At least 200 shops were razed by fire on Monday night at the Ikom main market in the Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River.

Chika Anya, chairman of the Lagos line of the market, said the intensity of the inferno was such that nothing could be salvaged from the affected shops.

He said the fire incident has been a recurring issue in the market almost yearly and alleged that, as with previous cases, the state fire service could not provide much support.

“All we want now is support from the government to enable us to get our lives back.

“The government should also do the needful by having a functional fire service in Ikom and other council areas of the state,” Mr Anya told journalists.

One affected shop owner, Augustine Eze, said it was difficult to ascertain the cause of the fire as there was no electricity “and nobody is allowed to pass the night in the market.”

“This is not the first time we have had a fire issue in the market, and there has always been no assistance to quench the fire since the state fire service lacks the equipment to fight one here,” Mr Eze claimed.

Meanwhile, Peter Okorebi, the state director of fire service, said they would investigate the cause of the fire and take preventive measures.

Mr Okorebi, however, said the shop owners have long formed the habit of cooking in the shops despite repeated warnings by the fire service.

“Our safety officers have repeatedly advised them against this trend, but they simply won’t listen,” he added.

The director debunked the claims that the fire service lacked the necessary facilities to contain fire outbreaks in the area.

The police command in Ebonyi has arrested a woman who specialises in abducting and selling children and rescued six victims.

The police said Ngozi Abia, also known as Mercy Francis, has carried out her nefarious activities in Lagos, Ebonyi, Anambra and Edo.

Investigation into her activities began in January 2024 when one Nkwuda Francis reported that the woman, who posed as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, had kidnapped his two young children.

DSP Joshua Ukandu, the spokesman of the command, said in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki that the children were later found in Anambra, where she sold them.

“He complained that his children were kidnapped from his house at Nwezenyi Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi, after the suspect rented a room in the compound.

“The children, aged three and seven, were later found to have been taken by Ngozi Blessing-Abia, which was revealed to be the suspect’s true identity.

“Following a diligent investigation by officers attached to the gender unit of the command, the suspect was located in Oba, Anambra, where the children were rescued and returned to their family,” said Mr Ukandu.

Mr Ukandu added that two women, Lovina Iwuorah and Ndifereke Wisdom Clement, whose children were abducted in Ohaozara, Ebonyi, had identified the suspect as the conspirator.

He said she sold their three children to an orphanage home in Benin, Edo.

“The proprietor of the orphanage has been detained and is providing valuable information to the police,” the command spokesman said.

“Additionally, one Chinasa Uwezoke from Lagos, upon learning of the arrest, visited the command and identified the suspect as someone who had gained her trust and subsequently took her three children to the market, only to flee with her 3-year-old son,” said Mr Ukandu.

The command spokesman said the boy was later recovered from where she sold him and had been reunited with his family.

“The suspect’s modus operandi is to rent an apartment, fraternise with her unsuspecting neighbours, gain their trust and abduct their children for pecuniary gains,” he added.

Mr Ukandu advised property owners and caretakers to screen potential tenants thoroughly and for parents to educate their children about safety and interaction with strangers.

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has charged Nigerian Muslims to use the window availed by Eid el Fitr to seek Allah’s intervention in Nigeria’s situation.

Obi charged the people not to allow the prevailing unprecedented hardship in the country to affect their spirit of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence.

Rather Obi said the people should use this year’s Eid-El Fitri festivities to engender the spirit of oneness and also re-dedicate themselves to the virtues of love, patriotism and unity for the desired national development.

The former Anambra State Governor in a message to Muslims noted that the two major faiths Christianity and Islam coming out of their fasting period should allow the solemnity of the holy months to influence their thoughts and actions in relating with one another and thinking about the future of the country.

Obi said that it is discomforting the amount of blood being shed in the country daily and asked that the situation be taken to Allah for his prompt intervention.

