YellowStone Media International

Settlement of rape and sexual abuse cases out of court and offenders getting light penalty for such crime have been identified as factors encouraging widespread rape cases in Nigeria. This observation was made at the Strategic Consultative Meeting on Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act held on Monday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, and organised by KIF in collaboration with the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF). The participants at the event were unanimous that the VAPP Act of 2015 "is a comprehensive and robust instrument to promote women’s rights," which have often been undermined by out-of-court settlement and light punishment for penetrators of sexual abuses, including rape. However, they noted that the political will on the part of respective state governors was also required for the domestication of the Act and its effective implementation at the state level. The National Coordinator of the Nigerian Feminist Forum, Mrs. Blessing Duru, while lamenting t

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, on Monday in Abuja disclosed that the revenue generating agency incurred more than a billion naira loss to vandalism during the recent #EndSARS protests in the country. This came as the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) declared its readiness to partner the NPA on goods’ evacuation from the ports as a way of solving the problem of trucks causing gridlock on the roads leading to various ports. The issue on losses suffered by the NPA through the vandalism inflicted on it by irate youths and looters who took advantage of the #EndSARS protests came up during the 2021 budget defence session the NPA had with the Senate Committee on Marine Transport. According to the NPA boss, the sum of N807million had been earmarked for the rehabilitation of the burnt portion of the agency's building. This, she added, was different from the money to be spent on replacement of 27 vehicles set ablaze

...new SAN calls for increase in award of SAN rank The Supreme Court on Monday conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 72 legal practitioners. The conferment, which formed part of activities marking the commencement of the 2020/21 new legal year, was performed by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vuvour on behalf of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, and accompanied by 16 other Justices of the Supreme Court. Rhodes-Vivour, who noted that the new SANs emerged successful from a total of 172 earlier shortlisted for the rank, urged them to be more committed to their work and the legal profession, an attitude he said earned them the rank in the first place. The event, which was held at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court, started exactly by 10 a.m. and was in strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, as a lot of dignitaries, including spouses of awardees, were barred from the main courtroom. Among the new SANs are the Chairman of the Inde

The Cross River State Police Command has confirmed that only seven suspects escaped from its custody last Sunday, and not 17 as reported on social media. The state Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh, who confirmed the incident on Monday in Calabar, the state capital, said social media reported the incorrect number of the fleeing suspects, who escaped from a police cell at the state police headquarters at Diamond Hill in Calabar. Jimoh alleged also that some policemen suspected to have aided the escape of the detainees, comprising suspected kidnappers and armed robbers, have been arrested, and are being interrogated as part of the investigation of the incident. The commissioner told journalists that three of the fleeing suspects were trailed and gunned down while trying escape through the axis of Calabar River in Calabar South area, as one was apprehend and returned to the police cell. The CP said the remaining three fleeing suspects are still at large, but that they are bei

The burial plans for the late former Chief of Defence Staff, late General Domkat Bali, have stirred serious controversy among his kinsmen, as a socio-economic and cultural development organisation of the Tarok nation, Ngwang Ishi O’Tarok (NIO), warned Tarok elders to desist from the plan to bury the late army general in Abuja against their culture. In a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the group, Chief David Dashe and Nangor Ndam respectively, the group reminded the Tarok elders that Bali, as at the time of his death, was still the Ponzhi Tarok and president of the Langtang Joint Traditional Council as affirmed by the Federal Court of Appeal Jos division on November 11, 2020. Dashe said: “We learnt that some elders have relocated to Bali’s residence in Abuja, and issued funeral arrangements programme for his burial without consultation with the Langtang Joint Traditional Council, which is the proper thing to do considering that the deceased was the Ponzhi Tarok an

