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Gunmen on kidnap mission kill two police officers in Anambra

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Gunmen on kidnap mission kill two police officers in Anambra

Two Police personnel were shot dead by suspected assailants at Uga roundabout, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, on Thursday evening.

The gunmen, said to be on a kidnap mission, were operating in the area when a team of policemen attached to a motorcade but unaware of their presence ran into them.

The Policemen were trying to clear the traffic gridlock, but the armed men who sensed danger, shot two of them dead and fled the scene after a duel following response from other personnel.

Meanwhile, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, has directed an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

DSP Toochulwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Command who disclosed this in a statement, said the gunmen were disguised in military fatigue.

Ikenga said Police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations promptly responded to the scene.

He said a Lexus SUV the gang used, and AK-47 RIFLE belonging to one of the slain personnel were recovered while an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was recovered and defused.

According to him, they opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the motorcade they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock, other personnel returned fire forcing the bandits to flee.

“The CP Aderemi Adeoye had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all officers and men in the command, he commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.

“The CP has urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant while assuring that technology would be employed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on Police personnel,” he said.

Ikenga reported the CP as urging personnel in the command no to be demoralised by the supreme price paid by their colleagues but draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.

The CP condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel would not die in vain.

Adeoye called for calm and encouraged the people of Anambra not to allow the incident to create fear in their minds but to continue with various activities they had slated for the yuletide season.

Zamfara government pays workers ’13th month’ salary

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Zamfara government pays workers ’13th month’ salary

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has approved the payment of “13th month salaries” to state and local government workers as part of a welfare package for citizens.

Head of Service Ahmed Liman made the disclosure in a circular issued out to public in Gusau on Friday.

The circular directed the Ministry of Finance to effect the payment of 13th month salary without delay to all workers across the state.

Highlighting the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, said the remarkable gesture was the first of its kind in the state’s history.

According to him, the decision aligns with the state government’s commitment to the welfare of workers and to motivate the workforce to high performance.

“Today, Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the payment of end of year bonuses to public and civil servants in State.

“This kind gesture is meant to boost the workers’ morale and provide them financial support during the holiday season.

“This move is a testament of Gov Lawal’s desire to implement policies that will enhance working conditions, increase salaries, and provide career advancement opportunities to government workers.

“The payment of the 13th-month salary is just one of many initiatives aimed at empowering workers and promoting economic growth in the state.”

We’ll maintain N3,500 cement price starting January 2024 — BUA

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We’ll maintain N3,500 cement price starting January 2024 — BUA

Alhaji Abdul-Samad Rabiu, Chairman of the BUA Group, said that the company would maintain its promise of selling cement at the price of N3,500 starting January 2024.

He said this while speaking with State House Correspondents after a visit to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Lagos.

He said the company would also make the product accessible and affordable to customers in spite of various challenges.

“You know the price that we have set will be N3,500 per bag. You know x factory of course plus VAT and then delivered to customers depending on the region.

“As you know, the factories that we have; one is in Edo, the other one is in Sokoto state. So for example, if you want us to deliver cement to you from Sokoto say to Lagos from Adamawa or to Maiduguri, the distance is quite far.

“So dependent on the distance and dependent on the location. You know the price changes but we intend to keep that promise,” he said.

Rabiu added that the cement company site in Sokoto that would be inaugurated by January 2024 is expected to further expand the market across the country.

“And as we all know, the volumes that we will be having will be about six million tonnes per annum combined. And we expect those volumes to have an impact.

“Though we’re having some issues here and there, but these are issues that I believe we can address and we are addressing them.”

Rabiu said his visit to the President was to felicitate with him on the Christmas and New Year festivities, adding that it was a pleasant one.

“It is always quite good to see them when they are relaxed and you know, I am pleased to say that his excellency looked very relaxed, well rested and also in good spirits,” BUA chief said.

Banditry: Zamfara government again closes 11 cattle markets

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Banditry: Zamfara government again closes 11 cattle markets

Zamfara State Government has again closed down eleven cattle markets across the state until further notice.

