A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Joseph Enyinaya, has been arrested for allegedly shooting a young boy who threw a banger in St. Columbus Catholic Church, Amaimo Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, dead.

Residents claimed the Catholic Priest brought out his revolver and shot the young boy who allegedly threw the banger inside the church.

The incident occurred on December 31 with the police confirming arrest of the priest.

Imo police spokesman, Henry Okoye, told The Nation on Thursday: “The priest has been arrested, and the body of the boy has been recovered and deposited at Atta Ikeduru Mortuary.”

Okoye added that a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident.

“The police investigation is expected to shed more light on the events leading up to the incident,” he said.

Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, has signed the 2025 N1.1trn Appropriation Bill into law, declaring that the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House of Assembly remains the authentic one in the state.

The governor signed the bill on Thursday, approximately four days after it was presented to the three lawmakers led by Speaker Oko-Jumbo.

Fubara insisted that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are no longer recognised as legislators.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status.

This development follows Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) suggesting the refinery would not function effectively.

According to the former president, SPDC, which was approached to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.

Obasanjo further alleged that NNPCL has been misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality.

Responding to the claims, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, respectfully invited the former president to visit the facility, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Soneye said: “Furthermore, we extend an open invitation to President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”

Soneye also invited Obasanjo to join the NNPCL in its determination to guarantee the country’s energy security.

“We invite our esteemed former president to join us in this effort as we continue to deliver energy security for our nation and provide tangible benefits to Nigerians.

“His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we assure him that his advice will always be welcomed and appreciated,” he said.

Soneye explained that the NNPCL did not only carry out a turnaround maintenance on the plant but it embarked on a complete overhaul of the refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

“This process was not merely the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a full-scale overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similarly, we are currently conducting the same comprehensive rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery.”

He added that NNPCL has evolved from being a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability.

He said owing to the transition, NNPCL has also moved on from being a loss-making organization to profit -driven international energy firm.

The new NNPC Limited, he said, is committed not only to enhancing these refineries but also to maintaining them to global standards.

Soneye noted that NNPCL will ensure their sustainable operation and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s energy security.

He said: “Regarding his recent comments, we would like to respectfully clarify the current state of the NNPC.

The NNPC has undergone a transformative journey, evolving from a government corporation into a private entity—NNPC Limited.

“This transition has marked a significant shift from being a loss-making organization to a profit-oriented global energy company.”

“We deeply respect and hold President Obasanjo in the highest regard as a distinguished statesman who has contributed significantly to the progress of our nation.

“He has every right to share his perspectives on national issues, and we value his insights and counsel.”

He said: “We remain grateful for his leadership and enduring commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for our great nation.”

Soneye, who was also requested to react to a media report that NNPCL was to stop the supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery said, “No need to respond to falsehood.”

Rival camps of South Korean protesters faced off in chaotic scenes outside the presidential compound Thursday, some trying to protect the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, inside from arrest, as others called for his immediate detention.

Yoon was last month impeached by lawmakers over his ill-fated martial law declaration and investigators probing him over insurrection have a warrant to detain him which they have vowed to execute before Monday.

But hundreds of Yoon’s die-hard supporters, including far-right YouTube personalities and evangelical Christian leaders, gathered outside his compound in Seoul, facing off with the anti-Yoon camp and riot police.

One woman threw herself in front of a police bus, spreading her arms across the windshield, while other Yoon supporters lay down in the street — eyes closed, arms crossed in front of them — when police attempted to move them.

One protester, Park Shi-dong, 74, told AFP he was there to “fight to the death to save liberal democracy,” saying Yoon’s imposition of martial law was justified and he should not be removed from office.

“Impeachment invalid” the protestors yelled as they waved South Korean flags and red lightsticks.

“Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Suk Yeol, we protect! We protect!” they yelled.

Dozens of people were live streaming the protests on YouTube channels, AFP reporters saw.

On Wednesday, Yoon sent a message to the hardline supporters outside his residence, telling them he was watching them on YouTube and urging them to help him “defend democracy” and “fight to the end”.

The opposition and experts decried his move, claiming it was an attempt to weaponise his most extreme protesters, and warning it could lead to violence.

But Yoon supporters like Kim Sang-bae, 63, said they would not leave the area, as they were desperate to “stop the injustice” of the sitting president being arrested — a first in South Korean history.

