Author: The Nation

The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has urged victims of trauma to always speak out and seek help from trained trauma healing facilitators and health experts.

Pastor Samuel Sanusi, the General-Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of BSN, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that Sanusi spoke against the backdrop of the World Humanitarian Day (WHD) celebrated annually on August 19.

The theme of the 2022 WHD was: “It Takes a Village.”

Sanusi said that the society and even Christianity had made people to think it was normal to bottle up challenges.

He said that people who opened up were perceived as people without faith and weaklings.

”It is difficult for people that have deep heart wounds to open up because they don’t know who to trust.

“This is because some of them trusted someone in the time past, and they got hurt.

“A major challenge we face is getting people to open up.

“Another challenge is the complexity of the challenges people face especially the current situation in Nigeria.

“This sometimes require a combination of different health professionals to come together to provide help,” Sanusi said.

He assured persons of different traumatic experience not to lose hope, adding that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“According to Isaiah 41: 10, God says “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.

“I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Sanusi said.

Sanusi noted that there were thousands of people out there who were in the business of caring for the heart – psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, trauma and healing facilitators, among others.

He said that it was important to honor these professionals during this period because they go through a lot to bring succor to the broken hearted.

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“One of the first ministries of Jesus is the ministry of trauma healing.

“According to Isaiah 61:1 Jesus said:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.

“And opening of the prison to those who are bound,” he said.

Sanusi said that BSN would continue committed to encourage these professionals to continue the good work as they are helping to extend the ministry of Jesus on earth.

“Their reward shall be great in Heaven.

“At the Bible Society, we care not only for the spiritual lives of people but we also care for their hearts.

“This is because only a healed heart will be prepared to receive the word of God.

“Through our trauma healing programmes, we are reaching out to thousands of Nigerians.

“According to an unknown author, your trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility.

“We urge those going through trauma to open up to our trusted trauma healing facilitators and other health professionals who will help to facilitate their healing,” Sanusi said.

The World Humanitarian Day is set aside to remember and honor those bringing succor and healing to the vulnerable and most abandoned by the society.

It is also a day set-aside to salute the memory of persons who paid the supreme price in the quest to bring meaning, hope and healing to the most vulnerable.

The Bible Society of Nigeria, through its trauma healing sessions, have given hope to thousands of Nigerians whose hearts have been shattered by one problem or the other.

 

(NAN)

The Police Command in Osun on Sunday, confirmed the killing of a suspected notorious motorcycle thief in Ilesa area of the state by a mob.

SP Yemisi Opalola, Osun Police spokesperson, in a statement, said the body of the deceased was removed after it was found on Ijebu-Jesa Road on Sunday (Today).

“Today at about 8:30a.m, the police received information that one Loni ‘m’, surname unknown, was found dead at Iretiayo, along Ijebu-Jesa Road Ilesa.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased, who during his life time happened to be a thief that specialises in stealing motorcycles in Ilesa, was killed by a mob while allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle parked by the road side.

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“A team of police detectives that visited the scene, took photographs of the corpse and evacuated it.

“The corpse was later deposited at Wesley Guild Hospital mortuary in IleIles.” She said

Opalola, however, said no suspect had been arrested yet and that preliminary investigation is ongoing

 

(NAN)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 249,600 tablets of Tramadol (225mg) from a shipment from India at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) import shed of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the consignment arrived from india via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline flight on Aug. 4.

He said it was eventually evacuated on Wednesday as an abandoned seizure.

Meanwhile, a freight agent, Miss Njoko Elizabeth, 37, has been arrested for attempting to export 250grams of Tramadol and cannabis to Dubai.

Babafemi said that the drugs were to be exported through the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of Lagos Airport.

He said that the drugs, which were concealed inside some gallons of palm oil and honey, were packed among food items and hair attachment.

Also, an Italy-bound passenger, Oziengbe Ehighalua, 55, was on Friday arrested with 600grams of Tramadol (200mg) while attempting to board Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy, via Casablanca.

In the same vein, seven cartons of khat leaf weighing 295kg had been seized at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos Airport.

Babafemi said the consignment came into Nigeria from Tanzania through Cairo on Egypt Air.

In another development, Operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) in NDLEA, attached to courier firms, have intercepted 11.36kg heroin and cannabis packaged for UAE, Netherlands and Oman.

Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in a dictionary, fancy light and body cream.

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Also, 139 bags and 176 compressed blocks of cannabis loaded in Ogere, Ogun State and heading to Zaria, Kaduna State, were seized by NDLEA operatives along Abuja-Kaduna road, Suleja, in Niger.

Babafemi said the drugs were seized from a company vehicle while the driver, Sani Mohammed, 44, and his assistant, Abubakar Abubakar, 30, were arrested.

