Lifestyle, Politics, World News

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has passed on.

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has passed on.
He was 83 years old.
The top Yoruba monarch died in the late hours of Friday, according to palace officials.
Adeyemi died at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

The late Alaafin’s first son, Prince ‘Tunde, and other children had received the monarch’s remains at Idi-Igba, Oyo town early Saturday morning.
Palace sources confirmed that traditional rites had begun without giving details about his burial arrangement yet.

Adeyemi ruled for 52 years before his demise, making him the longest-reigning Alaafin.
By tradition, the head of the Oyomesi, Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, would take over pending the appointment of a new Alaafin.
Basorun is also expected to brief the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, before an official announcement.

The late Alaafin of Oyo was from the Adeyemi branch of the Alowolodu family. He was born on October 15, 1938.
During his late childhood stage, he lived briefly at Iseyin.
Adeyemi III was the son of Oba Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and sent into exile in 1954 for having sympathy for the National Council of Nigerian Citizens.

He succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970 and was crowned on January 14, 1971.
He was a lover of boxing.
Adeyemi’s death came after the demise of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji, who died on December 12, 2021, and January 2, 2022, respectively.

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Driver crushes LASTMA official to death in Lagos

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An official of the Lagos State Traffiic Management Authority (LASTMA) identified as Jamiu Issa has been crushed to death by an unknown driver in Lekki-Ajah area of the state.

Olumide Filade, the spokesperson for the agency, confirmed the development to journalists on Wednesday.

According to him, the driver flouted traffic regulations and rammed into Issa who wanted to apprehend him for the offence.

He noted that the victim was rushed to the hospital where he later gave us the ghost.

“It was reported that Issa was knocked down and run over by the traffic law offender. Issa’s colleague at the scene of the event quickly put a call through to the zonal head while some good Samaritans/eyewitnesses pursued the escaping Sienna driver to the Chevron Waterfront area where he was eventually apprehended and taken first to Ilasan police station, and eventually to Ajiwe police station, under which jurisdiction the event happened for proper investigation.

“The driver of a green Toyota Sienna vehicle, with number plate, FST 901 AR, knocked down and ran over a LASTMA official, Jamiu Issa, who was later confirmed dead, on April 19, 2022.

“The late Issa was said to have approached and accosted the Sienna vehicle driver who was driving against the direction of flow of traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from Chevron towards the Conservation Toll Plaza.

“Also, according to other eyewitnesses’ accounts, the Sienna driver also knocked down another person while trying to escape from the scene before the driver was apprehended.

“At the same time that the above scenario was going on, the fatally injured Issa was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where it was confirmed that he was brought in dead. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of same hospital”, the statement read.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, commiserated with the family of the deceased, stressing that drivers found flouting traffic rules would be seriously dealt with according to the law.

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Man arrested for defiling 10-yr-old neighbour’s daughter for money ritual

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The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man identified as Adeniyi Adeleke, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl for money ritual purposes.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said the incident happened at the Idoani community in Ose Local Government Area of the state.

Odunlami, while parading the suspect at the State Police Command headquarters in Akure on Tuesday, said Adeleke had confessed to the crime that he wanted to use the girl for money ritual while a ring and red clothes were found in his room during a search conducted by the police.

The police spokeswoman said the victim who is the daughter of the suspect’s neighbour, was lured into the suspect’s room where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

According to Odunlami, the secret was revealed when the young victim, having gone through pains, reported the matter to her mother who rushed her to the hospital where it was confirmed that she had been raped.

“On the 16th of April, 2022, at about 2.40 pm, one Bosede Alo, of Idoani reported at the Idoani Division, that sometimes in the month of March 2022, at about 3 pm, one Adeniyi Adeleke, called her 10-year-old daughter to his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

“On receipt of the information, detectives swung into action and arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, he confessed to having committed the crime and that he wanted to use her for money ritual.

“Items recovered are a ring and pieces of red clothes. He will soon be charged to court,” the police image maker said.

