THE Defence Headquarters has released the list of 17 military personnel killed in an attack in Delta State. The military personnel were killed last week in Okuama, a community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State after a peace mission. Days after the gruesome murder, the Defence Headquarters said 17 personnel including the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain, and 12 personnel of the battalion were among those killed. “May The Souls of the Departed Rest In Peace,” the Nigerian Army wrote on its X handle alongside a photo collage of the personnel on…
Author: Farouk Abbas
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PARENTS of the abducted students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State on Sunday said they were not aware of their release from captivity. At least 21 students were abducted last September when terrorists stormed an off-campus hostel in Sabon Gida, a community opposite the university in the Zamfara State capital. A few hours later, some of the victims were rescued by security officials. However, several media platforms reported yesterday that nine students had been released by their captors and handed over to security agencies. But the parents of the abducted students, the school authorities and the police command in…
THE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has embarked on a seven-day warning strike, effective Monday. This follows the refusal of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the Association. This newspaper reports that part of the issues that called for the strike action are re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement – the issue of 25/35 per cent of salary increment, minimum wage areas and the issue of the N50 billion the government has promised to give as earned allowances. Speaking with this newspaper, Chairman, Bayero University Kano (BUK) branch of the union, Mustapha Aminu, said at an emergency…
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu and a 30-yeard-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for allegedly selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Bbafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said officers of the Agency on patrol around Opolo area of Yenagoa intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi and recovered 200 grams of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer on Sunday 10th March 2024. He said that a swift…
THE Emir of Kano, His Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, CFR, CNOL, JP has left Nigeria for Morocco to attend the Annual Ramadan Hassaniya Lectures on the invitation of the King Of Morocco, King Mohammed VI. Acccording to a statement by the Emir’s Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru made available to News Point Nigeria on Saturday, the Kano Monarch departed on Wednesday and was accompanied by the Dan Iyan Kano, Alhaji Ahmad Ado Bayero. Others are; the District Head Of Kumbotso, Ambassador Ahmad Umar OON; the Dan Malikin Kano, Alhaji Isa Sanusi Bayero and the Malam Awaisu Abbas Sanusi amongst…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Brigadier-General Lawal Isa (retd.) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education. Isa replaces Sha’aban Sharada, who served as the commission’s pioneer leader since its creation in May 2023. His appointment was announced in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Executive Secretary of National Commission for Almajiri Education and aide on Chieftaincy Matters.’ On May 28, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill…
THE popular Wuse market in Abuja has reopened for business three days after shutting down. This newspaper had reported how the market was sealed by the authorities on Tuesday following a violence triggered by killing of a hawker. It resulted in the burning of about 10 shops owned by traders, as well as 8 vehicles that included a police van and that of a correctional facility among some other staff of the market, before it was shut down. The Public Relation Officer PRO of the Abuja Market Management Limited AMML, Innocent Obiechina, confirmed that the market was reopened around 12…
Ali Bello, Suleman Refute EFCC’s Allegation In Amended Charges THERE was confusion on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, following amended charges filed against Alli Bello and Daudu Suleiman, including the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed they allegedly diverted about N100 billion belonging to the state government in September 2015, months before former Governor Bello assumed office as Governor. Governor Bello was not a defendant in the original suit, and was not in court. However, Ali Bello, currently Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor and Dauda Suleman…
THE senator representing Katsina Central in the National Assembly, Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, has emerged as the new chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum. Yar’Adua, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, was appointed as the forum’s new chair two days after the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi. Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, accused the upper chamber of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion. Although the issue of budget padding is not new in Nigeria, it is however the first time a serving senator who actively participated in the passage of the budget will accuse the lawmakers of…
MEDECIN Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders, raised alarms over the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Nigeria’s Northwest geopolitical zone. The organization highlighted the devastating impact of armed conflict on communities, resulting in catastrophic levels of malnutrition and escalating crisis. According to MSF, over 854 children tragically lost their lives in its facilities across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina due to malnutrition exacerbated by armed conflict, which also severely limits access to healthcare services. Ahmed Bilal, the head of MSF’s mission, lamented the lack of recognition of the crisis, stressing the urgent need for a coordinated response. “We have…
