Man hires neighbor to impregnate wife, drags him to court for failing to impregnate her after 75 attempts

A 30-year-old man, Darius Makambako has reportedly sued his neighbour who he hired to impregnate his 28-year-old wife, Precious.

The couple tried to produce a child but their marriage of six year remained childless. It was gathered that a doctor diagnosed the husband as sterile.

Makambako, a member of the Tanzanian Police Force (Traffic Department), after calming his wife’s protests, hired his neighbour, Evans Mastano 32, a fellow police officer in the country’s commercial city, to impregnate his wife.

Evans was already married and the father of two beautiful daughters, and was said to look very much like Darius, so the plan seemed good.

Makambako paid Mastano 2,000,000 Tanzanian Shillings (N360k) for the job and for three evenings a week, for 10 consecutive months in 2016.

Evans tried desperately, a total 75 different times, to impregnate his friend’s wife Precious, but failed.

Reports say Precious, a nurse at a private clinic, had decided to get a three months’ vacation leave (March to June 2016), to dedicate her time to sleeping with her husband’s best friend and neighbour, in order to have her first child, but the man failed to impregnate her, despite the husband leaving them in bed the whole day, at most times.

When Precious failed to get pregnant for 10 months however, Makambako could not understand and insisted that Evans have a medical examination, which he did in January 2017.

The doctor’s pronouncement that Evans Mastano was also sterile, shocked everyone, except his wife, who was forced to confess that Evans was not the real father of her two children, but his cousin Edward.

“I was forced to secretly sleep with his first cousin for these two children, after realising that my husband could not impregnate me for two years,” Angela told the Dar-es-Salaam Today News.

Now Makamboko is suing Evans for breach of contract, in an effort to get his money back, but Evans refuses to give it back, because he says he did not guarantee conception, but only that he would give it an honest effort.

Immigration rescues eight trafficked children in Ekiti

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued eight trafficked children in Ekiti State.

The NIS Comptroller in the state, Alphonsus Achilonu, who disclosed this to journalists on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, said the children were being trafficked from Benue State to end-users in Lagos and Oyo States.

He added that a suspect was arrested by the agency.

Achilonu said: “NIS Anti-Human Trafficking squad, acting on a tip-off and through intelligence gathering, arrested one man while trafficking the eight children, who are minors, to their end users in Lagos and Ibadan.

“The eight victims had been reunited with their families. Many people are in the business. They have to be checked at all cost and the best approach is for the government, parents and all well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that they are sincere with the provision of basic needs for these children, put them in schools, create enabling environment, and provide jobs for them.

“What we do to whoever we arrest is to investigate properly, gather evidence, and handover the person to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons office in Osogbo, Osun State for diligent prosecution.

“The NIS has a lot of responsibilities which our people are not aware of. Apart from issuance of passports, we patrol borders and we also have a rapid response squad to back up police, Department of State Service and other security agencies while performing very sensitive operations. “

Nigerian govt concedes to ASUU, constitutes White Paper panels for varsities, others

The Federal Government has set up a White Paper Drafting Panels for tertiary institutions in the country.

The Director of Press and Media Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ben Goong, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

This came just four days after the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) embarked on a 30-day warning strike over the federal government’s failure to honour agreements signed by both parties.

The union has demanded the release of the findings of visiting panels set up by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 to look at problems in the country’s tertiary institutions.

The statement read: “Following the receipt of reports of Visitation Panels to Tertiary Institutions last year, The Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, has constituted White Paper Drafting Panels for Tertiary Institutions across the country.

Ten White Paper Drafting Panels have been constituted for 36 Universities, while six Panels have been constituted for 25 Polytechnics with 21 Colleges of Education having 5 Panels.

“One Panel is to draft a White Paper for four Inter-university centres. The Panels will be inaugurated in the coming days.

“All the Panels have two weeks from the date of inauguration to submit their reports.”

Committee discovers 2,389 teachers working without formal qualifications in Borno

The report released by a committee set up by the Borno State government to conduct basic literacy and numeracy competency assessment teachers has revealed that 2,389 teachers are working without formal qualifications in the state.

The figure represents 13.9 percent of the 17,229 teachers working in 27 local government areas of the state.

It added that only 5,439 teachers or 31.6 percent are competent to work in schools across the state.

3,815 others or 22 percent are incompetent and untrainable.