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Another batch of 158 Nigerians returns from Libya

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Another batch of 158 Nigerians returned from Libya on Tuesday.

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mustapha Habib, confirmed the development to journalists in Lagos.

Habib said the returnees arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 5:15 p.m. aboard the Al Buraq Air boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG

He was represented at the airport by the Acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye.

The returnees include 83 male adults, 49 female adults, six male and seven female children, with 13 infants (eight male and five female).

He said four of the returnees were brought back with various health challenges.

According to the NEMA chief, the returnees were brought back to the country by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through a voluntary repatriation programme for distressed persons.

The figure brought the number of Nigerians that had returned from the North African nation in the last month to 320.

This followed the evacuation of 162 Nigerians from Libya by the Federal Government on March 15.

Habib said: “They had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated.”

He urged Nigerians to adopt a positive attitude toward life challenges instead of seeking greener pastures in foreign lands.

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Man stabs farmer to death over firewood in Jigawa

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Police operatives in Jigawa have arrested a 25-year-old man, Saminu Muntari, for allegedly stabbing a farmer to death in the state.

The spokesman for the state police command, Lawan Shiisu, who confirmed the development to journalists in Dutse on Monday, said the deceased, Murtala Alhassan, challenged Muntari on April 15 for trespassing into his farm to fetch firewood.

He said the suspect later went to the deceased’s residence and stabbed him with a knife for challenging him over the firewood.

The victim, according to Shiisu, died on the spot.

He said: “On April 16, the District Head of Kwalam Village in Taura Local Government Area informed the police that one Murtala Alhassan of Kaura Village noticed that one Saminu Muntari trespassed into his farmland and cut firewood.

“That Alhassan inquired from Muntari why he cut firewood from his farm without his consent.

“Later in the day, Muntari went to the house of Alhassan and stabbed him with a knife on the right side of his chest as a result of which he died on the spot.

“Muntari also stabbed an eyewitness, Sunusi Nasiru, on his left hand for attempting to apprehend him.”

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Sterling Bank begs Nigerians over ‘provocative’ Agege bread post

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Sterling Bank Plc on Monday night apologized to Nigerians over a provocative post on its social media platform.

The lender had in the post marking the Easter celebration likened the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the rise of Agege bread.

The post – “Like Agege Bread, He Rose,” sparked angry reactions on social media with many demanding immediate removal of the post and an apology.

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) also threatened to sanction Sterling Bank over the post.

In a reaction posted on the APCON Facebook page, the agency’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Olalekan Fadolapo, described the advert as “insensitive and provocative.”

He said the post was not submitted to the regulator to determine its worthiness for the Nigerian environment.

However, in a statement signed by its Chief Executive, Abubakar Suleiman, the bank asked the public for forgiveness over the offensive message.

The lender admitted that the post was insensitive and failed to capture the sober nature of the event.

The statement read: The statement reads: “On behalf of the management and staff of Sterling Bank PLC, I write to tender our unreserved apology to you and members of our nation’s Christian community for our Easter message email of 17 April 2022.

“The content of the infographic and the message it contained was insensitive and failed to consider the very sober nature of the event being commemorated, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“While the message had no malicious intent, there is no place for content that fails to fully account for the feelings of billions of people all over the world. Out honest intent was to join our millions of customers in Nigeria and worldwide in celebrating this solemn event but our execution fell short on this occasion.

“Our policies are clear on what constitutes acceptable customer communication and this message should not have been released to our customers. On this occasion, our editorial processes fell short of our policy standards.

“As a responsible institution, we immediately withdrew the offensive material and initiated a review of the circumstances that led to this failure. We will further sensitise our workforce to ensure the unfortunate lapse in judgment never repeats itself”.

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‘No student defilement or pregnancy test took place under our watch,’ Chrisland reacts to viral s3x tape

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The management of Chrisland School in Lagos said on Monday that no student was defiled during a trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.

A video of a 10-year-old female pupil of the school allegedly defiled by other students during a trip to the Middle East nation went viral recently.

