Author: Editor

A GROUP, the North-West Advocates For Tinubu/Kashim (NATIK) has applauded Governor Muhammadu Badaru and the good people of Jigawa state for successfully hosting the APC Presidential Rally in the state. The Grand Patron of the group, Hon Ajikolo Ali Guja (Empire) made the commendation in a signed statement made available to News Point Nigeria, Sunday. DG, Engr Sadiq According to him, the turnout of voters and APC members is an attestation of Governor Badaru’s good governance, which compliments the gains the party have been recording across the length and breadth of the state.  “The turnout was massive and the hospitality…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a leper notorious for drug peddling, Haruna Abdullahi, 45, was arrested at Garko town, Kano State on Thursday 19th January while 2.2kgs of cannabis and various quantities of Diazepam and Exol were recovered from him. Similarly, it also nabbed, a blind 67-year-old grandfather, Aliyu Adebiyi, in whose house they found 234kgs of cannabis at Sokoto village, Owena Ijesa, Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State. The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said this on Sunday in Abuja. According to him, the arrested suspect, in his statement, said a…

ONDO State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has declared Tuesday, January 24 a public holiday for residents of the state. This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary the Governor, Richard Olatunde. He said the holiday is to enable eligible voters in the state collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) designated centres in their respective Local Government Areas. “The importance of the forthcoming elections cannot be overemphasised. There is an urgent need for us to address the low rate of PVCs collection in the Southwest. Beyond partisan lines, it is…

AHEAD of the 2023 General Elections,President Muhammadu Buhari is set to lead the campaign for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima on Monday in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital. In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, President Buhari is expected to lead the presidential and governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi billed to start at 8.30am. The rally will take place earlier than other rallies, as President Buhari is also expected in Lagos on Monday to commission the Lekki Deal Sea Port, a…

ERLING Haaland scored his fourth Manchester City hat-trick and took his goal tally for the season to 31 in all competitions as relegation-threated Wolves were swept aside by Pep Guardiola’s men. By his own incredibly high standards, Haaland had been going through a barren spell. But after ending a three-game drought against Tottenham on Thursday, the Norwegian demolished Wolves in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time. Haaland initially rose to head home Kevin de Bruyne’s cross to put the hosts ahead at the break. He then drove home a penalty after Ilkay Gundogan had been fouled by Wolves skipper…

CHINA rang in the Lunar New Year on Sunday with its people praying for health after three years of stress and financial hardship under the pandemic, as officials reported almost 13,000 new deaths caused by the virus between January 13 and 19. Queues stretched for about one kilometre (a half-mile) outside the iconic Lama temple in Beijing, which had been repeatedly shut before COVID-19 restrictions ended in early December, with thousands of people waiting for their turn to pray for their loved ones. One Beijing resident said she wished the year of the rabbit will bring “health to everyone”. “I…

WORLD-famous entertainers will perform at Windsor Castle as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the King’s coronation, it has been announced. The concert will be broadcast on the BBC on 7 May featuring “global music icons”, orchestras and a diverse “coronation choir”. It will come the day after the coronation at Westminster Abbey. Processions to and from the abbey will take place, ending with a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace. These are among the new details just released on plans for the weekend which the King and Queen Consort hope will be an opportunity for friends, families and…

IN many parts of the Christian world, female church leaders are no longer unusual. But until now, the Holy Land – where events in the Bible are set – had not seen a local woman ordained. On Sunday, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, Sally Azar, became its first woman pastor at an event at the Lutheran church in the heart of the Old City, attended by hundreds of international well-wishers. “I got more excited seeing the excitement of other people,” Reverend Azar told me. “It’s an indescribable feeling to take this step with the support of the church.” “I hope that…

TEN people have died following a shooting at a ballroom dance studio in the Californian city of Monterey Park, near Los Angeles, police said. Police say another 10 people are injured and the suspect remains at large. The shooting happened at about 22:20 local time on Saturday (06:20 GMT on Sunday). Thousands of people had earlier gathered in the city for the Monterey Park Lunar New Year festival. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they were seeking a male suspect who fled the scene, but did not provide any other details about him. Captain Andrew Meyer said that emergency…

GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday attended a civic reception in honour of former Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak who exited the service in October last year after attaining mandatory retirement age. Speaking at the occasion, Governor Inuwa described Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak as a great son of Gombe State who uplifted the name of the state and lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. The governor congratulated the former Chief Judge for a peaceful retirement, lauding his contributions to the growth of the Judiciary and development of justice system in the state and the country in…

GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his government recognises the pivotal roles and contributions of the private sector and businesses in economic growth and the overall development of Gombe State. The governor, who was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executives of Gombe State Inter-Local Market Traders Association held at Custodian Hotel, Gombe, also announced a 250 million Naira grant for the traders to boost their capital with assurance of his readiness to continue supporting their course and interests in order to boost economic activities in the state. Governor Inuwa said considering his background in trade, he is…

THE Edo State Police Command has charged eight suspects to court for the abduction of over 20 passengers and two Nigerian Railway Corporation staff on January 7, 2023, following an attack by gunmen on the Igueben Train Station in Edo Central. In a court document exclusively obtained by our correspondent, the police charged the suspects; Ibadin Hamilton, Ighoko Odion, Okojie Ewa, Okie Patrick, Friday Ighedujiemu, Halilu Umaru, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Aliyu for criminal conspiracy and kidnapping. The charge sheet dated January 17, 2023, was filed by the Legal Section State Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters, Benin City. The document…

POLICE in Niger State have arrested 33 suspects over the killing of a Lambata village head, Mohammed Abdulsafur and burning of a police station at Latin Korro. Last weekend, some irate youths of Lambata in large numbers stormed the residence of the village head and killed him. The youths inflicted serious injuries on him and his younger brother, Ibrahim Mohammed for unexplained reasons. Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said yesterday that operatives led by the area commander in Suleja on the instruction of the commissioner, Ogundele Ayodeji, swung into action and conducted a house-to-house search with some witnesses and 14 suspects…

THOUSANDS of supporters from Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema are flocking to the venue, in the city of Mwanza, of its first rally since a six-and-a-half year ban on such gatherings was lifted a fortnight ago. Some of the party faithful – bubbling with excitement – were clad in their party uniforms as they were moving through the city riding their motorcycles and chanting on top of their voices. Security was equally tight around the city and its surroundings as some police officers had parked their vans besides the roads while others were escorting the procession. John Mrema, a Chadema…

SECURITY forces in Burkina Faso have rescued over 66 women and children after they were kidnapped by suspected militant jihadists in the north of the country last week, state TV reports. In an unprecedented mass kidnapping, the victims were seized while gathering food in an area hit by an insurgency. They were found on a bus at a security checkpoint some 200km (125 miles) south of where they were taken, reports say. It is not clear if their captors have also been detained. On Friday night, state TV showed pictures of the children and women, some with babies on their…

A US air strike assisting government troops in Somalia has killed about 30 Islamist al-Shabab militants, the US military says. The operation happened near the town of Galcad, about 260km (162 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu. Over the past few days, the Somali army and al-Shabab militants have fought for control of the town. Friday’s air strike came as the army was being attacked by more than 100 militants, the US Africa Command says. Earlier the Islamists killed seven soldiers after storming a military base in Galcad. Somalia’s Information Ministry said dozens of the militants were killed. Al-Shabab has…

FORMER Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette scored a hat-trick to help Lyon into the last 16 of the French Cup with victory over fifth-tier Chambery. All three of striker Lacazette’s goals were poacher’s efforts, slotting in from close range following cutbacks. Laurent Blanc’s Lyon side last won the competition in 2012 and are currently ninth in Ligue 1. Defending champions Nantes travel to fifth-tier side ES Thaon today.

A FIRST-half flurry helped Atletico Madrid thrash Real Valladolid and stay in the top four in the La Liga table. Alvaro Morata, Antoine Griezmann and Mario Hermoso all struck before the break for Diego Simeone’s side, who sit 10 points behind leaders Barcelona. The victory, just Simeone’s second in seven games, also included a debut for recent signing Memphis Depay. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to keep pressure on the top two in La Liga. The victory, a fifth in succession in La Liga and ninth straight in all competitions, drew Sociedad level on points with second-place Real…

NAPOLI went 12 points above second-placed AC Milan at the top of Serie A after beating Salernitana. Giovanni di Lorenzo scored shortly before half-time, and Victor Osimhen added another after the break for the visitors. Osimhen is now three goals above Inter’s Lautaro Martinez in the race for Serie A’s Golden Boot. Napoli are looking to end their 33-year wait for a Scudetto, having not won it since Diego Maradona was their captain. Luciano Spalletti’s side have lost only one league match this season, a 1-0 defeat by Inter Milan earlier this month. They have won the Serie A title…

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has dared the Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend him or any of the G5 governors as they did to Ekiti State executive committee and some PDP members in the state. The Rivers governor stated this on Saturday at the campaign flag-off rally by the State PDP Campaign Council in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. Wike described Ayu’s action as nothing but despotism, which will not do the PDP any good in the forthcoming general elections. He explained that the reason why the dissolution of the Ekiti…