Experts have criticized President Bola Tinubu over the new national anthem, saying the national anthem does not change the price of food.

Political analysts, Jideofor Adibe and Sani Yabagi issued the criticism while speaking on the first anniversary of President Tinubu in an interview on Channels Television.

Recall that President Tinubu on Wednesday, signed the new national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ into law in the early hours of Wednesday.

The signing of the bill into law ensured that Nigeria jettisoned ‘Arise, O Compatriots’ as its national anthem.

The experts quizzed the significance of changing the national anthem at this critical time, describing it as “shadowboxing”.

Adobe said, “That for me is shadow boxing. Is that the problem? I think they are leaving the substance to chase the shadow. What does it change? Does it change the price of food in the market?”

While speaking on the development, Yabagi said he believes the issue of the national anthem was introduced as a kind of relief for Nigerians for all that is happening with the economy among others.

He said, “I think it is a way of giving us a kind of breather. It is a way of bringing out some substance in the whole thing that is called Nigeria so that we will now begin to appreciate who we are.”

He, however, expressed concern that the old national anthem the country has now reverted to was written by the colonialists, saying, “we are the pride of Africa, we shouldn’t bring sentiments or things that define us in a different way.”

Iran on Thursday began the formal registration of presidential candidates to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi.

Raisi and seven members of his entourage, including foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in northern Iran.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has since assigned vice president Mohammad Mokhber as acting president in accordance with the constitution.

The election was originally slated for 2025 but was brought forward to June 2024 following Raisi’s unexpected death on May 19.

Aspiring Presidential candidates have been given five days to register.

It was reported that about 30 people came forward to submit applications for candidacy, but none of them met the basic conditions for qualification.

According to Iran’s electoral law, Candidates must be between the ages of 40 and 75 and have at least a master’s degree.

A final list of candidates will be announced on June 11 by the Guardian Council, a 12-member body of jurists whose members are either appointed or approved by the supreme leader.

Police operatives in Adamawa State have arrested two teenage boys for allegedly receiving a stolen tricycle.

The Adamawa State Police Command said in a statement obtained Thursday that it has also recovered the stolen tricycle.

“On the 28th of May 2024, the Adamawa Police Command received information about a stolen tricycle along Chochi Street, Rumde, Yola North,” the Command said in a statement signed by its image maker, SP Suleiman Nguroje.

“Upon receiving the information, a police surveillance team attached to Jimeta Divisional Headquarters were promptly deployed. Luckily, one Yusuf Adamu, 18 Years and Abdul Salam Abubakar, 18 years were arrested while trying to sell the tricycle,” the police added.

The Police explained that the tricycle was stolen by one yet to be arrested suspect and received by the suspects at hand.

“One Mohammed Sani was traced to be the owner of the stolen tricycle,” Nguroje stated, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, commended the timely information from the public that helped in the arrest if the suspects and recovery of the tricycle.

The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says no fewer than 29,000 suspects were arrested for offences ranging from kidnapping, rape, murder, gun-running, and cultism among others across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in one year.

Adejobi disclosed this in a signed statement obtained by PUNCH Online on Thursday.

The force spokesperson noted that the arrests were part of efforts of the police to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians.

Giving a breakdown of the arrest, Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, noted that 4,826 suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 3,078 suspects for kidnapping and 2,479 suspects were arrested for sexual offences.

He added that 1,243 suspects were nabbed for unlawful possession of firearms, 3,523 suspects were arrested for cultism, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide, and 13,402 suspects were arrested for other offences.

Adejobi said, “In the past year, the Police have successfully apprehended 4,826 armed robbery suspects, 3,078 kidnapping suspects, 2,479 suspects for rape/sexual crimes, 1,243 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, 3,523 suspects for cultism, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide, 13,402 suspects for other offences.”

The FPRO also disclosed that no fewer than 1,750 kidnap victims were rescued in multiple operations while several cache of illegal items, “including 2,566 firearms, 19,510 rounds of ammunition, and 1,475 vehicles/motorcycles” were recovered nationwide.

Giving an update on the cases the force has prosecuted, Adejobi disclosed that “The NPF has successfully prosecuted 29,152 criminal cases across the country within the year. Out of these, 17,679 cases have been conclusively dispensed with, while 11,576 cases are still undergoing trial.”

