The Federal University Dutsinma, FUDMA, in Katsina State, has announced the death of its Registrar, Prof. Iliyasu Falalu-Rafindadi, after a protracted illness.

The university’s spokesman, Mr Habib Umar-Aminu, who disclosed this in a statement in Katsina, said Falalu-Rafindadi died in the early hours of Tuesday, at the age of 60.

According to the spokesman, the deceased was a seasoned administrator that had served the university in various capacities.

According to him, the vice-chancellor has described the demise of the registrar as a great loss to the university and its community at large.

“Bichi said that the deceased was a dedicated and hardworking staff member who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the university.

”And the university community will surely miss his services,” Umar-Aminu added.

He prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and Almighty Allah to grant eternal rest and Aljannat Firdaus to the deceased.

The FUDMA spokesman said the deceased had since been buried at the Dan Marina cemetery after a funeral prayer held at his residence located at Rafindadi community in Katsina town.

Bashar Binji, the convener of a planned nationwide protest in Sokoto, announced the cancellation of the protest on Tuesday.

Mr Binji cited an alleged plot by hoodlums to attack markets in the state as the reason for their decision.

Addressing journalists in Sokoto, Mr Binji stated that credible intelligence reports had uncovered plans by hoodlums to exploit the gathering and attack some markets within the state’s metropolis.

While acknowledging the constructive intent behind the peaceful protest, Binji emphasised that the complex and sensitive environment could lead to unintended and potentially destabilising consequences.

“The chairman of the Sokoto Marketers Association, Abubakar Sarkin-Gishiri, reported the hoodlums’ planned attack to the Department of State Services, and it was confirmed.

“Moreover, there is another security report indicating that another group has perfected plans to attack banks and other government properties. As responsible citizens, we do not want to give them that opportunity.

”We have therefore resolved to withdraw from the planned protest for the safety of all the residents and their properties,” Mr Binji explained.

Mr Binji appreciated the security agencies’ commitment to safeguarding the state. He assured that the group would explore other ways to express their grievances to the government.

“We appeal to the people to support us and shun any actions that could breach the peace of the state,” Mr Binji said.

The speaker of the Nasarawa House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, has cautioned his kinsmen and other citizens against joining a nationwide protest against hunger scheduled to start on August 1.

The speaker said this can lead to violence and anarchy in the country. He gave the advice while playing host to his kinsmen, the Ikka-Wangibi community, alongside the deputy majority leader of the house, Abel Bala, on Tuesday in Lafia.

The speaker said, ”From available records, protests lead to violence in the country, hence the need for my call for the people to shun protests at all times…What the government needs is your support and prayers to succeed.

“There are people who did not wish President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administrations well. Please speak to your people not to join the protests, as most protests lead to anarchy and violence in the country.”

Mr Bala assured the people of the state’s parliament commitment not to fail them while discharging their duties.

Mr Bala said that they have provided jobs and empowerment and initiated different projects and policies in their constituencies to improve the standard of living of their people.

The police in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday arrested one Rahimat Salaum for allegedly killing her paralysed husband, Shehu Salaum, during a fight.

The FCT command’s public relations officer, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this on Tuesday on her official X handle.

According to Ms Adeh, the suspect, after the killing, set her husband’s corpse on fire and dumped it in an uncompleted building.

The command’s spokesperson wrote, “A 23-year-old woman, Rahimat Salaum, was arrested on Monday after killing her paralysed husband, Shehu Salaum, during a fight.”

Mrs Adeh revealed that the suspect “was trying to run with the man’s belongings when she was arrested.”

“She confessed to the crime and led policemen to the uncompleted building where she dumped the burnt corpse of her husband,” the command’s image maker added.

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has given conditions for the planned nationwide protest scheduled to be held from 1st to 10th August, 2024, to hold in the state.

He called on organizers of the protest in the state to submit details of their activities as regards the protest.

The required details are: the proposed protest/assembling point and routes, expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of protest leaders and organizers, measures to prevent hijack by criminal elements.

Abaniwonda urged both the organizers and those embarking on the protest to cooperate with the command to ensure that the proposed protest was carried out peacefully without being hijacked by unscrupulous persons.

