News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Tragedy struck yet again in Plateau State as communities in the Mangu and Bokkos local government areas fell victim to renewed attacks, resulting in an undisclosed number of casualties.

Although the State Police Command and Operation Safe Haven (OpSH) have yet to officially respond because their spokespersons are unavailable, credible sources have confirmed the separate incidents.

According to Monday Kassah, the Transition Committee Chairman of Bokkos, there were multiple attacks on Thursday night, claiming six lives.

The attackers, reportedly riding motorcycles in groups of two or three, unleashed violence in Mandung, Butura, Chikam, and other communities around the state university, all within the Bokkos District of Butura. Security reinforcements have been deployed to the area, but the assailants remain active.

Tragically, a university student was shot dead outside the campus, with another falling victim to the violence the following morning. Yakubu Ayuba, the registrar of the university, lamented the loss of a 200-level computer science student named Dading James Jordan in the attack on Chikam.

Despite concerted efforts by the state government, security agencies, and university management to enhance security, the assailants struck, claiming the life of a promising student.

In response, the university has declared a two-day mourning period, suspending all exams scheduled for the affected days. Management urged students to remain calm while calling for increased security measures around the campus.

In Mangu, reports indicate that attackers descended on the Tilengpat community in the Pushit District, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals.

Expressing his condemnation of the violence, State Governor Caleb Mutfwang appealed for calm, assuring citizens, especially students, of the government’s commitment to their safety.

He pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators while emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to enhance security in the region.

Governor Mutfwang extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and victims, urging swift recovery for the injured.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, paid a courtesy visit to the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Corporate Headquarters on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, reinforcing the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to public awareness. 

Welcomed warmly by the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndache, the CGC was praised for his accomplishments.

Ndache was quoted as saying, “The comments about you are that of joy and your achievements are highly commendable… The reason for welcoming you to our corporate headquarters personally is to thank you for your continuous and immense support to VON.” 

In response, the CGC expressed gratitude and affirmed his dedication to transparency and open governance, aligning with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We are in a new administration investing in renewed hope for economic recovery, political stability, and the security of the nation,” he stated. 

Recognising VON’s pivotal role in disseminating government policies, the CGC pledged the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering support to VON in enhancing public awareness.

“We have a strategic economic team making stringent and diverse economic policies that will foster economic growth for the nation. VON is very strategic in communicating these policies to the citizens,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced with deep sorrow the tragic passing of Customs Assistant II Auwal Haruna. 

According to a statement signed on Wednesday by Abdullahi Maiwada, Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, the unfortunate incident occurred during a confrontation at the Gamji Makaho checkpoint in the Dankama area of Katsina State on the morning of April 17, 2024. 

The altercation arose when a team of customs officers from the Katsina Area Command sought to intercept a convoy of over fifty vehicles suspected of transporting goods illegally outside the country.

Displaying commendable courage, Haruna and his colleagues confronted the suspected economic saboteurs, leading to a clash with an enraged mob. Haruna was viciously attacked and fatally assaulted during the confrontation.

He has since been laid to rest according to Islamic rites in his hometown of Kayawa, in the Dutsi Local Government Area of Katsina State. 

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, along with the entire NCS fraternity, extends heartfelt condolences to the family of CA II Auwal Haruna.

The CGC vehemently condemns the senseless act of violence that resulted in Haruna’s untimely demise and assures the public of a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served. 

Stating the daily challenges faced by customs officers in safeguarding the nation’s borders, the CGC shows the NCS’s unwavering commitment to stand with the fallen officer’s family during this period of profound grief. 

Despite the tragic loss, the NCS remains resolute in its mission to combat illegal activities, particularly smuggling, and continues to prioritise Nigeria’s border integrity while ensuring the safety of citizens and dedicated customs personnel.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, has issued a restraining order against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing them from violating the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.

During a two-hour session at High Court 4, presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court delivered a verdict on Wednesday.

The judgment prohibits the EFCC from engaging in actions such as arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello without explicit authorization from the court.