He concluded that 51 cases were under appeal at the different appellate courts while 16,200 convictions had been secured with the offenders serving various forms of punishment for their criminal acts.

Terrorists, on Wednesday, reportedly killed 12 persons in Maro Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Twenty (20) others who sustained various degrees of injuries have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A former chairman of the local government, Cafra Caino, confirmed to DAILY POST that the assailants invaded the market around 3 pm on Wednesday, shooting sporadically.

According to him, “12 bodies have so far been recovered while 20 others who sustained various degrees of injuries are now receiving treatments at a nearby hospital.”

He explained that it was the second time the weekly market had been attacked by the terrorists while business owners and customers were transacting businesses.

He lamented that the situation was critical and had thrown residents around the area into confusion while they scampered for safety in neighbouring villages.

The former chairman added that following the attack, farming activities have seriously been affected.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls to confirm the incident.

Videos circulating on social media reveal that some schools in Nigeria have started reciting the reintroduced national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, signed the bill by the National Assembly for the return of the colonial-era national anthem to replace “Arise, O Compatriots.” Pupils of Justice and Peace Primary School in Ogbere-Ijebu, Ogun State, were filmed reciting the first stanza of the “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” anthem during their morning assembly.Another video revealed a school said to be in Lagos State, playing the reintroduced national anthem during their morning assembly.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of free train rides on the Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also called the Metro Rail, for the next six months until the end of the year.

The President gave the approval during his address at the inauguration of the commencement of operations of the Abuja metro rail in Abuja on Wednesday.

The PUNCH reports that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had earlier announced free train rides for two months, to ease the burden of commuting for residents of the FCT.

However, the President appealed for the extension to offer hope to the people of the FCT and give them reasons to celebrate

“Our dear landlord and his team, I heard you saying two months free ride. I appeal to you to make it till the end of the year. Since today you’re not going to charge me, that will give the people hope and reasons to celebrate,” Tinubu said.

Two young men were mistakenly killed by a bullet from a policeman’s gun in Ekiti State.

Witnesses report that the incident occurred around 10 pm on Tuesday in the Omisanjana Area of Ado Ekiti.

According to reports, there was an accident in the area, and some irate youths attempted to mob the driver and set the vehicle ablaze.

The police were contacted to calm the situation, but the youths showed no sign of backing down when the officers arrived.

In the process of trying to disperse the youths, there was an accidental discharge from one of the officer’s guns, which hit two of the youths.

Though the victims were rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, they did not survive.

The bodies have been deposited in the morgue.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Sunday Abutu, said a discreet investigation has commenced.

Abutu, in a statement, said: “The Command, upon the receipt of the information, deployed the State Traffic Section to the scene to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order as well as ensuring the safety of the victims.

“On getting to the scene, the operatives met resistance as some irate youths disallowed them from performing their lawful duty and insisted on carrying out jungle justice. This necessitated a call for reinforcement to assist the officers on the ground. However, in the process, one of the officers accidentally fired a shot that fatally injured two persons.”

He added, “The officer responsible for the shooting has been disarmed, arrested, and detained and shall be made to face disciplinary action immediately.”

While the Command is already in touch with the families of the deceased, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoled with the families and assured them that a discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.

A Lagos State Hajj pilgrim, Idris Oloshogbo, has died in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Saheed Onipede, made the announcement in a statement through the agency spokesperson, Taofeek Lawal, on Wednesday.

Onipede said the 68-year-old deceased from Shomolu Local Government, died while eating his food in the evening (after Solat Maghrib).

Oloshogbo was confirmed dead by medical experts in the country shortly after returning from Tawaf (circumambulation) of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.

Onipede stressed that, while the cause of his death was yet to be medically ascertained as of press time, the death could not be unconnected with high blood pressure, BP, and the stress he passed through during the tawaf.

While extending the condolences of the state government to the immediate family and friends of the deceased, Onipede prayed that Allah would forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat Fridauos as well as the reward of the Hajj, since he already had the intention.

He appealed to other pilgrims to exercise caution and restrain from overstressing themselves before the commencement of the real Hajj rites which are yet to be fulfilled.