The Lagos State government had since ordered the indefinite closure of all branches of the school in the state following the distribution of the videos involving the minors.

However, in a statement issued by a member of its Advisory Board, Akin Fadeyi, Chrisland School insisted that no rape or pregnancy test was carried out on any of the pupils contrary to claims in several quarters.

He said 76 students were listed for the Dubai trip, while 71 complied with its code of conduct.

The board member revealed that the school had taken disciplinary measures against the five students that flouted its rules during the trip to UAE.

Fadeyi said: “We are proud to reassure our stakeholders that no r*pe of anyone or the administration of a pregnancy test on any child took place on our watch.

“For emphasis, only a COVID-19 post-travel test was conducted on the returning delegation of our students, in compliance with COVID-19 travel protocols, at the Life Centre Medical Services on March 21, 2022, at School Hall, Opebi.

“This was through the nose swab test as consistent with COVID-19 health protocols. We trust that this can be verified at the source provided. To insinuate that a pregnancy test was carried out on a student, for whatever reason, therefore, is a highly unfortunate conjecture.

“We took a critical view of the number of students who partook in this recent trip and who did the school proud in our quest to expand the horizons of our students holistically through global exposure.

“[This] takes into account a wholesome development of the mind, body, and spirit through sporting engagements.

“Of the 76 children who represented Chrisland, 71 ensured an untainted adherence to our standards, abiding with laid down regulations and code of conduct, while doing us very proud in the process.

“Within these 71, we kept our girls on the 11th floor and Boys on the 4th floor to draw clear lines that respect moral boundaries.”

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Lagos government shuts down all Chrisland schools over tape of 10-year-old girl

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The Lagos State Government has shut down all Chrisland School branches in the state following the controversial tape of a 10-year-old student and her subsequent suspension.

This was contained in a statement on Monday, jointly signed by the Ministry of Education Office of Education Quality Assurance, and Ministry of Youth and Social Development Ministry of Justice.

The statement reads;

”The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the alleged sexual violence case involving students of Chrisland school which occurred in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

It is pertinent to note that all allegations are being investigated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency, whilst the criminal allegations have been escalated to the Commissioner of Police.

We also use this medium to remind the general public that any person who engages in any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child, commits an offence and is liable to custodial sentence of fourteen (14) years. This includes “producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing an image of child pornography”.

In the meantime, all Chrisland schools within Lagos State are hereby closed, pending further investigations.”

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Nigeria now emergency hospital, everything has broken down —Bishop Kukah

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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has described Nigeria as a big emergency hospital where everything has broken down with the caregivers not knowing how to fix the problems.

The outspoken Bishop, in his Easter Message delivered at the Holy Family Cathedral, Sokoto, on Sunday, said the challenges Nigeria currently faces require dedicated leaders who love their country to fix them.

“The challenge of fixing this broken nation is enormous and, as I have said, requires dedicated leaders who love the country to fix them.

“They also require joint efforts. With everything literally broken down, our country has become one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy.

Our individual hearts are broken. Our family dreams are broken. Homes are broken. Churches, Mosques, infrastructure are broken. Our educational system is broken. Our children’s lives and future are broken. Our politics is broken. Our economy is broken. Our energy system is broken.

Our security system is broken. Our roads and rails are broken. Only corruption is alive and well. So, we ask with the Psalmist, “We look up to the hills, from where shall come our help? Our help shall come from the name of the Lord,” he lamented.

Kukah who also took time to speak about the 2023 elections, said Nigerian politicians have refused to learn past lessons from the “tragedy that has afflicted us in the last few years.”

“The Presidency of Nigeria is not a human right based on ethnic, religious or regional sentiments.

“The next President of Nigeria must be a man or woman with a heart, a sense of empathy and a soul on fire that can set limits to what human indignities visited on citizens that he or she can tolerate.

We have no need for any further empty messianic rhetoric laced with deceitful and grandiose religiosity.

