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Category: Politics

  • Parts of Abuja to Experience 7-Hour Blackout

    Parts of Abuja to Experience 7-Hour Blackout

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is set to experience a seven-hour power outage on Saturday and Sunday.

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the disruption in electricity supply is due to a scheduled routine maintenance of the 132/33kV 2X100MVA power transformers at the Apo Transmission Substation.

    According to the TCN General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, affected areas include Garki, Asokoro, Lugbe, Airport Road, Gudu, Gaduwa, parts of Lokogoma, Apo, Kabusa, Guzape, and Nepa Junction.

    The maintenance activities are necessary to ensure the reliability and efficiency of power supply in these regions.

    The operations are planned to take place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days, with the assurance that power supply will be restored each day by 4 pm.

    This planned power interruption is part of TCN’s ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the nation’s capital and its environs.

    While acknowledging the inconvenience this may cause to residents and businesses in the affected areas, TCN emphasizes the importance of these maintenance works in enhancing the stability and capacity of the power grid.

    Residents and businesses are advised to make necessary preparations to mitigate the impact of the power outage during the specified times.

  • Community Leader Murdered By Gunmen In Anambra

    Community Leader Murdered By Gunmen In Anambra

    The President-General of Umuoji Community in Anambra State, Silas Onyima, fell victim to a ruthless attack by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums.

    Approximately 15 assailants invaded Onyima’s home on Friday evening, fatally shooting him and sending shockwaves through the community.

    Onyima, recently elected to lead the community, presided over a local election before meeting his untimely demise. 

    A source revealed, “He was killed when masked men visited his home and shot him dead.”

    The Anambra State Police Spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the tragic incident, stating, “The police are aware of the development. Our men have been deployed to the area, found the victim in a pool of blood, and recovered the body. 

    “We are collaborating with eyewitnesses and community members to track the perpetrators, and the investigation is ongoing.” The deceased’s body has been deposited at the morgue with the assistance of family members.

  • Former Kwara Governor Arraigned In Court For Fraud

    Former Kwara Governor Arraigned In Court For Fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought forward charges against the immediate past Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed. 

    Ahmed was arraigned on Friday at the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that Ahmed misappropriated the sum of N1,610,730,500.00, originally designated for the security and running costs of the state, to charter private jets during his tenure. 

    The charges include an alleged N10 billion fraud, with Ahmed facing a total of 12 counts.

    One of the counts accused Ahmed of converting N400 million from a N1 billion short-term loan received by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited. 

    The EFCC contended that this conversion was done fraudulently, diverting funds intended for ongoing state projects.

    The EFCC’s document stated, “Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) between 2015 and 2019 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court used an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500, property of Kwara State Government, meant for the security and running cost of the Government of Kwara State, to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited on different occasions for your local travels and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust or theft.”

    Abdulfattah Ahmed, who served as the state finance commissioner during Dr. Bukola Saraki’s governorship, succeeded Saraki in office and governed Kwara from 2011 to 2019.

  • Ondo Government Declares Public Holidays For Akeredolu’s Burial

    Ondo Government Declares Public Holidays For Akeredolu’s Burial

    In honour of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of Ondo State, the current governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared Thursday, 22nd, and Friday, 23rd of February 2024, as public holidays. 

    Akeredolu, who passed away on December 27, 2023, will be laid to rest on Friday in his hometown, Owo.

    The public holidays aim to enable the people of the state to actively participate in the burial activities. 

    Commencing last Thursday, the events include traditional rites in Owo on Wednesday, a special court session at the Ondo high court headquarters in Akure, lying in state, and commendation service at the Akure Township Stadium.

    On Wednesday evening, a tribute ceremony will take place at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Subsequent events include a service of songs and a wake-keep on Thursday at the same church and Maranatha Villa in Owo, respectively.

    The statement indicates a Candlelight Procession & World Gyration by the Kegites Club on Thursday night, starting from 8 pm until dawn.

