Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson

ELEVEN out of the 40 Christian worshippers that were abducted by bandits in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released by their abductors. The victims, including children, were kidnapped during a church service last Sunday and taken to an unknown destination. However, an executive member of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), told News Point Nigeria that 11 of the victims were released on Thursday. Although the police authorities are yet to comment on the development, the source did not disclose if any ransom was paid to the bandits before the victims were released. The source…

TELECOMMS group, MTN, has said that it is planning to increase prices in selected markets due to the elevated inflation in the operating environment. This was disclosed in its first quarter report filed with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Thursday. In its outlook for the rest of 2023, the MTN group said, “We anticipate that trading conditions across markets will remain challenging for the remainder of 2023 and we will continue to execute on our proactive measures to manage the near-term challenges and risks. “Within this environment of elevated inflation, implementing selective price increases across the portfolio remains a critical…

THE Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have filed an application asking that proceedings of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal be televised. This follows a similar application by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. The former vice president, through his counsel Chris Uche, urged the court to grant permission for the televising of proceedings in his petition challenging the return of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu as the winner of the election. In a related development, the tribunal adjourned the prehearing session on Obi and the LP’s petition till…

POLICE operatives have rescued 58 kidnap victims at Udulu Forest, Gegu LGA of Kogi State, bordering Sardauna Forest, Nasarawa State, and other identified kidnappers den in communities contiguous to the Federal Capital Territory. Spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the bandits/kidnappers on sighting the security team coordinated by the police, engage the security team in a shootout duel. Adeh, a Superintendent of Police, said a kidnap victim identified as Tama Jonathan died during a gun duel between police operatives and the suspected kidnappers. “The bandits were overpowered and escaped with…

A JUDGE at The Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey, has sentenced former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Doctor Obinna Obeta to jail. At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term. The sentencing follows their conviction in March for organ trafficking. The Ekweremadus’ sick daughter, Sonia, was cleared of any wrongdoing. The three were found guilty after arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the…

TRAVELLERS plying the Jos-Abuja highway were stranded on Wednesday as angry women and youths of Ta-Hoss community in the Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State blocked the busy road, preventing travellers from gaining access to or leaving the state capital. The protesters were expressing their displeasure over the incessant killings of the locals by unidentified gunmen, the latest of which was the killing of two persons on Tuesday night. Members of the community lamented that killings in the area had become worrisome, prompting women and youths in the area to embark on a protest to send a message…

TEN yet-to-be identified persons were burnt beyond recognition at Bauchi road junction in Jos, the Plateau State capital when a petroleum tanker conveying premium motor spirit lost control, crashed and burst into flames. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that a team of detectives were deployed to the scene of the accident to determined the level of damages. Upon arrival at the scene, the lifeless bodies of the victims were evacuated and deposited at the Plateau Specialist Hospital while rescue operation was carried out. The explosion affected three vehicles and two tricycles. The scene of the incident…

A SOLDIER and 24 other residents of Ussa and Takum local government areas of Taraba States are said to have been killed so far in the unending feud between Kuteb farmers and herders in the state. This is according to the Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba State, Abdullahi Usman. He said the military officer was ambushed and killed while the other 24 persons are either Kuteb or Fulani extractions. “The military officer who was from the checkpoint coming back to 93 Battalion Barrack was ambushed and killed, though nothing was taken from him, his motorcycle and luckily he has…

TWO soldiers and 15 villagers have been reportedly killed in attacks by armed invaders on three communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. Locals said that the attacks happened simultaneously at about 6pm on Tuesday in Opaha, Odogbo and Edikwu communities in Apa LGA. A local simply identified as Kole, said 17 bodies including two soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) were recovered from nearby bushes in the early hours of Wednesday after security operatives combed the area. The local also told our correspondent that one of the deceased soldiers was the commander of the unit which confronted…

NO fewer than 18,000 people were displaced this month following the recent attacks on some communities in Benue State. The Executive Secretary, State Emergency and Management Agency, Emmanuel Shior, disclosed this on Tuesday during the distribution of relief materials to some internally displaced persons in the state. Recall that some communities in Apa, Otukpo and Guma local government areas were attacked by suspected armed herders between April 5th and 9th, 2023 leading to the loss of 135 lives. Giving the breakdown of displaced persons within the month of April, the SEMA boss said that 8,000 IDPs were recorded and camped…