Striking resident doctors have reached agreement with the federal government to end their four-day industrial action. The doctors also allegedly apologised to the federal government over their strike, blaming it on communication gap and bottlenecks in the implementation of agreement reached between the government and the association. At the end of the reconciliatory meeting held on Wedenesday at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) accepted to meet with its executive council with a view to calling off the strike by today. The communiqué issued after the meeting stated that: "In view of these understanding, NARD will consult with its executive council within the next 24hrs with a view to calling off the strike by September 10, 2020." The meeting agreed that nobody would be victimised for any activity connected with or for participating in the industrial action. In a communiqué jointly signed by the Minister of

Palpable fear has gripped parents of the four female students of Prince Academy, Damba-Kasaya, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who were abducted along with their teacher over two weeks ago. The students were abducted on August 24, 2020, when bandits invaded the community at about 8a.m. that fateful day. One person was killed during the incident, while many Junior Secondary School (JSS3) students of the academy, who were receiving lessons for their final examinations, were abducted. However, some of the students were said to have escaped following the intervention of security agents who pursued the hoodlums to the bushes. The four students, including their teacher, also a female, have been in captivity since then without any communication from the gunmen. The parents of the students are becoming agitated following the killing of a 14-year-old girl, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a police officer, who were also abducted by ba

Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu, has petition the state Commissioner of Police over an alleged threat to life by the immediate-past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole. While reacting, Oshiomole described the petition as nothing but a futile attempt to divert the attention of Nigerians from the trending video of Mrs. Shaibu threatening to flog women old enough to be her mother if they dare exercise their fundamental human rights to attend any event other than the one she organises. In the petition dated September 8, 2020, by her counsel, Idemudia Ilueminosen and Co, titled: ‘Threat to Life’, Mrs. Shaibu said Oshiomhole had threatened to deal with her after casting aspersions on her at a rally in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. The petition alleged that Oshiomhole at the rally sent several warnings that she (Mrs. Shaibu) should stay clear of campaigning for her party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the governorship election in Kogi State, Mr. Musa Wada, on Wednesday accepted the decision of the Supreme Court on the election, and congratulated his main rival, the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, on his victory. However, Wada in a statement said the Supreme Court verdict did not take into account the violence and disenfranchisement of citizens whose mandate had by the result of the appeal been silenced, but that being a democrat, he had to accept the verdict as there would always be an end to litigation. He nevertheless lamented that the lot of the Kogi people was worsening by the day as evidenced in arrears of salaries and lack of basic amenities that make life worth living. Wada congratulated Bello, and charged him to quickly address the sufferings of the ordinary man in the street, pointing out that other more focused states were rising up to the challenges of development currently eluding the Kogi State. He attributed the late

The Osun State Government on Wednesday received 15 of its citizens, who were trafficked in Lebanon. The returnees were formally received on behalf of the state government by the Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Mrs. Olubukola Olaboopo, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Titi Fadahunsi-Ajayi. Addressing them during the reception, Olaboopo expressed delight that the ladies had returned alive from Lebanon. She said the state government had put necessary measures in place for their reintegration into their communities as well as the state. According to her, "I welcome our ladies back to the state of Omoluabi. You are safe in the state, and the government will do all that it can to ensure that you have a good life going forward. "There is no harm in trying. The fact that you went abroad to hustle does not mean that you should be stigmatised. We as a state are very proud of you for taking a bold step and trying

Traditional rulers in the country have been urged to be alive at all times to their fatherly role of championing policies and programmes that would bring about peace and development in the society. The Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, HRH Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, made the appeal during a thanksgiving service to mark the 61st anniversary of his coronation at his palace grounds in Owa-Oyibu, the administrative headquarters of Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state. Efeizomor said their role as royal fathers placed great burden on them towards ensuring that there is peace and security in their respective domains and the society at large without which development and progress would be impossible. While expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to preside over the throne of his forebears for over six decades and elevating him to a position of influence far beyond his traditional domain, the Owa king said he has been