The CP assured residents that the command would deploy all available resources to ensure that residents were protected during and after the protest and would continue to maintain law and order throughout the state.

“Those participating in any form of protest are therefore advised to ensure that they maintain the sanctity of public gathering and lawful assembly and avoid acts capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order in the state,” he said.

The CP ordered massive deployment across the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“Undercover Police operatives from the State Intelligence Department have also been deployed to monitor activities during the protest and also identify miscreants who want to cause mayhem during the protest,” he added.

FCT minister Nyesom Wike said on Monday that President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of a mandate secretariat for youth affairs in the FCT.

Mr Wike disclosed this during an interactive engagement with residents of the Bwari area council on Monday.

During the interactive section, he explained his peace-building process across the FCT in view of the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1 to 10.

A similar interactive section was held with residents of Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Abaji to urge the people, particularly the youths, not to participate in the #EndBadGovernance protest.

“On Saturday, I told the people of AMAC, when they requested the establishment of the youth secretariat, that I knew that when I met Mr President, he would approve it,” said Mr Wike. “Yesterday, while in Kwali, I repeated what I said. I want to bring you good news. I saw the president last night, and he has approved the establishment of a secretariat for youth affairs.”

“The FCT has a generation of residents who were born and schooled in the FCT. These residents know no other place that they call home than the territory. As such, there must be peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians in the nation’s capital,” Mr Wike said.

Governor Uba Sani has warned Kaduna residents against participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to kick off on Thursday.

Mr Sani stated this at a town hall meeting with critical stakeholders on Monday in Kaduna. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the citizens’ welfare and security, expressing concerns about “faceless” groups planning protests under the guise of demanding good governance.

Mr Sani acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, attributing them to years of mismanagement and corruption.

He stressed that President Bola Tinubu is working to reset the economy with policies aimed at sustainable growth, though some have caused temporary pain.

The governor emphasised ongoing efforts to rebuild trust, enhance security, and implement pro-poor policies. He called the planned protests unnecessary and ill-timed, recalling that past protests in the state had often escalated into violence and destruction.

Mr Sani urged the stakeholders to prioritise stability and progress, advising against actions that could trigger unrest. He assured that the government was addressing security challenges and improving socio-economic conditions.

The governor called for unity and responsible actions to support the state’s development and the nation’s progress.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamali, representing the traditional institution, appealed for patience and urged the communities to refrain from protesting.

He emphasised the importance of coming together to solve the issues facing the northern region.

Representatives from religious organisations, Ahmad Gumi and Joseph Hayab, also urged their followers to avoid protests organised by unidentified groups.

Mr Gumi acknowledged the constitutional right to protest but expressed concerns about potential hijacking by malicious actors.

TUC and NLC chairmen in Kaduna, Abdullahi Danfulani and Ayuba Suleiman, respectively, stated that they would not participate in any protest, adding that they had not received directives from their national bodies.

Dayyabu Maigonjo, representing the Kaduna market community, corroborated TUC and NLC, warning that protests could lead to looting and destruction of facilities in the state.

Gunmen on Monday evening killed four police officers on a stop-and-search checkpoint along the Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state.

An eyewitness who claimed to be a resident of Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state told PUNCH Metro on the condition of anonymity that fear couldn’t allow him and others to ascertain how many civilians were also shot.

He said, “The gunmen stormed one of the popular hotels where the police checkpoint was mounted at Irete around 6:30 pm and shot at the four policemen on a stop-and-search duty, including a Point of Sale operator.

“They also shot dead a female Point Of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares and rushed to a nearby hospital. It was horrific. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

“This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians.

“Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”

Another indigene who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said the attackers were enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East.

He added, “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo State. I thought it had been stopped but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by gunmen.”

When contacted through text message, the Imo State Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, could not respond to the text message sent to him as of the time of filling this report.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed that 32 suspects have been arrested following a violent attack on a Ministry of Education team at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in the Akoka area of the state.

According to Hundeyin, the team had been sent to mediate a three-month-long impasse between staff and the Provost, who had been locked out of his office.