The report of the committee was presented to Governor Babagana Zulum by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

The report read: “Out of 17,229 teachers across the 27 LGAs, only 5,439 representing 31.6% proved competent to teach, while 3, 815 teachers representing 22.1% are not competent to teach and are not trainable.

However, 7,975 teachers representing 46.3% were found not fully competent but trainable.

“At least 2, 389 teachers representing 13.9% have been teaching without any formal qualification from any institution.

In his remark at the forum, the governor described the report as “very scary.”

Zulum said the committee members had informed him that they came across a National Certificate of Education (NCE) holder who was unable to write NCE during the test but was teaching students.

He said: “We cannot move Borno forward unless we are able to sanitise our public schools system and if I am able to sanitise education, I would have achieved 50 percent of what I set out to achieve as governor.”

Northern youths react to Abia Cattle Market killings, say ‘enough is enough’

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), has given perpetrators a “last warning on the incessant attacks and killings of Northerners” in the region, saying it will no longer fold its hands and watch its people killed and their businesses destroyed.

The AYCF was reacting to Tuesday’s attack by gunmen at the Abia Cattle Market where eight Northern traders and an unspecified number of cows were killed, while many others sustained injuries.

While condemning the attack at a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, the AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, said the group was “seriously saddened and deeply concerned about the murder of Northerners resident in Abia, who are doing legitimate business.”

In a communique at the end of the press conference, Shettima said:

“We are also deeply touched by the report of killings of Northern traders, with scores of others sustaining various degrees of injuries following the senseless attack at the Abia Cattle Market on Tuesday.

“Pursuant to this development, we in the AYCF, wish to state as follows:

We condemn in totality this dastardly attack on innocent citizens from the North trading to earn a living. We welcome the prompt response of security agencies and the Abia State Government for going after the killers and rushing the injured ones to the hospital.

We urge the Abia State Government to pursue its promise to bring the killers to book, in the spirit of national unity and stability.

“The AYCF will be following closely the efforts of Abia State Government to fulfill its promise of providing compensation for the families and survivors of the attack.

“We pray this should be last bad news we would hear about innocent Northern traders, from not just Abia but the entire Southeast, in the spirit of national unity and stability.

“By this communique, we are giving the perpetrators the last warning to desist from this dastardly act as further provocation could lead to unsavory circumstances. Enough is enough.”

More drama around ‘Aregbesola shooting’ as group claims Osun govt gave students N1m to protest

The drama around a shooting incident around the convoy of minister of Interior Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola in Oshogbo the Osun State capital continues taking new dimensions as the days go by.

A group of youths who identified themselves as Concerned Citizens of Osun, have alleged that the state government bought some leaders of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS) with the sum of N1m to protest at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The group in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Afeez Olakunle stated that the protest was politically motivated, alleging that an unnamed aide to Osun state governor worked with NAOSS leadership to stage the protest.

The group expressed concern that the government could stoop low to dragging students into the internal crisis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

It also lampooned the leaders of NAOSS for making themselves willing tools in the hands of politicians.

The statement reads in part, “It is a shame that NAOSS, a supposed intellectual body of students, could sell itself so cheap to accept a sum of N1m from the state government to protest against the NSCDC in the state.

“The question to ask NAOSS leadership is that: why had it remained silent on the series of insecurity occurrences and political violence in the state? Why did NAOSS choose to protest against NSCDC which is doing its job of protecting the lives and property of the people of the state? Why is it that it was a government official, SSA, that was mobilising media for the NAOSS protest?”

Meanwhile, NAOS President, Moshood Yusuf, in his reaction, challenged the group to bring out proof that he collected money to mobilise students for the protest.

Yusuf, who claimed to have witnessed the alleged shooting by NSCDC operatives on Monday, stated that he did not need to be paid before protesting on behalf of the masses.

“During the protest, my people could not even afford sachet water for themselves. Can I have N1million and I won’t be able to provide ordinary water? I have been expecting something like this because when you fight for masses, it is bound to happen this way. They should provide proof.

“I was around Olonkoro Area (of Osogbo) when the (Monday) shooting happened. Will I fold arms while people are killed? I witnessed the (shooting) incident. I was around Olonkoro (Osogbo). All of us had to flee. Nobody sponsored us. It is our thoughts; thoughts of the students. I can’t fold arms when a paramilitary organisation engage in an activity such as this,” he said.

