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  • Peace can only be achieved if Hamas is destroyed – Israel PM

    Peace can only be achieved if Hamas is destroyed – Israel PM

    After announcing that the battle would likely intensify, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas must be annihilated, the region must be demilitarized, and Palestinian society must be “deradicalized” for peace to be reached in Gaza.

    The announcements coincided with the World Health Organization’s Monday revelation of “harrowing” tales of whole families being killed in strikes on a Gaza refugee camp on Christmas Eve.

    Due to Israel’s constant attacks, the conflict has increased tensions throughout the Middle East and devastated Palestinian territory. As a result, calls for a ceasefire are becoming more widespread worldwide.

    However, Netanyahu vowed to stick with the plan in an opinion piece that was published in the Wall Street Journal on Monday night.

    Read Also: Elon Musk meets Israel PM Netanyahu amid antisemitism furor

    “Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarised, and Palestinian society must be deradicalised. These are the three prerequisites for peace between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours in Gaza,” Netanyahu said.

    He said demilitarisation “will require establishing a temporary security zone on the perimeter” of the territory.

    “For the foreseeable future Israel will have to retain overriding security responsibility over Gaza,” he said.

    Earlier on Monday Netanyahu visited Gaza, telling a meeting of his Likud party after his return: “We’re not stopping”.

    “We’re intensifying the fighting in the coming days,” he said, according to a party statement.

  • APC warns councils, banks over alleged plan by Kano govt to syphon N8bn LG funds

    APC warns councils, banks over alleged plan by Kano govt to syphon N8bn LG funds

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has warned local government councils and commercial banks to halt the process of clearing the release of over N8 billion on the orders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) led state government.

    Concerned by the uncertainty of the possible outcome of the Supreme Court judgement on the disputed state governorship election, the party accused the NNPP government of usurping the functions of local governments in an attempt to misappropriate the councils’ funds amounting to over N8,080,190,875.13 billion.

    In a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, December 26, the Kano APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, warned local government councils and commercial banks to halt the process of clearing the release of the funds at this critical period of the NNPP’s unreliability.

    APC in the statement claimed it got a copy of the letter of conveyance of approval from the Ministry for Local Government directing the 44 local councils to release the sum of N101,655,000.38 million and N3,607,370,858.00 million each for the construction of Dan’Agundi and Tal’udu Interchanges respectively.

    Read Also: Bye elections: APC begins sales of nomination forms, fixes primary for January 6

    Abbas pointed out that the approval letter, which was sent to all council’s chairmen, copied to the Auditor-General, local government audit and all zonal inspectors of the ministry, was for the contribution of the councils to the projects.

    The party chairman noted that just on Friday, the government removed and posted new Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) and treasurers to ensure that there are no hitches in muscling the local councils through the embezzlement of their funds.

    He stated that the decision to embark on such projects at this time has come under attack even by people within the NNPP’s fold and called on the government to reconsider it in the interest of the development of Kano state.

  • JUST IN: Tinubu to security agencies: arrest perpetrators of Plateau killings now

    JUST IN: Tinubu to security agencies: arrest perpetrators of Plateau killings now

    President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the heinous and brutal attacks in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State, which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives.

    President Tinubu directed security agencies to immediately move in, scour every stretch of the zone, and apprehend the culprits.

    The president made the directive in a statement issued on Tuesday, December 26, by his special adviser of media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. 

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Akume at 70

     Tinubu also ordered immediate mobilization of relief resources for surviving victims of the primitive and cruel attacks as well as medical treatment for the wounded. 

    While condoling with the government and the people of Plateau State, President Tinubu assures Nigerians that these envoys of death, pain, and sorrow will not escape justice.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria Governors’ Forum visits Tinubu in Lagos

    BREAKING: Nigeria Governors’ Forum visits Tinubu in Lagos

    Following their meeting at the Lagos House in Marina, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum are heading to the President’s house in Lagos.