    On Friday, February 23, a public holiday, the funeral service is scheduled at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo, at 10 am, followed by interment strictly for immediate family at the burial site in Owo. 

    A reception at Mydas Hotel and Resort, Ikare Road, Owo, will follow at 1 pm.

    Saturday, February 24, 2024, will see the Akeredolu Memorial Friendly football match at the Akure Township Stadium, Akure, starting at 3 pm. 

    The series concludes on Sunday, February 25, with a Thanksgiving Service at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo, at 10 am.

  • FCT Police Arrest Notorious Kidnapper, Dahiru Adamu Whom Wike Placed N20 Million Bounty

    FCT Police Arrest Notorious Kidnapper, Dahiru Adamu Whom Wike Placed N20 Million Bounty

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police has arrested a notorious kidnapper, Dahiru Adamu, who is part of the criminals terrorising Abuja and its environs.

    Adamu, whose real name is Saidu Abdulkadir, was arrested on Thursday by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit when the operatives raided two kidnappers’ camps near the Nasarawa-Abuja border via Kuje area council at about 12am.

    Confirming the arrest, the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Friday, said on sighting the police, the criminals opened fire but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the Police.

    Adeh added that one Habu Yakubu and Isufu Abubakar, earlier abducted from Kwaita village via Pegi district of Kuje area council, were rescued unhurt during the process.

    The arrested suspect is the gang leader and one of the wanted suspects of the kidnapping syndicate paraded by the Police Command on 14th February, 2024.

    Adeh said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect masterminded the kidnap and killing of one Mr Sunday Yahaya Zakwai, the district head of Ketti village.

    “While effort is till ongoing to apprehend the other wanted suspects on the run, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh psc, mni, wishes to reassure criminals in FCT that there is no hiding place for them. He equally urges residents to report suspicious activities through the following emergency lines ; 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883; PCB: 09022222352.”

    The arrest comes a few hours after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced a 20 million naira reward for the capture of the kidnapper.

  • Fresh EndSARS Protest Erupts In Delta

    Fresh EndSARS Protest Erupts In Delta

    Youths in Delta state have taken to the streets, protesting escalating police brutality and extortion.

    Viral videos depict demonstrators holding placards with the inscription “ENDSARS NOW,” urging the Nigeria Police Force to address the alleged misconduct.

    A social media user, X, shared the videos, asserting a surge in police brutality within the state. 

    The spokesperson for the Delta Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, responded, stating that the protest stemmed from the arrest of four individuals who couldn’t prove ownership of an unregistered car.

    According to Edafe, during the arrest, some youths attacked the officers, causing injuries and damaging a police patrol vehicle. 

    He emphasized that the police would not be deterred by protests and urged the public to remain calm.

    In his statement, Edafe mentioned, “Nine of the suspects were arrested and will be charged to court. Youths are advised to stay off any protest because it won’t deter us from doing our job.”

    This incident echoes the 2020 #EndSars protests that swept through Nigeria, prompting the government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) and establish judicial panels to investigate allegations of police abuse.

  • Breaking: Ondo PDP Chairman Is Dead

    Breaking: Ondo PDP Chairman Is Dead

    Mr. Fatai Adams, the Chairman of the Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has passed away. 

    The details surrounding his demise remain undisclosed, but sources indicate he died in the early hours of Wednesday.

    The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, confirmed the death.

    “Yes it is true but we will soon communicate you properly on the incident,” Peretei said.

    The  PDP’s State Working Committee had previously suspended Adams, citing alleged involvement in anti-party activities. 

    The party’s stance on this matter had been a subject of recent contention. 

  • N9 Million Ransom Recovered As Police Arrests Kidnappers In Abuja

    N9 Million Ransom Recovered As Police Arrests Kidnappers In Abuja

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has apprehended seven notorious kidnappers in Abuja and recovered a ransom of N9 million.