The NAOSS had protested at the NSCDC office on Tuesday over a shooting incident that involved the convoy of Aregbesola which has generated different accounts from authorities concerned.

While the state police command stated that some people suspected to be political thugs on Aregbesola’s convoy shot into the air without provocation, the NSCDC said its operative Attached to the minister’s convoy returned fire from some thugs suspected to be government agents.

I predicted Abba Kyari’s shameful end for killing innocent Biafrans’ —Ex-Radio Biafra Director, Ekpa

Disgraced former Director-General of Radio Biafra, Simon Ekpa, has claimed he had earlier predicted that embattled former head of the IGP- Intelligence Response Team (IRT) DCP Abba Kyari, would be disgraced for allegedly masterminding the killing of innocent Igbo people in the South-East.

Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of detained leader of the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, in a post on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, said he foresaw the shameful end of Kyari when he “was running riot and killing innocent Biafran youths,” and had warned him of the consequences if he did not desist from carrying out the alleged extra-judicial killings in the region.

Reacting to the arrest of Kyari on Monday by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over reported links to an international drug cartel, Ekpa described the once touted ‘Super Cop’ as an “ordinary criminal who would not go free because of the blood of innocent Biafrans he had killed.”

“I called Abba Kyari a criminal even before the indictment in the US. I told him that for killing Biafrans, he will be disgraced and his career will end in Biafraland.

“Today is he not known globally as a criminal? The big question is, what happened to all the innocent Biafrans he killed?” Ekpa who is based in Finland and now leading a dissident group called ‘Biafran Autopilot’ wrote.

Father of late Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni, accuses Lagos govt of cover-up in son’s death

Sylvester Oromoni Snr., father of the late student of Dowen College in Lekki area of Lagos, Sylvester, on Tuesday accused the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State government of a massive cover-up on events leading to his son’s death.

He made the allegation during a cross-examination by counsel to Lagos State government, Mr. Akin George, at the state’s Coroner Court in Ikeja.

He questioned the rationale behind the release of five senior students of Dowen College who allegedly bullied his son to death.

The students were released on the advice of the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) 14 days into the 21-day remand order given by the Yaba Magistrates’ Court.

The Oromonis claimed in November last year that their 12-year-old son died after he was bullied by some students of Dowen College for refusing to join a cult group in school.

The police and the state government later conducted an autopsy on the deceased and discovered that the cause of his death was natural.

Oromomi Snr. said: “There is a massive cover-up and it is clearly here (in the police report).

”A Magistrates’ Court in Yaba requested 21 days and after the 14 days, the boys were granted bail when the police were not done with their investigations.

When I saw the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (Hakeem Odumosu) and told him about it, he told me that, that was not true that they were not done with their investigations.

“He even said that on the day it was said that they had released those boys, the courts were not sitting.

”I then called the Deputy Commissioner of Police, he told me the same thing and told me to give him some time.

“After about two to four minutes, he called me back and he confirmed it, that they were given 21 days for their investigations and the boys had just spent 14 days in detention.

“They (police) said they were going to write a protest letter. They were already interrogating two of the students and revelations were coming out so they were taken by surprise.

“The same Commissioner of Police, after some days now publicly declared that at the instance of Mr. Governor, the Attorney-General and the DPP said there was nothing wrong with the boys, therefore, they have released them.

“At what point did they complete their investigation, give all the case files to the DPP to go through and the DPP to come up with their report?

“This is why I am saying there is a very massive conspiracy going on.”

Buhari arrives in Belgium for EU-AU summit.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, where he will join other world leaders for the 6th European Union-African Union Summit.

The Summit which holds February 17 to 18, 2022, will have the participants deliberate on themes that include Financing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth; Climate Change and Energy Transition, Digital and Transport (Connectivity and Infrastructure); Peace, Security and Governance; and Private Sector Support and Economic Integration.Sector Support and Economic Integration.

Others are Education, Culture and Vocational Training, Migration and Mobility; Agriculture and Sustainable Development and Health Systems and Vaccine Production.

Presidential aide, Garba Shehu, had earlier announced that the President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor.

Shehu also named the National Security Adviser, Maj.Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director General of the National Intelligence Agency , Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa as also being part of the entourage.Buhari is expected to be back in Nigeria on Sunday.

