Just In: Titan Trust Acquires Union Bank

Titan Trust Bank (TTB) has become the majority shareholder in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.

This followed an agreement by Union Global Partners Limited, Atlas Mara Limited and other majority shareholders to divest 88.39 percent shareholding in Union Bank to‬ TTB.

The new bank bought the shareholding from Union Global Partners Limited, though the deal is subject to obtaining applicable regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of certain conditions precedent.

Union Bank of Nigeria plc in a statement issued on Thursday by the company Secretary, Somuyiwa Sonubi, confirmed the development.

Gunmen Storms Mosque, Abduct Worshippers In Taraba

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked a Mosque at Tella town in Gassol local government area of Taraba State.

It was gathered that the attack which was carried out on Wednesday evening while worship was ongoing in the mosque, led to the abduction of at least four worshippers.

The gunmen, numbering about 12, reportedly invaded the Mosque with sophisticated weapons during Isha’i prayers and whisked the victims to an unknown destination.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Usman Abdullahi confirmed the attack.

30 people test positive for Lassa Fever in Bauchi

Thirty persons from six local government areas of Bauchi State have tested positive to Lassa fever in what seems a resurgence of the disease in the state.

The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, disclosed this while interacting with journalists on the current situation of the disease and other issues of primary health care services held at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in Bauchi.

According to him, the 30 persons whose results were positive were part of those samples taken across the state. The chairman informed that between January and December this year, a total of 153 probable cases of Lassa fever were recorded in the state. Out of this figure, 136 were randomly tested with eight people confirmed dead.

The BASPHCDA boss, however, assured that the state government is taking all necessary medical and preventive measures with a view to ensuring safety of the people of the state. He added that the agency is waiting for intervention from the state governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to procure more drugs and injectables to tackle the disease in order to ensure that it is prevented from spreading to other parts of the state.

Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Announces Separation From Ooni of Ife

The wife of Ooni of Ife, Olori Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, has divorced her husband, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The monarch’s wife, in a post on her Instagram page, said she will no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife but as the Queen of the people and mother of my adorable Prince.”

While she cleared misconceptions about their marriage, she explained that she tried to make her marriage work and smiled through the struggle, but realised that she had just one assignment which is her son.

Nigerian troops arrests 16 migrant bandits, wipe out scores in Benue, Nasarawa

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States arrested sixteen migrant bandits from the Niger Republic.

It also said the bandits were arrested in different operations across the North Central region of the country.

Bernard Onyeuko, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-General, made this known while providing an update on military operations across Nigeria between December 9 and 23 in Abuja.

The General said twelve criminals were neutralized, while 26 criminal elements, including sixteen migrant bandits from the Niger Republic, were arrested. He further said sixteen different types of arms and 61 different calibres of ammunition were recovered, while thirteen kidnapped civilians were rescued during the operations.

Yuletide: NSCDC position 1200 operatives in Akwa Ibom

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday positioned 1,200 operatives to ensure adequate protection of critical government infrastructures in Akwa Ibom State for hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Abidemi Majekodunmi, the Commandant of NSCDC, stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Uyo, the state capital.

He said that strategic locations like the Tropicana Complex, playgrounds, recreational centres, Christmas Village, Ibom Plaza, major worship centres would be patrolled to forestall the perpetration of criminal acts.

The Commandant enjoined Akwa Ibom residents to remain vigilant all through the celebration and beyond and promptly report any form of infraction and breach of peace to the nearest security agency.

Festive celebrations: FCT Minister assures Abuja residents of safety

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory have been assured of their safety during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The assurance was given by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, following the monthly FCT Security Committee meeting held on Tuesday.

Speaking after the last meeting of the year, Aliyu said the G7 (states contiguous to the FCT) were working in synergy to ensure a hitch-free celebration in the nation’s capital and across the zone.

On the increasing number of COVID-19 cases especially as the celebrations commence, Dr Tijjani Aliyu urged residents to abide by all the non-pharmaceutical intervention measures as put in place by the NCDC, which includes hand washing facial coverings and physical distancing.

Explosion hits Maiduguri as President Buhari pay official visits to Borno

No fewer than three explosions on Thursday rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit, Channels TV reports.

Details of the incidents, which occurred a few hours before Buhari’s visit to the state, are currently sketchy.

President Buhari had been scheduled to commission an edifice donated by Mohammed Indimi to the University of Maiduguri.

He is also expected to commission some projects executed by the Borno State Government.

Yuletide: Police position over 5,000 operatives to worship centres, others in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command on Thursday said it has positioned 5,325 operatives to highways, worship centres, recreation places, critical government infrastructures, public and private facilities across the state ahead of the yuletide.

In a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, ASP Ramhan Nansel, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Adesina Soyemi, said a robust, comprehensive and elaborate security arrangement has been put in place throughout the state to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the period.

The CP warned all police personnel to be civil, polite, compassionate and firm in carrying out their duties without compromise. It added that intense surveillance and intelligence gathering will be maintained during the period and beyond.

The commissioner implored members of the public, particularly travellers and other road users to cooperate with operatives deployed on visibility policing and crime prevention patrols. He further enjoined the people of the state to be security conscious, vigilant and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest police station.

INEC Promotes 1,985 Staff Nationwide

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promoted 1,985 staff.across the country.

An INEC bulletin Volume 2 No. 168, published on Wednesday evening, said the promotion comes on the heels of the 2021 promotion examination and evaluation carried out by the Commission.

A breakdown of the figure indicates that 12 Deputy Directors on Grade Level (GL) 16 were promoted to the post of Directors on Grade Level 17, while 78 Assistant Directors on GL15 were elevated to the position of Deputy Directors on GL 16.

The Promotion was based on the 2021 promotion examination and evaluation carried out by the Commission.

Police Nabs 4 Yahoo Boys For Allegedly Killing Friend In Ogun