This definitive order builds upon an earlier interim injunction.The legal proceedings stemmed from a lawsuit initiated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who sought to protect his fundamental rights against the EFCC.

The court also mandated the respondents to cease any ongoing persecution of the applicant.

Addressing jurisdictional challenges raised by the EFCC, the court dismissed them in its judgment.Counsel for Alhaji Yahaya Bello, SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, hailed the judgment as a landmark decision.

Similarly, the defense counsel, T.U Odima and Patrick O. Jibril, expressed their alignment with the judgment, praising its thoroughness.

By Uzair Adam Imam  

The Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has unveiled fresh allegations of corruption and maladministration against former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. 

The chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Magaji, disclosed that investigations have exposed the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds to unauthorised individuals during Ganduje’s tenure.  

Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, Magaji claimed that the administration withdrew N1 billion monthly from state coffers before its conclusion in May 2023.  

Allegedly earmarked for road renovation, these funds were redirected to Bureau de Change operators. Magaji further highlighted a case involving N4 billion transferred from Kano’s consolidated revenue account to an agricultural company.  

He asserted that these revelations merely scratch the surface of broader corruption probes, indicating ongoing investigations into various financial irregularities. 

Magaji stated that, “We have filed a series of cases. We have a case whereby N1 billion was diverted from government coffers under the guise of renovating 30 roads in the metropolis, only to be sent to Bureau de Change.  

“We have another case involving N4 billion transferred from the state’s revenue account to an agricultural company. All these cases are currently before the court,” he added. 

In response to these allegations, the state government has announced its intention to arraign Ganduje, along with his wife and son, for money laundering later this week.  

The unfolding saga adds another chapter to the ongoing scrutiny of political figures and financial mismanagement in Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam Imam  

The Nigerian Air Force announced on Tuesday that its air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) had successfully neutralised over 30 militants, including two high-profile leaders, Ali Dawud and Bakurah Fallujah im Borno State. 

Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of NAF Public Relations and Information, disclosed that the airstrikes, carried out over the weekend, targeted the hideouts of ISWAP terrorists nestled within Kolleram village along Lake Chad’s shores.  

The precision strikes, executed on April 13, 2024, resulted in the destruction of numerous vehicles, motorcycles, and logistical assets, severely disrupting the terrorists’ operational capabilities. 

Gabkwet reported that the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) post-strike revealed the elimination of key figures such as Ali Dawud, Bakurah Fallujah, and Mallam Ari.  

Additionally, intelligence gathered indicated the effective obliteration of a vital facility within the Kolleram enclave, disrupting the terrorists’ food processing activities. 

The success of these airstrikes shows  the NAF’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism and safeguarding Nigerian citizens.  

By neutralising top terrorist operatives and dismantling their logistical infrastructure, the operation has significantly weakened ISWAP’s presence in the region. 

The airstrikes, complementing ground forces’ ongoing efforts on the Lake Chad flank, mark a crucial advancement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism endeavours, signalling a resolute stance against extremist threats.

 By Uzair Adam Imam  

Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, witnessed a fervent protest on Tuesday as residents of Okwuta Ibeku rallied to demand justice for Air Force cadet Emmanuel Onyemereche.  

Onyemereche had tragically drowned in the swimming pool of Damgrete Hotel the week prior, leaving his community in mourning. 

Clad in sombre black attire, the demonstrators filled the streets, their mournful chants echoing through the air.  

Holding placards emblazoned with calls for justice, they urged Governor Alex Otti to intervene.  

The diverse crowd, comprising youths, men, and women, marched towards Government House Umuahia, determined to make their voices heard. 

The protesters, represented by figures like Public Relations Officer Mr. Chibuzor Onwukamuche, family Head Prince James Onyeomereneche, and woman leader Mrs. Happiness Ebere, expressed disbelief in the circumstances surrounding Onyemereche’s death.  

They voiced suspicions about the conflicting accounts and demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident. 

Questioning how a trained Naval Officer could drown in a seemingly ordinary swimming pool, they pointed fingers at Onyemereche’s friend, Valentine Okpechi, and the hotel management.  