The submission of memoranda by the Nigerian public to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review which was scheduled to close on Tuesday has been extended till next week Friday. This is just as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, advised agitators for additional state creation to be ready to lobby both the federal and state legislators as well as other geo-political zones in the country. It was learnt that the extension of the date for the collection of memoranda from interested groups and individuals was not unconnected to enormous pressure mounted by various interest groups physically and through telephone calls to the Deputy Senate President, Omo- Agege, in his capacity as the chairman of the committee. It was gathered that the committee had to go against its earlier plan to stop the collection of memoranda last Tuesday in line with 14 days grace given for that purpose on August 26, 2020, when it called for submission of memoran

Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has expressed shock over the interception of a government convoy, arrest and killing of Terwase Akwaza popularly known as Gana by military authorities. Also, the former state Governor, Senator Gabriel Suswam, has condemned the alleged extra-judicial killing of the notorious criminal, who had been terrorising the state, and called for investigation. Ortom made his feelings known on Wednesday at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi while briefing journalists on the state of the second amnesty programme of his administration, which covers Sankera geopolitical zone. He, however, noted that he was still awaiting briefing from the Commander of Operation Ayem A Kpatuma from Doma in Nasarawa State, Major General Moundhey Gadzama Ali, who promised he was coming to brief him on their operation. The governor stated that five repentant youths from Ukum Local Government Area of the state, who were among those arrested by the Nigerian Army were r

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has warned that Nigeria is now in a state of "hopelessness and helplessness" under the President Muhammadu Buhari. He lamented that in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, the gulf among the ethnic nationalities in the country is widening, warning that this may be a prelude to a greater disaster. George, who was speaking while counselling PDP aspirants in the forthcoming Lagos East senatorial and Kosofe 2 state bye elections, stressed that "no Nigerian today can express happiness with what is going on the country. Are we better off today? I want to see that Nigerian who is better off today than four and a half years ago." The PDP leader insisted that the APC has failed woefully, even as he stressed that contrary to the position held by Mallam Mamman Daura, "zoning is vital for the peace, the growth and the progress of the country. Now, the nature o

The Katsina State Police Command has eliminated 15 bandits and arrested 50 other criminals, including kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, who disclosed this on Thursday while parading some suspects, said the command has also recovered 220 rustled cattle from the hoodlums and rescued 20 kidnapped victims. He explained that the command also recovered 10 AK-47 rifles, 20 locally made guns, 20 motorcycles and a huge amount of money from both the killed suspects and those paraded in the ongoing onslaughts against the miscreants in the state. The commissioner added that the command also apprehended 140 suspected rapists in 87 reported cases and were charged to court for prosecution after preliminary investigation. He said: "Recently, the command have arrested over 50 suspected bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and arm robbers. We recovered 10 AK47 riffles, 20 locally-made guns, 20 motorcycles and 220 rustled c

The Senate may cut short its annual vacation to hold an emergency session to discuss the last Wednesday's hike in pump price of petrol from N145.00 to N151.60 per litre by the federal government, it was has learnt. This is just as a ranking Senator, Obinna Ogba, emphasised that the recent increase in both fuel price and electricity tariff showed the level of insensitivity of the federal government to the people's feelings. It was gathered yesterday that many senators had approached the leadership of the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the need for the Senate to take a decision on the fuel price hike. A senator confirmed to journalists on the condition of anonymity that representations had been made to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, on the need to hold an emergency session to discuss the latest developments in the country, especially the hike in both the fuel price and electricity tariff. The ranking senator said: "Yes, it's true that we ha

Senior government officials from Nigeria and Ghana met on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to improve the deteriorating bilateral relations between both countries. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye, in a statement issued yesterday said the delegations of both countries had successful bilateral engagement on improving the Nigeria-Ghana relations. The statement was however silent on the details of the meeting. Nwonye said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that a delegation of senior Ghanaian government officials led by their Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Allan John Kyeremanteng, arrived in Abuja today (yesterday) to have discussion with their Nigerian counterparts. "Other members of the Ghanaian delegation included the Minister for Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Mohammed Habibu Tijani.&q

