The police command in Ogun on Tuesday said it had arrested two security men for allegedly shooting a man in the eye as a result of a misunderstanding in Sango-Ota area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen in Sango-Ota, said the suspects were arrested on Sept. 2.

According to her, the unfortunate incident happened when a case of attempted murder was reported in Sango-Ota.

She explained that one Abiodun Fatai reported that his younger brother, Ramon Rasaq was involved in an altercation with security men on their street.

Mr Fatai said a quarrel ensued when Mr Rasaq opened the gate himself as the two security men, Michael Adelayo and Ganiyu Saka, were not at their security post at the time his brother (Rasaq) got to the gate, making his way into the street.

This led to a quarrel, and during the ensuing scuffle, one of the security men, Mr Saka shot Mr Rasaq in the eye.

“Following the incident, the victim was rushed to a traditional healer who successfully removed seven pellets from his right eye.

“The CSP Saleh Dahiru, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Sango Ota, provided the necessary medical forms for Rasaq to be transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“At the hospital, he received immediate medical attention to stabilise his condition, but unfortunately he lost his right eye. The doctor on duty assured that Rasaq was currently responding positively to treatment,” said Ms Odutola.

The PPRO said the commissioner of police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, had directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Indian government is considering renaming the country as Bharat, an official has said.

The Narendra Modi-led government is to bring the resolution for changing the country’s name at the special session of the parliament.

The session is scheduled to be held from September 18 – 22.

“The entire country is demanding that we should use the word ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’, MP Harnath Singh Yadav said.Mr Yadav explained that the word ‘India’ is an abuse given to the country by the British.

“Whereas the word ‘Bharat’ is a symbol of our culture. There should be a change in our constitution and the word ‘Bharat’ should be added to it.”

The move is seen as a response to a recent bloc of opposition alliance calling itself the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The proposed name, ‘Bharat’, gained ground after images of the official invite to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu came to the fore.

The invite shows it was from “the President of Bharat.”

Earlier invitations had the heading President of the Republic of India.But Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh has hit out at Mr Modi for calling for the change of the country’s name as an assault on the constitution.

“Mr Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States. But we will not be deterred.

“After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties? It is BHARAT—Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega BHARAT, Jeetega INDIA!”, Mr Ramesh said.

Two persons were confirmed dead while eight others sustained injuries in an accident involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck around Christopher University on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Florence Okpe, spokesperson, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Ms Okpe noted that the incident occurred at 11:30 a.m. and it involved a Toyota Hiace, marked GAS 937 XA, and a moving truck.

She noted that FRSC operatives Mowe unit command in conjunction with Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) carried out rescue operation.

She explained that 10 persons were involved which comprised seven males and three females.

Ms Okpe stated that eight persons, which involved six males and two females were injured, while one male and one female were recorded dead from the crash.

“The fatal crash was caused by excessive speed and wrongful overtaking on the part of the Toyota driver and then rammed into a moving truck,” she said.

Ms Okpe noted that the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe while the corpses were deposited at Idera Mutuary, Sagamu.

The FRSC spokesperson quoted the sector commander, Anthony Uga, to have cautioned motorists on excessive speed and poor judgement on overtaking.

The Ondo state government has inaugurated palliative committees in the 18 local government areas of the state for effective distribution of food items procured to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

The state government also announced Sept. 12 as the date for commencement of the distribution of the food items to beneficiaries.

Ondo state acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while inaugurating the local government palliative committees in Akure on Tuesday, urged the members to be equitable and transparent in distributing the palliatives at the grassroots level.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said the inauguration of the palliative committees at the local government areas was aimed at involving stakeholders at the third-tier level in the distribution of food items to the people at the grassroots.

“Government is aware of the pain caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“Let me assure you that distribution of the palliatives at the local government level will be thorough and transparent,” he said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa urged members of the committee to hold meetings and plan the scheduled date to ensure effective distribution of the food items to the concerned people.

The chairman of the Ondo state palliative committee, Wale Akinterinwa, said so far, 9,600 bags of rice had been received from the federal government with some addition from the state government that would be distributed to the vulnerable.

Mr Akinterinwa said the distribution would be done in phases to accommodate others who would not have benefitted after the scheduled date.

He also said that the food items were meant for all ethnic groups resident in the state and the poorest of the poor.Also, the chairman palliative media sub-committee, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said distribution of the palliatives would begin on Sept. 12.