ASUU to begin one month warning strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has given notice that it will embark on a one-month warning strike to press home its demands.

The warning strike is in agitation for the implementation of agreements with the Federal Government.

This was disclosed by the ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeko during a press conference at the Aderinokun Auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after a marathon meeting with the members of its National Executive Council (NEC).

He said, “The strike will be comprehensive and total and would last for the period of four weeks to enable the Federal Government to make changes.

The union would embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met within one month.

The ASUU President further rejected reports of the association’s lack of concern for the educational sector saying, “Contrary to the views canvassed in some quarters, our union loathes to disrupt academic activities on our campuses. We love our students and respect their parents and guardians.

“We are also not insensitive to the genuine concerns about stable academic calendars in public universities expressed by patriotic Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria.

“But the blame should be squarely put at the doorsteps of those who have ignored our patriotic yearnings for a development-oriented education in Nigeria.

“The patience of our members has been tasked beyond tolerable limits. The greatest assets of any nation is its human capital, Any nation that pays lip service to education as we currently witness in Nigeria will only grow in age and never experience genuine development.

“We, therefore, seek the understanding and support of all stakeholders to make Nigerian government more responsive to issues of human capital development including health and education.

“We invite all lovers of education to join our struggle for a greater Nigeria. Nigerian politicians keep proliferating educational institutions without prioritizing education.”

One year old dies after being flogged by teacher of unregistered school in Asaba

A teacher, Emeka Nwogbo of the Arise and Shine Nursery and Primary School, Asaba has been arrested after the death of a pupil of the school.

Master Obinna Udeze, a 19-month-old pupil was said to have died soon after he was flogged severally by the teacher for playing with water and getting his cloths wet.

Nwogbo who is said to be the son of the proprietress of the school, reportedly flogged the toddler, Obinna Udeze, severely that he left several marks of cane on his body.

The pupil was said to have fallen into a coma after receiving the strokes, and died at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba on Saturday, February 12.

Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Bright Edafe who confirmed the incident to newsmen, disclosed that the teacher had been arrested.

He said: “We have the suspect who is the son of the owner of the school in our custody. He is a teacher in the school.”

Meanwhile, the Delta State government on Sunday, February 13, sealed the school.

The State Commissioner for Primary Education, Chika Ossai, who told newsmen that both the teacher and the proprietress were in Police custody, added that the school was not approved.

Ossai, who condemned the incident, assured that the government would follow the case to ensure that justice is served.

He said, “Yes, this (Sunday) morning, the government swung into action and sealed the school for now. Secondly, it is not an approved school.

“The proprietress and the son are in police custody so the State government is very serious about the incident and would follow it to the end, to make sure that those who are operating illegal schools will be dealt with properly.

“Because it will be easier to monitor registered schools but for those illegal ones, we will continue to close them down.”

He warned school operators to be mindful of the manner in which pupils are handled in their schools.

Lagos govt arrests developer of collapsed three-storey building as death toll hits five

Lagos State government has confirmed the arrest of the developer of the collapsed three-storey building in the Yaba area of the state.

In a statement on its official Twitter handle, the government said the developer was arrested for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the “stop-work order.”

He had since been handed over to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) for questioning.

The statement read: “The Lagos State Government has arrested the developer of a collapsed building at No. 16 Akanbi Crescent, Onike, Yaba,  for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the stop-work order.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who reported that the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, said the building was under construction and at three floors, suspended slab before it collapsed.

Salako stated that preliminary findings indicated that the site had been sealed-off twice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency in 2021 for non-compliance with Building Regulations after which the site was abandoned.

“However, the developer later broke Government Seal, sneaked into the site and re-commenced construction without official authorisation.”

Meanwhile, the collapsed building death toll has increased to five after the body of a student on industrial training was recovered from the debris by rescue workers.

The South-West zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday.

Four persons had earlier been pulled out of the rubble.

MURIC urges Police authorities to promote Corporal with Ph.D

The Muslim Rights Convern (MURIC) has lept to the defence of a Police Corporal, Dr Nnaji Ebenezer Chibueze, who has been stuck in the same rank despite bagging a Ph.D degree while in service.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, who railed against the Police authorities for refusing to regularize the academic qualifications of Dr. Chibueze in tandem with the commensurate rank.

Akintola also detailed the academic qualifications of the said policeman while appealing to the IGP, Usman Baba, to ensure justice was done in order to encourage the brightest brains to join the Police Force.