The LP standard bearer said the blood of thousands of innocent souls being wasted daily in Nigeria at various troubled spots, particularly the stress of school children in the North, and the needless death of troops should be enough mitigation to plead to God to save the country from destruction.

“An intense prayer for our dear country has become very necessary more than ever before as our nationhood is in dire need of divine intervention to survive.

“Our economy is already under severe stress, the currency is losing value daily, unemployment and inflation rising.

Obi finally implored the people not to despair and miss the essence and meaning of the festivity and the divine succour it brings, assuring that there is always a light at the end of every tunnel as a new Nigeria is still possible.

The Bayelsa State Police Command, has assured residents of adequate security ahead of the Eid-el-fitri celebration across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Alonyenu Francis Idu, directed the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Heads of Tactical and Operational Teams to maintain the Command’s proactive policing strategy during the period.

The CP, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Mohammed, felicitated with Muslims in the state as they prepare for the Sallah celebration.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Alonyenu Francis Idu, on behalf of officers and men of the Command, extends warm felicitations to the good people of Bayelsa State and especially Muslim Ummah in the state as they prepare to celebrate the upcoming Eid-el-Fitri Sallah celebration.

“To this end, the Commissioner of Police has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and Heads of Tactical and Operational Teams to maintain the Command’s proactive policing strategy.

“They are tasked with ensuring absolute dominance of their respective security areas, preventing any potential security breaches during and after the celebration.

“Thus, the CP encourages Muslim faithful to observe the spirit of the occasion while remaining vigilant. Any suspicious activities or individuals should be promptly reported to the nearest police station or call 09167322691 / 09167322691,” the statement said.

The Maritime Police Command in Lagos said it arrested two men suspected of impersonating the command for extortion.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Rowland Ehinmode, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.

Mr Ehinmode said that the suspects were arrested on April 2 for alleged conspiracy and forgery of Maritime police command official/investigation documents, among others.

“They were arrested after a complaint was lodged at the Maritime Police Command headquarters that some containers were blocked.

“They were arrested after a complaint was lodged at the Maritime Police Command headquarters that some containers were blocked with purported documents from the command, contrary to the directives of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Maritime, Lagos, Rhoda Olofu.

“The AIG, on assumption of office in November 2023, ordered the immediate release of all containers blocked or placed on lien at the ports without cogent reasons.

“This was to give effect to the federal government’s policy on ease of doing business at the country’s seaports. He warned that blocking containers should be based only on credible information”.

The spokesperson said that the investigation, however, revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired and forged the Maritime Police Command’s official documents.

He said that they also impersonated police officers of the Maritime Command and blocked more than 20 containers for purposes of extorting money from the consignees and clearing agents.

Mr Ehinmode said that the AIG frowned at the unwholesome, fraudulent and criminally minded individuals parading themselves as officers of Maritime Police Command.

“The AIG advised port users to always verify with the Maritime Police Command the authenticity of any purported investigation activities or container blockage letters.

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, April 11, 2024, as additional public holiday to commemorate Eid-el-Fitr.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, shared on the ministry’s X account on Tuesday.

The statement said, “The Federal Government has approved Thursday, April 11, 2024 as an additional public holiday to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr.

“The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while congratulating the Muslim Ummah for a successful completion of a month of spiritual rejuvenation, reiterates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s firm commitment to providing a safe and prosperous Nigeria for all to thrive.”

Saudi Arabia, on Monday, said the crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted, indicating that the fasting will continue on Tuesday.

It also added that the Eid-el-Fitr would hold on Wednesday, April 10 to mark the beginning of the new Islamic month.

The Federal Government had earlier Sunday declared Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9 and 10, 2024, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

Bayern Munich have confirmed members of their squad that will be travelling to face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The Gunners come into the game following back-to-back wins against Luton Town and Brighton.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s men lost 3-2 away to newly promoted Heidenheim over the weekend.

Between the sticks, Tuchel has selected Manuel Neuer, Daniel Peretz and Sven Ulreich.

