Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson

A NOTORIOUS bandit leader, Boderi Isyaku, has been killed during a military onslaught by troops of the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army. A statement by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the bandit leader alongside some of his fighters was killed in a gun battle with troops around Bada and Riwaya general areas of Chikun and Igabi local government areas of the state. According to Aruwan, the death of the bandits was confirmed to the Kaduna State Government by security officials carrying out internal security operations and diligent checks from human…

THE Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, Sylvanus Namang, has been shot dead in Pankshin town, Pankshin Local Government Area of the state. An official of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, adding that the APC scribe died from injuries sustained in the attack. He stated that the late Namang was a dependable ally, and deeply committed to the development of the APC at the grassroots and state levels, adding that the party would issue a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. This…

NINE persons have been killed in separate attacks in Kauru and Igabi local government areas of Kaduna State, while 35 others, including a retired director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), his brother and the brother’s wife were abducted by unknown gunmen. Nine other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attacks. The Kauru LGA incident, which took place in Kwasam community, occurred on Friday night a few minutes after 10pm when bandits invaded the community, shooting sporadically. Sources in the area confirmed that the bandits picked two people at gunpoint, who led them to the residence of the…

FOUR persons were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen in what looks like renewed attacks on two villages of Miango district of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to the national publicity secretary of Irigwe Development Association, Davidson Malison, the assailants launched an attack on Nkienzha community in Miango district of Rigwe Chiefdom in the early hours of Monday where three persons were killed and one severely injured with machete cuts and receiving treatment at a medical facility. The fourth death was recorded in another attack on Teegbe village on Saturday night while a car ambush occurred on Friday…

THE Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the release of 14 Abuja-bound travellers kidnapped last Friday. The victims who were travelling in two buses belonging to God is Good Motors (GIG) and ABC Transport were kidnapped in Inyenle, Ogugu in the Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. But on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command William Aya, said they have regained their freedom following a combined effort of the military, police, hunters, and vigilantes. However, he did not give further details of how the victims regained their freedom. “I can confirm that all the kidnapped victims…

SOME ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were on Saturday held hostage at polling unit 052 in Rockhaven Zaria Road of the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The voters complained that there were not enough sensitive materials for the rerun election. There are 1,728 registered voters in the unit but only 100 ballot papers were released for the House of Representatives while the 1,728 ballot papers were released for the Senatorial rerun. The voters’ decision to hold the INEC staff hostage was due to non-availability of result sheets and incident form for complainants.…

THE National Agency For the Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons, Makurdi Zonal Command has rescued five victims and apprehended eight suspects. Among those arrested were an 80-year-old woman, Innocent Josephine, and a 56-year-old woman, Ude Rosaline, both identified as key players in the trafficking. Other members include;  Samuel Takura (50), Williams Minde (35), Mrs. Celina Obiasogu (52), Virginia Okonkwo (50),  Anthonia Onura (60), and  Ede Sunday Ngozi (52). The Zonal Commander, Mrs  Gloria Bai, told journalists on Saturday that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Mama Nnamdi, who is at large. She disclosed this in a statement issued and made available…

THE immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has dissociated himself from the campaign posters linking him to the position of the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC). A statement issued on Tuesday by the media office of the former governor blamed such a campaign on the “handiwork of some opposition leaders and some 5th columnists within the party.” The media office of the immediate past governor noted that such insinuation was aimed at discrediting the former governor. “Parts of the plans already being hatched is the circulation of campaign posters with the picture of His Excellency…

USMAN Ododo has been sworn in as the governor of Kogi State after months he was elected to take over from Yahaya Bello who has completed his second term in office. Ododo took the oath of office at around 2:24 pm at in Lokoja on Saturday. His inauguration came just minutes after Salifu Joel Oyibo took his oath of office as the deputy governor of Kogi State. With his swearing in, Ododo becomes 5th Executive Governor of Kogi state. The event had in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Ododo’s predecessor, Yahaya Bello, National Chairman of the All Progressives…

KILLINGS and burning of houses have continued in Mangu town of Mangu local government area of Plateau state despite the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government. Governor Celeb Mutfwang had imposed the curfew after fresh killings were recorded in the area, on Tuesday. But the violence continued as residents of Mangu confirmed that gunmen stormed several communities, shooting at everyone in sight. The attackers reportedly burnt houses, including the Sunnah Islamiya School located along the popular Gindiri Road. Suleiman Muhammad, a resident, of Mangu, told this newspaper that “At around 9:30 am this morning, gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons came…