MURIC said, “Dr. Nnaji Ebenezer Chibueze, a native of Umuezibuoko Umualu in Isiuzor local government area of Enugu State, has remained in the same rank as a police corporal three years after bagging his doctorate degree. It is our humble opinion that something is wrong here unless police authorities have a cassu belli for refusing to regularize his rank in accordance with his educational qualification.

“From our findings, Ebenezer’s educational background has been the normal routine. From Odorbia Primary School in Umuezibuoko, Umualu (1994-1999) to Community Secondary School, Umualu and Community Secondary School, Ihaohuala in Ihamufu Isiuzor local government area Enugu State where he obtained his Junior School Certificate and the West Africa Senior School Certificate in 2005.

He got his Bachelor of Science Education in Political Science, Administration and Supervision in the year 2010 at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and his masters degree in the same field at the Abia State University in 2016. He topped his degrees with a PhD in the same field in 2019. It is interesting that Ebenezer’s cumulative grade point average in his first, second and doctorate degrees were 4.40, 4.35 and 4.3 respectively.

Although Dr. Nnaji Ebenezer Chibueze was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in the year 2012 after his university education, his first degree was not considered. But he had to join the force to make ends meet as no other job opportunity was available.

“It is common knowledge that any interested person with Masters or PhD who wishes to lecture in the Nigeria Police Academy, stands a good chance. But Ebenezer is yet to receive a response to his application dated 15th January, 2020.

“MURIC appeals to the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, to use his good office to intervene in the plight of Dr. Nnaji Ebenezer Chibueze. The reward of academic brilliance should be a commensurate rank or position.

We cannot afford to continue to waste our intellectuals. Besides, the best police officers have often been the most highly educated perhaps because of their exposure to different civilisations and cultures. Our police personnel are doing a tremendous job for this country. They deserve attention.”

Lagos launches smart ID card for residents

The Lagos State government has launched a smart multi-purpose identity card for residents of the state.

The General Manager of Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA), Ibilola Kasunmu, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the identity card would be captured in its database.

She said the identity card would help residents to access services including pension and insurance, payment and access to public transport, among others.

Kasunmu added that the project, known as “LASRRA 2.0,” was introduced following an approval by the State Executive Council to reopen the resident registration within the first quarter of the year.

She said: ‘‘The impact of technology on the global identification landscape includes making it cheaper and easier to identify people accurately, as well as access services quicker.

“With the LAG ID card, our children can have easier access to educational services from primary to secondary to tertiary institutions in the state.

‘‘It will also make access to healthcare services a lot easier. Lagos residents are all encouraged to take this opportunity to facilitate quicker access to services from the state government.”

Agency claims owner of Ikoyi collapsed building, Osibona, threatened its officials with dogs

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) told a coroner sitting in Ikeja on Friday that its officials who had gone to inspect the ill-fated 21-story building were scared off by the owner, Femi Osibona who threatened to release dogs on them.

The 21-storey building, which was under construction on Gerrard road, Ikoyi, collapsed on November 1, 2021, killing over 45 people.

The LASBCA’s Assistant Director, Inspectorate of Quality Control, Mrs Oluseun Randle, told the coroner that the Managing Director of Fourscore Heights Ltd, late Femi Osibona, who owned the ill-fated building, denied its officials access to the building site for inspection as he threatened to unleash vicious dogs on them.

Randle, who is the officer overseeing Eti-Osa, Victoria, Island, Surulere, Yaba, Lagos Mainland and Ikoyi, conceded that one of LASBCA’s main mandates was to identify non-conforming buildings and mark them for removal.

However, she stated that the ‘Stop work order’ served by one of its officials could not be implemented because of the threat by Osibona.

While being cross-examined by counsel for Prowess Engineering Nigeria Ltd, Mr Ola Adeosun, Randle said, “An officer first visited on February 13, 2019. He peered through a small opening in the gate and observed piling equipment.

He moved closer to observe the piling operation and to gain access to the premises. The security operatives manning the premises did not allow him entry.

“He was only asked to wait outside of the gate for the developer (Osibona). After some minutes, the developer came and the officer told him he wanted to serve a notice.

“He (Osibona) told him that he could not go in and if he tried to forcefully gain entry, he would tell the security to release dogs.