The defenders that made the trip to London are Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-Jae, Matthijs De Ligt, Eric Dier, Alphonso Davies, Noussair Mazraoui and Raphael Guerreiro.

In midfield, those available for selection include Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Konrad Laimer, Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic.

In attack, there is Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller, Bryan Zaragoza, Mathys Tel and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu kept silent as the recent 240 per cent electricity tariff hike worsens the suffering being faced by Nigerians.

The recent electricity tariff increase for customers has birthed another page of hardship for Nigerians.

While the residues of pain caused by the removal of subsidy and the Naira floating policies implemented by Tinubu’s Government last year still lingers, the hike in electricity tariff for customers under Band A, getting at least 20 hours of power supply, has further unsettled Nigerians.

In defence of the hike, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, noted last Friday that 85 per cent of electricity will not be affected.

He added that the Government would save N1.14 trillion in electricity subsidies.

Despite Adelabu’s position, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry have all openly condemned the new electricity tariff hike.

They all agreed there is a cloud of confusion around the tariff implementation amid economic hardship.

Upon the new tariff announcement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Tuesday last week, the eleven Discos began implementing the N255 kilowatt-hours rate for customers getting 20 hours.

However, the implementation has attracted widespread dissatisfaction among electricity consumers.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company apologized to consumers for wrongly applying new tariff hikes on B, C, D, and E customers, who were categorized as getting 16 hours of power supply.

Consequently, Abuja Disco was slammed with a fine of N200 million by NERC over the wrong billing of customers. The Commission also ordered the Disco to refund affected customers with energy tokens before 11 April, 2024.

The German Armed Forces have sent an A400M transport aircraft to the Middle East to drop food over the Gaza Strip.

The aircraft departed the Wunstorf air base in northern Germany on Monday morning, an air force spokesman said.

The A400M is to be deployed over the Palestinian territory for the first time on Wednesday.

The Airbus, which was to replace the aircraft, has already been deployed and would be used as an internationally standardised pallet system.

The pallet system is used so that the aid supplied can be packed by the Bundeswehr itself in the future.

A French pallet system had to be used for the flights with the older C-130 transport aircraft Germany has used to date.

The operation was planned to last several weeks while a jetty to receive aid on Gaza’s coast was being built.

Jordan, which is coordinating the air supply operation, is planning a particularly large drop of relief supplies for Tuesday, at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The Luftwaffe began dropping aid supplies for the suffering population in the embattled Gaza Strip in mid-March.

Other nations, such as the U.S., are also taking part. Each of the German aircraft deployed so far can transport up to 18 tonnes of cargo.

The Saudi Arabia, on Monday, said the crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted, indicating that the fasting will continue on Tuesday.

It also added that the Eid-El-Fitr would hold on Wednesday, April 10 to mark the beginning of the new Islamic month.

This disclosure was made on Haramin’s official Facebook page, an official platform for the Muslim community across the world.

“The crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, 10th April 2024.

“May Allāh allow us to utilise the remaining moments of this blessed month to engage in that which pleases Him, may He accept our siyām, qiyām & a’māl & may He allow us to witness many more Ramadāns in good health. Āmīn,” it wrote.

However, Nigerian Muslims are expected to wait for the announcement of the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar, later in the day.

The PUNCH reports that the Sultan on Sunday called on Muslims across the nation to look out for the new moon marking the beginning of Shawwal 1445 AH.

In a statement by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council in Sokoto, Sambo Wali, he urged individuals who spot the new moon to promptly inform the relevant authorities.

“Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Shawwal 1445AH on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, , the Sultan of Sokoto,” the statement reads.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded a Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the determination of his bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order after Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till April 18 for the ruling on his bail application and May 2 for commencement of trial.

Edo State House of Assembly has impeached the deputy governor of the State, Philip Shaibu.

The impeachment was sequel to the report submitted by Justice S.A. Omonua-led seven-man panel which investigated the petition against the deputy governor.

