Category: News

The President of Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Comrade Muhamad Tahir, has been summoned by the Department of State Security (DSS), and presently being questioned at the headquarters, Abuja over the ongoing strike by the Union.

The General Secretary of the Union, Ahmed Alaramma, disclosed this at a press conference, held at the Labour House, where they kicked against alleged suppression of their members and task force put in place to enforce the strike action on the major roads.

Alaramma said from the report received on the strike, their task force is being intimidated by the Army, adding that they were surprised by this development because they wrote to all the security agencies, including the Army and the Presidency before the commencement of the strike.

He stated that they were invited by the DSS on Monday morning, and “our president is with the DSS presently, and as we speak, he is being questioned at the DSS headquarters.”

He said their members are being molested, adding, “we rejected what the Nigerian Army has done to our task force. We assure our members across the country that our strike goes on. We will never give up.”

He regretted that the Federal Government has not invited them for negotiation, but added that the Kogi State Government invited them.

Alaramma also spoke of multiple taxations of their members and extortion by security agencies, the Army, Police, and various forms of hoodlums on the major road.

He pointed out that before a truckload of cows from Adamawa gets to its destination in the South-West, South-East or South-South, he would have spent about N250,000 to extortion.

The military and other security agencies have reported the killing of 10 residents in Zangon Kataf and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday.

The statement disclosed that Kurmin Gandu village was attacked in Zangon Kataf by the armed bandits, saying five persons killed.

The names of the deceased were – Ishaya Aboi, Regina Ishaya, Goodluck Dauda, Joseph Adamu and Hassan Joseph.

In addition, the statement revealed that 10 houses, two motorcycles and 50 bags of ginger were set ablaze.

“Some dry season farmers lost water pumping machines and other valuables around the Zango Urban general area.”

According to the statement some survivors of the attack are recuperating in hospital.

“In addition, it took the military hours to contain what would have resulted in further violence in the general area.”

Similarly, security agencies reported that armed bandits attacked Sabon Gayan village in Chikun Local Government Area and killed the following four persons: Ashahabu Abubakar Ado Rilwanu, Sabo Iliya and Mannaseh Matthias Danjuma

As of the time of this update, troops of Operation Thunder Strike are combing identified criminal hideouts in the Sabon Gayan area, following reports that several bandits sustained bullet wounds.

In another incident, bandits attacked Ungwan Turai, also in Chikun Local Government Area, and killed one, Ayuba Waziri.

Receiving the reports, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness at the attacks, and sent his condolences to the families of those killed, while praying for the repose of their souls. He also wished those injured a quick recovery.

It is said that the greatest gift a man can give to his maker, God Almighty our creator is the gift of Thanksgiving, praise and worship.

On Sunday being 28th of February 2021, Colleagues, Friends, and Allies of Rt. Hon. Paul Osondu Nnajiofor (Ononaenyi of Nkanu Land) Member representing Nkanu East Constituenvy & Chairman Housr Committee on Rural Dev & CSDP a and members of his family, Colleagues, friends, Political Associates and well wishers accompanied him to Assemblies of God Church New Haven Enugu State, to offer sacrifice of Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship to God Almighty who helped him to CONQUER Mr. DEATH late last year when he suffered an uknown Life Threatening Illness, surgeries and critical indisposition year between November 2020 and January 2021

Ononaenyi JP and family arrived to the Church at about 10:15 am for the Thanksgiving service. Before his arrival, different groups who came for him were already waiting, such as Ononaenyi support group, Nkanu East LGA PDP Women wing in their gorgeous attire, Ononaenyi Media Team, Nkanu East Restoration Movement,, . NYA, Owo Intergrity group, Global Citizens Forum, etc.

The Church service commenced at about 10: 30 am with songs of worship and later proceeds to praises and after which the word of God as sermon of the day was preached.

Ononaenyi and his family members were accompanied by his Colleagues, Friends and Allies with his materials of Thanksgiving and offering to the altar where they were laid and offered to the glory of God.

At this point, a brief testimony was said by Ononaenyi’s wife who were full of praises to God Almighty for sparing the life of her husband when his health challenge was sever and frightening. Among other things she said on the mercy and love of God towards his family, she returned all praises to God and all those God used in restoring her husband’s health

In his own remarks Hon Nnajiofor Ononaenyi himself narrated his frighetening experience and encounter with Death in 7 weeks. “, I am so glad, delighted and thankful to God Almighty for miraculously sparing my life that I am standing on my feet today even here at the altar of the Mighty one to offer my sacrifice of praise to God Almighty who stood by me to conquer Mr. death when it came to take me away”. He went further to narrate the pains he went through from late year November 2020 to January 2021, how some growths in the Lumbasacral region of his body just that came from no where and almost killed him.. Explaining further that the growths almost paralyzed his legs hence the Peri anal surgeries after moving from one hosital to another.