The Sokoto State zonal chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has kicked against the calls for the reopening of Nigerian universities by some stakeholders in the country. The union, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and poor funding from the federal government, insisted that the universities are not safe for reopening. ASUU Sokoto Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Jamilu Shehu, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference at the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University, Katsina. The Sokoto zonal office of ASUU comprises Federal University Dutsin-ma; Usumanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University, Katsina; Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, and Sokoto State University. Shehu said if the federal government reopened the institutions, the government would be held responsible if anything happens to the students. According to him, "It is far from the truth to say that universities can fulfill the conditions laid down

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representativeson Wednesday rejected the increase in pump price of petrol from N148 to N151.56 as announced by the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC). The lawmakers in a statement by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, described the increase as unacceptable as it will result in increase in the already high cost of consumer goods and services in the country, and worsen the current economic hardship being suffered by Nigerians. According to Elumelu, “The minority caucus in the House of Representatives rejects the announced increase in the pump price of fuel. This is because such increase will directly result in more hardship on our citizens, particularly at this critical time when majority of Nigerians across the country are struggling to survive under the burden of high cost of living and low purchasing power occasioned by the prevailing economic challenges. Any increase in the cost of essential c

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has insinuated that the road crash involving the entourage of former state Governor, Adams Oshiomole, on a trip to a campaign event last Tuesday was a deliberate attempt to assassinate him. Two policemen lost their lives when a truck reportedly rammed into the former governor’s convoy at Oluku junction while heading to Usen, Ovia South West Local Government Area for a scheduled APC campaign event. In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the state APC, Chris Azebamwan, the party alleged that the crash was a ‘premeditated plot’ to take the life of the former state governor who he said has been a thorn in the flesh of the Peoples Democratic Governor (PDP) since his return from Abuja to join the electioneering of the APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Azebamwan, who chronicled previous instances where the state Governor and the candidate of the PDP, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Sha

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday given tank farm operators one week to commence the process of regularising their facilities planning permit or face closure. The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who gave the ultimatum at a meeting with tank farm operators at the state secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, observed that only eight out of the 41 tank farms’ operations in the state have planning permits authorising their establishments. According to him, most of the tank farms in the state had been operating illegally and in variance with Section 27 of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) regulations 2019, which stipulates that anyone who built in Lagos State without planning permit commits an offence liable to enforcement, imposition of penal fees or removal of structure. He emphasised that any tank farm that failed to start the process of regularising its facility

The National Consultative Front (NCFront) on Wednesday stated that it is incensed and aghast over President Muhammadu Buhari government's ‘inhuman ambush of Nigerians’ with an increase in the ex-depot price of petrol. It also said being a grassroots mass movement, it has observed the melancholic mood of Nigerians following the report that the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC), last Tuesday increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N138.62 per litre to N151.56 per litre. According to a statement issued by the group's Head of Bureau of Public Affairs, Dr. Tanko Yunuda, "With the ex-depot price being the amount at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots, it is a no-brainer that this unconscionable hike by the federal government will translate to an increase in the pump price of petrol thus worsening the woes of Nigerians who have just been yoked with an increased electricity tarif

The Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA) has debunked claims by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that previous administrations in the state did not issue a White Paper on the Justice Rahila Cudjoe Commission of Inquiry on the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis and the AVM Muazu Reconciliation Committee Reports of 1995. The state government had in a statement on June 29, 2020, through spokesman to El-Rurai, Muyiwa Adekeye, announced the setting up of the committee, saying: “The State Executive Council has resolved to find a permanent solution to the perennial crises that keep erupting in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.” The committee was set up following recent clashes in Zangon Kataf and Kauru Local Government Areas on June 11, 2020, leading to killings and destructions. ‘”No White Paper was drafted or adopted by the Dabo Lere administration that established the Justice Cudjoe Commission and the Col. Lawal Jafar Isa government that appointed the AVM Muazu Rec

