The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has reported that flood destroyed at least 700 houses and farmlands in the Cheledi community in the Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The British airspace has been hit by a technical fault, the country’s leading provider of air traffic control services said.

The Ondo State Government on Monday denied selling a cocoa plantation and sending farmers away from their farmlands at Ilua Community in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The farmers residing in the community on Saturday staged a protest alleging that the government had sold their cocoa plantations and other farmlands to some foreign companies.

The farmers, who came in large numbers with placards, ‘This is another slavery,’ ‘We say no to the destruction of our cocoa farms,’ ‘No farmers, no nation’, ‘We don’t want to steal, farming is our job’, ‘Aketi should not sell our lands to Chinese,’ ‘They should leave us here to farm, we have nowhere to go,’ among others.

They alleged that the state government had issued a quit notice to all the farmers in all the 20 villages in the area to vacate their farms.

The protesters also alleged that government officials had already threatened to evacuate them forcefully if they failed to relocate before the end of the year.

The traditional ruler of the Ilua Community, Oba Olalani Ibidapo, said some people had gone to their villages and started erecting signposts that the state government had sold their farmlands and villages to Chinese and Indian companies.

He said, “They said the government has issued a notice that we should quit our farms and villages because the companies wanted to move in and take over our farms and villages.

“We have been here for over 100 years and we are here farming, no other things. I have more than 19 villages under me here, Ilua, Laoso, Adejori, Logunofe, Keseomi, Obadore, Obakele, Ilua 2, Kangidi, Oloruntedo, Abayemisi and Magbaralewon just to mention a few.

“We heard suddenly that we should move out unexpectedly. Where are we going to go? Look at our people, no work. We have graduates among us here, but since there’s no job, they ventured into farming. We are protesting against this policy and we also appeal to our Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to please consider our situation here.”

Also in his comment, the Chairman of Youths of Laje community, Laoso District, Ondo West, Akinbami Philip appealed to the government to rescind the policy and order.

We have graduates who have farms here, we want the government to leave us so that we would continue working on our farms. This is where we feed our families. The government asked us to pay money and we are faithful to it. Every year, the government gave us payment advice, sometimes N3 million and we did pay.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor, on Agriculture and Agric-business Mr Akin Olotu, the government was not displacing villagers particularly those occupying free areas in the state, saying no sensible government would displace anybody in any free area.

Olotu in a statement said, “We want to look into the matter, I will invite their representatives, we will sit down together and look at a win-win situation and see how we can accommodate their interests in what we are doing.

“Governance is about the people. So when we see what is on the ground, we will know what to do. Our little investigation shows that where they are is even out of where those people are coming to work.

Plateau government has faulted the directive issued by police commissioner Julius Alawari, to unseal the secretariats of the state’s 17 LGAs, allowing the suspended chairmen to operate.

Plateau’s attorney general, Philimon Daffi, faulted the move while briefing journalists shortly after an emergency security council meeting on Sunday in Jos.

The meeting was presided over by Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang had on June 1, suspended all democratic structures in the 17 local councils and appointed transition committee chairmen.

The suspension followed the recommendation of the Plateau parliament over allegation of financial mismanagement by the suspended chairmen.

Recently, the police unsealed the LGAs’ secretariats and directed staff to resume work.

The directive, however, exempted all political officeholders pending the outcome of their litigation.The attorney general, said the directive issued by the command on Saturday, asking the suspended council chairmen to resume official duties was faulty, claiming the directive was causing tension in Plateau.

‘’The directive has generated a deep-seated animosity. It is heating the polity and also creating serious tension across the state. The suspended chairmen have sued the state government seeking for restorative order after the interim transition chairmen were inaugurated,” the Plateau government explained.

‘’The application for restorative injunction has not yet been heard, it is a matter that is still pending in court.”

Mr Daffi explained that the Plateau government had also gone to court regarding directive by the previous police commissioner in the state , Bartholomew Onyeka, who directed the sealing of local government secretariats.

‘’We went to the Bukuru Upper Area court and prayed the court for an order to open up the local government secretariats. The court heard our prayers and granted the order.”

The order was served to all security agencies and other relevant organisations, but we received with deep shock another directive asking the suspended chairmen to resume office,” Mr Daffi stated.

Mr Daffi said the emergency security meeting was organised to consult with all security agencies in Plateau toward ensuring law and order.

According to him, the council also deliberated on ways to manage plans by some groups in Plateau to react to the latest police directive.

Bem Angwe, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Benue in the 2023 gubernatorial election, has withdrawn his membership from the party.