Ms Bamidele-Olateju, who is also the state Commissioner for Information, said that more advocacy would be done through the media to inform the public about the distribution of the palliatives at the local government level.

She said that arrangements had been made for shuttle buses to convey students to and from schools once they resume the 2023/2024 academic session from Sept. 18 to Dec. 31.

The commissioner said that the state government was committed to ensuring transparent distribution of the food items, urging stakeholders to cooperate to build peoples’ confidence in the process.

The local government palliative committee comprises members of the state executive council, members of the state House of Assembly, representatives of security agencies, chairmen of the 18 council areas, and traditional leaders.

Others are; the Christian Association of Nigeria at the local level, the Muslim community, two notable community leaders, civil society organisations and a local government official to serve as secretary.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) presented employment letters on Tuesday to the families of the seven personnel killed by bandits in Kaduna State.

On Jan. 23, 2023, seven personnel of the NSCDC Kaduna command were ambushed and killed by bandits while on official duty in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.

The employment letters were presented to the families by the NSCDC commandant in Kaduna state, Idris Adah.

Mr Adah said the gesture was in fulfilment of the promise made by the commandant general, Ahmed Audi, to the families of the deceased.

“Today it’s with joy that I present to you the CG’s good deeds by handing over the appointment letters to the next of kin of the late officers.

“This is in fulfilment of the CG’s promise to the family; this, however, cannot replace the lives of our loved ones,” he added.

Mr Adah therefore challenged the beneficiaries to do their best and represent their families with honour and dignity.The commandant said that the Corps remained committed to its responsibility of protecting critical national assets.

“We are working round the clock with other security agencies to fight crime in the state so that we all can sleep with our two eyes closed,” Mr Adah said.

He warned that anyone caught vandalising critical national assets would be arrested and prosecuted.

Baba Audi-Landan, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, appreciated the CG for fulfilling the promise.

He said the appointments given to them would benefit not only their families but society at large.

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing N2.3 trillion expended by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) says the agency spent over N40 billion on projects in six institutions in Borno.

The committee chair, Idem Unyime, disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri during a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum.

Mr Unyime said the committee was in the state to visit the benefitting institutions to verify the claim.

“Your state has benefitted from TetFund to the tune of over N40 billion. Because of the petition that we have against TetFund on how N2.3 trillion was allegedly abused, the House inaugurated this committee to go round the country to ensure that the projects and programmes on the ground equal to the money released,” stated the legislator.

Mr Unyime added, “We are here to look at things for ourselves, to take submissions from schools and to go round the entire state to inspect the project and programmes.”

He promised that they would be thorough and transparent, adding that their report will, among others, also look at ways to empower TetFund in terms of additional funding.

Mr Zulum urged the committee to carry out its assignment diligently and develop recommendations to guide tertiary institutions and TetFund in managing scarce resources.

The Borno governor, who recalled his tenure as the rector of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, from 2011 to 2015, lauded the interventions of TetFund in many viable projects in the institutions.

“It is my belief that the outcome of this investigation will add value to what heads of institutions are doing in the state, especially in areas of managing the little we are getting from TetFund. Without TetFund, many institutions would have failed completely,” stated Mr Zulum.

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to include families of wounded and fallen soldiers in the national social register and its poverty alleviation programmes.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, made this known during a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Monday, in Abuja.

Edu expressed the need to support families of deceased soldiers.

She said, ”We want to expand our social register to accommodate military personnel that have either been wounded or affected by war even soldiers that left their families behind.

“We need this data from the military so that we can have them captured under the social register,” she said.The minister said she was at the defence headquarters to solicit the support of the Nigerian military to tackle humanitarian crises across the country.

“Alleviating humanitarian crises and poverty is the top most of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

”Our preference is to discuss humanitarian crises across the nation and the need to collaborate with the military to prevent more persons coming under the humanitarian bracket.”

We also should be able to reach out effectively to those who are affected by humanitarian crises wherever they are.”

So that our humanitarian workers should be able to reach the people wherever they are with the support of the military,” she said.

In his response, Gen. Musa, assured the minister of the Nigerian military commitment to support her towards achieving the mandate of the ministry.

Musa, who acknowledged the link between military operations and humanitarian aid, said the success of any organisation directly benefit military efforts.

While assuring the minister of his unwavering commitment towards her humanitarian mission, the defence chief was optimistic that the collaboration would yield positive results.

The Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has announced the indefinite suspension of all academic activities in the institution with immediate effect.