Yoon’s lawyers have said they believe the arrest warrant is illegal and his security team has previously refused to honour search warrants.

The president himself has refused the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO)’s summons three times — which is what prompted them to seek to detain him for questioning.

Local media reported that one pro-Yoon protester was arrested on charges of obstructing police.

A New Year tragedy was narrowly averted in Edo State after a 55-year-old man, Osaro Ahunwan, allegedly set fire to the home of his estranged wife, Tina Uyi, at Idumwonwina, near Oluku, the Ovia North-East Local Government Area.

Tina, a 54-year-old Italy-based businesswoman, returned to Nigeria on December 31, 2024, to celebrate the New Year with her family.

According to eyewitnesses, Osaro went to Tina’s residence and was refused entry, prompting him to allegedly douse the building with petrol and set it ablaze.

A source said, “Tina returned to Nigeria from her base in Italy and Osaro went to her house when he learnt that she had returned. Tina heard a loud bang on her window while coming out from the bathroom but did not let him in.

“Tina refused her estranged husband into her apartment, claiming that their relationship had ended as her family had returned her pride price since April 2024.”

The fire reportedly engulfed the entire house, destroying property worth millions, including cash in local and foreign currencies.

Tina’s nonagenarian parents were rescued by neighbours, while the Edo State Fire Service extinguished the flames.

Tina, who sustained third-degree burns, is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Benin.

Speaking to PUNCH Online via a phone call, she said, “Osaro destroyed my Lexus (330) Jeep when we had a misunderstanding. He is too controlling and very suspicious of my movement. Even when I am out shopping and he calls, as soon as he hears a male’s voice, he starts calling me names.

“Due to his violent and overbearing character, I decided to quit the marriage that lasted less than two years.

“This time, he tried to come into my apartment and he committed this arson because I refused him entry.”

Tina told PUNCH Online that sometime in 2023, Osaro had threatened to kill her and himself as well.

PUNCH Online gathered that the police in Ekiadolor have arrested the suspect, Osaro and his accomplice, Odaro Ovia Robo (Tina’s elder brother) over the incident.

During interrogation, Osaro reportedly confessed that Tina’s elder brother, Odaro Oviarobo, popularly known as “OD,” provided him with detailed information about his sister’s (Tina) itinerary.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, SP Moses Yamu, while confirming the incident, said he was yet to speak to the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of the Ekiadolor Division for details of the incident.

As of the time of filing the report, both Osaro and Odaro remain in police custody as investigations continue.

U.S. security authorities are investigating whether the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas might have been a terrorist attack, FBI lead agent Jeremy Schwartz said on Wednesday at a news conference.

The explosion killed the Cybertruck’s driver and slightly injured seven, the Las Vegas police said.

Mr Schwartz did not provide details about the person killed in the explosion.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters at a separate news conference that authorities know the name of the person who rented the truck.

He acknowledged that a name was floating around social media but would not comment further.

Mr McMahill said it is important that next of kin be notified and that “we have a 100 per cent identification.” He said the truck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. (1550 GMT) on Wednesday.

The truck drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before driving to the hotel.

Mr McMahill said that the vehicle stopped directly in front of the glass entrance doors of the luxurious building on Wednesday morning and exploded about 20 seconds after stopping.

His office has not yet determined what triggered the explosion, as the vehicle has not yet been processed. He showed surveillance footage showing smoke emanating from the vehicle, culminating in a powerful detonation.

Later, additional drone footage captured the aftermath. The images revealed the charred remnants of several petrol canisters and fireworks.

The electric vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire. The vehicle involved in the Trump hotel incident had been rented through the same rental website used by the New Orleans attacker, who drove a pick-up truck into a crowd celebrating on New Year’s morning, killing 15 people, Mr McMahill said.

A potential connection to the explosion in Las Vegas, which occurred only a few hours later, is being examined, the sheriff said.

Just hours before he rammed a pickup truck through a New Orleans street jammed with New Year’s Eve revellers, the perpetrator’s social media posts indicated he was inspired by the terrorist organisation Islamic State, President Joe Biden said.

Mr Biden, citing FBI information, told reporters that the attacker “posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, expressing the desire to kill.”