ARMED policemen, on Tuesday, teargassed the 16 Peoples Democratic Party members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Court of Appeal. The lawmakers had arrived at the Rayfield Old Government House in Jos on Tuesday morning alongside their supporters preparatory to their resumption of plenary when the incident happened. The policemen and other security operatives took over the premises of the Government House and prevented the sacked lawmakers from going into the chambers of the House of Assembly but the lawmakers had vowed not to vacate the premises. Recall, addressing journalists in Jos, the state…

GOVERNOR Caleb Mutfwang has imposed 24-hour curfew on the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, North Central Nigeria with immediate effect following the deteriorating security situation within the area. In a press statement, a spokesperson for the governor, Gyang Bere, said the decision was taken after consultations with relevant security agencies and to avoid breakdown of law and order in the local government area. Bere said citizens, especially Mangu residents, are enjoined to comply with the sit-at-home order while only persons on essential duties are allowed to move within the local government area until further notice. The governor lamented…

SIXTEEN people were killed and four others injured in a road accident that occurred in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday. The accident which occurred around 11:20 am at Tashar Yari area involved a bus that left Kano en route to Markudi in Benue State. A statement by the Kaduna State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kabir Nadabo attributed the accident to overspeeding that led to the driver losing control of the steering and ramming into a ditch. He said that an initial investigation of the crash revealed that 20 people were involved,…

TWO persons have been killed, while over 70 houses were set ablaze in a communal clash between two communities in Kogi State. The communities involved in the communal clash are Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan under the Ankpa Local Government Area of the state. Trouble started when some villagers in Ochi-Ibadan allegedly killed a man from Oturpo-Ojile who was returning from Lagos to his village, Oturpo-Ojile. Aggrieved with the death of their son, some youths from Oturpo-Ojile in a reprisal attack went straight to Ochi-Ibadan and allegedly burnt down houses and properties worth millions of naira. The member representing Ankpa I state…

SUSPECTED bandits have killed a 53-year-old baker, Tijjani Ahmadu, and abducted his 13 relatives, who are mainly children, travelling alongside him, in the Katari area of Kaduna State. The Edo State-born businessman’s brother, AbdurRasaq, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, said the incident happened on January 6, 2024, while the victims were returning to Kaduna after visiting Warri, Delta State. AbdurRasaq said, “They came to visit for the Christmas and New Year holidays. My siblings and their families came to visit. But they got attacked by bandits when they were going back to Kaduna, using two buses.…

GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has advised Nigerians to take advantage of the newly introduced Students Loan Scheme initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to acquire university education. He said this at the official opening and maiden matriculation of Kogi State University, Kabba, on Tuesday, noting that his vision for the establishment of a University in Kabba had been fulfilled. The governor said he met a state that was in a deplorable situation, but expressed gratitude to God that he would be handing over the state better than he met it. “Today I’m fulfilled. I promised to be part…

THE District Head of Kujama, Mr. Steven Ibrahim, who was kidnapped 64 days ago, has been released and is back with his family. He was kidnapped alongside another person while leaving a reservation centre near Bethel School along the Kaduna-Kujama road in November 2023. The bandits killed the other person who was abducted alongside the district head while in their custody a few days after their abduction and dropped his corpse at a village along Kaduna-Abuja highway. This newspaper gathered from sources close to the district head and the community that he was released a week ago. The District Head,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new board and management team for the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC). The President charges the new appointees to consider their appointment as an opportunity to serve the nation and, as such, wholly commit themselves to this important purpose.” See full statement below: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW BOARD OF NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN PILGRIM COMMISSION President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following nine (9) qualified Nigerians to serve on the board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC): 1. Colonel Aloche Adole — Chairman 2. Dr.…

KOGI state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has appointed caretaker chairmen to oversee the affairs of the third tier of government in the state with immediate effect. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mohammed Onogwu, disclosed this in a statement late Monday. He said the governor’s action was “in accordance with the Re-enacted Law of the Kogi State, outlining the establishment, composition, structure, finance, and functions of the local government areas, 2023”. “The governor’s action is aimed at efficiently filling the void left by the former local government chairmen who have recently completed their commendable tenure of office.” “These caretaker chairmen,…

THE Kogi State Government has announced the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Anaje, who until now is the Ohi of Okenwen, as the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland The governor also deposed four traditional rulers, including a first-class traditional ruler, the Ohimege Igu, Konto-Nkarfe, and Alhaji Abdulrazaq Koto. Koto was subsequently banished to Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State. The state governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello, also appointed Alhaji Salihu Seidu, popularly known as SAS, to replace the deposed Ohimege. “He is to be turbaned immediately to avoid vacuum,” Bello said. The governor’s address on the appointments delivered shortly after a meeting…