In response, Governor Otti, conveyed through Special Adviser Navy Commander Macdonald Uba (Rtd.), conveyed his condolences and assured the grieving community that the State Government would pursue a thorough investigation, promising not to let the matter fade into obscurity.

By Uzair Adam Imam  

A brazen attempt to seize control of the Oyo House of Assembly by individuals suspected to be affiliated with the Yoruba Nation movement was thwarted by police forces yesterday. 

At least 18 individuals were apprehended in connection with the incident, which unfolded just meters away from the Oyo State Government Secretariat. 

Reports indicate that the perpetrators, masked and clad in Army camouflage, armed themselves with rifles and strategically positioned themselves within the Secretariat’s vicinity.  

Some stationed themselves at the entrance of the Governor’s Office, while others were spotted near the state House of Assembly’s gate and the main entrance. 

The sudden incursion sparked panic in the area, prompting security operatives to respond with tear gas and arrests.  

The arrival of officers from the state Police Command and other anti-crime agencies, accompanied by sporadic gunshots, added to the chaos, forcing motorists to reroute and residents to seek safety. 

Efforts by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (retd), to defuse the situation proved futile as the masked individuals remained adamant about hoisting their flag within the Secretariat premises. 

However, the arrival of soldiers from the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army shifted the dynamics, causing some of the agitators to flee.

The soldiers, described as stern-looking, reportedly pursued the remaining suspects. 

Meanwhile, the state secretariat’s main entrance was sealed off, and businesses in surrounding areas quickly shuttered as a precautionary measure. 

In a related development, a video surfaced featuring a woman identifying herself as Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, claiming to speak on behalf of the Yoruba Nation movement.

She declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Yoruba, asserting sovereignty and dissociating from Nigeria. 

Notable Yoruba Nation proponents, including Professor Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), disowned the attack, denying any involvement and stating their commitment to peaceful advocacy.  

Akintoye attributed the incident to individuals he deemed not to represent the authentic Yoruba Nation Movement. 

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed that 18 suspects were arrested in possession of an array of weapons and paraphernalia.  

He condemned the incident as criminal and unpatriotic, pledging a thorough investigation and decisive action against those responsible.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has strongly condemned the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), labeling the group as a divisive force in Northern politics that fails to represent the region’s true interests.

In response to recent comments by NEF spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman expressing regret over the North’s alleged support for President Bola Tinubu, Matawalle dismissed the NEF’s stance as shortsighted and detrimental to political harmony.

Matawalle asserted that the NEF’s threats against President Tinubu were “reprehensible and naive,” accusing the group of attempting to wield undue influence for their own political gain.

He criticized the NEF for undermining the democratic process and exacerbating disunity among Nigerians.

Furthermore, Matawalle contended that the NEF’s attempts to delegitimize Tinubu’s electoral victory in 2027 were baseless and lacking in merit.

He emphasized the need for constructive dialogue and cooperation to address the challenges facing Northern Nigeria, rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.

Matawalle urged the NEF to refrain from actions that undermine the unity and progress of the nation, emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusive political discourse for the benefit of all Nigerians.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Joshua Rogers, a reporter for Channels Television, has been liberated after a harrowing abduction from his residence in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor area of Rivers State.  

His release, occurring around 10 p.m. on Friday, came unscathed, less than 24 hours after his capture on Thursday. 

Confirming his freedom, his colleague Charles Oporum shared the relieving news late Friday, stating, “Yes, he has been released about an hour ago, and has reunited with his family.” 

The television station’s management also affirmed Rogers’ safe return in a succinct statement, expressing gratitude to viewers and well-wishers for their concern during the distressing incident. 

In a heartwarming video, Rogers can be seen celebrating with his loved ones following his regained freedom.  

However, the circumstances surrounding his release remain shrouded in uncertainty, as it’s unclear whether security forces intervened or if a ransom was paid for his liberation. 

Both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) launched rescue operations during his abduction, underscoring the collaborative efforts to secure his safety.  

Rogers, known as Channels TV’s Government House Correspondent in Port Harcourt, can now breathe a sigh of relief as he reunites with his colleagues and resumes his journalistic endeavors.