    CP Benneth Igweh, the police commissioner, announced the arrest of the wanted kidnappers by operatives of the Utako police division in a coordinated operation at Tudun – Wada Lugbe and Pyakasa areas.

    He gave the names of the wanted kidnappers as Usman Muazu from Kwali, FCT, Aliyu Mohammed, from Pumpomare area of Borno state, Awwal Dahiru, who hails from Gwagwalada area council of the FCT, Rabi Sani, from Safana, Katsina state and Madina Abubakar, from Gulu, Lapai local government area of Niger state.

    Others are, Jonah Elimelech from Kauru, Kaduna state, Saminu Idris, from also from Kauru, Kaduna state and Mariji Iliya from Mangu, Plateau state.

    All have confessed to their crimes, providing valuable information for the arrest of other gang members. 

    The police commissioner also mentioned the recovery of weapons, including knives and cutlasses, along with bulletproof vests and charms.

    Additionally, 79 suspects were arrested in raids on various black spots in the FCT, part of the command’s efforts to combat crime in the area.

    “And we speak, the suspects who have been profiled are in custody undergoing interrogation at respective division, while those found wanting will be charge to court,” he said.

  • Police Kill ‘Wanted Notorious Kidnappers,’ Destroy Camps in Abuja

    Police Kill ‘Wanted Notorious Kidnappers,’ Destroy Camps in Abuja

    The fight against insecurity in the nation’s seat of power has again yielded results this time, as the nation’s police authorities say some wanted kidnappers have been neutralized and their camps destroyed in Abuja. 

    These recent feats, according to Force Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, took place on Friday.

    “In the early hours of February 9, 2024, around 2.40 am, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau – Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT), acting on intelligence, successfully attacked, neutralized and eliminated many notorious kidnappers including the kidnapping kingpin identified as Musa Wada (Sabo) Magaji, in an operation conducted around Mpape, Abuja,” a Saturday evening statement from him read.

    “The team also destroyed the camps of the dreaded kidnappers who have been thorns in the flesh of Abuja residents in recent times.”

    Police operatives engaged the criminals in a 30-minute gun battle, the statement added, with several of the kidnappers “fatally injured, while one of the police operatives sustained bullet wounds”.

    He said the development comes just on the heels of the “neutralization of Abubakar Wada, an associate of Musa Wada, on February 8, 2024, who served as a lead to their hideout.

    “Musa Wada, aka Sabo, was the mastermind behind numerous kidnappings for ransom activities plaguing areas including Mpape and Bwari in the FCT; Kagarko in Kaduna; Masaka, and Nukun Village in Nasarawa State. His modus operandi involved identifying wealthy targets and mobilizing armed gangs to carry out abductions for ransom”.

    While noting that the recent operation was carried out by the FIB-IRT “through a surprise assault,” items recovered from the hideout include mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, charms, and hard drugs”.

    “Efforts are on to recover additional arms and ammunition and other equipment they use for their nefarious operations,” the police added, reiterating its commitment to bringing perpetrators of “heinous crimes to justice, against all odds”.

  • Kenyan Wins Lagos City Marathon

    Kenyan Wins Lagos City Marathon

    Bernard Sang, a Kenyan athlete, claimed victory in the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with a time of 02:16:49.

    The 32-year-old defeated about 80 others in the 9th edition of the race on Saturday to win the 42km race and clinch the $50,000 prize money.

    The East Africans dominated the race as two other Kenyans, Simon Cheprot and Edwin Kiptoo, came second and third, with cash prizes of $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.

    The Kenyans won the marathon in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

    More so, 25-year-old Ethiopian, Kebene Chala, was the first woman to cross the finish line.

    Shehu Muazu was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line and will be going home with a N1 million cash prize.

    The 42km race, which was scheduled between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. began at the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.

    The Lagos State Government, through the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Friday, issued a traffic advisory ahead of the yearly Access Bank Lagos City Marathon