POVERTY ERADICATION AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION FOR WEALTH CREATION DEPEND ON JUSTICE REFORM, PRESIDENT TINUBU DECLARES AT NBA CONFERENCE…

Emphasizes that world class renumeration for legal professionals can sanitize Judiciary for a prosperous Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria will not sustain failed economic theory that sees to the wastage of 90% of its scarce revenue in the servicing of external debts in the midst of many development challenges facing the country.

The President made the statement on Sunday in Abuja while declaring open the Annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association at the Velodrome, Chief MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

While energizing the gathering of 16,190 lawyers in attendance with an extemporaneous speech, President Tinubu stated that the prosperity Nigerians require will only occur once poverty is banished from the society with the focused cooperation of Nigeria’s private sector leaders, many of whom were present at the opening ceremony.

“Can we continue to service external debts with 90% of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable. We must make the very difficult changes that are necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the great nations of the world,” the President thundered.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation-Building,” the President stated that hard decisions must be made to set the country on a growth trajectory, despite the initial pains which meaningful reforms usually bring.

“We cannot have the country we desire without the reforms we have initiated. It is painful at the beginning, in the short and medium term, but we must do what we have to do to take this nation to its great destiny. It is not about you and it is not about me. It is about our generations yet unborn, for whom we must bequeath a great and prosperous country,” he affirmed.

Against the backdrop of the renowned judicial reforms he undertook as Lagos State Governor, President Tinubu renewed his commitment to deal conclusively with the pressing issue of renumeration for judicial officers and legal practitioners, noting that true justice reform must begin with world-class salaries and benefits for legal professionals in Nigeria.

“You are learned. I want to learn. Why are we so blessed and we are still lacking? We must have a change of attitude and a change of our mindset. We accuse our nation and its previous leaders. We complain alot of the past. Is that the solution? No! Let us look forward and be determined! God has given us what we need. We must work hard with determination to make our country great and it begins with you who are seated here with me,” the President exclaimed.

Referring to the Keynote address delivered by the Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, who he praised for setting an agenda for economic growth and development, President Tinubu bemoaned the inability of the country to eradicate poverty and tackle poor electricity supply, despite Nigeria’s abundance of gas.He made a commitment that his administration will ensure that Nigeria generates and distributes the electricity the economy requires to thrive.

“Yes, it is a shame not to have adequate electricity for the mass majority of homes in Nigeria and to power our industries. How can we address poverty without electricity? We can take many people out of poverty with uninterrupted electricity supply. Poverty is not acceptable, and we must banish it,” President Tinubu concluded.

In his welcome address, NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, expressed the confidence of the NBA in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to deliver good governance to Nigeria because of his pedigree and past track record of excellent performance in Lagos State, where he was the governor between 1999-2007.

“President Tinubu got it right in Lagos, and it is our considered expectation that as President of Nigeria, you will not only replicate your achievements in Lagos, but surpass them for our country.”

The conference was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, past NBA Presidents and many senior government officials.

Ahmed Seriki, the chairman of Oke-Oyi community development association of Ilorin East LGA in Kwara, has called on Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to restore to electricity to the area after 18 months of power outage.

President Bola Tinubu says poverty eradication and investment promotion for wealth creation depends on justice reforms.

The president made the assertion on Sunday in Abuja while declaring open the 63rd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) with the theme ‘Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation Building’.

According to Mr Tinubu, world-class remuneration for legal professionals would also sanitise the judiciary for a prosperous Nigeria.

Mr Tinubu noted that a new Nigeria is possible with his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda but it would require taking bold decisions that would be painful at first but beneficial later.

Mr Tinubu explained that the bold steps his regime is taking to find lasting solutions to crises plaguing the country would succeed only with the cooperation and collaboration of all entities, especially the private sector.

“I am not cynical, I am factual. The critical and bold initiatives embarked upon will yield the desired results only with collaboration and cooperation of the private sector. We are so blessed and we are still lacking, change of mindset is what we need,” Mr Tinubu noted.

He pointed out that accusing “our previous leaders,” and complaining “a lot much about the past, is not the solution.”

Mr Tinubu said Nigeria could not continue to service external debt with about 90 per cent of its revenue hence the hard decision his administration was making in that regards.

The president commended the NBA for the theme which he said was timely and urged the association to give his regime full support to succeed.

“I want to learn. Remind me of what I’m doing right, I will continue. Whatever I am doing wrong, tell me, and I will change,’’ Mr Tinubu said.

