Troops of the Nigerian Army on Operation UDO KA conducted a raid on an Indigenous People of Biafra camp located in Igboro Forest in Abia State on Saturday. According to a statement posted on X.com by the NA on Sunday, the raid was conducted in order to arrest the killers of five soldiers at Obikabia junction in Aba last week. The statement read, “In order to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on own troops (three out of those killed are from the SE) at Aba last week as well as to recover arms and ammunition from the Indigeneous People of Biafra and its affiliate Eastern Security Network terrorist group, troops of Operation UDO KA conducted another successful clearance/raid operations to the IPOB/ESN Camp in Igboro Forest in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State yesterday.” The statement disclosed that during the operation, the troops subdued the IPOB group in a firefight, killing six members of the group. So This Happened (251) reviews the murder of a pregnant woman in Rivers, other0.00 / 0.00 It added, “During the intelligence-led operation, troops encountered Improvised Explosive Devices along the axis of advance, and one soldier sustained a minor injury from the fragment. “The terrorists’ feeble firefight was adequately subdued with superior firepower, which led to the neutralisation of six members of the criminal terrorist group while others escaped into adjoining bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds as blood stains were seen along their escape routes.”   The soldiers were also reported to have recovered weapons, including three locally fabricated rocket-propelled grenade launchers, two locally fabricated artillery guns with tripod and bombs. Additionally, recovered Dane guns, Biafran flags, and vehicles were reported to have been burnt and the camp itself was destroyed. In the statement, the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA urged Abia residents to continue providing security forces with credible and timely information to aid in eliminating criminals in the state and wider southeastern region. PUNCH Online reports that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, increased the N25 million bounty placed on the killers of the soldiers in Aba to N30 million. Otti added that the state government had also started working with the security agencies to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the state.

  The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has refuted claims made by Femi Jimoh and Caleb Oloruntele, former pastors, that the church framed and plotted their remand in prison for nine years. The former pastors had appeared in a video alleging that they were framed up and locked up by the church over trumped-up charges. Addressing journalists on Friday, Davidson Adejuwon, the MFM chief legal adviser, said Jimoh had serially got himself involved in one offense or the other at every branch he was posted to serve. Adejuwon said Jimoh was recalled to the headquarters for internal discipline, believing he would change, but he never did.   In a statement made available to the media, the church described the allegations made by the former pastor as “false, mischievous, misleading, and cruel.” The church said their emotion-laden story had generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, putting the church in a bad light. The MFM added that Jimoh and Oloruntele had planned to rob the church and cart away its “first fruit” offering in 2008. The legal adviser said Jimoh had engaged some people, including Orji, Aboki and Omojomolo on how to hire a gun for the purpose of robbing the church. Adejuwon said Jimoh and others conspired to execute an “enigmatic plan”, which the church discovered and reported to the police, leading to Jimoh’s arrest and that of his co-plotters. Adejuwon said they were only remanded, adding that after they had been granted bail, their family refused to get two individuals to stand as their sureties for them to be released. “Clearly, all that was expected of Mr. Jimoh, his mother, and his relatives, as well as Caleb and his relatives, was to get credible sureties to meet the bail condition, which does not include payment of any sum, as being misunderstood by the majority of people who are not lawyers,” the statement reads. “Is it not curious to push the narrative that Dr. Olukoya, the General Overseer, locked them up when all members of their family refused to get the two individuals for 9 years to stand as their sureties for them to be released? “MFM is a responsible church that takes the welfare, safety, and security of all its members very seriously. As such, a planned armed attack on credible intelligence against the church that could have led to the death of any member is not one that can be treated and handled internally by the church. “We have a duty to report such to the law enforcement agency saddled with the responsibilities to investigate and deal with such issues, and that was exactly what we did as a responsible church. All other events that transpired thereafter at the police station and during trial were completely out of the control of the church because, being a criminal matter, it became a case between the State and the Defendants. “The MFM Church and its General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Olukoya did not jail Mr. Femi Jimoh, Caleb Oloruntele or any other person for 9 years or for any period at all. What purpose will it serve, or what does the church stand to gain by framing up two of his ministers? It is absurd to imagine that a church as big as MFM will go so low as to frame up two of its pastors just because of a claim (which is false) that a Chief Security Officer (CSP) of the church was seen in a herbalist house. “MFM Church and its General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya remain committed to the welfare as well as spiritual and physical wellbeing and development of its members and humanity at large.” Corroborating the church’s story, three men whom Jimoh approached to join him in the robbery attack narrated how they discreetly recorded their conversations with him and how they were able to save the church from the deadly attack. Akeem Momodu, better known as Omojomolo; Adebayo Fatai, popularly known as Aboki; and Tajudeen Oseni, also known as Orji, said Jimoh believed they were his accomplices, not knowing that they were just playing along to expose his evil plan. Micheal Gbadamosi, the church’s chief security officer (CSO), clarified that he has never been to Ogbomoso town in his life, not to talk of going there to see a herbalist. Adejuwon shed light on the ruling by the national industrial court that Jimoh and Oloruntele should be paid their nine-year arrears of salary because their appointments have not been terminated by the church.