However, the situation escalated when staff and students attacked the team, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s quarters.

He added that the rioters also blocked all entrances and exits to the college, prompting a police response.

Hundeyin made this known while reacting to a viral report by Tomisin, who identifies as #TomisinWhyte on X.com on Monday, reporting police shooting and tear gas used during the protests.

#TomisinWhyte had tweeted, “Emergency Alert. There are reports of police shooting and tear gas being used on students at Akoka Road.

“This is happening during ongoing protests. Please help spread the word.”

Hundeyin clarified the situation, emphasizing that the police intervention was necessary to maintain peace and order.

Hundeyin wrote, “For over three months, staff of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka locked out their Provost, depriving him use of his office.

“A team set up by the Minister of Education arrived the school today to mediate the ongoing impasse. However, staff of the college aided by students attacked the team from Abuja, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s official quarters.

“Not done, the rioting staff and students also blocked all entrances in and out of the college. The police arrived the scene and restored normalcy after being attacked with stones and sachets of water by the rioters.

“Meanwhile, 32 suspects have been arrested while men of the Nigeria Police Force from Area Command, Surulere remain on ground to ensure that the restored peace remains intact.”

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed senior police officers to protect participants in the #EndBadGovernance protests scheduled for 1-10 August 2024.

The police chief gave the directive in a letter dated 29 July 2024, signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, following a request by human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).

PUNCH Online reported that Adegboruwa had, on 28 July 2024, written to the police chief seeking police protection for the hunger protesters.

According to the letter, the police chief instructed senior officers to comply with the senior lawyer’s request.

It added that the IG also requested a meeting with Adegboruwa at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday to deliberate further on his request.

“I am to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request.

“I am also to inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, to deliberate further on your request,” the letter read.

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, hailed Nigeria’s female basketball team D’tigress after defeating their Australian counterparts, 75-62 in the Olympics in Lilee, France.

The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Diana-Mary Nsan, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

Enoh, who said that the win was s inspirational to the entire Team Nigeria contingent competing in various sports, showered praises on the team for their outstanding performance.

“D’ Tigress displayed remarkable character in their first match of the Olympic Games, taking down a basketball super-house and world number three nation to record a historic victory,“ he said.

The Opals of Australia and five-time Olympic medalist, couldn’t stop the brave Nigerian ladies.

The first and second quarters ended 18-17, and 23-11 respectively, while the third and fourth quarters ended 10-19 and 24-15.

The minister expressed excitement on their performance, stating, “This victory is not just a win; it is a monumental achievement.

“Our D’ Tigress has shown the world what determination and teamwork can achieve. They have made every Nigerian proud, beating the number three nation in the world rankings.

“The resilience and spirit displayed by our women’s basketball team is a beacon of hope and inspiration for all athletes competing in Paris.

“Their performance is a shining example of the excellence we aspire to achieve across all sports.”

He added that the dedication and hard work of D’Tigress paid off spectacularly.

Enoh said, “This victory will undoubtedly boost the morale of the entire Team Nigeria, and I am confident that it will lead to more successes in the days to come.

“Let us all rally behind our athletes as they continue to strive for greatness.

“D’ Tigress have handed Nigeria its first win at the ongoing Olympics, setting a positive tone for the rest of the games.”

Two people were killed and three others wounded on Monday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a civilian car and a motorcycle in southern Lebanon, military sources told Xinhua.

Lebanese military sources said that an Israeli drone fired two air-to-ground missiles at a civilian car that was travelling on the main road linking the villages of Mays al-Jabal and Chaqra.

Mays al-Jabal and Chaqra villages are in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, wounding two people, with one of them dying later due to his severe injuries.

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone fired three missiles at a motorcycle near the Dubieh Fortress on the road between the villages of Mays al-Jabal and Chaqra.

It resulted in one death and two victims with injuries, with the victims including a child, according to the sources.

Israeli drones launched multiple airstrikes on five towns and villages in the border area of southern Lebanon on Monday morning.

Israeli artillery shelled nine towns and villages in the area with about 35 shells.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas’ attack on Israel the day before.

Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward south-eastern Lebanon.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has scheduled an emergency session for Wednesday at the red chamber to discuss “issues of national importance.”

The Senate and House of Representatives had, last Tuesday, embarked on their seven weeks annual recess and were to resume September 17, 2024.

However, Mr Akpabio, in a notice to fellow senators, “directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened as follows: Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024; Time 12 noon.”

According to the Senate president, issues of national importance are expected to be discussed during the emergency sitting.

“Distinguished senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend as issues of national importance will be discussed. We regret all inconveniences that this interruption of the recess will cause,” the notice added.

The emergency session of the Senate would be held a few hours before Nigerians hit the streets to protest the nationwide hunger and hardship caused by the harsh economic policies of the Bola Tinubu administration on his assumption of office.

Nigerians had vowed to commence a nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest from August 1, 2024, making several demands, including probing past and present leaders who have looted public funds.

The Kwara command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCSC) has warned those seeking to exploit the August 1 proposed nationwide protest for criminal activities to desist or face the wrath of the law.

Umar Mohammed, the state’s corps commandant, gave the warning in a statement by the command’s public relations officer, Ayoola Shola, on Monday in Ilorin.

Mr Mohammed, while acknowledging citizens’ right to protest, urged youths and other concerned citizens to lawfully and peacefully express their grievances and ensure that national security and public safety were not compromised.

He encouraged residents of the state to continue their daily activities without fear and assured that measures had been implemented to address the envisaged threat.

According to him, the command is on red alert, with robust measures to ensure that law and order are upheld before, during, and after the protest.

”The command will not fold its hands and watch hoodlums wreak havoc and vandalise critical national assets and infrastructure.

”Adequate deployment will be made across the state to ensure watertight security of life and property,” he said.

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest, the Imo State Police Command has in collaboration with other sister agencies deployed security at strategic points to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

In a press statement, the Police Public Relations Officer ACP, Henry Okoye informed that Security Operatives drawn from the Police, Armed Forces, and other security agencies have been strategically deployed and tasked to carry out a 15-day show of force and confidence-building patrol across the 27 LGAs of the State to ensure public safety and deter miscreants from causing any break down of law and order.

ACP, further informed that the Detectives of the State Intelligence Department have also been deployed on covert intelligence gathering to monitor the situation surrounding the planned mass demonstration.

“The massive deployment of security operatives is not meant to intimidate the civil populace but to reassure them that the security agencies in the state are working harmoniously to ensure public safety and as well strengthen public confidence in going about their lawful businesses without any fear or intimidation”the release stated.

The press statement said the Commissioner of Police CP Aboki Danjuma while addressing the operatives before the confidence-building alongside the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, tasked the operatives to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, respect the rule of law and fundamental human rights of citizens while ensuring public safety.

The Police Commissioner acknowledged that citizens have the right to embark on peaceful protest in any democratic society but warned that violent protest is criminal and capable of leading to the destruction of lives and properties.

He, however, assured that the Command has deployed stringent security measures to prevent any form of civil unrest.

In line with the direction, he has reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of citizens while ensuring their maximum safety and urged residents to be security conscious and swiftly report any suspicious person seen or activity observed within their vicinity to the nearest Police Station.

Scores of people have been arrested in France for trying to disrupt the Olympic Games, Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin said on Monday.

Security forces arrested 50 people, Darmanin told the France 2 television channel.

They had wanted to carry out “sabotage actions or radical protests’’ during the first Olympic competitions but authorities prevented this, he said.

The newspaper Le Parisien reported that 45 members of the radical environmental movement Extinction Rebellion had been arrested.

They had planned actions to protest against the social and ecological consequences of the Olympics.

The newspaper Le Figaro reported that an ultra-left-wing activist was arrested on Sunday in Oissel, about 121 kilometres north-west of Paris.

The man was arrested at a French national train or SNCF location and had access keys to SNCF technical premises along with wire cutters and a set of universal keys.

The set of the universal keys in his vehicle along with literature linked to the ultra-left were recovered, the story said.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the arrest was not unconnected to the investigation into the arson attacks that disrupted traffic on Friday hours ahead of the Olympics’ opening ceremonies which affected hundreds of thousands of travellers.