He said that it got a point on one horrifying night that he saw Mr. Death eye ball to eye and death was dragging him but he courageously even unconsciously rebuked death to leave him alone for he is not yet ready to die as he has a lot of assignments yet unfulfilled. According to him, “at some point my children were asking me, daddy do you want to die? Please daddy don’t die please”. He enumerated the number of Pastors that went into chain fasting and praying sessions for his full recovery. He concluded by saying that his full recovery is miraculously divine as God ministered to him that he is saving him for him to continue the good humaniterian works of supporting the less privileged in his Constituency, the widows and the poorest of the poor as he has been doing since he was given the people’s mandate to represent and serve them in Enugu State House of Assembly. He Ononaenyi called on others who are holding public offices on behalf of the people to give back to the people in whose mandate they are where they are today. He promised to continue to do the assignment of serving humanity with whatever blessing God bestows on him

He appreciated his wife, family, Colleagues doctors, Pastors, and prayer partners God used to restore his health. Ononaenyi poured showers of praise on the Governor of Enugu State Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi for his concern, support and encouragement which also played a vital role in his full recovery, and secondly, Ugwuanyi’s leadership strides at all fronts in Enugu State. He also appreciated his immediate Boss, the Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chief. Edward Ubosi aka Ozege for his, concern, support, Solidarity and
prayers during his health challenge and other times.

He appreciated all his colleagues for being there for him all through his health ordeal.

He summed up his Thanksgiving Service with gift of envelops and wrapper clothes to some committed members of the Church and the less privileged in the Church too

Thanksgiving Train moved straight to Ononaenyi’s home at GRA where people were treated with varieties of food, drinks, gift items in a well organised and massvely attended reception.

tI is important to note that more than fifteen (15) of political, social cultural, and Faith based Christian groups including the Men, s Ministeries of his Church AGC were in attendance of this Thanksgiving program organized by the People’s Leader, Ononaenyi of Nkanu Land in appreciation of God’s unconditional love in sparing his life.

The traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Michael Okekeuche has called for calm as tensions continues to rise over land grabbing activities of some individuals in the community.

In a statement, Igwe Okekeuche told members of the community that the state government and security agencies had already being briefed on the current situation, assuring that those who had taken laws into their hands in order to throw the peaceful town into crisis as an opportunity to hijack people’s lands would not succeed.

“We need to mobilize all available resources to develop a shared, strategic approach to a life of dignity for all, no single sector, no individual, no organ in our town, can alone deal with the complex problems and challenges we face in our community today but rather all hands must be on deck.

“Conflicts arise for one simple reason of putting personal interest, aspiration and needs beyond the interest and needs of others. There seems to be a competition in brutality of which we have seen  horrific examples in the last few weeks.

“The aim of the actors is, in my own view, is to incite fear in our community and divisions among people in order to carry on in their illicit grabbing and selling of lands unhindered.

Also the leadership of E.B.U led by Nzekwesi Ndubuisi Obijiofor in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Okoye urged the people to stand up and be counted among those who are determined to  fight against disunity in the community.

He called for sensitization of the youths to shun restiveness and embrace peace as the matter has been officially reported to the appropriate authorities.

The leadership admonished people to desist from taking laws into their own hands noting that “the current leadership is  focussing on the benefit of a non-violent uprising, which is the cornerstone of our belief.

“Unequivocally, no crime committed against the land will go unpunished, as a wide consultation on the possibility of summoning for an emergency stakeholder’s meeting to further deepen our efforts in restoring peace and normalcy in our community.

Sources within the community revealed that trouble started when a group from the community decided to subvert the laid down rules by the community on the sale of lands.

The group led by Mr Izuchukwu Okekeonyeocha and Chidi Okoye decided to discard the rules and guidelines of the community and continued the sale of lands, an action which ran foul of the laws of the community.

It was also learnt that when the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Mike Okekeuche intervened alongside the President General of the community, Hon. Ndubusi Obijiofor, the group of land sellers protested and threatened to violently deal with them.

Another indigene who didn’t want to be mentioned for fear of retribution explained that the traditional ruler and caretaker chairman of the town union had put in place processes for any land sales because of many cases of illegal sales of individual and community lands but a group of individuals opposed it.

According to him, “these chaps mobilized some disgruntled youths in the town and started attacking all perceived opponents. Even the Caretaker Chairman was waylaid and beaten up in the presence of Army personnel that he brought in to quell the ugly situation. Now they claimed that they have installed a new PG and Igwe.

Alleged international fraudster, Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi has contracted the services of a top-rated criminal defence lawyer, Loius Shapiro.

The top lawyer will represent him over fraud-related and money laundering charges in the United States. This followed the withdrawal of Gal Pissetzky and Vicki Podberesky, his former attorneys.

It was reported how the duo withdrew after months of negotiations with the U.S. government.

Recall that Mr Pissetzky, a top Chicago lawyer was initially hired to defend the 37-year-old but was later retained as a record counsel due to the transfer of Mr. Abass to Los Angeles and the lawyer’s inability to practice outside Chicago. As a result, Ms Podberesky, a California-based criminal defense lawyer, was hired as his local council.

In the application dated January 21, Mr Pissetzky, who claimed to have been negotiating with the government over the case, said Mr Abass suddenly stopped communicating with him.