  The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has cautioned citizens against travelling with laser pointers to Switzerland, urging them to be aware of local laws. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of NiDCOM, gave the advisory in a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, media, public relations and protocols unit, on June 7. Dabiri-Erewa’s warning follows a recent detention of Andrew Etsetowaghan at Geneva Airport for carrying a presentation pointer in his hand luggage after the pointers had been banned in Switzerland since June 1, 2019. Dabiri-Erewa said Andrew was not aware of the policy.   A laser pointer is a hand-held laser that can be used to point to things, for amusement (as a toy or in hobbies) to scare off animals or to drive away other people. Etsetowaghan, a public health expert and project director at the Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research Nigeria, was detained on May 25, 2024, after attending a United States department meeting in Geneva. Etsetowaghan, who was part of an official delegation ,recounted his ordeal. “Upon going through security at Geneva Airport, I was informed that my presentation pointer was not allowed in Switzerland,” the statement quoted him as saying. “I was detained, had my belongings and documents seized, and was subjected to several hours of interrogation and solitary confinement in a cell. “Despite my compliance, the treatment I received was inhumane, including limited access to bathroom facilities and being forced to sign documents in French under duress.” Etsetowaghan urged for “measures to prevent such incidents in the future, a review of the procedures and better Responding to the incident, Dabiri-Erewa, stressed on the importance of raising awareness about such prohibited items in Switzerland Airports. She urged the Swiss authorities to enhance their communication on such regulations, describing Etsetowaghan’s ordeal as “avoidable”. The NiDCOM boss also said many immigrants might be unaware of this regulation. She asked all Nigerian travelers to exercise caution to avoid similar incidents.awareness of the banned items to ensure travelers are well-informed”. Responding to the incident, Dabiri-Erewa, stressed on the importance of raising awareness about such prohibited items in Switzerland Airports. She urged the Swiss authorities to enhance their communication on such regulations, describing Etsetowaghan’s ordeal as “avoidable”. The NiDCOM boss also said many immigrants might be unaware of this regulation. She asked all Nigerian travelers to exercise caution to avoid similar incidents.

  Former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria are grappling with the shock of their sudden dismissal, accusing the management of maltreatment and injustice. They claimed that many were not paid their entitlements before their sacking, a move they argued violates the bank’s human resource rules and policy. In a statement issued on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State capital, the North Central Coordinator of the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association Youth Wing, Paul Dekete, called for the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers. The statement read, “The purge wasn’t limited to high-level executives. It extended far beyond directors, impacting Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors who formed the backbone of departmental operations. These were not junior staff; they were seasoned professionals with deep institutional knowledge.   “For example, the Director of Information Technology was overseeing crucial projects on the very day they were terminated, including efforts to secure international information security certifications for the bank. “In a particularly egregious case, a Director on special assignment, tasked with leading the bank’s efforts to secure an ISO certification for information security, was sacked on the very day the bank successfully achieved this crucial milestone. “Central banking relies heavily on robust cybersecurity measures, and this certification is a testament to the Director’s competence and the bank’s commitment to financial security. This abrupt dismissal, on the day of a major accomplishment, raises serious questions about the planning and rationale behind the mass layoffs.” The statement further said, “The mass sack violated the bank’s own HR policy, which mandates board approval for executive terminations. “This blatant disregard for due process has raised serious questions about transparency. The CBN, a federal institution, must adhere to public service rules. This dismissal exercise, carried out without board approval, lacks a solid legal foundation. “Making matters worse, the bank offered no clear criteria for the mass sacking. This is a stark departure from their established culture of clear communication with staff during downsizing exercises.” Dekete, on behalf of the sacked CBN workers further said, “Loyal employees, some with over 30 years of dedicated service, were cast aside with a cold, impersonal letter stating “your services are no longer required.” This callous act extended to a Deputy Director who was let go even though she had already completed all the necessary paperwork and her retirement letter was ready to be issued. “The human cost of this heartless exercise is staggering. Many staff members had used their salaries as collateral for loans tied to their remaining years of service at the CBN. With their abrupt termination, these loans were immediately deducted from their final paychecks, leaving some with nothing and others still indebted to the bank. The impact on these individuals and their families is devastating, with their dreams and financial security shattered in an instant. “The CBN’s purge extended beyond individual hardship, raising serious concerns about ethnic bias. Reports indicate that some states saw over 80% of their executive staff removed, with North Central and South Eastern regions disproportionately affected. This blatant disregard for the principle of federal character raises troubling questions about the bank’s commitment to national unity. “Staff morale has plummeted, with a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty gripping the institution. Every Friday is met with dread, as rumours