to ensure we educate the masses at the church, mosque, garages, market, and other relevant public places. “Causes of road traffic crashes are not limited to speeding and wrongful overtaking. The drivers need to understand that the speed of a vehicle is supposed to commiserate to the braking system.” On her part, the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, warned that traffic rules violators would be sanctioned by the law. She said, “Enforcement is ongoing, and whoever is caught violating the traffic rules will face the law. Motorists must ensure to obey the traffic rules and regulations and drive consciously to avoid accidents and the wastage of innocent lives.”