The University in a memo signed by its Acting Registrar, Ambrose Odiase, said the suspension of academic activities became necessary following an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate in Ekpoma on Monday, to appraise protest by students that had run into days.

According to the management, “To prevent a total breakdown of law and order as well as the need to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the university community and its environs, the senate was left with no other choice than to direct an immediate suspension of academic activities.

“To this effect, all students residing in the hostels on campus are to vacate the halls of residence in the next 24 hours.

“This is an indication that no student should be seen in or around the halls of residence of the university by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday 5th September 2023.

It would be recalled that students of the University had been protesting an alleged increase in school fees for returning students for about four days.

The protest disrupted academic activities and a scheduled commendation service in honour of a late Professor of Economics, Moses Isunu Aliemen.

The situation led to the dissolution of the Student Union Executive. The university had in its various releases stated that there was no time the tuition fee of returning students was increased.

Meanwhile, the 40th Matriculation Ceremony of the University scheduled to be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, has also been postponed indefinitely.

The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed workers in the state to boycott the Palliative Distribution Committee set up by Governor Mohammed Bago.

The council, which kicked against the governor’s plans for palliative distribution, said the pathetic situation in which the working class and pensioners find themselves in Nigeria and Niger State in particular leaves a lot to be desired.

The state chairman of the NLC, Idrees Lafene, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress, Ibrahim Gana, addressed a press conference on Monday in which they lamented that the state governor had skimmed out the working class and pensioners in the palliatives.

“The deliberate plan by the Niger State Government to skim out the working class and pensioners in the palliatives has triggered serious tension among members of organised labour that could have a negative effect on the overall productivity of the working class.

“Although we identify with the Governor on his efforts to be accountable to Nigerlites, as exemplified in his address on the subject of palliatives, the decision to exclude the working class and retirees in the first phase of the planned palliatives stamps logic in the head and will not be accepted by the working class, who toil daily to create wealth for the state,” the council said.

They alluded to an understanding between the state government and organised labour that the working class would be included in the palliatives to ease their suffering and expressed concern that the state governor did not come out clearly to include them in the first phase of the palliatives.

While noting that the organised labour had proposed a N50,000 flat rate for workers in a meeting held with the governor, the State Administrative Council of the organised labour issued nine demands, including;

“Payment of N50,000 on a flat rate basis as palliative to all working class and retirees in the state and LGAs; suspension of PAYEE until further review of the minimum wage; and immediate implementation of a minimum pension based on the N30,000 national minimum wage for retirees in the state and LGAs.

“Others are monitoring and enforcing price control measures on essential commodities, completing the rehabilitation of infrastructural facilities across the state and LGAs, and improving the security situation in the state and LGAs, with special emphasis on encouraging local vigilantes, among others.”

The NLC said, “Despite the rising inflation, insecurity, and hunger that greeted the untimely removal of subsidy on PMS, the Federal Government has refused to dialogue with organised labour in good faith on options to cushion the agony and hardship faced by the masses of Nigeria, especially the working class.

“To press home our demands, the national headquarters of the NLC has directed workers in the 36 states and the FCT to down tools in a two-day warning strike on Tuesday, May 5, and Wednesday, May 6, to test the ‘microphone’ in preparation for a full-blown strike. Niger State organised labour has already mobilised workers to comply fully and comprehensively.”

The United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, announced an investment of $4.5 billion in clean energy projects for Africa during a landmark climate summit hosted by Kenya, which is aimed at attracting funding to combat global warming.

“We will deploy $4.5 billion… to jumpstart a pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in this very important continent,” said Sultan Al Jaber, who heads the government-owned renewable energy firm Masdar, the UAE’s national oil company ADNOC and the COP28 climate talks.

Heads of state, government and industry leaders, are among thousands of attendees at the Nairobi summit, where Africa is promoting its potential as a clean energy powerhouse.

The Africa Climate Summit will be followed by the COP28 summit later this year in Dubai, which is expected to feature competing agendas for the world’s energy future.

“If Africa loses, we all lose,” warned Jaber, who is also the UAE’s minister for industry and advanced technology.

He said the investment aimed “to develop 15 GW (gigawatts) of clean power by 2030” and “catalyse at least an additional $12.5 billion from multilateral, public and private sources”.

As of 2022, the continent’s renewable generation capacity was 56 gigawatts, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The three-day event being held in Nairobi, which began on Monday, is billed to bring together African leaders to define a shared vision for green development on the diverse continent of 1.4 billion people.

