State
Edo election: PDP Reps condemn ‘siege’ on opposition governors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned alleged siege on opposition governors by security agents in Benin City, the Edo State capital, ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state. The caucus in a statement by its leader, Kingsley Chinda, on Friday night, stated that it is unacceptable that security agencies, whose duty is to ensure safety of lives and property are the ones allegedly causing chaos. Chinda said it is shocking that while All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and a presiding officer of the National Assembly are sheltered in the home of a leader of the party in the state, PDP governors are being harassed. “The caucus find the current siege on Governors by men of the Nigeria Police force and other security officials...
Governor Zulum: Boko Haram now recruits children in Borno
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State says Boko Haram insurgents have started recruiting children in the state due to the increase in unemployment. The governor raised the alarm on Thursday, September 17, 2020, in Maiduguri, Borno state capital when he received a committee of members of the house of representatives.While addressing the rep members, Zulum said over 700,000 IDPs in Monguno, and 400,000 in Gamboru Ngala, have no access to their farmlands. He added that the continued stay of able-bodied people in the IDP could worsen the security crisis in the state. He said, “The only solution we have now is to ensure the safe return of our people to their homes in a dignified manner. If nothing is done, believe me sincerely, we shall face a very serious challenge even more than what we are ...
Akwa Ibom announces dates for resumption of schools
Akwa Ibom State Government has fixed September 21 2020 for the commencement of processes for the resumption of academic activities in the state-owned university, college of education and public primary schools. Similarly, 28th September has been fixed for the resumption of full academic activities in secondary schools while the state-owned Polytechnic will commence academic activities on the 5th of October, 2020. The State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, announced this while briefing Government House Correspondents on the resolutions of the state Executive Council meeting of today, Friday, September 18, 2020, presided over by the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, at Government House, Uyo. He said that the State Executive Council has directed private schools in the stat...
NAF jet bombards bandits meeting venue in Kaduna
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE has killed scores of bandits in Kwaimbana Forest area of Kaduna State. The bandits were said to have been killed while having a meeting in the area. Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, who made this known in a statement said “Several armed bandits have been neutralized and their meeting venue significantly damaged in air strikes executed by the Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE in Kwaimbana Forest area of Kaduna State. The air raid was conducted yesterday, 17 September 2020, after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions led to the identification of the hideout along with a building in the centre of the area which was being used by the a...
Police arrest Rivers council chair over ‘link’ with slain gang leader
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Chairman, Honourable Paul Vidag Kobani, over the alleged link with the late notorious leader of a criminal gang which operated in the Ogoni communities of the State, Honest Diigbara, aka Boboski. Boboski, who had N30 million ransom on his head was arrested by the Police over weekend. Acting on a tip-off, a team of policemen with the support of the local vigilance group had traced Boboski to a wake keep ceremony where he was arrested alongside his deputy, who was identified to be his immediate younger brother after a gunfire exchange with the police. But Boboski died from gunshot wounds a few hours after he was paraded before journalists by the police. It was learnt that the Gokana Local Government Chairman...
Man lands in jail for posing as female
Justice Sikiru Oyinloye of the Kwara State High Court has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Usman Muhammed, to jail for posing as a lady and using nude pictures to dupe men. Muhammed was arrested at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state, according to an operative of the EFCC. EFCC’s counsel, Adenike Ayoku stated that the defendant is an internet fraudster, who pretended to be female and used female nude photographs to fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting internet users as evidenced in his Facebook and WhatsApp accounts. He was then prosecuted by the Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of impersonation. The charge read, “That you, Usman Muhammed (a.k.a Adepeju Omolara and Guns Omolara Valle), sometime in February 2020 or thereab...
Edo election: YIAGA Africa deploys PVT to check credibility of election results
Barely 24 hours to the Governorship election in Edo State, Yiaga Africa, through the Watching The Vote citizens movement, has deployed its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology for the election. According to Yiaga Africa, the PVT is an advanced election observation methodology that employs well-established statistical principles and sophisticated information technologies in providing timely and accurate information on the conduct of accreditation, voting, and counting, and it independently verifies the official governorship results as announced by the Independent National Election Commission, INEC. In a statement jointly signed by the Chair of Yiaga Africa election observation mission for Edo State, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Guinea and former African Union Com...
Katsina spends N3 billion on WAEC, NECO fees in five years
The Katsina State Government has spent more than N3 billion on payment of Senior School Certificate Examination fees for 320,058 candidates who sat for the examination between 2015 and 2019. The Commissioner of Education in the state, Prof. Badamasi Lawal, made this known during media briefing in Katsina on Thursday. He said that out of the number, 216,832 candidates scored five credits and above in five subjects, representing 68 per cent. Lawal added that 138,612 candidates obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics, which represents 63 per cent. He said that the money was paid to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB). He also said that the gover...
Governor Diri sues for understanding over Bayelsa, Rivers boundary dispute
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has called on the Rivers State government to show understanding in order to amicably resolve the dispute between Oluasiri Clan in Bayelsa and their Kalabari neighbours in Rivers. The Oluasiri communities in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa and their Kalabari Ijaw kinsmen are locked in dispute arising from the location of oil wells within the boundary area. Diri made the plea in Yenagoa during a meeting with stakeholders from the Oluasiri clan led by the paramount ruler, Chief Iyerite Awululu. He sought the support of Ijaw leaders and elders to resolve the age-long feud between the two Ijaw communities. In a statement by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor said the state government will protect its territories and work with the ...
Governor Wike asks President Buhari to make Edo election a model
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to make Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State a model. Wike, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for the poll, spoke during a live television programme in Port Harcourt. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, quoted the governor as saying that the outcome of the election would provide hope for 2023 general election. He said: “Everyone that loves this country should ensure that tomorrow’s election is credible, free and fair. “The police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should show Nigerians that they can support credible elections. “INEC should ensure that result sheets are not in the hands of i...
Zamfara APC expels Sirajo Garba, 125 others for violating NEC order
The Seven-Man Disciplinary Committee Set up by Zamfara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expelled Sirajo Garba and 125 others for violating National Executive Council resolution of the party and anti-party activities. Garba, with membership registration 01002642 from Dodo Ward, Gusau Local Government Area, is the Chairman, Marafa’s faction of APC. Newsmen report that the National Secretariat of the APC had earlier directed the State Chapter of the party to set up a disciplinary committee to sanction any member who violated the directive of its NEC. The directive was for the withdrawal of all subsisting court cases by the members and Garba was among the 140 members who took party to court after the NEC directives. A statement signed by the Chairman of the committee, ...
Edo election: Governor Obaseki declares Friday work-free
Ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, the government has declared Friday, September 18, 2020, as a work-free day. This was contained in a statement titled ‘Edo 2020: Obaseki declares Friday work-free day’ on Thursday. The statement noted that the declaration of a work-free day was to enable workers in the State Public Service to travel to their respective Constituencies to exercise their franchise. It quoted the Edo State Head of Service, through the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Aziegbemhin P.E, as saying, “Sequel to the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Saturday September 19, 2020, Mr. Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has approved Friday 18th September 2020 as a work-free day to enable workers in the State Public Service travel to their respective ...