    This was revealed by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat on his official X page.

    He wrote: “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum under the leadership of Governor @RealAARahman converged on Lagos, House Marina this afternoon. They are on their way to Mr President’s Residence in Lagos.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Akume at 70

    Governor-Elect of Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo also joined the delegation. “

    Details shortly…

  • Plateau killing: Security agents must bring perpetrators to book – NGF chair

    Plateau killing: Security agents must bring perpetrators to book – NGF chair

    The chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has urged security agencies to get to the roots of the Christmas eve killing in Plateau state and bring perpetrators to book. 

    He described as shocking and sad the violent attacks that killed over 96 people across 15 villages in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state. 

    Abdulrazaq, who doubles as Kwara state governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state, especially the bereaved families, statement by his media aide Rafiu Ajakaye has said.

    Read Also: CAN condemns Plateau killings, demands preventive measures

    Condemning the gruesome murder that occurred on the eve of Christmas celebration, Governor AbdulRazaq insisted that nothing justified the violence visited on innocent people.

    He prays God to give comfort to all the affected families, and appeals to everyone on the Plateau to do everything to avoid a cycle of violence, which only inflicts generational pains and underdevelopment. 

  • NAF hits six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

    NAF hits six illegal oil refining sites in Rivers

     The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on Dec. 23, destroyed six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air strikes were in continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals.

    He said the illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.

    According to him, having been  confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the six sites, thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.

    Read Also: How to identify adulterated products, by NAFDAC

    “In spite of the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated.

    “The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has commended the efforts of the Air Component Commanders in all the theatres of operation.

    “Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the Northeast and currently in Katsina to fete troops, called on them not to rest until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Lawan distributes vehicles, farming equipments to constituents

    Lawan distributes vehicles, farming equipments to constituents

    Ahmad Lawan, the ex-Senate president, has provided numerous constituents in his Yobe North Senatorial District with diverse resources to support the initiation of their own businesses. 

    The Yobe State Governor, Rt. Hon. Mai Mala Buni, inaugurated the sixth edition of the Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (SAIL) Empowerment Programme at the Gashua township stadium on Monday, as reported by Lawan’s media aide, Ezrel Tabiowo, in Abuja.

    According to him, the empowerment materials distributed at this year’s programme include vehicles such as Peugeot sedans (406 and 307), Sharon buses, 18-seater Toyota buses, tractors for farming, combined harvesters, rice planters, fire fighting trucks, tricycles (Keke NAPEP), small harvesters and Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicles.

    Others are motorcycles, power generators, refrigerators and deep freezers, grinding machines, sewing machines, irrigation pumping machines, chemical sprayers (manual and auto), and pots and stoves.

    In his speech, Senator Lawan said the empowerment programme was conceived by his foundation to improve the economic fortunes of his constituents and appreciate them for the support shown him over the years.

    He assured that the gesture will be sustained by also attracting federal presence through projects to stimulate and boost business activity in Yobe North Senatorial District.

    Lawan said: “This event is one to empower some of our constituents whom we think, at this point, deserve to be empowered. It is by no means an effort to provide for everyone. In fact, it is impossible to provide for everyone but gradually we will touch as many as possible.

    “We believe in what we do because we believe it is better to teach a man how to fish; than to give him that fish, and it is over.

    “We have done fairly well in the area of providing employment opportunities for our youths who are university graduates. We are hopeful that those who were fortunate to be employed will be also employers themselves and give support to people, their families and those in their communities.

    Read Also: Lawan kicks-off free medical care for poor, aged constituents

    “Let me thank my constituents for standing by me at all times, especially at the most difficult times. I want to appreciate your support all through that I started my political career, and since our paths met.

    “Your Excellency, I want to assure you and my constituents, that I will continue to remain focused on ensuring that this zone – Yobe North Zone C – benefits as much as it can from federal presence. [And], we will do our best as well also, to give our support to other parts of the state where it is possible. But, on the whole, we remain the servants of the people.”