“The monitoring officer served a Contravention Notice and Stop-Work Order dated February 13, 2019 on the structure. The notice and order is to be complied with within 48-hours”, she stated.

Again, Yoruba group, Agbekoya, gives Benin Republic ultimatum to release Igboho

A Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Agbekoya Worldwide, has reiterated its call on the government of Benin Republic to either release detained Yoruba Nations activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, legally or they would have no option but to use traditional methods to release the agitator.

The Agbekoya had, earlier in the week, threatened to use ‘juju’ to free Igboho from detention in the West African country if he was not released legally but with the revelation on Wednesday by Igboho’s counsel, Chief Yomi Alliyu that the Benin authorities were on the verge of increasing Igboho’s detention period by another six months, the group has once again, given the country a fresh ultimatum.

Disclosing this at a press conference in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Friday, the President-General of Agbekoya Worldwide, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola, said this was the last warning they would be giving to Benin Republic to release Igboho or the group would employ traditional means of securing his release.

Describing Igboho’s detention as illegal, Okikiola noted that the group would no longer allow the agitator Igboho to continue wallowing in detention in the West African country.

“Today’s meeting is purposely for Sunday Igboho who has been in illegal detention in Benin Republic.

“If you all remember, the last time I told them in Osogbo that Agbekoya was going to release Igboho through traditional means, but some people thought it’s just a threat. We are here again in Ibadan. We came to discuss finally how we will secure the release of Sunday Igboho.

“I thank all Yoruba leaders who have intervened on the issue. Agbekoya is one of the oldest associations in Yorubaland.

“Who says we don’t have the power to release Igboho? The power of the olden days still exist till today. For now, we want to explore the legal means of driving home our demand, but if nothing comes out of it, then we may have no other option, but to toe the line of traditional way of releasing him from their custody.

“I am saying it to the authorities of Benin Republic that everything they are doing on the issue of Sunday Igboho is nothing but illegality. If they like, let them move him from one prison to another; that will not prevent us when we are ready to strike.

“We want them to know that we mean business. We want Sunday Igboho to be released immediately. Benin Republic should not dare us. We can do it. They should not allow Nigerian Government to teleguide them.

“Sunday Igboho’s mother is seriously ill. Do they want the old woman to die without seeing her son? His counsel, Yomi Alliyu, has already told us that Igboho has not committed any criminal act to warrant his continued detention.

“We are ready for anything that will happen. Release Sunday Igboho now, no more six months in detention. We don’t need to enter their country before we can set Igboho free. If they like, let them mandate their entire army to guard his prison, that will not stop us,” the group warned.

120 terrorists killed, 38 kidnapped victims rescued in three weeks —DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the military has killed over 120 terrorists including Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders, rescued 38 kidnapped victims as well as arrested over 50 criminals in several operations conducted in the last three weeks.

The Director General, Defence Media Organisation, Major General Bernard Onyeuko, who made this disclosure at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday on the activities of the Nigerian troops in the operation theater in the North-East, said sophisticated and assorted weapons and ammunition, gun trucks and other dangerous weapons, were recovered within the same period.

According to the Army spokesman, over 965 terrorists, their families and 550 children surrendered to soldiers at different location including Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya, all in Borno and Yobe State, during the same period.

According to the Army spokesman, over 965 terrorists, their families and 550 children surrendered to soldiers at different location including Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya, all in Borno and Yobe State, during the same period.

“In the past three weeks, operations were recorded in all theatre of operations within the country which recorded significant results. This brief will cover the operational activities of own troops and other security agencies conducting operations to tackle insecurity in the country between 20 January – 10 February 22.

“Our troops consolidated their operational success against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province Terrorist (ISWAP) in the last 3 weeks.

“Some of the areas which the operations were conducted are; Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Kanduga, Damboa, Damasak, Gudumbali and Nganzi Local Government Area. Kukawa, Chibok as well as Sambisa Forest, Kirta Wulgo in Marte Local Government of Borno State.

“Troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe State around Goniri in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Notably, the air interdiction eliminated several ISWAP Commanders and their fighters during the encounter. An ISWAP senior commnander Mallam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorist were killed during the airstrike.

“Relatedly, the Air Component conducted air strikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in Marte Local Government Area neutralized scores of terrorists including high profile Commanders while about 25 Terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.