As religious centres reopen on Friday in Ekiti State after three and half months due to COVID-19, the government has directed all religious centres ready to resume service to acquire certificates of fitness before commencing worshipping. The state government said religious centres with coronavirus prevention facilities would only be allowed to resume activities, while certificates of compliance must be received from the ministry to authenticate their readiness to reopen. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Ekiti State chapter has suspended the reopening of all major mosques across the state. The state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had recently announced that all churches and mosques in the state can commence service on July 17 after the nationwide lockdown barring religious activities which was announced on March 29. The state Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Gbenga Agbeyo, who said this in Ado Ekiti yesterday, insisted that no religio

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and the family of the 23-year-old first female combat helicopter pilot, late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, have called for the investigation into the cause of her death. Afenifere in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, has therefore canvassed for a coroner inquest into the death of the Air Force officer. Afenifere, in the one-page statement stated inter alia: "One of Nigerian finest eggs has yet again been sucked with the death of flying officer Arotile on the road in Kaduna last Tuesday. Unofficial accounts said she just returned from a combat operation before she was knocked down to death. "We, therefore, do not accept that her death was an accident until the report of a coroner says how she died and how a supposed attempt to stop and greet could come with a death impact. “We say this against what is known of the infiltration of the forces by sympathizers and agents of Boko H

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday decried what he called ‘little progress’ being made in the power sector despite huge investments, saying the current state of electricity supply in the country is apparently hampering industrialisation and national development. Gbajabiamila stated this at the opening of the investigative hearing on the activities of the power sector by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Power Sector. In May this year, the House had resolved to review extant laws and regulations guiding the power sector reform, which led to the inauguration of an ad-hoc committee on power sector reforms by the Speaker. Gbajabiamila said it is becoming increasingly worrisome that successive governments have been unable to fix the issue of power in the country, and that it is dampening the hopes of landmark industrialisation and national development. He said the investigative hearing is the premise upon which the House of Repre

The Senate on Wednesday gave the assurance that the 2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill before it would be passed before the end of 2020. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kabir Gaya, who made this known, said the Senate has gone far in the task of amending the Electoral Act. According to him, the committee had shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic held interactive workshop with stakeholders, and will soon hold a public hearing on the issue before the presentation of the report to the Senate at plenary later in the year. He said: "Few months before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a retreat in Lagos with INEC commissioners; the commission chairman and other international stakeholders came also to contribute to the process, and all members had a draft of the Electoral Act amendment which we discussed. "We also invited INEC to give us their input based on their experience in the last few elections and the problem they had wi

The House of Representatives on Wednesday said it would step up its oversight functions as well as work effectively with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to ensure a comprehensive implementation of the Correctional Act, 2019, geared towards addressing the challenges confronting the service. The Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Anayo Edwin, made this known while declaring open a three-day retreat for members of the Committee in Abuja, saying the improvement of NCS is crucial to character reformation and nation-building. He said though the Correctional Act 2019 is designed to address the challenges confronting the NCS, there is need for all the stakeholders, including the federal and state governments, the private sector and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), to work together towards improving the NCS. The lawmaker lamented that the various correctional centres across the country are in a deplorable state, with facilities overstretched,

The Chinese Government has described the decision by Nigerians to institute a law suit against it to seek compensation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as shoddy, saying it has zero basis in law or international precedence. The reaction of the Chinese Government may not be unconnected with media reports that “Nigerians have dragged China to court to seek compensation over the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Chinese Mission in Abuja stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday, where it said China, like other countries, was a victim of the virus. It said despite being confronted by an unknown virus, China has acted responsibly to protect people’s life and health as well as safeguard global public health. The mission said: "The attempt to file frivolous lawsuits is a shoddy one, as it has zero basis in fact, law or international precedence. "Some people are clamoring for the so-called accountability and compensation from a victim of COVID-19, and they are fabricat