“We need someone who can fix our broken nation, rid our people of the looming dangers of hunger and destitution. Our Presidential aspirants must show evidence from their legacies and antecedents that they know the country well enough and its severe wounds.

“Whoever wants to govern us must illustrate that he or she understands what has turned our nation into a national hospital and show us plans for our discharge from this horror.”

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Dunamis Church founder, Paul Eneche, breaks silence on Osinachi’s death

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The Founder of Dunamis International Gospel Center, Pastor Paul Eneche, has broken his silence on the death of a gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu.

The gospel artiste was a member of the church before her death.

The woman died last Friday at the age of 42.

In the video posted on social media Wednesday, Eneche said Osinachi and her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, approached him two- and- a- half months ago to complain of a chest infection and he tried to support the couple until the woman died.

He said the allegation of domestic abuse against the husband came to the church knowledge after the artiste’s death.

The cleric said the church’s music director also confirmed that he witnessed when late Osinachi’s husband slapped her in his studio.

Eneche said: “The church is not your place for the transfer of aggression.

“We are willing to help you if you have so much bitterness and so much distraction in your life and you don’t know where to vent it. We can help you.

“We want to let you know we love you and Jesus loves you.

It is well with you’

Watch the video below.

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Buhari orders security agents to fish out perpetrators of Plateau attacks

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday ordered security agencies to fish perpetrators of last weekend’s attacks in Plateau State.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits killed an unspecified number of people during attacks on communities in Kanam and Wase local government areas of Plateau State.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President assured Nigerians that the perpetrators of the crime would not escape justice.

He charged the security agencies to work with the state government to bring the situation under control and take steps to bring the culprits to justice quickly.

Buhari said: “I urge all our citizens, the people of Plateau State in particular, to expose the perpetrators of such incidents, their sponsors and those who encourage such criminals who carry out these dastardly acts of murder so that the law will take its course. They must not be forgiven.”

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ASUU insists strike continues until Nigerian govt implements UTAS

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Lagos Zone, on Tuesday, warned that the National Information Technology Development Agency’s rejection of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) may prolong the strike.

The strike will not be called off until the government resolves the adoption of UTAS, implements the renegotiated agreement, and pays all unpaid allowances, according to the union.

Adelaja Odukoya, the coordinator of ASUU Lagos Zone, stated that the UTAS suggested by the union passed the test and quality assurance requirements, scoring 99.3 percent, at a press event conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

The refusal, according to Odukoya, was an attempt to play politics with the education sector.

He claimed that the NITDA’s statement criticizing the union’s efforts on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution is incorrect and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

“We, however, wish to draw the attention of all concerned to the deliberate misinformation and disinformation of the public by the National Information Technology and Development Agency on the state of the integrity test and adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution by the government.

The utterances of the NITDA spokesperson are capable of deliberate elongation of the ongoing strike action, suppose the government allows itself to be misinformed and misdirected through the managerial incompetence of the NITDA officers. In that case, our union considers it the peak of insensitivity to the plight of the universities, including staff, students, and indeed the country.

“Nonetheless, it is the considered opinion of our union that we owe the Nigerian people the onerous responsibility of providing the truth in discharging our patriotic duty as Nigerian Academic and the intellectual conscience of the Nigerian state.

ASUU wants to inform you that the current strike action will not be suspended until the government addresses the adoption of UTAS, implement the renegotiated agreement, pay all outstanding allowances without prejudice to the donation of $1 million to Afghanistan and fulfill all other issues contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with our Union,” he stated.

On February 14, the union had embarked on the ongoing strike in protest of non-payment of allowances by the Federal Government.

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IPOB announces date to commence ban ‘on movement of Fulani cows’

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday reiterated that the ban on cows outside of ranching will begin on April 27.

This was contained in a statement issued by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful.

According to him, Igbos spend N3 trillion on cattle each year, and the ban will be enforced in the South-East beginning April 27, 2022.

Those interested in breeding cattle in the South-East should set up a ranching system, according to the separatist group.