NDLEA foiled an attempt by a 29-year-old South African, Erasmus Jean-Pierre, to export 2.6kg of methamphetamine through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Aug. 23.

NDLEA’s director, media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that Jean-Pierre concealed the drugs in his luggage while heading to the Middle East through an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

“Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect arrived in Lagos through Abidjan, on Saturday, Aug. 19.

“He came to Abuja on Tuesday, Aug. 22 and took possession of the brown bag containing the drug consignment on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

“It was after this that he headed to the Abuja airport for his flight out of Nigeria,” Mr Babafemi stated.

He stated also that NDLEA operatives stormed Uzebba Forest in Owan West local government area of Edo on Thursday, Aug. 24, and arrested one Esazobor Ohioze (33) for keeping 54.3kg of Indian hemp.

The operatives also destroyed three hectares of Indian hemp in the forest.

NDLEA operatives also frustrated efforts by a transnational drug cartel to move 117g of Ketamine, neatly concealed in a pair of leather slippers being shipped to Indonesia, Mr Babafemi stated.

The NDLEA spokesman stated also that its operatives attached to a courier firm in Lagos intercepted 2.14kg of skunk hidden in the walls of a local wooden drum recently.

Afew days after Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, warned Fulani herdsmen to stop grazing their cows in the city centre, some Fulani herders were on Sunday seen doing just that in the city centre.

Mr Wike, on assumption of office as FCT minister last week Monday, warned Fulani herdsmen to take their cows out of the city centre, saying that cow grazing in the city centre will not be allowed.

“We cannot allow cows inside the city. It can be outside the city. That is the way it should be done,” Mr Wike said.

“Because the grasses are outside the city. The grasses are not here. These are grasses we planted to beautify the city. The ones in the area councils are the ones that can eat.”

On Sunday, however, Peoples Gazette sighted a herd of cattle openly grazing around Goodluck Jonathan Expressway, near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.

Photos and video of the cows grazing near the CBN were taken by the Gazette at about 1:52 p.m., on Sunday.

Located at Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way Central Business District, Abuja, the CBN is metres away from Aso Presidential Villa.

Though Mr Wike’s warning against open grazing in the city centre was lauded by many, the return of cows on the streets of Abuja appears Fulani herders will not heed to his directive.

In the past eight years, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Fulani herdsmen engaged their cattle in open grazing within the city centre.

Though it was condemned, Mr Buhari’s regime did nothing about it as herders grazed their cows from Jabi district to Asokoro, Maitama to Central Business District, where the State House, National Assembly and Supreme Court are located.

An oil theft situation assessment delegation deployed in the Niger Delta by President Bola Tinubu discovered an illegal oil connection on Saturday.

From the illegal connection discovered at Owaza in Abia, Nigeria loses an average of 7.2 million dollars monthly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. stated on Sunday.

It added that clandestine refineries, illegal bunkering operations and environmental devastation the team saw collectively translated into severe economic losses for the nation.

The delegation, led by the minister of defence, Malam Muhammed Badaru, has service chiefs, and the minister of state for petroleum resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as members.

Other members are the minister of state for petroleum resources (Gas), Ekperipe Ekpo, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the group chief executive officer, NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari.

Also in the team are commander of “Operation Delta Safe’’, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, operatives of security agencies and chief executive officers of regulatory agencies in the oil and gas sector.

The team visited the Trans-Niger Pipeline Right of Way in Owaza, Abia where an array of dismantled illegal connections were observed.

“We are ready to do whatever it takes for a peaceful Niger Delta. Cease and desist from crude oil theft and economic sabotage,’’ Malam Badaru advised at the site.

In his remarks, Mr Kyari said while oil theft in vessels could be tracked, oil-bearing communities must play a vital role in curbing oil theft within their communities.

“Oil theft is one of the reasons why Nigeria cannot meet her OPEC daily production quota,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the site, chief security officer of Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd., Patrick Godwin, said some arrests had been made and culprits arraigned.

In his comments, Mr Ribadu applauded security agencies, community security contractors, and NNPC Ltd. for stepping up the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage.

“The environment and livelihoods are being destroyed while the federation is deprived of revenue capable of shoring up the economy and strengthening the naira,’’ he said.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has emerged winner in the 2023 presidential election.

The electoral commission announced that Mr Mnangagwa won the election to a second term with 52.6 per cent of the total vote cast.

“Mnangagwa Emmerson Dambudzo of ZANU-PF party is declared duly elected president of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson identified as Chigumba told a press conference.