The panel in its reports said the allegation of perjury was not proved beyond reasonable doubt by the complainant against the deputy governor, while that of disclosure of government official documents was proved beyond reasonable doubt against the deputy governor.

At the plenary, 20 members attended,18 members voted in favour of the panel’s reports, while one voted against.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbrbaku directed that a clean copy of the impeachment decision by the House be sent to the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki for assent.

Former hostages and relatives of the remaining abductees have commemorated the fate of those held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip six months after the October 7 attacks.

More than 50,000 people showed up for the Jerusalem rally calling for the hostages to be brought home, according to the organization of family members behind the march.

A number of sisters of the women who are still being held hostage stood on stage at the beginning of the event dressed in clothes like those worn by the women on October 7, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas led a surprise attack on Israel triggering the current war.

Several taped their mouths shut as a symbol of the hostages’ speechlessness and painted red paint on their clothes or arms as a sign of blood.

“I am addressing the prime minister and the security cabinet from here: More reluctance and indecision means more hostages will return to us in coffins,” cried Lishay Lavi Miran, the wife of the abducted Omri Miran.

“I beg you: Do not return from the negotiations without a deal that includes my Omri and the other men.”

Yehuda Cohen, the father of a hostage, said: “I came here to demand that someone takes real responsibility for returning all our loved ones, someone who will save us from this hell, someone who will give us hope instead of hatred and fear, someone who will unite the people from division and fragmentation.”

Relatives of the hostages recalled the festivities of the past six months, which had to be celebrated without their loved ones.

Now they hoped to return for the Passover seder plate during one of the most important holidays in Judaism, celebrated this year from April 22 to 30.

Some 1,200 people were killed during attacks led by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 and 250 more abducted into Gaza.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive, which have killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, much of which has been left in ruins and on the brink of famine.

Hamas released 105 hostages during a week-long ceasefire at the end of November.

In return, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners.

According to Israeli estimates, almost 100 of the hostages are still alive.

The Defence Headquarters says the Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, on Friday, killed six terrorists, after an ambush, along Buratai-Buni Gari Road, Borno.

InThe Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this revelation in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Buba said that while an army Lieutenant died in the ambush, four other personnel, who sustained injuries in action, were receiving treatment.

He, however, said troops’ reinforcement pursued the terrorists to their hideout within the Timbuktu Triangle and neutralised six of them.

According to him, troops recovered five AK-47 rifles and 103 rounds of the 7.62mm special ammunition.

“The remaining terrorists ran in disarray and the troops are in hunt of the remnant terrorists that fled the firefight,” he said.

Over 90 people have died after a boat capsized off Mozambique’s northern coast on Sunday.

Local media reported that those aboard the boat were fleeing a cholera outbreak and were travelling from Lunga to Mozambique Island, off the coast of Nampula.

A representative of the island administration revealed that the fishing boat could accommodate a maximum of 100 people.

However, there were around 130 people on board.

The AIM news agency, citing a representative of the maritime authority, reported that the ship was probably wrecked when it was hit by high waves.

Mozambique is currently affected by the largest cholera outbreak of the last 25 years, according to the UN’s children’s relief organization UNICEF.

Since the outbreak began in September 2022, more than 37,000 cases have been reported.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has predicted sunshine and thunderstorms across the country from Monday to Wednesday.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, predicted sunny and hazy atmosphere over parts of Yobe and Borno states on Monday, with chances of thunderstorms over part of Kebbi.

The agency said that the remaining parts of the North would be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning periods.

It added that later in the day, isolated thunderstorms would be anticipated over parts of Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna States.

According to NiMet, sunny skies with few cloud patches are expected over the North central region with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Niger, Kwara and Benue during the morning hours.

It said that isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Plateau, FCT, Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi later in the day.

NiMet expected the South to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states during the morning hours.

NiMet envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Ogun, Imo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced one Solomon Martins to one year imprisonment for romance scam.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Sunday.

The commission stated that Martins was arraigned by its Lagos Zonal Command on a two-count charge.