The restrictions are intended at preventing Fulani extremists from devastating the South-East, Powerful noted.

We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, wish to make the following clarifications concerning the ban on the movement of Fulani cows which will take effect from April 27, 2022.

“From April 27, 2022, we shall commence the enforcement of the ban on open grazing which has since been pronounced by South East Governors and passed into law by many States in Biafran land but the Nigeria security agencies have failed to enforce them. Thus, from the said date, no cows should be seen roaming the streets of Biafraland.

From April 27, 2022, anybody interested in cow business anywhere in Biafra land, must have a ranch and properly mark the cows. Cows seen outside ranches with effect from this date shall be treated as contraband products. Owners of such cows should blame themselves.

“Owners of cows and ranches should properly mark them with their ranch name or symbol for easy identification.

“The above measures have become necessary to stop the senseless and wanton killings in our land by Fulani jihadists masquerading as herdsmen. We want to stop the incessant invasion of our communities and raping of our mothers and sisters by Fulani herdsmen. Enough is enough!

“Our action is not targeted against any tribe. We are only taking this measure as a necessity for self-preservation.

“Igbo people alone in Biafraland spent more than N3 trillion Naira every year on cows. We, therefore, want to stop using our money to finance the genocidal attacks on our people by Fulani herdsmen. Let them keep their cows so that we may have our lives.

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NDLEA intercepts 101 parcels of cocaine at Lagos airport

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 101 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.2kg at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the illicit drug concealed in eight children’s duvets was brought into the country from Brazil by a 52-year-old Akudirinwa Uchenna.

Babafemi added that the suspect was arrested on April 9 at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha aboard Qatar Airline flight.

He said: “During preliminary interview, Uchenna who claimed to be a carpenter confessed that he was to be paid N5 million for successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.

“Also big pellets of skunk concealed in detergent containers were intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

“A 37-year-old suspect, Ezekwesili Afamefune, brought in the consignment weighing 730grams from South Africa aboard Ethiopian Airline flight.”

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Lagos govt demolishes illegal mechanic villages

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The Lagos State government on Saturday demolished two illegal mechanic villages in the state.

The Chairman of the state’s Environmental and Special Offences Unit, CSP Shola Jejeloye, confirmed the exercise in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.

The mechanic villages were sited opposite Area E Police Station, Festac Town, and under high tension electricity towers at Maroko area of the state.

Jejeloye , who personally supervised the demolition, said eight suspected hoodlums were arrested during the operation.

He said the mechanic villages were cleared to safeguard the lives of citizens and to beautify the state.

The task force chief said: “The exercise was necessary to help to safeguard lives and also to beautify the state so as to have a serene, safe and secure environment based on the existing master plan of the state.

Countless warnings were served on the operators of the illegal mechanic villages which were sometimes used as hideouts by criminals.”

He stressed that it was suicidal to stay under high tension cables to perform any activity, noting that no responsible government would fold its arm and watch people engage in dangerous activities.

Jejeloye added: “Government earmarked the Maroko power line area for a beautification project which will further translate to greener Lagos.

“Residents complain regularly about the constant burning of refuse and tyres by the illegal occupants.

“Actions like these are hazardous to health and also harmful to the environment. They will no longer be tolerated once this exercise is concluded.”

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ECWA slams Buhari’s govt over corruption, insecurity

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The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Sunday slammed President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over alleged widespread corruption in the system.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 69th General Church Council Meeting in Kaduna, the church expressed concern over the worsening insecurity, corruption, and the near-total collapse of the Nigerian economy.

It also decried the recent attack on Abuja-Kaduna bound train as well as the incessant killings and abduction of innocent Nigerians by terrorists in various parts of the country.

The communiqué read: “The unabated heinous activities of radical Islamic terrorist groups as well the continuous activities of radical Islamic terrorist groups including Fulani Jihadist Militia, Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandits terrorising the North, Middle Belt and other parts of the country are condemnable.

The Council expressed great worry on the conspicuous silence of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, and its reluctance to descend heavily on the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

ECWA also urged the Federal Government to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and wake up to its responsibility of making the country a beautiful place for all the citizens.