The ISWAP armoury and warehouse were also destroyed and arrest of several terrorists recovery of assorted arms, ammunition and captured their gun trucks and other weapons. Also, livestocks and other items of security concern were recovered as well as rescued abducted civilians.

Cumulatively, the troops within the period under review, neutralized 120 fighters, arrested 50 of the terrorists, 5 gun trucks, 50 assorted arms and 200 rounds of different calibers of ammunition were captured from the terrorists.

“Additionally, troops rescued 38 abducted civilians. Similarly, a total of 965 terrorists and their families and 550 children surrendered to own troops deployed at different location including: Gamboru, Tumbumma, Kukawa, Baga, Gwoza, Mallam Fotori, Damboa, Kirta Wulgo, Bun Yadi, Gujiba, Madiya all in Borno and Yobe State.

“It is noteworthy to state that out of the 965 terrorists that surrendered within the period under review, 104 are from ISWAP Camp that surrendered to our troops at Marte.

“The surrendered terrorist have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action,” Onyeuko said.

Ondo doctors suspend warning strike

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) have suspended their two-day warning strike.

The President of UNIMEDTH, John Matthew, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Akure.

The doctors had on Wednesday embarked on a warning strike after a member of the association was allegedly assaulted by relations of a patient the previous day.

Matthew said the strike was suspended following the intervention of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Mr. Francis Faduyile.

The statement read: “This is to inform you that the two-day warning strike embarked upon by members of our association yesterday, February 9 has been suspended and our members are back to work at 8:00 a.m. today.

This decision is borne out of the assurances of the special adviser to the governor on health, to among other things, address the immediate and remote cause of the barbaric act of assault against doctors and other healthcare workers in our institution.

“The congress, while appreciating efforts of the management at apprehending and prosecuting the accused person, demands that all measures must be put in place to protect healthcare workers in the course of their duties.

“And also see to it that other issues raised are promptly treated in the interest of all.”

Zulum briefs Buhari as more Boko Haram insurgents surrender in North-East

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Thursday, briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the latest security situation in the state.

The governor, who addressed State House correspondents after the meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said over 30, 000 insurgents including members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had so far surrendered to troops in the state.

He added that the state was relatively peaceful as the security agencies continued to take measures aimed at checking the activities of insurgents in the North-East.

The governor expressed optimism that the insurgency in the North-East would soon be a thing of the past.

The Nigerian Army claimed last year that at least 17,000 insurgents had surrendered to troops in the region.

Zulum said: “I briefed Mr. President on the status of Borno State as regards security as well as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and so far so good.

“I have been witnessing gradual return of peace in Borno State and I came to brief Mr. President on the ongoing massive defection of Boko Haram members. This time around, we have also started witnessing the defection of ISWAP members.

This is a welcome development and under a closed-door session we discussed a lot of issues and how the government of Borno State as well as the Federal Government will manage the ongoing surrender by the insurgents.

“As at now we have received nothing less than 30,000, from beginning of the year to date.’’

The governor disclosed that the government’s decision to engage the insurgents in dialogue had started yielding results.

He also commended the federal government for the heavy military deployment to southern Borno and expressed the hope that the northern part of the state would also witness similar deployment in a bid to restore peace and order in the state.

So far, so good, the objective has started yielding positive results. Apart from this also, in the Borno State, for example, as I told you last time, we had problems on the shores of Lake Chad as well as in Southern Borno.

“I’m pleased to inform you that there was a very heavy military deployment into southern Borno.

“And I hope such a deployment will also take place in northern Borno, with a view to clearing the ISWAP insurgents in Lake Chad.

“So, this has also yielded positive results.

“And then on the relocation of the two local Government Areas that last time, I said were not occupied by human beings, we are also doing very well with the military to see how we can return back the population,’’ the governor added.

Investments in youths pathway to prosperity, security – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday described investments in young people as a pathway to prosperity, and security in the country.

The Vice President, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, stated this during a Stakeholders’ Summit on the At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) held at the State House, Abuja.

He stressed the need to provide children with opportunities that would ensure their success in all areas of endeavour.

He said the Federal Government had taken multi-dimensional approach in tackling the challenges young people face with several intervention programmes.

Osinbajo said: “The ARC-P is an important component of the variety of government interventions designed to complement and support existing initiatives of the Buhari administration in dealing with the problems of vulnerable children and young people.”