On Tuesday, the summit will offer proposals to reform global financial structures that have resulted in only a tiny fraction of investments in climate solutions being directed towards Africa.

Jaber called for a “surgical intervention of the global financial architecture that was built for a different era”, urging institutions to lower debt burdens.

Countries in Africa are hamstrung by mounting debt costs and a dearth of finance, and despite an abundance of natural resources, just three per cent of energy investments worldwide are made in the continent.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned the Department of State Services not to deter students from exercising their rights to protest, saying this is a universally recognised human right.

The National Public Relations Officer of the union, Giwa Temitope, was reacting to the statement made by DSS that some politicians were mobilising student leaders for violent protest against the Federal Government over socioeconomic matters.

“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic-based associations, youth, and disgruntled groups for the planned action,” the spokesperson for the security agency, Peter Afunanya stated on Monday.

It was reported last week that a group, Student Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike, revealed that it would protest against fee hike at the University of Lagos on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

Backing the move, the NANS PRO, in a statement sent to our correspondent on Tuesday, said the student body would be storming UNILAG for the protest and urged the DSS not to infringe on the rights of students.

Giwa said, “It is quite embarrassing that the DSS has derailed to become the propaganda arm of the Federal Government, thereby, raising false alarms and even interfering in affairs that do not in any way relate to their line of profession.

“As an association, we maintain that we are not satisfied with how the Nigerian society is being run, most especially, as regards arbitrary fee increment across our tertiary institutions, with the University of Lagos being a model.”

NANS said the failure of the UNILAG management to honour the agreement reached at the meeting with student leaders on August 2, “forced the student body to fix a date of action at the university for September 6 and the protest will hold till the management reverses the hike.

“Students are therefore enjoined to come out en masse and join the protest for the immediate reversal of fee at the University of Lagos.”

The UNILAG management in July 2023, increased fees from N19,000 to N190,250, for students studying medicine, while for courses that require laboratory and studio, the students were to pay N140,250.The management cited “prevailing economic realities” as reason for the hike.

Award-winning Nollywood actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, looked elegant in a cream-colored dress as she celebrated her 43rd birthday on Tuesday.

The ‘Ijakumo’ actress shared stunning new images of herself on her Instagram page #toyin_abraham, captioning them, “I am 63 minus 20 years old today.

“Fans have since taken to her comment section to celebrate with the mom of one.Her husband, actor #kolawoleajeyemi commented, “Happy birthday Ayomi.”

#Stevesodiya also wrote, “63 minus 20, happy birthday to you my darling, more blessed years in good health, I pray for you.

#thedamilolaoni wrote, “A very Happy Birthday to you Ma. God continue to bless you and keep you in His love.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction over the N85bn contract meant for the provision of infrastructure for the Wasa Affordable Housing project in Wasa District, Abuja.

He registered his displeasure when he led the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud and other government officials to visit the road construction site for the housing estate on Monday.

Earlier, the acting Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department, Mr. Olusegun Olusan, explained that the contract for the provision of the infrastructure was awarded in 2014, at the tune of N26bn but was revised to N85bn in 2018.

Olusan told the minister that so far, a total of N21bn had been paid to the contractor with a balance of N64bn left, adding that the percentage of work done so far is 21.4 per cent.

On the housing scheme, the coordinator explained that the government’s role was to provide the land and infrastructure, while private developers would build houses and sell to the masses at affordable rates.

He added that at the conception of the project, a two-bedroom flat was to be sold to the masses at N7m.

However, the minister was not impressed with the arrangement made by the FCT, stressing that the government should not spend N85bn to provide infrastructure and land, and benefit nothing.

“We are not impressed with the arrangement made by the FCT. The government cannot just cough out N85bn to provide infrastructure and then give the land out to private developers who will build and sell.

“This kind of arrangement is not commendable at all, at all. We think that the government must also participate, having provided the land and infrastructure.

“If we are partnering with private individuals or developers, the common sense is that you provide the land, provide infrastructure and they come and develop.

“Then government, for example, can take 10 per cent, then the developers can take 90 per cent, depending on the value,” he said.

Wike said that under such arrangements, the government should be able to determine the price at which the houses can be sold to the masses, saying that the masses cannot afford N7m for a house.

The FCT Minister said the project would be revisited for proper planning, in such a way that the government would benefit from the project and ensure that the masses, whom the houses were being built for can afford it.

On the project being delayed for so long, Wike said that FCT would not be awarding contracts indiscriminately.

“We will award contact that we know we will finish before embarking on another contract.