“The deceased has been buried in Makkah in line with laid down principles of Saudi Arabian authorities,” Onipede stated.

Two Hajj pilgrims from Kebbi State died in Saudi Arabia last Sunday.

At least 122 stranded Nigerians comprising 52 males, 39 females seven of whom were rescued victims of human trafficking, 21 children as well as 10 infants have been evacuated from Libya.

This brings the total number of stranded Nigerians in Libya who have been assisted to return home in 2024 alone to 1,350.

In 2023, the International Organization for Migration, IOM, assisted no fewer than 2,041 stranded Nigerian migrants to return home.

The evacuees would depart around 1.30pm, Libyan local time from Mitiga International Airport aboard a chartered flight and are expected at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by 5 pm.

According to official sources, Tuesday’s evacuation, conducted in collaboration with the IOM in Libya as part of its Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation, VHR, programme, was the ninth carried out by the Nigerian Mission in the country this year.

Speaking in Tripoli, Libya, during the evacuation, Nigeria’s newly-posted Charge’ d’Affaires en-titre to Libya, Mohammed Mohammed advised Nigerians to shun irregular migrations to foreign lands.

Mohammed warned that most of such irregular migrations usually end up in slavery and sexual exploitations in Europe.

The envoy said that migrations that follow due process are allowed but advised Nigerians to always ponder well before embarking on the risk of the ill-advised journey across the desert.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law.

The bill seeks to reinstate the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

A final assent to the passage of the bill will bring about a shift from the now-recognised, “Arise O Compatriots.”

The bill was rapidly cleared by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Details later…

The Democratic Republic of Congo unveiled a new government on Wednesday, ending more than five months of deadlock following President Felix Tshisekedi’s re-election.

The announcement came less than two weeks after the country’s military said it had thwarted a coup attempt that saw armed men attack a minister’s home before entering the Palais de la Nation that houses Tshisekedi’s offices in the capital Kinshasa.

It also came at a time of renewed fighting in eastern DRC, where the Congolese army is trying to regain territory seized by Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels.

Announced around 02:00 am local time (0100 GMT), the new government named Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita as the defence minister, a key post at a time when Congo faces a serious security crisis in the east.

In power since 2019, Tshisekedi was re-elected in the first round of December presidential elections, with over 70 per cent of the vote, but his “Sacred Union of the Nation” platform was still unable to immediately form a government.

“It’s a coalition of different parties, there have been discussions…, compromises”, said Erik Nyindu, director of communications for the presidency, explaining why the formation of the government had taken time.

The Saudi Arabian authorities have warned all pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj against using invalid Hajj visa to enter the country.

In the warning issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Saudi Arabian Kingdom threatened to invoke severe penalties against any pilgrim or group found to have entered the country illegally.

The ministry of Interior stipulated a penalty of deportation and fine of 10,000 SR on anyone caught performing Hajj without the authorized Hajj permit.

The warning was contained in a letter received by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Abuja, disclosing the stand of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars on the matter.

The Council, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, issued a Fatwa (a legal ruling given by recognized religious authority) to the Muslim Ummah emphasizing the prohibition of performing Hajj without a permit.

“The Council in its Fatwa, urged pilgrims to adhere to rules and regulations, aimed at enabling Muslims to perform the Hajj in safety and tranquility,” the letter to the commission reads in part.

Usara, however, recalled that NAHCON had issued several warnings in the past against Nigerians falling into the bait of scammers making so many job offers for the pilgrimage season.

Similarly, the Saudi Ministry of Interior similarly advised persons against “becoming victims of the several fictitious companies and fake accounts on social media who claim to be agents/ authorities to facilitate Hajj using Umrah, tourism, work, family visit and other types of Visa at attractive rates.”

Assistant Director in charge of Tour Operators Unit, Ahmad Shira, has since shared contents of the message to all licensed Hajj and Umrah operators from the public and private sectors.

Pope Francis has apologised over his reported use of a gay slur in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops last week.

A statement from the Vatican said the Pope did not mean to offend anyone and apologised to those who were “hurt by the use of a word”.

“The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, reported by others.