swirl of another list of targeted employees. The reported use of an external consultant, seemingly unfamiliar with the bank’s HR policies and civil service regulations, only exacerbates the lack of trust and transparency.” The CBN’s mass dismissal included the entire Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), a Unit in the bank tasked with the critical function of identifying and monitoring illegal financial activities within Nigeria. Established in 2018, the EIU was meticulously built by cherry-picking the bank’s brightest minds across various departments. According to Dekete, the loss of these highly trained professionals represents a significant blow to the bank’s institutional knowledge and capacity to combat money laundering and other illicit financial activities. He noted that the nature of the sack shows an attempt to cripple the Middle-belt region of the state as Gombe, Plateau and Benue are affected most. “In Gombe State, five people cutting across Deputy Directors to Assistant Directors cadre were all dismissed courtesy of the re-organization of the bank. In Plateau, 80% of the staff in the executive cadre were sacked, including one who had 3 days to retire and arrangements had been concluded for her normal retirement. “Benue is not spared either as many Deputy Directors are affected. Very painful is that Mr Onoja Ameh who was transferred from Abuja to Awka Branch last year December was involved in a terrible accident in April this year during which he almost lost his life on his way back to Awka after visiting his family in Abuja is still recuperating when he got sacked. A widow who is currently nursing her trauma was also sacked from the region due to the ‘re-organisation’ of the bank. “All termination decisions should be reviewed to ensure compliance with CBN HR policy and public service rules. This may involve reinstating some employees who were dismissed without proper justification. “With most of the casualties arising from the Middle Belt and the South Eastern regions of the country, we call on the Governor of these regions to as a matter of urgency step into the ugly development to unravel the mystery behind the motive to correct it”, the statement said.

  The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted a shipment of codeine originating from India and uncovered opioids concealed in ladies’ hair extensions intended for the United States and the United Kingdom. This is coming barely a week after seizing a shipment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state.   According to a statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, the two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 per cent examination. Babafemi said the latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine-containing 175,000 bottles weighing 26,250kg, was made on Friday, June 7, 2024 during a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs Service and other security agencies. The container marked HASU 4787890 from India was en route C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.   The statement added, “In the same vein, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) on Wednesday, June 5 intercepted five different parcels containing illicit drugs concealed in ladies’ clothes and synthetic hair going to the United States and the United Kingdom. “Some of the seized drugs include 620 ampoules of pentazocine injection, promethazine and other opioids. The drug consignments were seized at a courier firm in Lagos. “In Kebbi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kalgo-Birnin Kebbi road on Saturday 8th June arrested a 32-year-old Nigerien, Hassan Mummuni with 4,000 pills of diazepam and 1.250kg cannabis, concealed in four pesticide tanks, while operatives in Gombe state on the same day arrested Ibrahim Abubakar (aka Alhajiji) at Herwagana, with 6,740 pills of tramadol and 20,000 tablets of diazepam.” Similarly, the NDLEA added that “Not less than 1,098 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a suspect, Onyekachi ThankGod Iwula, 42, following his arrest in a commercial bus at Aloma junction, Otukpa, Ogbadibo LGA, Benue state.   “In Bauchi Dtate, NDLEA officers on patrol along Ningi-Kano road on Wednesday 5th June arrested a 20-year-old lady, Hasana Usman, with 25 blocks of cannabis sativa that weighed 28.2kg, while their counterparts in Yobe state nabbed Ali Mohammed, 42, along Kano-Potiskum road, with 19,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a black sack and the suspect’s travelling bag. “In Oyo State, 57-year-old Oladimeji Samson was arrested in a commercial bus at the Ibadan end, of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 79 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 44.4kg and 48 grams of ecstasy, all concealed in the engine compartment under the driver’s seat of the bus. “Not less than 17,980 pills of tramadol and other opioids were seized from a suspect, Ali Isiaka Mohammed, 36, following his arrest at Ganaja village, Lokoja LGA, Kogi state, while the duo of Blessing Samuel, 35, and Unnanchi Mike, 34, were arrested with 804 bottles of codeine syrup at Narayi, Kaduna State.” Also in Kaduna, Babafemi said in the statement that “Tijjani Umar, 37, and Yahaya Suleman, 35, were arrested with 33.9 kilograms of cannabis sativa in the Lafiya area, Kudan Local Government Srea of the state.   “At least, nine suspects including Salisu Sanda, 48, and James Andrew, 25, were arrested by NDLEA operatives during a raid at the Toaabora Hills area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Saturday 8th June with a total of 83.01kg cannabis recovered from them. “With the same drive, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week. “These include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Dibal Progressive Academy, Kano; students of Muslim Comprehensive High School, Saki, Oyo state; students and staff of St. David Grammar School, Ile-Ife, Osun state; students of Wisdom Rules College, Ukpakiri, Abia state; traditional rulers and community leaders in Ilorin, Kwara state as well as a WADA advocacy visit to the Cross River state governor, Senator Bassey Otu.” While commending the officers and men of PHPC, Gombe, Benue, Kogi, Kaduna, Oyo, Yobe, Bauchi, Kebbi and FCT Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the zeal and tempo.