Nelson Chamisa, Mnangagwa’s biggest rival, reportedly received 44 per cent of the vote, according to the electoral commission.

The elections were held on Wednesday.

Several international election observer missions and diplomatic missions including the US and the EU Mission have described the election as flawed.

The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change is led by Chamisa.

In a post on the social media platform X, a party representative stated that it rejected “any result hastily assembled without proper verification.”

They also called for engagement of civil society organisations and stakeholders to mobilise participation in the programme.

The citizens, comprising activists, academics and government workers, made the call in response to a survey on implementation of the FG’s N5 billion palliative to states.

The federal government had initiated a comprehensive palliative programme to support Nigerians and businesses to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman, Association of Non-governmental Organisations (ANGO) in Gombe, urged governors to shun political considerations in the palliative programme.

He said it was imperative for the state governments to ensure inclusiveness to achieve its objectives since the programme was meant for Nigerians.

He said that the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other organisations should be engaged to avoid turning it into a one-party affair.

“We should exercise caution in the implementation of the palliative so that it doesn’t generate tension because poor handling might create problems.

“This is part of the advice issued by the Department of State Services (DSS), asking governors of the north-east to prioritise distribution of relief materials to strengthen security gains in the insurgency-ravaged region,” he said.

According to him, fairness, equity and justice in the distribution exercise will thwart security threats and build confidence in the system.

Recall that the Gombe state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, had confirmed release of N2 billion out of the N5 billion approved for the state by the federal government.

Also, Garba Jinjiri, Chairman, Network of Civil Society Organisation (BASNEC) in Bauchi State, has advocated inclusion of the CSOs in the palliative distribution committee to promote inclusiveness.

According to Mr Jinjiri, the organisation was already working with relevant agencies to fasttrack smooth implementation of the programming in the state.

“We expect the community structure to be involved in the composition of the committee but we are not carried along.

“We tried reaching the office of the Secretary to the State Government to see why the community structures were not involved,” he alleged.

He advised the state government to accord priority to the indigents in the distribution exercise as against politicians or civil servants.

Abdullahi Yelwa, an economist, explained that the federal government provided N5 billion palliative to states to enable them to assist their people.

He said the federal government approved 52 per cent of the fund as grant while 48 per cent as loan facility.

Mr Yelwa also advocated for the active engagement of local government councils in the palliative programme.

“The LGAs as the third tier of government are closer to the people, therefore, their involvement will make positive impact.

“The state government should utilise the fund and offset backlog of gratuities, this will impact vulnerable families, especially those who lost their bread winners.

“It is also desirable to increase investment in agriculture in the area of extension services, provision of fertilisers and inputs to the farmers,” he said.

This, he said, would encourage productivity, enhance wealth creation and food security in the country.

Also, Danlami Haladu, Secretary, Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), applauded the inclusion of entrepreneurs in the palliative programme.

He expressed optimism that the government would ensure that the palliative reached the targeted population.

Similarly, Musbahu Basirka, Chairman, Jigawa State Civil Society Forum, commended the government over the introduction of a social protection programme in the state.

Mr Yelwa said that, “the intervention is in line with the global best practices and we hope that the effort will assist poor families and eradicate poverty.

“We commend the initiatives aimed at cushioning the economic and social effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the citizens.”

To fast-track implementation of the palliative, the Bauchi government has constituted a distribution committee under the headship of the state deputy governor, Auwal Jatau.

The committee is to fashion out strategies to assist the beneficiaries including payment of allowances to civil servants.

This includes payment of gratuities and pensions to retirees and pensioners as well as improved transportation services, procurement of food and non food items.

Moreso, the Jigawa government has distributed 10 trucks of rice to the 27 LGAs for distribution to the deserving households.

Commissioner for Information, Youths and Sports, Sagir Muhammad, said the gesture would cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

He said the government had set up committees at state and local government levels, to ensure that the palliatives get to the targeted population.

“Those targeted for the distribution are widows, orphans, people with special needs, traditional and religious leaders as well as the youth.

“Gov. Umar Namadi has flagged off the distribution exercise, and promised to expand the scope of the programme to all categories of people,” he said.

He said the state government recently empowered 1,000 women traders with N50,000 each to enable them to enhance their businesses while 1,500 business owners received N50,000 each.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, says Nigeria was still losing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to thieves despite efforts to end the menace.

Mr Ribadu confirmed this when he led a presidential delegation to inspect oil and gas facilities at Owaza in Abia and Odogwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers on Saturday.