Mr Biden made his remarks to the press on Wednesday following the car ramming attack in New Orleans early on New Year’s Day that killed at least 15 and wounded dozens.

Mr Biden referred to the Islamic State as ISIS, but it is also called IS, and in the Middle East and many other countries, it is known as Daesh.

New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said that the driver “was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”

She added, “He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

Police said the incident occurred at 3:15 a.m. (0915 GMT) in an area known for attracting tens of thousands of visitors during major events.

The perpetrator allegedly engaged in a gunfight with officers, injuring two of them, before being killed in the confrontation.

The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old US-born Shamsud-Din J from Texas, the FBI said, with the incident being treated as an “act of terrorism.”

The outgoing U.S. president stressed that the investigation showed that the perpetrator was a U.S. citizen.

“The FBI has reported to me that the killer was an American citizen, born in Texas,” Mr Biden told reporters. He served in the United States Army on active duty for many years. He also served in the army reserve until a few years ago.”

Mr Biden also repeated investigators’ findings that potential explosive devices were found in the pickup truck, which the man drove into the crowd in New Orleans on New Year’s morning, as well as outside the vehicle.

An Islamic State flag was also found in the vehicle, Mr Biden said, citing the FBI.

Hours after the devastating attack, it remains unclear whether the perpetrator, who was killed after his deadly rampage, had accomplices, U.S. media reported on Wednesday.

According to several media outlets, investigators are examining surveillance footage showing a suspicious group of four people. Initially, it was suspected that they might have placed explosive devices in the affected neighbourhood.

However, shortly afterwards, they were reportedly ruled out as suspects.

Earlier, FBI investigator Alethea Duncan said they did not believe the driver “was solely responsible.”

Benin Republic has summoned a Nigerien diplomat following accusations by Abdourahamane Tchiani, Niger Republic’s military leader, that neighbouring countries are supporting terrorism in West Africa.

In a televised address, Tchiani alleged that Benin serves as a “rear base for terrorists seeking to destabilise Niger Republic”.

Benin’s foreign ministry dismissed the claims as baseless and announced the summoning of Niger’s chargé d’affaires in a statement on X.

“Due to the unfounded accusations made against our country, the chargee d’affaires of Niger has been summoned,” the statement reads.

“Benin remains committed to dialogue and fraternal collaboration between the two nations.”

An official letter has been sent to the diplomat by Olushegun Bakari, Beninese foreign minister.

The development follows a similar response from Nigeria, which has also refuted allegations made by Niger’s junta.

Tchiani accused France of negotiating with terrorist groups in Nigeria, including Boko Haram, to destabilise Niger Republic. He also alleged that France made a “substantial payment” to President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in Nigeria.

“They (France) meet and negotiated with Boko Haram/Bakurawa (a possible variation of the pronunciation of Lakurawa, a new terrorist group in Nigeria),” Tchiani said.

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation, issued a statement refuting the allegations.

Barely two months after his father’s death, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been bereaved yet again.

The Chippa United FC Goalie is going through a tough time, having announced the devastating loss of his mother on social media yesterday.

The 28-year-old announced the passing to eternal glory of his mother yesterday evening on his official X (formerly Twitter) : “A very, very crazy world indeed, Rip mom, worst year of my life already.”

The unfortunate incidence follows the death of his father which occurred on Friday, 15th November 2024 -barely two days before the Super Eagles last 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier game with Rwanda in Uyo. A game the Eagles lost 2-1 to the Amavubi.

As he tries to wriggle his way through this difficult period, Nwabali will be surrounded by love and support from his family, friends and teammates. The football community has also rallied around him, offering condolences on the unfortunate loss.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos State.

Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer and two-time world heavyweight champion, also presented the president with an autographed glove, which read, “To the Great Asiwaju Jagaban Borgu of Africa, Bola A. Tinubu.”

This was disclosed by the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, via his X handle Wednesday.

“Champ @anthonyjoshua pays homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his residence in Lagos. Presents him with his autographed glove,” the tweet read.

In late December 2024, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced plans by his administration to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring in the state.

Abiodun also announced that the two-time former world heavyweight boxing champion would be lighting the Gateway Games National Sports Festival torch, which has been postponed till May 2025.