    Governor Buni, while flagging-off the distribution of the empowerment materials, commended Senator Lawan for the initiative.

    He noted that the empowerment programme was in tandem with the government’s policy on wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

    Buni cautioned the beneficiaries against selling the materials distributed to them by the SAIL Foundation.

  • BREAKING: Shettima visits Tinubu in Lagos

    BREAKING: Shettima visits Tinubu in Lagos

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday, December 26, visited President Bola Tinubu at his Bourdillon home in Lagos.

    The Nation reported that the president arrived Lagos for the Christmas holiday on Thursday, December 21.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Akume at 70

    Details shortly…

  • Kidnappers free Enugu monarch after collecting bag of rice, chicken as ransom

    Kidnappers free Enugu monarch after collecting bag of rice, chicken as ransom

    The traditional ruler of Nkalagu Obukpa community in Nsukka local government area of Enugu state, Igwe James Agbogo, who was kidnapped on December 21, has regained freedom.

    The traditional ruler, who was abducted in his palace, was set free on Christmas day by the bandits after he had spent four days in their den.

    According to village sources, the monarch was freed after his family had sent one bag of rice, one big chicken, a carton of wine and other food ingredients with a total of N6 million to his kidnappers as ransom.

    Agbogo was preparing for his own coronation slated for December 28, when the abductors struck.

    “Igwe regained freedom yesterday (Christmas) day but he has been taken to the hospital for treatment,” a village source stated.

    Read Also: Land grabbing: Enugu community tasks IGP to wade in

    The source added: “His sad kidnap happened at Nkalagu_Obukpa last last Thursday night at about 8:00pm. You know he is preparing for his coronation on 28th December, 2023 after emerging as the Igwe-elect of the community.

    “But the funny thing about his kidnap is that the guys demanded the sum of N6 million and insisted that a bag of rice a carton of wine and other food ingredients must accompany the ransom or they would kill him. 

    “Well, everyone rallied round to make everything available so that Igwe will regain his freedom.”

  • Plateau killings indefensible, perpetrators must be arrested – Northern senators

    Plateau killings indefensible, perpetrators must be arrested – Northern senators

    The Northern Senators Forum on Tuesday, December 26, condemned mass killing of villagers in Plateau state, describing the act as heinous and indefensible.

    The lawmakers made the condemnation in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, in Abuja.

    The statement reads in part: “It is with profound sorrow and a weighty heart that, as a forum, we address you on the recent tragic incident of mass killing in Plateau State.

    “This brutal act is indefensible, devoid of reason, and stains our shared humanity. We unequivocally condemn such heinous acts and express our deepest condolences to the affected families, loved ones, the people, and the Government of Plateau State. Their immense loss is a collective grief, and we stand united in our determination to seek justice.

    “In our legislative role, we strongly condemn this reprehensible act and call upon the authorities to promptly initiate a comprehensive investigation. Allocating necessary resources to swiftly identify and apprehend the perpetrators is paramount. They must face the full force of the law, ensuring justice prevails.

    “During these trying times, unity among citizens is crucial. We must draw on our shared values of compassion, empathy, and respect to support one another and provide solace to those affected. This collective effort will foster resilience to overcome this dark chapter in our history.

    “As representatives of the people, we urge the federal government to consolidate investigation reports of similar cases, taking necessary action to prevent future occurrences.

    Read Also: CAN condemns Plateau killings, demands preventive measures

    “Moreover, let us reflect on the importance of upholding peace, unity, and understanding within our country. We must recommit to fostering an inclusive atmosphere where diversity is celebrated, and differences are resolved through dialogue and peaceful means.

    “In conclusion, we reiterate our strong condemnation of this abhorrent act of mass killing. We implore everyone to stand united against violence, support the affected families, and trust our law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. Together, we shall prevail, and our country will emerge stronger.

    “May peace be restored to our nation, and may our hearts find solace in these challenging times.”