He said the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals had impacted negatively on the nation’s economy and were partly responsible for the rising cost of living in the country.

“It’s unfortunate that few individuals would steal our common resources, and in the process cause unbelievable loss to both the nation, communities and the people.

“Nigeria has the capacity to produce 2 million barrels of crude daily, but we are currently producing less than 1.6 million barrels due to theft and vandalism of pipelines.

“So, we are talking about 400,000 barrels of crude oil going to waste with few criminals and economic saboteurs not even getting much out of it,” he said.

Mr Ribadu said the operators of artisanal refineries collect a small quantity of crude oil when they broke the pipelines while larger volumes of oil were spilled on the environment.

“The value of 400,000 barrels of oil today is about 4 million dollars, and every day, we lose this amount because of this irresponsible behaviour.

“If you multiply 4 million dollars by 365 days (one year), you will see that it is a lot of money running into billions of dollars.

“Currently, the country is in desperate need of money as the Naira is continuously losing its value because we earn less money.

“If we earn more money, it will not only help strengthen our currency but reflect in everything, including cost of living in the country,” he added.

Mr Ribadu said that the President Bola Tinubu administration was concerned about the development and was already taking actionable steps to address the matter.

He said huge investments made by the government in building infrastructures for the common good of all were being destroyed by few individuals, and in the process, destroying the environment.

Mr Ribadu called for a united front to tackle oil theft and end decades of attacks on the nation’s oil and gas infrastructures.

“We are working hard with the security forces and those employed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to secure our facilities and end this madness called oil theft,” he said.

On the delegation with the NSA were the Minister of Defence, Baduru Abubakar, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa.

Others included the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

The Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, Ekperipe Ekpo, and senior management officials of the NNPCL as well as other top security personnel were part of the team.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Cross River chapter, has suspended its strike embarked upon on July 16, after the abduction of one of its members, Prof. Ekanem Ephraim.

Three black people were killed inside a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, on Saturday, in what officials said was a radically motivated shooting.

Sheriff T.K. Waters of Jacksonville confirmed that a white gunman, in his early 20s carried out the shooting and also killed himself thereafter.

Mr Waters said the gunman, wearing a tactical vest hated black people.

“This shooting was racially motivated, and he hated Black people,” Sheriff Waters said at a news conference.

In Jacksonville, the victims were two males and a female, Mr Waters added.

He explained that the gunman left his parents’ house in neighbouring Clay County at around 11:39 a.m. on Saturday and headed toward Jacksonville.

At 1:18 p.m., he texted his father to ask him to check his computer.

He stressed that the gunman had written “several manifestoes,” including one to his parents, in which he detailed his “disgusting ideology of hate.”

“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the gunman’s parents at 1:53 p.m. By that time the shooting had already begun in Jacksonville,” said Mr Waters.

Officials posited that the gunman was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that bore swastika markings, including a handgun.

Also, the suspect had been spotted on the campus of Edward Waters University, a historically Black college about half a mile from the Dollar General.

The school had ordered its students to shelter in place amid reports of the shooting even thought it was not yet clear if any intentions of the gunman might have been related to the school.

“But he (gunman) did go there and he did put his vest on and a mask on and then went directly to Dollar General.

“This is a dark day in Jacksonville’s history. Any loss of life is tragic, but the hate that motivated the shooter’s killing spree adds a layer of heartbreak,” Mr Waters posited.

Donna Deegan, mayor of Jacksonville, said the shooting came on the fifth anniversary of a shooting at a gaming tournament in the city.

Ms Deegan revealed that the shooting left three dead, including the gunman.

She added that the gunman on Saturday alluded to that 2018 shooting in his written statements.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrating this is for all of us. We’ve seen it too much,” Ms Deegan said.

Jacksonville is a city of 971,000 population and 30 per cent of its residents are Black people.

The rampage on Saturday was the latest high-profile racially motivated attack carried out by a white gunman in the U.S.A shooting last year that targeted Black people left 10 dead at a supermarket in Buffalo.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has requested well-wishers to refrain from placing congratulatory billboards in his honour.

The Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

“The attention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been drawn to lamp post billboards, full scale billboards, and other adverts congratulating him on his appointment as minister.

“While the minister deeply appreciates the warm wishes and support of the citizens, he kindly, but strongly requests that such billboards and advertisements be discontinued forthwith.

“The minister acknowledges the overwhelming goodwill from the residents of the FCT and beyond and understands the sentiment behind these congratulatory displays and is genuinely touched by the show of support.