The Adamawa State Government has stated that August 4, 2020, is the resumption date for students in Primary Six, Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), who will write their terminal examinations. This is contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital, Mrs. Wilbina Jackson, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Yola. Jackson said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, “the ministry wishes to inform parents and relevant stakeholders that education must strive under all conditions. “The state Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has directed that the resumption date for the 2019/2020 academic session in the state for the existing students in Primary Six, JSS3 and SSS3 is August 4, 2020. “Subsequently, resumption is to be observed strictly within the necessary COVID-19 preventive guidelines as outlined by the NCDC.” She listed the guidelines to include frequent and proper hand washing with soap or rubbin

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday inaugurated the 13th Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Ukpo, Dunukofia council area of Anambra State. The zonal command will be in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States. Speaking at the inauguration, Adamu, who was represented by DIG Celestine Okoye, said the new zonal command was an addition to strengthening the existing security in the South-east zone. He poured encomiums on a businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, saying he has not only supported the police in actualising the project, but also worked with the people of Ukpo community to provide and renovate the temporary operational base. According to the IG, "Though there were contestations about the supposed location of the zonal command, Ukpo met every requirement as it is also within the state capital. "The AIG to head this zonal command, Mohammed Danmallam, was selected after a painstaking search, and I assure you th

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has vowed that criminal elements terrorising the Northeast and North-west regions in the country must be defeated by the troops, as they have neither training nor the weapons which the Nigerian army have. Speaking on Wednesday at the graduation of 1,142 soldiers from Special Forces training at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in Jaji, Kaduna State, Buratai said the bandits and terrorists must be defeated because “they don’t have the training and weapons that we have.” He charged troops to put in their best and make use of the skills acquired during the training to tackle bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements in the their various units in the troubled regions. According to the COAS, "You must go out there to defeat the criminals. They don't have the training we have. They don't have the weapons we have. "You may also find yourselves doing covert and overt operations, but more of covert. Th

The Board of Ekiti State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps has commenced recruitment of personnel for the security network in the state. Following the passage of the state Security Network Bill by the state House of Assembly, the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, had in March signed into law the bill backing the establishment of the network aimed at ending the scourge of kidnappings, killings, marauding herders’ activities and other heinous crimes in the state. Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Wednesday, the Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig- General Joe Komolafe(rtd), urged qualified persons in the state between the ages of 18 and 60 with the minimum qualifications of Primary School leaving certificate to apply online. He said each applicant would be required to get a letter from their traditional rulers affirming their indigeneship of the community and character, revealing that people with questionable behaviours would not be part of the

The Ogun State Government on Sunday vowed to demolish structures obstructing waterways in order to prevent recurrence of flooding in the state. It also promised to continue dredging the rivers in the state to give way for free flow of water. The state Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu -Balogun, stated this during the inspection of areas and places affected by the flood which also ravaged Abeokuta, the state capital, last Saturday. Inspecting the affected areas, Abudu-Balogun, in company with the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Tunji Odunlami, attributed human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse on water ways as one of the factors responsible for the flooding. Areas visited by the state government team included Ijeja, Amolaso, Isale-Igbein, Ori-Omi, Sokori, among others. "As a government, we are going to take a decisive step to ensure that residents comply with environmental laws. We are happy that no life

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed the Vice Chairman of the Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19, who was also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the Benue State University(BSU), Prof. Godwin Achinge. Achinge, it was gathered, died on Sunday afternoon at an undisclosed hospital in Jos, Plateau State, due to complications arising from the virus. A member of the Benue State Action committee on COVID-19, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the death of the professor yesterday by telephone. He said: “Yes, we lost Professor Achinge, the vice chairman of the state action committee on COVID-19 this (yesterday) afternoon.” When journalists spoke to the state Commissioner for Information and member of the state action committee on COVID-19, Mrs. Ngunan Addingi, she said she was yet to confirm the report from the chairman of the committee on COVID-19, who is the state Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu. The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, had last Saturday named Prof. Achin