The charge read, “That you, Solomon Martins on or about the 1st day of December, 2022, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently impersonated one ‘John Scott’ white military male from London, United Kingdom, by holding yourself out as such to unsuspecting members of the public via Gmail correspondence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.

“He was said to have pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

He was, therefore, sentenced to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N1,500,000 and 100 hours community service.

The judge ordered that his mobile phone and bank draft of N100,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested an Ilorin based clergyman, Prophet Adeniyi James, for allegedly defrauding a member of his church to the tune of N3.9 million.

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Saturday, said the Ilorin Zonal Command arrested James on April 2, 2024 for the alleged offence.

It was gathered that James is the General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry in Ilorin.

Oyewale noted that the victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, in a petition to the Commission, alleged that James called him out during a church programme sometime in 2021, declaring that he had a revelation that he (Babarinsa) would travel abroad.

“The petitioner said the cleric, in the course of giving the revelation, asked him about his preferred country, which he replied ‘Canada’ and they agreed to talk later in order to perfect arrangements for the trip.

“The petitioner said James later told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could help him facilitate his relocation to Canada, but at a cost of N1.7 million and N2.5 million for processing of flight ticket and travel documents, respectively.

Babarinsa added that he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans before he could raise N3,980,000 which he gave the prophet to facilitate his quick relocation to Canada.

“After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money.

“All efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result,” EFCC spokesman said.

The suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigations, Oyewale added.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has given 11 electricity distribution companies till April 11, 2024, to refund customers wrongly billed at the new rate.

This was contained in a document signed by Abba Terab, the DGM, market competition and rates for the commission and made available on Saturday in Lagos.

The refund, NERC said, should be through energy tokens no later than April 11, and file evidence of compliance with the Commission by April 12.

It also directed all electricity distribution companies to provide as much clarity as possible to all affected customers.

The DisCos are hereby directed to implement the following updates;

1. All DisCos shall ensure that only the newly approved Band A feeders listed in their April 2024 supplementary orders are maintained as Band A for the purpose of vending to prepaid customers and billing for post-paid customers on their networks.

2. All DisCos are required to immediately post on their websites the schedule of approved Band A feeders that have been affected by the rate review.

3. All DisCos shall set up a portal by 10th April 2024 on their website that allows all customers to check their current Bands by entering their meter or account numbers.

4. All customers wrongly billed at the new rate should be refunded through energy tokens no later than Thursday, 11th April 2024, and file evidence of compliance with the Commission by 12th April 2024.

5. The Commission shall monitor compliance with the requirements listed above and shall continue to provide support to all stakeholders as required,” the document said.

The proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiites, says not less than four of its members have been killed and an unspecified number injured following a clash with the Police in Kaduna State.

Professor Dauda Nalado, a member of the IMN, who spoke to newsmen, alleged that the police in Kaduna opened fire on Friday to disperse the procession of its members to mark the International Quds Day.

The law enforcement operatives, particularly the Nigeria Police, moved to stop the Shi’ites, who trooped out in large numbers.

The Shiites on Friday, had assembled near the Katsina roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way, prior to the arrival of the police, who attempted to disperse them to undertake their procession.

The Shiites procession caused tension and unease among the citizens, especially those with businesses situated along Ahmadu Bello Way as shots were fired by the police to disperse the protesters.

According to Nalado, “The great global leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Ruhullah Al-Musawi Al-Khomeini, Invited Muslims and non-Muslims with humanity at heart to show solidarity with the innocent and oppressed people of Palestine and against the brutality of the usurper, apartheid, and the illegal state of Israel. The Imam declared the last Friday of each Ramadan as the International Quds Day.”

He added that the Islamic movement, under the leadership of Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky, has been observing the event for decades in Nigeria.

He explained that the annual procession was one of the reasons for the Zaria massacre executed by the Buhari regime in 2015 which was to kill Sayyid Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and crush the movement for justice, all due to the staunch support for the Palestinian course.