The governor made this known when he hosted Joshua in his office in Abeokuta, the state capital.

“I want to openly request that, besides the fact that today we are going to officially confirm you as our sports ambassador, we want to request that you come back to light up the Gateway Sports Festival torch; you will be the one lighting it up.

“We are going to construct a brand new Anthony Joshua Indoor Boxing Ring, and that boxing ring will be in a stadium here in Abeokuta to ensure that you come home more frequently. Besides the fact that you are now our official sports ambassador, we have decided that we will give you a brand new house in Sagamu,” he said.

According to PUNCH Sports Extra, the proposed heavyweight clash between Joshua and another British rival, Tyson Fury, could generate over $300 million in revenue, with both camps expressing interest in staging the fight at Wembley Stadium in 2025,

Following his recent defeat to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has dismissed retirement rumours and set his sights on facing Joshua in what could be the biggest fight in British boxing history.

At least 10 people have been killed and 30 others injured after a vehicle rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

PauseUnmute
Fullscreen
Citing witnesses the BBC reported that the driver of the vehicle exited the car and began firing a weapon after the crash.

City officials confirmed the incident happened at the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Streets during New Year’s Eve celebrations, a period when large crowds typically gather in the French Quarter.

Footage from the scene showed police officers surrounding a cordoned-off area, while emergency services responded to the situation.

The injured have been taken to hospital, and authorities say that public safety personnel remain at the scene.

The event followed a week after a car rammed into a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring over 200 persons.

Three persons sustained varying degrees of injury on Tuesday night, in a collision involving a trailer, a Toyota Camry and Lexus car on Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Wiliam Manga, confirmed the incident in in Badagry.

According to the unit commander, the accident occurred at about 11.36.p.m., near Agbo-Malu axis of Age-mowo, area of the expressway.

He said, “Our personnel were alerted to the accident at about 11.42.p.m.and we got to the scene at 11.52 p.m., 10 minutes after they were alerted. The accident involved three vehicles.’’

He said that a Renault trailer, with registration number BK 672 RB coming from Badagry, a Toyota car, with registration number JJJ 574 JP and another Lexus car with no number were involved in the collision.

He stated, “Five persons were involved in the accident but three of them sustained varying degrees of injury.”

The commander said that the injured persons were taken to Lagos State Mobile Clinic for treatment.

Mr Manga said that the accident was due to loss of control and lack of concentration while on the expressway.

He said that the three vehicles involved in the accident had been removed from the expressway

Mr Manga appealed to passengers to always caution drivers against speeding, urging motorists plying the road to also be conscious of their speed on the one-lane expressway.

About 45 prisoners have regained freedom through Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu’s exercise of his prerogative of mercy.

The inmates who regained their freedom were convicted for various offenses and have spent considerable periods in correctional centre in the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, the governor’s action was in the spirit of the new year and the people’s first mantra of his administration.

He noted that the directive was contained in the approval given to the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ededem Ani.

According to the statement, the exercise was in pursuant to section 212 (1) (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Amended).

Mr Gill listed the freed prisoners’ offences to include felony, stealing, breaking and entering, assault, threats to life, cultism and armed robbery.

Others are illegal entry, logging and unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy, assault and threatening violence, and malicious damage.

He stated, “It’s important to give a second chance to those pardoned and considered reformed, as well as the need to decongest the prison.’’

Russia’s energy giant Gazprom announced that it had suspended natural gas supply to Europe through a pipeline running through Ukraine.

PauseUnmute
Fullscreen
In a statement on Wednesday, Gazprom said the suspension was due to Ukraine’s refusal to renew the agreement governing the deal.

“Due to the repeated and clearly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew these agreements, Gazprom was deprived of the technical and legal ability to supply gas for transit through the territory of Ukraine from January 1, 2025,” Gazprom said in a statement on Telegram.

This move marks the end of nearly six decades of Russian gas supplies to Europe through the Ukrainian pipeline.

Ukrainian authorities said they had halted the agreement as Europe had already distanced itself from Russian gas.

“We stopped the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic event. Russia is losing its markets, and it will suffer financial losses,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said. “Europe has already made the decision to abandon Russian gas.”

This comes amid lingering hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, which have lasted for about three years.