“Raids carried out in Akala, Mushin area of Lagos also led to the arrest of Pelumi Goodness and Ola Funke while 1,171.75kg of cannabis and 29 litres of codeine syrup were recovered, “he said.

Babafemi reported the Chairman, NDLEA, Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending the officers and men of the MMIA Command as well as DOGI for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa urged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify their drug supply and demand reduction efforts.

 

(NAN).

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006-2007) and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (2008-2017) as she turns 76 on Monday.

The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina on Sunday in Abuja, said he shared the joyous occasion with Ogwu and her family.

He noted with delight her years of meritorious service in the diplomatic community and academia, joining her friends and professional colleagues in celebrating the birthday.

He affirmed that Ogwu’s experience and knowledge had contributed generously in shaping the country’s foreign policies, particularly the economic diplomacy that she championed.

The president rejoiced with the scholar for her many achievements, starting from lecture halls, which included working at National War College and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.

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She had also served as the Director General of Nigeria Institute for International Affairs.

The president also acknowledged Ogwu’s cerebral support and advice to the multilateral institution and governments on issues of security across the globe, especially on disarmament.

She also served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament.

President Buhari prayed for good health and strength for the celebrator.

(NAN)

Former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode has explained why he is drumming support for the presidential bid for the party’s standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

He equally called on Nigerians to join him in supporting the former Lagos Governor.

Fani-Kayode in a lengthy post on his verified Facebook page, posited that the greatest threat to Nigeria’s national unity is the refusal to shift power to the South next year.

He said: “A few months before the APC Northern Governors took their stand, the Southern Governors had met in Asaba ACROSS party lines and they ALL agreed that power must shift to the South in 2023.

“This was a bold and audacious move which formed part of the basis and an additional reason and incentive for the Northern APC Governors to make their concession and take their noble stand a few months later.

“Apart from the earlier stated reasons they also did so out of deferrence and respect to the wishes of their Southern counterparts in the party who, led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, continued to insist that the agreement to shift power to the South must not be breached under any circumstances.

“Unlike two or three of the Southern Governors in the PDP who sadly broke ranks and dishonored their word by supporting a Northen candidate at their party convention, the APC Northern and Southern Governors never waivered. They stood to the last man, they stood firm and they delivered.

“That is how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged as the flagbearer of our party and the entire nation should reciprocate and reward their gesture by ensuring that he goes on to win the presidential election next year.

“We must stand with him, pray for him, fight for him, mobilise for him and ensure that he wins convincingly and, once victorious, we must be prepared to defend his mandate with all we have got.

“There will be no repeat of June 12th under ANY circumstances and contrary to the disinformation being peddled around by our detractors there is no such plan or conspiracy in the offing by those in power today.

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“We must also be ready to make difficult and uncomfortable sacrifies and live with the hard choices that the candidate has made, knowing that he made them in good faith, in order to win.”

Speaking on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, he dismissed the threats and unfounded rumours that the country will be islamised.

He said: “Not only can Nigeria NOT be islamised but under a Tinubu APC Presidency I have no doubt that major concessions will be made in terms of key positions for Christians not just in the executive but also across the three arms of Government in order to make up the balance and assuage the feelings of the many Christians that are concerned, aggrieved and even offended by the prospect and fielding of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

“This is a golden opportunity for a genuine and sincere national rebirth and we must not overlook it or take it for granted. It is indeed a massive breakthrough.

“Unity and peace can only be rooted and established where there is fairness and equity.

“In my view that fairness and equity can be best served by the election of the APC’s Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.”

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Sunday said his faith in the judiciary in respect of his petition before the election tribunal remains firm and unshaken.

Oyetola said he and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have confidence to emerge victorious at the tribunal.

The governor spoke during the annual photograph and videography day celebration and fund raising for the construction of the association’s N20million ultramodern hall in Osogbo.

Represesented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the governor said he was confident that he would reclaim his mandate at the tribunal.

He said, “For now, there is a little setback and challenge, but I want to assure you that we are standing tall and confident of victory.

“With what we have before the tribunal, there is no cause for alarm.

“We believe that by the grace of God, we will glorify God and celebrate our victory”, he said.

The governor appreciated the people of the state for their support for his administration since inception.

He also commended members of the association for standing by his administration and assured them of government’s continuous assistance for the growth of their business.

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In his remarks, the chairman of the association, Isaac Adegoke, said members of the association were direct beneficiaries of the governor’s people-oriented programmes.

Issac noted that members of the association were solidly behind the governor and would continue to support him in prayers for him to emerge victorious at the tribunal.

Also, the Elerinrin of Ile-Ife, Oba Olaoluwa Mudasiru, who is the immediate past chairman of the association, commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state.

Oba Mudasiru also appreciated the governor for his support for the association.