During a meeting with more than 250 bishops last week, the 87-year-old pontiff was said to have used an offensive term while expressing his opposition to openly homosexual men joining training colleges for priests, even if they ARE committed to celibacy.

According to two Italian newspapers, Francis said there was already too much “frociaggine” in seminaries, using an offensive Roman term which translates as “faggotry”.

The reports made headlines around the world which sparked reactions from both LGTBQ groups and practising Catholics.

Some commentators suggested the Argentine pope did not know what he was saying.

The Vatican statement did not confirm that he used the word but referenced newspaper articles.

“As he had the opportunity to state on several occasions: ‘In the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone! Nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, and there is space for everyone. Just as we are, all of us,” the statement said.

Police in Jigawa State have raided criminals hideouts and arrested eighty five suspected criminals.

Police spokesman DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the arrest was made after a raid carried out in Dutse, Kazaure, Taura, Sara, and Maigatari local government areas.

According to him, “From 1st May to 15th May 2024, raids were conducted by the Jigawa Police at various black spots and criminal hideouts in Dutse, Kazaure, Taura, Sara, and Maigatari Divisional Police Headquarters.

“During the raid 85 suspects were arrested with exhibits.”

He said some of the exhibits in their possession include four blocks as well as 258 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, and 150 pieces of D5 tablets.

Others are 40 pieces of Tramadol tablets, 42 bottles of soak and die substance, four packets and 37 pieces of rubber solutions as well as 29 pieces of Exol tablets.

Shiisu said the suspects will be taken to court after investigation.

A 30-year-old woman, Yinka Afolabi, was on Tuesday, arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly assaulting police officers.

Afolabi, whose address was not provided, is being charged with conspiracy, assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Insp Oladejo Balogun, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at about 10.30 pm on May 27, at Elebu area, Ibadan.

Balogun said that Afolabi gathered people to assault police officers who were on duty in the area.

The prosecutor further stated that the defendant resisted being arrested by police officers who were performing their lawful duties.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olasinmibo Sanusi-Zubair granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until June 6 for a hearing.

An 18-year-old pupil was detained in western France on Monday after stabbing his schoolteacher in the face and fleeing, authorities said.

The teacher from the town of Chemille-en-Anjou in western France “suffered a facial injury that is not life-threatening”, said a joint statement from the authorities including the prefect and public prosecutor.

After the attack at the Lycee de l’Hyrome on Monday morning, the suspect quickly left through the window, abandoning his weapon, according to the authorities. He was detained by gendarmes and municipal police.

The officials said in the statement that the young man was not previously known to the police, adding that counselling was provided to pupils and teachers after the attack.

France has in recent years been shaken by a series of school incidents involving attacks on teachers as well as school children by their peers.

In April, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced measures to crack down on teenage violence in and around schools, as the government seeks to reclaim ground on security from the far-right ahead of upcoming European elections.

On May 10, a man was arrested for allegedly attacking a woman with a box cutter shot and seriously wounded two officers at a Paris police station after grabbing one of their weapons.

Four days after, another violent attack erupted as three French prison officers were killed and two others wounded in an attack on a prison van transporting an inmate who escaped.

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that two individuals were fatally injured and some others arrested during an attack by motorcycle riders on its Ipaja Division on Monday.

It was reported that panic ensued in a section of Lagos State when more than 100 hoodlums stormed the Ipaja Police Station.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed in a statement that the attack stemmed from the enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in the state.

He also revealed that over 200 motorcycles were impounded and one locally made firearm retrieved from the attackers.

He wrote, “Officers of Ipaja Police Division have successfully repelled an early morning attack on their division by motorcycle operators.

“The attack came after police officers commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos State.

“The attackers, who came in their hundreds, stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station.”

Hundeyin further disclosed that officers at the division defended themselves until reinforcements from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad arrived.

He added, “While officers and men of the division held their ground, reinforcement came from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad. Two of the attackers were fatally injured during the attack.

“However, this did not deter the officers from accomplishing their mandate, as over two hundred motorcycles were impounded and some of the attackers arrested, with one locally made firearm retrieved.”

He also emphasised that the command “will not be cowed into abdicating its responsibilities of enforcement of all duly passed laws and maintenance of law and order within the society.”