Built during the Soviet era to transport Siberian gas to European markets, the pipeline running through Ukraine had been Russia’s remaining major gas supply channel to Europe after the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany was sabotaged in 2022.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe has reduced its reliance on Russian gas.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians to rise above their differences, invest in nurturing youth, and protect the dignity of elders in 2025 to create a country where all can thrive.

PauseUnmute
Fullscreen
Ms Tinubu made the call in her New Year message on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to show love, respect, and understanding toward one another.

“As we journey through 2025, let us rise above our differences and rebuild the bridges that connect us—bridges of love, respect, and understanding,” Ms Tinubu said.

“It is a year to invest in one another to nurture our youth and protect the dignity of our elders, to create a country where every Nigerian can thrive, regardless of where they are born, what they believe, or what language they speak.”

Governor Hope Uzodimma has assented to the N807 billion Imo appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year.

The House of Assembly reviewed the amount from an initial N756 billion.

Shortly after signing the bill into law on Tuesday in Owerri, the governor pledged “full and faithful implementation” of the budget.

He said the increase was based on an alignment between the executive and the legislature in providing essential services to the people.

Mr Uzodimma, who expressed his satisfaction over the expeditious passage of the bill, pledged to commence the budget implementation immediately.

The 2025 appropriation showed that 86.09 per cent of the total budget outlay, amounting to about N694 billion, was approved for capital expenditure, while 13.91 per cent, about N112 billion, was allocated for recurrent expenditures.

The Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development got more than N297 billion (42.8 per cent), and the Ministry of Transport N101 billion (14.5 per cent).

The Ministry of Power and Electrification received N74 billion (10.8 per cent), while the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N50 billion (7.2 per cent) of the budget.

The Ministry of Education got N49 billion (7.1 per cent), while the Ministry of Health received N31 billion (4.65 per cent).

“I have just signed into law the 2025 Imo State Appropriation Bill, which now has the force of law and serves as the financial operational manual for the state.

“The total 2025 budget, as amended by the Assembly and signed into law, is N807,088,041,220,” he stated.

He commended the speaker and members of the House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the bill and for increasing the initial budget estimate.

“This Budget of Expanded Economic Opportunities is designed to drive the economic transformation of our state through improved infrastructure and industrialisation.

“Beyond focusing on making our economy one of the fastest-growing in the region, we aim to position the state as a prime destination for genuine investors.

“We will create expanded economic opportunities through investment and job creation,” he said.

He called on the stakeholders to support his administration in its endeavour to set Imo on a path of sustainable development.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has denied accusations from the Presidency that he threatened President Bola Tinubu over the controversial tax reform bill.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mohammed’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, strongly refuted the claims, calling them a misleading face-saving tactic by the Federal Government.

The Presidency had recently responded to Governor Mohammed’s criticisms of the proposed tax reforms, accusing him of branding the policy as “anti-North” and unfairly attacking President Tinubu’s administration.

However, Gidado argued that the Mohammed’s remarks, which highlighted the negative impact of the tax reforms, were purely precautionary and meant to protect the interests of the people.

“It is out of character for Governor Bala Mohammed, who has the utmost respect for the institution of the Presidency, to make any threats,” Gidado asserted.

He stressed that the governor’s concerns regarding the tax reform were rooted in his commitment to safeguarding the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in economically disadvantaged states.

According to Gidado, the statement issued by the Presidency falsely portrayed Bala Mohammed’s call for dialogue as an anti-dialogue stance, which he argued was dishonest.

He said, “When Governor Bala Mohammed asserted that the Presidency’s attempt to shove the discredited tax reforms down the throat of Nigerians was a recipe for anarchy, he spoke from the position of someone who is closer to the populace and who carries the mandate of not only the over seven million people of Bauchi State but who also possesses an intimate knowledge of a very significant subregional group in the country.

“It is not by accident that his genuine reservation against the tax reforms coincides with those of some APC governors who have consistently warned against implementing the proposed reform in its present form.

“Therefore, it smacks of a disingenuous attempt at blackmail and a throwback to the insensitivity of the Government to single Bala Mohammed out for inquisition. Could it be because he is of the Peoples Democratic Party?”

He pointed out that the governor’s concerns about the tax reform were shared by several governors across party lines, including some members of the ruling APC, who have expressed similar reservations.

Gidado reiterated Mohammed’s commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government on the tax reform issue.