Darmanin also told France 2 that his office had a clearer picture of who might have been behind those attacks.

“We have identified several profiles of individuals who may have carried out these very deliberate and highly targeted acts of sabotage,’’ he said.

Darmanin said the attacks align with “a traditional method of the far-left.’’

A letter of responsibility with references to the radical left-wing scene and criticism of the Olympic Games had been sent to several media outlets.

According to Darmanin, it must be examined whether this is authentic or if people are merely trying to claim credit for the acts.

Trains are now back to normal, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said on the channel RTL.

Whether the perpetrators received support from individuals within the SNCF remained uncertain, Darmanin announced.

Unknown persons have also damaged fibre-optic networks in parts of France overnight, but Paris, where the summer Olympics is currently being held, was not affected, French media reported on Monday.

American Singer, Swae Lee has urged his fans not to vote for Vice President and the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, in the upcoming election.

He argued that the money sent by Harris and her principal, President Joe Biden, to other countries in the past years could have been used to better the lives of every American.

The ‘Sunflower’ crooner particularly urged Black people not to allow sentiment to influence their decisions in the upcoming election, warning that it would not end well.

In a series of posts on X, Lee wrote: “Do not vote for Kamala !!! Do your research on that whole camp.

“I pay over millions in tax dollars every year this man [President Biden] sent it to a whole nother country! Those lil dollars that come off your checks they gave it away! Think about that sh*t.

“The money we sent away to every American citizen could’ve gotten a minimal 200 grand think about that but I guess we don’t need the sh*t and y’all standing for Kamala.

“My black people, she don’t do nothing but sign off on things against yall..favour.(us) voting just cuz you think she’s black is not going to end in your favor.”

President Bola Tinubu has assented to the N70,000 National Minimum Wage for workers in the country.

The signing ceremony was performed at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa and witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and other government functionaries.

Details later…

President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election.

He is thus set to return as president for the third time.

According to the electoral body of the country, Maduro won the election conducted Sunday, July 28, with 51 percent of the vote.

The result contradicted multiple exit polls which suggested an opposition win after the Maduro administration was blamed for wrongdoings that evidently turned most citizens against him.

The result of the poll indicated that opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, who was widely acclaimed to be heading for victory as the election progressed late on Sunday, actually won just 44 percent of the vote.

Maduro has responded to his controversial victory, proclaiming that his reelection is a triumph of peace and stability.

Apparently sensing public suspicion and possible mass dissent, however, he was quick to announce that he would sign a document later in the day, Monday, to hold a national dialogue.

Already, criticism is rife within the opposition that the country’s National Electoral Council acted like an arm of the government rather than an impartial independent body.

The opposition had earlier said voters had chosen a change.

Edmundo Gonzalez said in a post on X not long before the results were announced, “The results cannot be hidden. The country has peacefully chosen a change.”

The police command in Yobe says the Boko Haram insurgents have planned to infiltrate the forthcoming #EndBadGovernance protest in August.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

He said intelligence received by the command indicated that foreign mercenaries were engaged to destroy lives and property at the protest.

Mr Abdulkarim, therefore, called on would-be protesters to exercise caution.

“As Yobe state recovers from insurgency, the commissioner of police, CP Garba Ahmed, acknowledges citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly.

“While we alert citizens to sinister motives, even peaceful protests at this time may be ill-timed. Recent insurgency activities in Gujba LGA, including an improvised explosive device explosion, have raised concerns.

“We are unprepared to face additional security challenges,” he said and warned that criminals trying to hide under the protest to destabilise the state would face the wrath of the law.

According to Mr Abdulkarim, the protesters must indicate proposed protest routes and assembly points for a hitch-free protest.

The spokesman said they should also state the expected duration of the protest, names and contact details of leaders and organisers and measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements.

The statement said, “By providing this information, we can deploy adequate personnel and resources, designate specific routes and areas, establish clear communication channels, and minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or criminal activity.

“We encourage protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly. We are committed to working with all to promote peaceful expression and maintain public order.”