BARELY 24 hours after a dramatic plenary culminating into the suspension of the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, Southern Senators have revived their forum, electing Senator Adetokunbo Abiru representing Lagos East, as Chairman. The inauguration of Abiru who replaces the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as well as the Vice Chairman, Senator Victor Umeh representing Anambra, comes nine months after commencement of the 10th Senate. The 51 Senators from 17 southern states, who met on Wednesday to revive the forum, also elected six executives under Abiru’s chairmanship. Bamidele noted that like the northern forum, the southern…
THERE was an uproar on Wednesday after the popular Wuse market, was shut down by its management following a riot and fire outbreak that occurred yesterday at the market. Our correspondent at the scene said the situation was tense, as some persons refused to vacate the market and were seen clutching bottles and sticks. At the time of filing this report, members of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were already at the market to ensure peace and calmness were restored. Channels Television had on Tuesday, reported how angry youths reportedly set parts…
THE Federal Government has invited memoranda from the public as it begins the probe of private universities established in the last 15 years. The Federal Government initiated the probe following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, uncovering certificate racketeering in neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo. Checks by this newspaper showed that no fewer than 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years. The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling set up by the Federal Government would be examining “whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in place prescribed facilities,…
PROPERTIES worth hundred of millions feared lost as popular Wuse Market in Abuja’s Central Area, located within the Federal Capital Territory, is currently engulfed in flames. The source of the fire outbreak remained unknown as at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, all business activities in the market area have been suspended for the day. Chaos and confusion prevail, with traffic jams occurring on all roads leading to the market, and people running in various directions. The police, upon arriving at the market, cordoned off the entrance to stop individuals from entering the market premises. They engaged in sporadic…
THE junta in Niger Republic is in a serious dilemma even as it has agreed to release the ousted president of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, and his wife, Khadija. Multiple sources in Nigeria and the neighbouring Niger, have confirmed plans by the military government to release the ousted president before or within the few days of Ramadan. It was learnt, however, that the biggest dilemma of the top echelon of the military in Niger Republic is the insistence by Bazoum to remain within Niger, on the grounds that he was not interested in relocating to any other country. Bazoum has…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will launch the Student Loan Scheme on Thursday, March 14, 2024. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, said this on Sunday during TVC’s Politics on Sunday monitored by News Point Nigeria. On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.” “This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when…
THE Presidency has described as false, a claim by Senator Abdul Ningi that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget. According to a statement by a Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the senator’s claim that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is false, adding that N28.7 trillion was passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The Presidency also described as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”, the claim by Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, that the 2024 Budget…
A PRISON inmate at the Oke-Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State capital has shot and wounded a roadside vulcaniser. This happened on Friday when some prison inmates were being led out of the facility. But one of the inmates seized a warder’s rifle and fired some shots which hit the unidentified vulcanizer staying close to the area. While the injured vulcanizer who was shot in the stomach was rushed to a medical facility for treatment, the culprit was detained at the ‘C’ Division Police station, Isale-Ojo, in the Ilorin metropolis. The incident which occurred at about 8.00 a.m, caused…
THE National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has offered an insight into why the party is trying to institutionalise its relationship with the Ghana ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ganduje who made this assertion today at the headquarters of the NPP in Accra while playing host to his Ghanaian counterpart the National Chairman of the NPP Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim said both countries shared similar historical experiences and as such the need for the two powerful West African countries to work together. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu,…
THERE was pandemonium in Kuriga town of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State when bandits invaded LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), and abducted dozens of pupils. The number of persons abducted couldn’t be ascertained as of press time, but residents said they were about 100. Head teacher of the school and some other staff are reportedly among the victims. This newspaper gathered that the incident happened at 8:20am immediately after the assembly on Thursday. The junior and secondary school relocated to the school building inside the Kuriga town a few years ago due to insecurity concerns, abandoning their former…