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Community leader, 14 others reportedly killed in fresh Kaduna crisis

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At least 15 people, including a community leader have been reportedly killed in a fresh crisis in Kakura village, Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.

Residents told journalists the deceased, Isiaku Madaki, was installed as the head of the community on Saturday.

The community is predominantly occupied by the Gbagi people while a pocket of Fulani settlements are found in the village.

The gunmen, according to the residents, stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday and headed to the community leader’s residence and shot him dead.

Angered by the incident, the natives quickly mobilized and killed 14 Fulani inhabitants of the community in a reprisal attack.

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NBS dismisses report on Statistician-General’s death

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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has dismissed the report on the death of the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Simon Harry.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its Director of Communication and Public Relations, Ichedi Joel, NBS described the report as an outright falsehood.

The agency, however, confirmed that the statistician-general was recuperating from an undisclosed illness.

It urged Nigerians to ignore the report of his death.

The statement read: “The Bureau wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in what was published by an online medium and considers the publication as the height of irresponsible journalism and a figment of the imagination of the publisher.

“The fact of the matter is that the Statistician-General was slightly indisposed on Saturday and following medication is now recuperating.

“We are well certain that he would, in a matter of a few days, be back to his desk and continue his work in repositioning the NBS as the foremost national statistics agency in Africa and among the best globally.”

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Court sentences 31-yr-old to death for stealing torchlight, N2,350

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A 31-year-old man, Nsikak Joseph Udofia, has been sentenced to death by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene, after he was found guilty of robbing a cobbler of a torchlight and the sum of N2,350.

Udofia, a native of Utu Edem Usung in Ikot Ekpene local government area of the state, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old secondary school student.

According to the police prosecutor, Udofia with others now at large, “had robbed the cobbler, Gabriel Akpan Victor, of his torchlight, two knives, a roll of black thread, two palm slippers and a cash sum of N2,350 while on his way home from work on 31st December, 2017.”

“Three weeks after the robbery, the convict also raped a 16-year-old SS 2 student in an uncompleted building in Utu Edem Usung, Ikot Ekpene on 21st January, 2018,” the prosecutor told the court.

In a two-hour judgement, the trial judge, Justice Augustine Odokwo, found the accused guilty of the two-count charge, which are punishable under Section One sub-one of Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Laws of the Federation and Section three-six-seven of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000, and duly sentenced him.

The judge held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person committed the offenses.

In the first count charge of robbery, Justice Odokwo sentenced Udofia to death by hanging, while in second charge of rape, he held that Udofia shall serve a life sentence in Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre, with the sentences running consecutively.

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Pastors protest over incessant killings in Kaduna

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Given the spate of endless killings in Kaduna and several other parts of the country, some pastors in Kaduna State, under the banner of Interface Alliance, on Thursday staged a protest in the state.

The pastors, who swarmed the popular Lagos Roundabout in the state capital, demanded the Federal Government to take decisive steps against the terrorists who had continued to terrorize the state in the past few months.

The pastors were utterly dissatisfied with the situation and wanted holistic approach from the government to put an end to the crises.

The convener of the group, Reverend Emmanuel Adebayo, also appealed to the state government to compensate victims of terrorist attacks in the state.

He added that the step would douse the sufferings of the victims and make them get over the psychological trauma they passed through during the attacks.

The essence of our gathering today is to put together what we refer to as ‘Kaduna prays’, a prayer work against insecurity. I am sure everybody knows that Kaduna is one of the states plagued by incidences of banditry and terrorism and various forms of criminality and of late, it has been on the increase.

We believe that the government is doing their best but their best is not good enough. That’s why we have come out to seek for divine intervention concerning the issue of peace and security in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.

“The government needs to be more proactive. We have been hearing about cry of our governor; he said he has been taken the reports to those concerned; he said they know where they are and that they listen to their telephone conversation but the response from the security agencies are not good enough”, Adebayo said.

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