“Since Mr Abbas’ arrest and arrival in the Central District of California, I have received voluminous discovery from the government and have been diligently reviewing it and investigating the allegations in this matter.

“My communications with Mr Abbas are by telephone given my inability to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles due to the pandemic. Ms Podberesky, as local counsel, has made several visits to see Mr Abbas at the Santa Ana Jail and has also communicated with him by telephone,” he said.

Their request was, however, granted on February 22 and an order was issued in that regard.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of nine persons in a motor accident at Kunar Dumawa in Dambatta Local Government Area of Kano State on Sunday.

FRSC Sector Commander, Zubairu Mato, while confirming the accident in a statement issued on Sunday, said that 41 others were injured in the Sunday evening accident.

“We received a call at about 4:10 p.m. on Sunday.

“On receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our personnel and vehicle to the scene of the incident for the rescue of the victims at about 4:17 p.m. as well as clearing the obstructions,” Mato said.

He said that the crash occurred as a result of the loss of control due to brake failure.

According to him, the accident involved three vehicles, a truck with registration number XA 111 SNN; a Volkswagen Golf 3 with registration number DAL 515 ZX; and a Mercedes Benz without registration number.

“The victims who lost their lives are three males, six females, while the remaining 41 victims sustained serious injures,” he said.

The road safety boss said that the victims were evacuated to Dambatta General Hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed nine dead.

The 41 other victims, he said, are currently receiving treatment at the hospital

The Police Command in Anambra says it has recovered one pump action rifle allegedly stolen from 3-3 Police Station during the #EndSARS protests in the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Haruna Mohammed, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Awka, said that the rifle was recovered from a 20-year-old suspect.

He said that the suspect was arrested on Feb. 21 at about 11:30 am., in collaboration with local vigilance group, at Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, following an intelligence report.

Mohammed said that six other armed robbery suspects were arrested in separate operations, where firearms and ammunitions were equally recovered from them.

He said a 25-year-old man, who was arrested for allegedly stealing a Toyota Corolla 2005 model in Abuja, had been handed over to the FCT Police Command for further investigation.

He said two other suspects, both of 3-3 area near Onitsha, were also arrested on Feb. 21, inside a residential apartment in Okija.

Mohammed said two pump action rifles and 11cartridges, which they could not give satisfactory account of, were recovered from them.

The police spokesman said another 22-year-old suspect, of Ochuche Village, Umuodo in Ogbaru Local Government area, was arrested with a cut-to-size locally- made double barrel gun on Feb. 22.

“On Feb. 23, Puff Adder operatives, in conjunction with a patrol team attached to Otoucha Division, responded to a distress call around Igbariam and arrested a 29-year-old suspect.

“The suspect allegedly robbed a lady of her handset and other valuables at gunpoint.

“He voluntarily confessed and exhibits recovered from his possession included three phones, one pump action rifle, one cartridge and one unregistered motorcycle used in perpetrating the act,” Mohammed said.

He said that a police patrol team arrested a suspect on Feb. 26, at about 12:30 am., following an intelligence report and recovered from him one English-made pistol and a magazine.

Mohammed said that eight suspected cultists were also arrested by operatives attached to the command’s Special Anti-Cult Unit, during a secret cult initiation on Feb. 24 and Feb. 26.

He said that the suspects were members of Payton Confraternity.

The police spokesman said that the police equally arrested three other suspects, who, he said, voluntarily confessed to be members of Vikings Confraternity.

He said that exhibits recovered from them included one axe and a beret.

According to him, all cases are under investigation, after which the suspects will be charged to court.

The Deputy Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Dare Kadiri, has been detained at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta Ogun State.

It was gathered that Kadiri was detained on Friday morning for gross misconduct.

It was learnt that the deputy speaker had been struggling with some powerbrokers in the state chapter of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and even sued the state House of Assembly on some undisclosed issues.

A source in Eleweran who refused to give details of his charges told SaharaReporters that the lawmaker might be unable to successfully handle the allegations, which were described as capable of destroying his political career.

The source said, “The Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly has been arrested and detained here. He was arrested for gross misconduct which I cannot tell you. I hope he gets over it soon but the case is very tough,” he said.

Meanwhile, 20 out of 26 lawmakers of the House have signed the impeachment letter of the embattled deputy speaker.

The impeachment letter obtained by SaharaReporters, titled, “Notice of removal of Deputy Speaker, Hon Dare Kadiri from office for gross misconduct”, identified insubordination as one of his alleged offences.

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has been honoured at the 9th edition of the African Leadership Person of the Year Awards.

At the ceremony which held vitually today, Jonathan was honoured with the award for “African Peace and Security Leader of the Year 2020”.

Sharing the exciting news on Facebook on Friday, the former president wrote:

“Today, at the 9th edition of the African Leadership Person of the Year Awards, I was honoured as the African Peace and Security Leader of the Year 2020. I thank African Leadership Magazine for recognising my modest contributions to peace in Africa. – GEJ“