“However, in the spirit of public service and commitment to his responsibilities, the minister wishes to focus his full attention on assisting President Bola Tinubu in realising his vision and renewed hope agenda for Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Ogunleye said that Mr Wike’s foremost duty lies in contributing to the development and growth of the FCT and the well-being of residents and the nation as a whole.

He added that the minister held in high regard, the aspirations and expectations of the FCT residents, and he remained dedicated to fulfilling his role with utmost sincerity and dedication.

According to him, this can be achieved by concentrating all efforts on the task at hand and joining hands with public servants to serve the country to the best of their abilities.

“Wike sincerely hopes that the public will understand his perspective and continue to extend their support and cooperation.

The Police Command in Ogun said one Babatunde Kolawole, allegedly found with fresh male human corpse, was arrested and handed over to its personnel at Ado/Odo-Ota area of the state.

SP Omolola Odutola, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Ota, Ogun, said the suspect was apprehended by the Amotekun corps.

She said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sango-Ota, CSP Saleh Dahiru, received a report by Amotekun and took the suspect into custody.

“Preliminary investigations have commenced into the incident.

“Although the suspect did not deny the incident, he claims to be a native doctor who was attempting to revive the deceased.

“However, it remains unclear how the suspect obtained the fresh corpse during the late hours of the night,” she said.

The PPRO said that so far, no one had come forward to claim the body, and the suspect had not revealed any information about the origin of the corpse to enable police to gather more information and solve the case.

She added that the corpse had been transported to the Ifo General Hospital for an autopsy.

Ms Odutola enjoined members of the community to provide any useful information related to the incident to the police.

She also said that the community members could assist the police in their investigation by helping to shed more light on the disturbing occurrence.

The Nasarawa state government has said it will demolish structures built on waterways as part of measures to prevent flooding.

Yakubu Kwanta, the state commissioner for environment and natural resources, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Lafia after the August environmental sanitation exercise.

The commissioner who was represented by Abubakar Mohammed, chief environment officer, who is also the chief prosecutor of the ministry, said the ministry would be proactive to prevent any disaster.

He explained that the decision to demolish the structures followed NIMET’s recent prediction of possible flooding in 25 states including Nasarawa state.

He said the government had directed residents of flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds.

According to him, given the way floods had ravaged some parts of the State in the recent past, the ministry would not allow anybody to block the waterways.

“When you block the waterways and prevent water against free flow, you are inviting disaster, because anyhow it will find its way,” he said.

On the level of compliance with the monthly exercise, the commissioner expressed satisfaction and lauded traditional rulers, chairmen of area councils as well and security agencies for the success of the exercise.

He said that about 85 per cent of the residents complied by locking their shops and businesses to partake in the exercise.

The commissioner said the state was temporarily shut down during the exercise in line with the law, except for those on essential services.

“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.

He, therefore, called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.

The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Aondohemba Joseph, over the death of Justice Margaret Igbetar, a retired President, Benue Customary Court of Appeal.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 73-year-old Igbetar, who retired from service on October 17, 2015, was said to be living a private life and was hardly seen in public.

Anene said the judge was found in a pool of her blood in her kitchen on Friday, with deep cuts on her back.

“On August 24, information was received at ‘E’ Police Division Makurdi, that Justice Margaret Igbetar (retd), could not respond to calls and was nowhere to be found. Detectives were immediately deployed for investigation.

“A search conducted within her house at Wantor Kwange Street, Gboko Road, Makurdi, led to the discovery of her body in a pool of blood inside her kitchen. It was also observed that she had deep cuts on her back.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Aondohemba Joseph and recovery of exhibits for detailed investigation,” the police spokesperson said in the statement.

The statement further quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, as strongly “condemned the dastardly act”.

Onyeka further assured that he would unravel the mystery behind the death and bring the perpetrators of the barbaric act to book.

NAN also reports that Igbetar was born on October 17, 1950, in Mbape, Shangev-ya, Tsar-Mbaduku, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.

She started her career as the Assistant Registrar, Grade I Area Court, Katsina-Ala, Benue State in 1971, and rose to become a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal in 1995, a position she held till 2003 when she was appointed President of the court.

Igbetar was a founding member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Benue State, a life member, the first Chairperson of the Benue branch and a National Trustee of the association.

The late Justice served as a member of, the Election Petition Tribunal, Bauchi State, between 1998 and 1999, the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Imo/Abia State in 1999 and the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Kebbi State.

She was also a member of the Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in 2000.