The State Commissioner of Information, Munnir Haidara, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Gusau on Thursday.

He said that security reports showed that bandits were using those markets to sell their rustled cows.

The affected markets, according to the commissioner, include Tsafe and Bilbis markets in Tsafe Local Government Area, Jangebe market in Talata-Mafara LGA, and Wuya market in Anka area.

Other markets were Magazine Diddi market in Maradun LGA, Galadi market in Shinkafi LGA, Mada market in Gusau LGA, and Sabon Birnin Danali in Birnin Magaji LGA.

The rest are Kokiya, Chigama, and Nasarawar Godel markets all in Birnin Magaji LGA.

Haidara said the state government found it necessary to close down those markets due to security reports that the bandits are conniving with some unscrupulous elements to sell off their rustled cows in those markets.

He said that the state government had directed the security agents to ensure total compliance and arrest any person who violated the order.

“The security personnel have since been directed to arrest any person found in these affected markets,” he added.

He called on the people of the state to abide by the order and cooperate with the state government in its efforts to rid the state of banditry.

Yuletide: NRC transported 63,000 passengers for free in 7 days — Director

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Yuletide: NRC transported 63,000 passengers for free in 7 days — Director

The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria, has said that the corporation moved over 63,000 passengers on the free train rides across the country between December 21 and December  26.

Okhiria said this during the end-of-the-year media interactive session held in Lagos on Thursday.

He commended the Federal Government for coming up with the free train ride for 15 days, adding that over 63,000 passengers had benefited so far from the initiative on all its routes.

Okhiria encouraged people to get involved in government initiatives through the online platform, especially during and after the festive period.

He also said the corporation was working on some rolling stocks, to increase number of coaches and trips from Lagos to Ibadan, amongst other routes.

The managing director said that the corporation was partnering with various organisations on its freight as well as ensuring safety of its tracks.

“Our Minister has given us an assignment to ensure that we are able to move the passengers and freight train between Lagos and Kano.

“We are working on it in-house and we are trying our best to ensure we complete the tracks by the end of December.

” As we speak, a locomotive and wagon have arrived in Minna successfully, and by Saturday, Dec. 30, will be able to move the wagon to Kaduna.

“We have also moved the wagon from Kano to Kaduna. We have some security challenges close to Kaduna; luckily, the military and police are supporting us to ensure that we are able to complete the track between Minna and Kaduna in the next five days,” Okhiria said.

He said the corporation would begin skeletal service round the track and commence train movement in the northern part of the country by January.

Okhiria said that they had issues with vandalism, adding that they just replaced the vandalised clipper between Mokua and Kano on Wednesday.

“We had an issue with Warri-Itakpe track earlier the year, we were able to recover, and now we have commenced full operation along the axis,” he said.

He said that laying of tracks from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri was  ongoing.

“The contractor told me that in 15 days time, the track between Port-Harcourt and Aba will be ready.

” The technical department are working on the rolling track, by the time we occupy the track, it will not be easy to vandalise again,” he said.

Okhiria said that NRC planned to increase the turn around time of the Standard Gauge train between Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe and Abuja-to Kaduna in 2024.

He said that there was no increase in train fare before and after the subsidy removal as the government ensured they gave succour to Nigerians.

Okhiria said that the Federal Government was supportive of the corporation in ensuring more train patronage.

He said that train was the cheapest and safest means of transportation.

“The free train that we are running now, government is providing money for fuel, security and other logistics to ensure we meet the demands of Nigerians during the festive period,” Okhiria said.

How Rivers governor, Siminalayi, conspired with Wike to kill me — Asari-Dokubo

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How Rivers governor, Siminalayi, conspired with Wike to kill me — Asari-Dokubo

Ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has alleged the Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, connived with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike to “kill” him during the 2023 election.

Dokubo said this during a recent Facebook Live.

The Ijaw nationalist, however, said although he antagonised Fubara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general elections, he would not support the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against the Rivers governor.