POLICE in Plateau State say they have uncovered the plan to attack the Plateau State House of Assembly Complex. The police spokesman in the state, DSP Alabo Alfred, in a statement on Monday, said the intention of the plotters was to cause a breakdown of law and order. “The Plateau State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the state and the general public that credible intelligence from reliable sources revealed that some enemies of the state who do not want peace to remain permanent in the state, are planning to forcefully invade the Plateau State House of…

AN ELDERLY man has been buried alive over witchcraft allegation levelled against him by some youths in Ikyve community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State. Witnesses said the incident happened at the weekend in Ikyve community of Diiv-Ikyurave, a rural area which borders Cross River State. A resident of the area explained that trouble started for the elderly victim simply identified as Ihwakaa when lightning struck and killed his son, Henry, alongside his wife and their infant. The resident further narrated that some youths in the area alleged that it was the handiwork of Ihwakaa, whom they accused was…

THE traditional ruler of Aghara, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of  Kogi State, Chief David Obadofin, has reportedly died in the custody of his abductors, 12 days after he was kidnapped. A family source stated that the monarch died last Thursday as a result of torture from his abductors. Our correspondent gathered that the abductors of the monarch had agreed to collect the sum of N2m for his release and one other lady, identified as Temidayo Elewa when the hoodlums noticed that Pa Obadofin was becoming too weak. A source added that while waiting for the ransom to be delivered, the hoodlums …

THE Federal Government has disclosed that plans are already underway to see to the evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan, as the country’s crisis continues to deepen. This move was occasioned by a request made by Nigerian students pleading that they be evacuated from the currently troubled Sudan. The country is witnessing hostilities between two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In response to the request made by the Nigerian Students, the FG through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)…

TWO immigration officers have been killed by suspected bandits along the Takum Ussa Local Government Area link road in Taraba State. Confirming the incident to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Usman said the officers were not only shot dead but had machete cuts on their bodies with their motorcycle abandoned. The officers were identified as inspectors Adike Austin and Uzo James of the Immigration Department attached to the Ussa local council checkpoint. Usman disclosed that their remains have been deposited at the morgue for autopsy with a full-scale investigation launched, adding…

FORMER Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye has been declared the winner of the governorship primary election of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi. He scored 313 votes to defeat Idoko Ilonah who had 124 votes. Others, Awoniyi Sunday had 77 votes while Musa Wada had 56 votes. The former lawmaker will be up against Usman Ododo, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election.

NO fewer than 29 people have been killed in a fresh attack by bandits on Runji Village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack which occurred at about 10 pm on Saturday night comes barely three days after bandits killed eight people at the Atak’Njei community also in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan who confirmed the latest incident in a statement, said that several houses in the community were burnt down while some residents were injured by the attackers. He also disclosed that troops…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Hon Diket Pland of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Plateau State Central Senatorial Zone. Declaring the result in Pankshin, the headquarters of the Plateau Central Senatorial zone, INEC returning Officer Dr. Jima Lar, said Hon Plang scored a total vote of 131,129 to emerge the winner. He said Plang’s closest challenger, Yohanna Gotom, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 127,022 votes, while Garba Pwul of the Labour Party came third with 36,510 votes. “Hon Diket Plang having scored the highest votes at the election…

FORMER Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, Usman Ododo has emerged as the winner of the just-concluded governorship primary  of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state. The election, which was conducted via direct mode of election, took place in the 239 wards across the 21 local government areas of Kogi. Ododo polled 78,704 votes to defeat the six other contestants. The incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello had days ago endorsed Ododo. Announcing the outcome of the primary at the State Secretariat of the APC, the Secretary of the National APC Governorship Primary Committee, Patrick Obahiagbon announced 93,729…

AD HOC workers crippled activities at the Plateau State College of Health Technology, in the Pankshin Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, over 45 months of unpaid salaries. They barricaded the main gate of the institution at about 10am displaying placards with inscriptions about their plight. Their leader, identified as Mr. Wambutda, said it was appalling that despite their plight, there are ongoing replacements of staff in vacant positions without the ad hoc staff being given any attention. “The reason for the protest is the non-confirmation/absorption, ongoing replacement of workers and the non-payment of our stipend for 45 months.…