“Every contract is abandoned because there is no money. So, we are going to look at everything,” the minister added.

Earlier, the minister visited the ongoing road construction leading to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission and the Body of Benchers building.

He said that the contractor was invited for a meeting on Tuesday, to work out ways to complete the road project.

“We have also been to Kabusa Junction, Abuja, where shanties were destroyed by development control. Like we said, we cannot allow shanties to take over the FCT.

“The development control has done well by making sure that the shanties in the area are destroyed and we are going to protect the area to ensure that the miscreants do not return to mess up the place again,” Wike said.

The wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Titilola Adeleke, has called on the wives of local government chairmen in the state to support the pet project of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’.

Speaking in Osogbo, the state capital during a meeting with the women, she also directed them to replicate the First Lady’s initiative in their respective local government areas.

Adeleke’s wife revealed that there are plans to organise a series of enlightenment programmes on women and girl-child education.

A statement published in the news bulletin of the State Ministry of Information and Public Engagement on Monday, quoting Mrs Adeleke read, “Embrace the pet project christened Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“I direct you to have a local chapter of that initiative in your respective local government areas without any hindrance.

“RHI is all about enhancing the welfare of all women and their children. The Initiative will cover areas such as education, health and agriculture which are identified as strategically central to the sustainability of total development of women and children not only in Osun State but Nigeria in general.”

In her remark, the Deputy Governor’s wife, Mrs. OIusola Adewusi, lauded Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for placing a high premium on the welfare of women and children.

Also, wife to the State Head of Service, Dr. Moji Aina, who harped on the importance of education and training of a girl-child, admonished women to be alive to their domestic responsibilities.

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, swore in the chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas elected in Saturday’s council election amid calls by the All Progressives Congress to halt the ceremony.

Obaseki said the elected chairmen were carefully selected by the Peoples Democratic Party and elected by the people.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the chairman to collaborate with the state government to bring good governance to the people.

He said, “I campaigned with all of you around the local government, so I wasn’t surprised that you won. What amazed me, which I didn’t realise was the love and support which our people have for the PDP. Don’t let them down.”

Obaseki urged the new chairmen to focus on developing their areas and to ensure that the environment is clean.He gave an assurance that his administration would create alternative routes in areas where the federal roads have become dilapidated.

The governor said, “Today, we are in a crisis in our country. What is hurting Edo the most is in terms of our location, we are at the centre of the country and, therefore, are connected to a lot of roads owned by the federal government.

“The Federal Government as you know today lacks the capacity to manage itself, not to talk of rebuilding its roads, so it could take a while if ever for them to be able to build those roads.

“We, fortunately, have other connections, so our priority with you should be to design and work with the state government to build alternative state roads.However, the APC chairman, Col. David Imuse (retd.) said no local government election was held on Saturday.

He said, “What was purported to be an election or selection process turned out to be nothing more than a sham, leaving Edo citizens severely disillusioned and questioning the integrity of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission.

“There was no local government election in Edo State, and so no results in any guise should be released by the EDSIEC.

“There should be no attempt to swear in any person or persons as chairmen or councillors on the basis of the so-called election.

“The APC is, hereby, urging all concerned stakeholders, civil society organisations, and the general public, to take note of this grave travesty and join us in demanding justice and fairness for the people of Edo State.”

The delegation of the Federal Government led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday, visited the family of Taiwo Akinkunmi, the designer of the Nigerian national flag, who died at the age of 87 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

His son, Akinkunmi Samuel, announced his death via his Facebook page last week.

“Life is indeed transient; I can say boldly you live a life with a landmark. Continue to rest on, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R) Great Man has gone,” Samuel’s post disclosed.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration for his second term was held on Monday in spite of accounts from international observers who said the country’s August elections were flawed.

Mnangagwa said that Zimbabwe had shown it is a “democracy with maturity” during the ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in the nation’s capital Harare.

The 80-year-old said he would ensure that the country’s constitution and rule of law were upheld over his second term.

He was declared the winner after a presidential election that observers deemed insufficiently free and fair.

Several human rights organisations pointed to voter intimidation, the falsification of the electoral rolls and the appointment of backers of the governing party Zanu-PF to the electoral commission.

The country’s main opposition party also refuted the results saying the elections had been marred by “voter suppression and egregious abuse.”

According to the electoral commission, Mnangagwa received 53 per cent of the votes cast, while the most promising opposition candidate, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party received 44 per cent.