He warned that anyone who wants to take the mandate given to Governor Siminalayi Fubara by Rivers state people would be dealt with.

Dokubo said that anybody who wants to take the mandate from Governor Fubara “would go down”.

He said, “I was not a supporter of Sim. Sim was even my enemy. He conspired with Wike to see that I am killed. I’m not dead, I’m still walking. But I told my friend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the truth. I said you want to make Ijaws enemy because of Wike, okay; my hand no dey o.’

“I am an Ijaw man. There are two things that I cannot compromise on the surface of this earth – my Ijaw heritage and my Islam. Anybody who wants to take that mandate from Sim would go down because I know my Ijaw people. You know our capacity very well. It is no mouth.”

I was born blind, Nigerian singer, Chidinma Ekile reveals

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I was born blind, Nigerian singer, Chidinma Ekile reveals

Chidinma Ekile, the popular Nigerian gospel singer, has made a stunning revelation.

She revealed that she was born blind but with the fervency of her mother’s prayer, she overcame it.

The singer disclosed that when she was born without the capacity to open her eyes, her parents faced a major obstacle.

Chidinma claims that despite their best efforts medically, her parents were unable to induce her to open her eyes.

She said that they prayed to God, adding that while her mother didn’t anticipate a miracle, she began a strict prayer and fasting regimen.

She noted that her vision was miraculously restored after intense fasting and prayer.

Chidinma said she was able to open her eyes and revealed that there was a bright crimson colour.
She claimed that during her mother’s prayers, she made a vow to return her to God if He could grant her sight.

She stated: “I was born blind, I didn’t open my eyes at all. Of course that became a challenge. My parents tried all they could to get this baby to see, everything they tried medically proved abortive and we had to resort to God.

“My mum became a prayer warrior, she started praying and fasting from nowhere. Not like she believed that would work but I eventually opened my eyes which was such a miracle. The eyes were so red, I mean blood red. According to my mum, she has promised to give me back to God if God could help her solve that problem, so that’s where the church comes in.”

Teenager dies after being attacked by shark in South Australia

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Teenager dies after being attacked by shark in South Australia

A 14-year-old teenager on Thursday died after being attacked by a shark in South Australia on Thursday, police said.

South Australian police said that they responded to a report of a shark attack off Ethel Beach near Innes National Park on the south-west tip of Yorke Peninsula near Adelaide at 1:30 pm (0300 GMT).

“Sadly the body of a teenage boy was recovered from the water,’’police later said in an update, after previously reporting that one person was believed to have been “seriously injured.

Broadcaster ABC reported.

At the time of the attack, he had been some 40 metres off the coast of Ethel Beach, a popular surfing spot, according to local media.

This was the third fatal shark attack in the state of South Australia this year.

A 55-year-old man died in October after being attacked while surfing near Granites Beach, on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

A 46-year-old surfer was also believed to have died in a shark attack near Elliston, some 100 kilometres south of Granites Beach in May. His body was never recovered.(dpa/NAN)

Autopsy result delaying Mohbad’s death investigation — Police

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Autopsy result delaying Mohbad’s death investigation — Police

The Lagos State Police Command has said it will not do guesswork in the investigation of the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in an interview with Punch on Thursday, reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy conducted on Mohbad from the pathologists.

Hundeyin was responding to the demands of a civil society organisation, the Take It Back Movement, who during a Thursday press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, sought the conclusion of the investigation into Mohbad’s case.

The Head of the Gender Department of the group, Omolola Pedro, in a press text made available to newsmen, called on the police to “stop the needless delays, make public its findings from the investigation, and protect the rights of the deceased’s wife and child.”

The organisation also feared that prolonged delay in the probe was capable of exposing Mohbad’s wife, Wumi, and child, Liam “to several attacks like cyberbullying, cyberstalking, organised malicious campaigns against their persons, and even physical harassment” alleging that this was “the same fate Mohbad suffered while he was alive.”