  Sunday 09 June 2024 Dangote refinery: Oil majors blame theft, low production for poor crude supply Minimum wage: Resign if you can’t pay, labour tackles govs Nigerians will decide if Atiku or Obi will be PDP’s candidate in 2027 – Bafarawa Labour To SGF: Economic Saboteurs Drive In Convoys, Occupy Corridors Of Power 13 Year-Old Brutalised By Soldier, Civilian JTF Commits Suicide In Kaduna FG Retooling Financial System To Relieve Nigerians – Tinubu Govs Can Pay ₦60,000+ Wage If Corruption Is Minimised — Labour Nigerian Teenagers ‘Trafficked’ To Ghana For ‘Prostitution’ Rescued Tinubu Names Abuja Roads After Chinua Achebe, JP Clark Tinubu Never Interfered With My Work As FCT Minister — Wike Kano Declares State Of Emergency In Education, Recruits Over 5,000 Teachers EFCC Arrests 127 Suspected Fraudsters At Ondo ‘Yahoo’ Party Kebbi Announces Date For LG Poll Vandalism: FG tightens security on Third Mainland Bridge NIMC temporarily suspends bypass enrolment process over ‘fraudulent activities’ Rivers to spend N19.6bn to reconstruct demolished assembly complex Court orders final forfeiture of private varsity built by ex-civil servant with ‘stolen funds’ Mixed Feelings As New Kano Mandatory Premarital Law Comes Into Force Fertiliser Scarcity Heightens Food Crisis Concerns SERAP, Others Flay VP’s N21bn Home Palestine Calls For Emergency UN Security Council Meeting After Israel Massacred 210 Minimum Wage: Civil Servants To Govs: Cut Your Salaries To Pay Us Eid-el-Kabir: Nigerians go for cow, camel in Kano market, ram expensive UNILAG cancels Biochemistry, Petroleum & Gas Engineering admissions for 2024 Nine months after Mohbad’s death, family still embroiled in crisis Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The ministry of women affairs has issued a directive prohibiting underage girls from lodging in hotels. Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, minister of women affairs, read the riot act on Saturday at the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony in Abuja. The minister said the move is part of the precautionary measures to halt human trafficking, especially of Nigerian girls. The ban follows the recent rescue of over 10 teenage girls trafficked to Ghana. Kennedy-Ohaneye cautioned hoteliers nationwide against accommodating underage girls in their facilities, as defaulters would face sanctions. She mandated them to put up a ‘No Lodging of Underage Girls’ signage outside their facilities. The minister also extended the riot acts to proprietors of schools across the country, warning against the bullying of student by either teachers or among students. “Women have been suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about allowing the poor to breathe in this country,” Kennedy-Ohaneye said. “Meanwhile I am sure you saw the video circulating about our girls taken to Ghana. Did you see it? Very good. Action will start on Monday. “You will hear about our action first thing on Monday morning. That is the first I am going to approach and see what we can do about it. “Nigeria must be better. From 20th (June), we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls. (Otherwise) what happened in Niger State will be an understatement to what will happen in the FCT and I mean it. No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools.” Kennedy-Ohaneye also said her ministry is determined to stop the premature deaths of Nigerians as hospitals would no longer be allowed to reject emergency patients. “And our hospitals will also put a sign of ‘No more rejection of emergency patients’. These are some of the major issues we have in this country,” she said.

  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of president Bola Tinubu “over the failure to publish spending details of the loans obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.” The suit was filed against the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office (DMO). In the suit number FHC/L/CS/353/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.” SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the spending details of any such loans, including the interests and other payments so far made on the loans.” In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency.” SERAP is also arguing that “The Tinubu government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not.” According to SERAP, “The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.” SERAP is arguing that, “Nigerians’ right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame.” SERAP is also arguing that, “The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “Publishing the loan agreements would improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).” “Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information.” “Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability.” “Publishing the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans.” “According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Government’s debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion).” “Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion.”