A protest on Tuesday, in Zaranda Gari village, in the Toro Local government area of Bauchi State, has resulted in the death of one person and left several people injured. The incident, reported at approximately 9:00 am, began when residents gathered to protest the arrest of a charcoal dealer. The blockade was further exacerbated by sporadic gunfire from members of a quasi-security outfit known as the Nigerian Hunters Forestry and Security Service. In a statement, police spokesman in the state, Ahmed Wakili, said that three people from Zaranda Gari were injured in the conflict. They are Abubakar Yahaya (35), Hussaini Yunusa (20), and Yayangida Hussaini (16). They were transported to the Primary HealthCare Center Zaranda Gari but Yahaya later succumbed to his injuries. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Auwal Muhammad, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of Yahaya’s death and the conduct of the security personnel involved. “The Command has taken control of the situation to conduct a thorough investigation and apprehend those responsible for this unprofessional conduct,” the police said. The police said tactical teams have been mobilised to the scene to restore order and reopen the highway.

Over seven Bishops on Tuesday, led protesters to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control office in Asaba, the Delta State capital, calling on NAFDAC to refrain from attacks on the Senior Prophet of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry, Abuja, Jeremiah Fufeyin, over his spiritual products. The protesters, who were drawn from Fufeyin’s Church and other Christian faiths besieged the NAFDAC office with different inscriptions on placards despite the heavy rain to register their grievance over the attack on him. Some of the placards read, “Spiritual products have spiritual backing, don’t need NAFDAC approval, When it comes to spiritual, respect it among others. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Charismatic Anglican Church of Nigeria, Samuel Baaba cautioned NAFDAC on spiritual matters. Baaba said, “We are men of God and we are here in solidarity to send a message to NAFDAC to refrain from its step over spiritual matters. “NAFDAC does not have the right to regulate spiritual products. There is a limit to what people can do especially when it comes to matters of faith” Also speaking, Rector Union Theological Institute and Seminary, Port Harcourt, Evangelical Church, Calixtus and Most Celestine Ewurum added that they were only interested in the issue that concerned items that are spiritual. “To the best of my knowledge and which I have read through the NAFDAC Act, 2004, if there is an amendment, I don’t know, where it could regulate the spiritual product. “NAFDAC don’t have right to declare the products fake when it never tested the product, NAFDAC should out clearly what is wrong with the water” they added. On Sunday, the NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye alerted Nigerians to the activities of a faith-based organisation, Christ Mercy Land Delivery Ministries, led by Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, using the agency’s name to deceive the unsuspecting public She said none of the products (Miracle & Healing Water, River Jordan Water, among others were registered with NAFDAC, advising the public to stop patronising any of the miracle products.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to redirect their intimidation towards the perpetrators of violence. The former Vice President, in a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, also alleged that the level of oppressive control imposed by Tinubu’s administration now surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship. Recall that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the Department of State Services on Monday morning at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while heading to the UK for official duties.On the same day, the DSS also raided the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Abuja office.Ajaero was held in custody throughout the day and was released late Monday night. In his response, Atiku stated that Ajaero’s arrest exemplifies the current administration’s persistent efforts to intimidate and suppress organised labour. He stated, “The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration is profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship. “The recent arrest of Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomises this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organised labour.” The former Vice President added that the DSS raid on SERAP was fundamentally opposed to the principles of freedom and justice. The post read in part, “Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome had been fatal? “Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice. “Tinubu and his security apparatus must redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the true perpetrators of violence — terrorists and bandits — who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.”

Gunmen on Tuesday morning killed seven persons in Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West Local Government Area in Benue State. Naka town is located on Makurdi- Naka- Adoka – Ankpa trunk A federal highway. The inhabitants are predominantly peasant farmers who have been suffering herdsmen attacks for over 16 years. An eyewitness, Terna Ukaa, told The Nation the gunmen stormed Naka town on bicycles towards Adoka road around 4 am and opened fire on sleeping residents. Ukaa said they did not pick any item, suggesting the gunmen came to kill. He said before the Tuesday killing ,armed herdsmen have destroyed their farm land using cattle who graze on crops like cassava,rice and millet . Police spokesman Kate Aneene, a SP, said she was yet to confirm the incident but promised to call back. Details Shortly…

Two men who tried to claim that they had consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl have been found guilty of multiple rapes by the Northampton Crown Court. Identified as Tosin Dada, 34, previously of Knox Road, Wellingborough, and Solomon Ibukun Adebiyi, 39, previously of Stanley Street, Northampton, they were both charged with three counts of rape each in connection with the offence on March 12, 2022. Their 9-day trial ended last week with both men being found unanimously guilty by the jury on all charges after eight hours of deliberation. The development was confirmed in a Facebook post by the Northamptonshire Police. Both men were remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court on October 25, 2024.

The Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Lagos has launched an online portal for the public to procure affidavits from the court. Our correspondent reports that the innovation, introduced by FHC Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, brings the court in tune with digital global best practices. During our correspondent’s visit to the Lagos division of the court on Friday, the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar Mr. Godwin Long arranged an inspection of the facility’s new ICT department headed by Mr. Agwu Charles. Agwu explained how the general public can make use of the innovation. “It is now a norm that the Affidavit for loss of items, age declaration, change of name, etc can now be done via portal.fhc.gov.ng and following the instructors. “What you just need to do is to login to the site: portal.fhc.gov.ng “, Agwu added. Shedding more light, DCR Longe explained that at the moment, the portal can only process Affidavits that are non-cases related “Affidavits filed to support a case are still done manually because of the peculiar disposition in such Affidavits,” Longe said. He reiterated the need for people to be aware that henceforth, “they don’t necessarily have to be physically present to procure the type of Affidavits mentioned above.”

The Department of the State Service, DSS, has reacted to the allegation leveled against it by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP. SERAP yesterday alerted Nigerians that the secret service invaded its Abuja office, demanding to see the rights group’s directors. The rights group in a statement to Vanguard urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct DSS to end the intimidation, harassment and attack against their organization and the threat of arrest against its directors. It noted that some officers from DSS invaded their Abuja office. Describing the looks of the officers, the group opined that “A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors”. In view of this, Nigerians took to various communication channels to condemn DSS action, noting that its unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society. But reacting in a statement on Tuesday via its official website, the secret service justified its action, saying that their routine investigation was misinterpreted. Read the full statement bellow: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with multiple enquiries on its alleged unlawful invasion of SERAP offices in Abuja and Lagos. “This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent. For the records, a team of two (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials. The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid. “While it assures of indept investigation of these malicious contents, it sues for citizens’ participation in national security management. The DSS, therefore, urges the public to disregard these false narratives as it restates its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate”.