Village Head, 5 others killed in fresh Katsina banditry attack
Daddarar village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has been attacked early hours of Thursday by terrorists, killing the village head, five others while abducting another five residents of the community.
The source who informed FirstNigeriaTv of the attack said, “the hoodlums killed Magajin Yangayya, Alhaji Jafaru Rabiu, along with his house help, Mansir Danye, and five others before disappearing with five persons to their hideout.”
Confirming the attack, SP Isah Gambo, spokesman of Katsina Police Command said five people were killed, including the village head while one person is still missing.”
While narrating the ordeal, Isah said: “Bandits, carrying sophisticated weapons, invaded the village around 11:30 pm (Wednesday) shooting sporadically. SP Isah attributed the recent surge in attack experienced in the state to the ongoing military operations in Sokoto and Zamfara which is causing the criminals to flee to Katsina.
However, he assured that security operatives are working round the clock to see how to contain them.”
Delta offers financial assistance to fire victims
Delta State government, yesterday, presented financial assistance to 300 victims of rainstorm and fire disaster in Oshimili South, Oshimili North, Warri South and Ndokwa West local government areas of the state.
It would be recalled that sometime in 2021, there were fire incidents in Umuagu Quarters of Asaba (Oshimili South), Umualo Quarters of Ibusa (Oshimili North) Ikpara in Warri, and Windstorm in Abbi (Ndokwa West).
Handing over the relief assistance to the victims in Asaba, Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Johnbull Edema, commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for approving and disbursing funds for the intervention.
Edema who was flanked by the Director of State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, stressed that the financial assistance given to beneficiaries were not intended to serve as compensation for their losses, ‘’but a way of identifying with the victims and cushioning the effects of the disaster.
Group begs Buhari, NASS to recall 4,500 sacked soldiers
Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, a rights group in Niger Delta, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and National Assembly to prevail on the Chief of Army Staff to recall the 4,500 soldiers dismissed for various offences in the North-East without allegedly following due process.
National President of IPDI, Austin Ozobo, said in a statement: “We have also discovered that some of these soldiers were sacked based on religious, tribal and regional sentiments without due process.
“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to look into this situation, take a second look at the offences of these dismissed soldiers in the North-East from 2013 till date on theirs merit and those soldiers with minor offences and others dismissed without due process be called back to the Army service.
RRS stops young girl from jumping into Lagoon
Officials of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on patrol of 3rd Mainland Bridge on Thursday afternoon stopped girl from committing suicide by jumping into the lagoon.
The young girl was attempting to jump into the lagoon outward Iyana Oworo end of the bridge when the officers restrained her. The lady in a light conversation revealed that “I was beaten at home, that is why I ran away to commit suicide”.
FirstNigeriaTv gathered that the officers’ attention was drawn to the lady by a dispatch rider before racing to the scene to restrain her from jumping into the lagoon.
She has been conveyed to Iyana Oworo Police division, where efforts are in progress to contact family members.
Enugu community raises alarm over kidnapped Monarch, other killings
The Ozalla Development Union, ODU, in Nkanu West local government area of Enugu state has expressed concern over the kidnap and disappearance of one of the community’s traditional rulers, HRH Igwe Don Nwochi of Etiti-Ozalla autonomous community since December 24 2021.
The community said it has been bedevilled by many security breaches such as the killing of one of its mothers, late Mrs Monica Okwuibe, who was murdered in Anambra state; and the killing of a breadwinner, Mr Sunday Igwe on a Monday morning at Agbani Road, Enugu.
Arising from a crucial/emergency meeting at Amigbo village square, the President General of ODU, Chief CNN Nwagbara, also stated that there have been major security issues in Ozalla, such as burglary, housebreaking and stealing brought about by the emerging urban status of the community.
Nwagbara called on the security agencies, the government of Anambra state and legislators of all cadres to ensure that justice is served on the killing of Mrs Okwuibe.
Rivers residents rendered homeless as govt demolishes shanties
No fewer than 1,000 residents of Rivers State have been rendered homeless, following the demolition of houses in over nine waterfronts by the state government.
The affected areas include waterfronts in Abba, Elechi, Nnanka, Uruala, Affikpo, Ojike, Akuzu, Egede, Soku, streets in Diobu area of Port Harcourt City Local Government.
The state government had notified the residents of the waterfronts on its plans to demolish the areas, citing sale of illegally refined petroleum products as reason for the demolition.
Eight days later, the state government stormed the area with two bulldozers and fully armed security operatives to implement the order. As at the time of this report the areas mentioned have been fully razed down with residents left seeking shelter in people’s verandas and corridors.
Sowunmi says Atiku is PDP’s best choice for 2023 elec
Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and spokesperson of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, says in this exclusive interview that for PDP to stand a chance of winning the 2023 Presidential election; it must hand its ticket to a tested leader in the mould of Atiku, rather than a political greenhorn.
“Atiku understands how to manage power, Atiku understands and had gone through the rigors of how administrative civil service procedures ought to work and should work.
Atiku understands how to bring deliberate steps and actions to create big ripple effects that can impact an economy and make life far more abundant to the people.
And you must be persuaded by the fact that but for Obasanjo/Atiku years, Nigeria doesn’t seem to have had any major high points on the overall composite assessment of how life has been in the democracy.” He said.
Feb 26 National Convention: APC finally writstINEC
The Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has finally written the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, notifying it of its national convention slated for February 26.
There had been speculations that some political hawks within the party were scheming to shift the convention.
However, in the letter dated February 2 and jointly signed by Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, the party said it would go ahead with its national convention on the said day.
FG uncovers 96 persons, 424 supporters, 123 companies, 33 Forex suppliers tied to terrorism financing
The Federal Government has identified no fewer than 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.
In addition, the administration through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has identified424associates/supporters of the financiers as well as 123 companies and 33 bureaux de change, which aid and abet terrorism financing.
Besides, the work of the NFIU has led to the identification of 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven co-conspirators.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohamed, who gave the figures at a news conference in Abuja, said the feat was achieved between 2020 and 2021, signifying the seriousness of the administration’s fight against corruption. He also praised the effort of the administration in identifying and plugging loopholes of financial haemorrhage.
Edo Lawmakers pass LGA Amendment Bill
Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill to amend the State Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Law 2000.
The passage of the bill was sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the House Committee on Local Government by the House, yesterday, in Benin.
The new law provided that directors at the local government service would henceforth be at par with their counterparts in the state civil service on Grade Level 17.
The new law also provides that the Heads of Service of local government administration shall be integrated into the consolidated salary grade equivalent to that of permanent secretaries in the state civil service.