Mnangagwa’s governing Zanu-PF party also recorded a solid majority in parliament.

Zimbabwe’s elections had been marred in the past by incidents of violence and allegations of manipulation.

The nation had been mired in an economic crisis for decades, with soaring inflation and unemployment.

Zimbabwe was ruled by strongman Robert Mugabe from 1987 to 2017.

After Mugabe was overthrown by the military, former vice president Mnangagwa came to power.

A year later, the elections won by Mnangagwa were also overshadowed by violence and repression.

A former British colony, Zimbabwe has been governed by the Zanu-PF party since it became independent in 1980.

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday afternoon, chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at the State House, Abuja. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Although details of the meeting were not made public, it was gathered that it was convened to review the current security situation and for the service Chiefs to brief President Tinubu before he departs for New Delhi, India, later tonight ahead of the G-20 summit scheduled for September 9-10. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Monday’s gathering which was held at the President’s conference room comes exactly three months after Tinubu convened his first security meeting with the now-retired service chiefs. It is his third since assuming office on May 29, 2023. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

A recent report by the International Committee of the Red Cross described the banditry ravaging Nigeria’s North West and North Central as the gravest security threat to the country.

⁣⁣The account titled, The question of definition: Armed banditry in Nigeria’s North-West in the context of international humanitarian law” said banditry and terrorism have put the North East and North-West on the edge.

⁣⁣It said while terrorists had killed about 350,000 people and displaced millions, the fatalities from the activities of the bandits at some point outweighed that of the Boko Haram terrorists.

⁣⁣Present at the security meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

The Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru and his Minister of State, Bello Mattawale were also present.⁣⁣⁣⁣

None of the attendees agreed to address the press as of this report.⁣

The father of a corps member kidnapped in Zamfara State, has accused security agencies and the National Youth Service Corps of showing no concern towards the situation.

Emmanuel Etteh’s daughter was one of eight graduates abducted while en route from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to their NYSC orientation camp.

PUNCH reports that gunmen abducted eight members of the NYSC on a highway in Zamfara on Saturday, August 19.

The corps members were travelling inside an AKTC bus from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto State, en route to Zamfara State, to take part in the mandatory national service.

In a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Etteh described the over two-week-long ordeal as devastating, given the lack of communication on the part of the authorities.

He said, “It is very devastating because, as a parent, I am very disappointed by the government. No one has been talking about or asking questions since this incident happened.

“Security agencies are not caring, NYSC leadership shows no concern, and everyone behaves as if nothing happened.“Every activity is going on, and I keep on asking, ‘Is this a type of government we want for our country? Is this the type of security we can feel safer with?’ NYSC invited these children out of their homes to Sokoto.”

The concerned father expressed his disappointment with the Director General of NYSC, stating that he had hoped for a higher level of commitment from the organization. The father argued that the NYSC had not met the expected standards.

Etteh added that nobody cared to reach out to the parents or discuss the situation.

Personnel of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have uncovered no fewer than 12 illegal oil refining sites in Owahwa Creek, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.

The operatives also discovered 60 crude oil cooking ovens, 14 reservoirs, six wooden boats laden with stolen crude, and 470 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in the camps.

A statement on Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu revealed that troops also intercepted stolen crude oil in Udu and Tsekelewu, Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta.

The statement read, “Troops of the Nigerian Army in synergy with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have continued to crack down on saboteurs of Nigeria’s oil sector in Southern Nigeria.

“Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion conducting anti-oil theft operations on Saturday, 2 September 2023, cracked down on oil thieves’ camps in Owahwa Creek in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta state.

In the crackdown, the vigilant troops discovered 12 active illegal refining sites, 60 crude oil cooking ovens, 14 reservoirs, 6 wooden boats laden with stolen crude, and 470 sacks of illegally refined AGO concealed in the camps.

“Relatedly, the same troops also intercepted a vehicle conveying 25 polytene bags of suspected illegally refined AGO in Ogbodu Community, in the Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

“In a similar operation also conducted on 2 September 2023, troops of 3 Battalion, intercepted two wooden boats ladened with stolen crude in Tsekelewu, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state.”

Onyema said at Tsekelewu LGA, two suspects were arrested in connection with the oil theft.

“The troops also arrested two suspects in connection with the crime. Both suspects and the illegal products have been handed over to the NSCDC personnel attached to Tantita Security Services for further action.

“Members of the public are implored to report any suspected act of sabotage or criminality to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations to curb economic sabotage in the country, ” the statement added.