The Chairman of Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Goodluck Ofobruku, has reportedly been abducted by unidentified gunmen near Asaba, the state capital. Ofobruku was said to have been abducted while driving on the Ibusa axis of the Asaba-Ogwashiuku-Ughelli Road last Saturday night near Asaba. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, while confirming the kidnap of Ofobruku on Sunday in Asaba, disclosed that the state police command has already spread its dragnet in an effort to rescue the victim unhurt and possibly apprehend the criminals. Rescue efforts by the police included the combing of the bushes in the area and security surveillance across Asaba/Kwale/Ughelli axis, Inuwa added. The NLC state chairman was reportedly kidnapped last Saturday night by unknown gunmen who intercepted his official Toyota Sienna van with registration number: 'NLC 01' along the Ibusa Road portion of the Asaba-Ughelli road. The state labour leader was

A 70-year-old tailor, Mohammed Sani, has been arrested for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl in Minna, the Niger State capital. The incident took place at the Kasuwan Dare area of the state capital. According to police report, the suspect lured the girl to his shop for a gift, when she arrived at the shop, it was gathered that Sani allegedly dragged the girl into the inner part of the shop where he had carnal knowledge of her. However, the cry from the girl attracted people to the scene of the incident, which led to the arrest of Sani. Sani has already confessed to committing the crime, blaming it on the devil. According to him, "I can't say how it happened, all I know is that I took her into the inner shop and had sex with her. It is the work of the devil," Sani confessed at the state police headquarters where he was paraded before journalists. He, however, did not plead for leniency. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, co

Major Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, has announced that it would resume domestic flights on July 8, 2020. The airline said it would resume flight service following the federal government decision to re-open Lagos and Abuja airports for flight operations. The airline said it would be operating three times daily from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart, while Port Harcourt would be added to the schedule from July 11, 2020, when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, would reopen for operations. “Passengers have been assured of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with COVID-19 health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Federal Government of Nigeria. “Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport three hours before scheduled departure time so as to have ample time to undergo all security and health

The House of Representatives will tomorrow commence investigative hearing on 24 commercial and non-commercial banks as well as 14 international oil companies (IOCs) over an alleged loss of over $30 billion revenue annually due to leakages. The investigative hearing which would be conducted in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols would be in phases. The House joint Committees on Finance and Banking and Currency, which is chaired by Hon. James Faleke and Hon. Victor Nwokolo, will grill officials of the banks and the IOCs during the investigative hearing, with the first phase of the hearing spanning three weeks. The mandate of the joint committee is to determine in a statutory and professional manner the revenue amount involved in the malpractices by each organisation based on every revenue line item collectible by the government agencies for the purpose of timely recovery into the government accounts. The oil companies include Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE); Nig

Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Philip Maku, has disclosed that the five persons declared missing over the Erel palm plantations communal crisis between Ekoli Edda Afikpo South in Ebonyi State and Biasie Local Government Area in Cross River State have not been found. Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the new police commissioner noted that the state police command was not relenting in unraveling their disappearances. According to him, "We are on top of the matter, and hopeful, their disappearances will be unraveled. We are also relying on those in the Cross River State axis for any useful information, but since we have not seen any of their dead bodies, we believe they are still alive. "The National Boundary Commission should come here and do a proper demarcation of the disputed area and other disputed areas across the state." Maku further stressed on the cooperation from the people through community policing, noting that the communities have a vita

The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of criminals behind the killing of a farmer in Amankpunato Autonomous Community in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State. Okechukwu, who represents Aninri/Agwu/Oji-River federal constituency, Enugu, made this known in a statement on Wednesday while conveying his condolences to the bereaved family and the Amankpunato community over the sad loss. He said bringing the killers to book would serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in the country. The lawmaker, while calling on the president to deploy more resources to the Nigeria Police to help build its capacity to protect lives and property efficiently, equally urged him to lend his political weight to the Bill for the Establishment of State Police. He said: “While I commend the Enug