Pedro added that the police “must immediately conclude the investigation and make its findings public.”

Reacting when contacted by our correspondent on Thursday, police spokesman Hundeyin said, “We’re not the pathologists who carried out the autopsy.

“When they (the pathologists) give us their report, we’ll conclude our investigation. For now, that’s what we’re waiting for. Except they want us to do guesswork, we can’t guess; we need to get the report and see the content of the result and we don’t have it yet.”

Mohbad’s death on September 12 sparked controversies in Nigeria and beyond which prompted the police to set up an investigative team to determine what led to the singer’s demise.

Hundeyin had tweeted in September that an “autopsy has been concluded” on Mohbad’s corpse and the police were “awaiting result.”

In November, the Lagos police said the autopsy report for Mohbad, conducted months ago had not been given to them.

PHOTO: 54 years old man marries 4-year-old girl in Bayelsa

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PHOTO: 54 years old man marries 4-year-old girl in Bayelsa

A 54-year-old man has reportedly married a 4-year-old minor in the Akeddei community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to reports, the marriage which happened on Tuesday between the minor and the 54-year-old man identified as Elder Akpos was at the instance of the girl’s parents claiming that the man was her husband in their previous life.

Community sources said the girl claimed that the man was her husband, who died mysteriously in their previous life, and that over the years, she has been moving from place to place, to be birthed under different parents, searching for her former husband.

The source said, “The little bride said if she was not allowed to marry her husband, she would have no other business in the Akeddei community, and that she was going to die peacefully and go her way.”

“To avoid losing the girl to death, the people of Akeddei decided to organize a glamorous wedding ceremony to mark the union of the two previous life lovers.”

Kebbi: Maiyama LG chairman, Muhammad-Bello, is dead

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Kebbi: Maiyama LG chairman, Muhammad-Bello, is dead

The Chairman of Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi, Alhaji Zayyanu Muhammad-Bello, is dead.

He was aged 47.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, made the disclosure in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

He said that the chairman died in the early hours of Thursday at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, following a protracted illness.

“Kebbi State Government wishes to use this medium to extend its condolences to his immediate family and the entire people of Maiyama Local Government Area.

“We pray to Almighty Allah to forgive all his shortcomings and grant him Jannatul Firdaus,” he said.

According to the governor’s aide, the late council chairman left behind two wives and three children.

Soldier arrested for killing truck driver in Borno

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Soldier arrested for killing truck driver in Borno

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, has confirmed the arrest of a soldier for allegedly killing a truck driver at a checkpoint along Maiduguri – Dikwa- Gamboru road.

The incident occured following a misunderstanding between the soldier and the truck driver at the checkpoint.

According to reports, the incident, which occurred on Boxing Day, led to a total boycott of the busy border road in protest by commercial drivers leaving many travellers stranded.

Confirming the arrest on Thursday in a statement, Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, the 7 Division Public Relations Officer, said army had commenced investigation after receiving complaint from National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

“Furthermore, engagement has been established with NURTW towards a peaceful resolution of the incident.

“The Division has assured both the family of the deceased and the NURTW of its commitment to ensure that justice is served to the family and no stone would be left unturned in this regard.

“In the Division’s effort towards ensuring that the family of the victim gets justice, the soldier in question has been arrested, and an investigation has commenced.

“It’s also worthy to mention that the Division does not tolerate any form of unprofessional conduct from any personnel as we operate within the ambit of the law.

“The Division wishes to once again reassure the members of the general public that we will remain resolute and professional in the joint effort to tackle insecurity in Borno State,” Jingina said.

Also reacting to the incident, Borno Government through the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said it was following up the matter to ensure justice was done.

“The Government is following up this matter, and will take all necessary measures to ensure that the matter is properly investigated and suspects are prosecuted. Anyone who is found guilty will face the full wrath of the law.

“Meanwhile, the Borno State Government urges the general public and, in particular, members of the Road Transport Workers Union, to maintain patience and decorum while the matter is handled according to the law,” Tar pleaded.

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