“Despite the avoidable misunderstanding generated by the proposed tax reform due to its poor handling, we want to assure the Presidency that, in keeping with his reputation as a nationalist and statesman, Governor Bala Mohammed remains committed to collaborating with the Federal Government to address all national challenges,” Gidado stated.

He called on the federal government to abandon its “aversion to constructive criticism” and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, rather than resorting to selective profiling of critics.

“Rather than resorting to selective profiling of some well-meaning Nigerians like Governor Bala Mohammed and unproductive name-calling aimed at distracting the public from the unpopular Tax Reform agenda, we urge the Presidency to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholder groups,” Gidado said.

The Borno State Police Command on Tuesday announced the recovery of 18 unexploded explosive devices and the arrest of 721 suspects for various crimes across the state in 2024.

The state Commissioner of Police, Yusufu Lawal, disclosed this during the command’s end-of-year press briefing in Maiduguri, the state capital, highlighting achievements in crime prevention and law enforcement over the year.

“In the year under review, the command recorded notable successes in combating crime, leading to the arrest of 721 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), kidnapping, theft, and other heinous crimes,” Lawal said.

He added, “The command also recovered 18 unexploded explosive devices and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 13 stolen vehicles and tricycles, six firearms, a large cache of drugs, and other illicit substances.”

Lawal attributed the successes to policing measures implemented by officers of the command, which have enhanced security in Maiduguri and other major towns in the state.

“In line with the Inspector-General of Police’s vision to achieve a 30% reduction in crime by 2025, the command will sustain robust and proactive policing strategies to ensure that Maiduguri and other towns remain safe and secure,” he stated.

The commissioner commended the state government for its continued support of the police command, particularly in the renovation of police stations and barrack accommodations in Pulka, Gwoza, Monguno, Lugumani, Banki, and Benisheikh.

“This support will significantly boost the morale of officers and improve service delivery,” Lawal said.

He also lauded Governor Babagana Zulum for assenting to the Borno State Penal Code Law 2023 and the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, which have expedited prosecution processes.

Lawal assured the people that the command’s priorities in 2025 would align with the state government’s 10-year strategic plan, which focuses on reintegrating displaced communities and building resilience among returnees in their ancestral homes.

“We remain committed to supporting these objectives through targeted and community-focused policing initiatives,” he concluded.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled for a one-day working visit to Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, on Friday, January 3, 2025.

Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the visit during the signing of the 2025 Appropriation Bill at the Government House on Monday.

The Vice President is expected to participate in four key official events, including the graduation ceremony of over 1,000 technicians trained at the Wing Commander Ibrahim Abdullahi Vocational and Technical Institute. The trainees were drawn from various parts of the country.

He added that the Vice President is expected to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the head office of the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), as well as the Multi Outdoor Court, funded by the World Bank through a $4m facility.

The Governor further said that the Vice President will also be at hand to hand over tractors to local government chairmen, distribute rice seedlings, as well as relief materials to internally displaced persons who were affected by floods.

“The VP is very interested in showing that the rice we cultivated in Jangwa is continuous and not just for one season. We are going to distribute rice seedlings to every local government area so that the local chairmen will come and collect their tractors and also collect seedlings and every local government will go, just like the state is doing in Jangwa and Agwatashi. 500 hectares. 1000 hectares, whatever they will be able to do, we are giving the tractors and seedlings.

“Also, we have received about N3bn from the FG to support flood victims and the IDPs. Most of the items to be given to them have been bought by NASEMA and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The VP will participate in the distribution of these items,” he stated.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has publicly expressed his admiration for Nigerian Afropop sensation, Ayra Starr.

Kainerugaba revealed on his X account that his late grandfather, Mzee Amos, had granted him the freedom to pursue any woman of his choice, and he has now set his sights on the “Rush” singer.

“My late grandfather, Mzee Amos, gave me permission to get any woman on earth. I will capture that girl, Ayra Starr,” he wrote.

His declaration comes on the heels of Ayra Starr’s electrifying performance at the 27th edition of Blankets and Wine in Uganda, where she shared the stage with South African music duo Blaq Diamond.

Ayra Starr, known for her distinctive fusion of Afropop and R&B, has been gaining global acclaim with her unique sound and captivating performances.