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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Police arrest suspected killers of oil firm manager in Rivers

    Police arrest suspected killers of oil firm manager in Rivers

    The police have arrested seven suspects who allegedly kidnapped and murdered a 64-year-old man, Mr Ubani Onyema, after collecting N10 million ransom.

    Team Commander, Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team ( IRT ), Abba Kyari, confirmed the arrest  on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said the victim, a production manager in Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd., was kidnapped by gunmen in Woji area of Port Harcourt on October 16.

    He said that a ransom call was made to the hostage’s company demanding N100 million.

    “Eventually, the ransom was negotiated down to N10 million, which was paid to the kidnappers despite not getting a proof of life.

    “IRT operatives deployed to Port Harcourt by IGP Ibrahim Idris swung into action as the hostage was not released after the ransom was paid as negotiated and agreed.

    “Unrelenting follow up by the IRT eventually led to the arrest of seven of the kidnappers. Suspects confessed to various roles each played in the kidnap.

    “They admitted that the victim died on the very day of his kidnap as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained during the incident.

    “They still went ahead to collect a ransom of N10 million,” Kyari said.

    Read also: Police arrest suspected armed robbers in Jigawa

    He said that the arrested suspects, including the gang leader, allegedly confessed to the crime.

    According to him, the gang leader organised the kidnap and recruited the hostage keepers who brought the two cars used while his deputy purchased the pre-registered SIM used in negotiating and picking up the ransom.

    Among the kidnap masterminds were three men who worked in the same company with the victim and a cultist who provided the arms.

    “Items recovered from the gang include one AK-47 rifle and two vehicles used in the kidnap.

    “Effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members, recover arms and the body of the victim which they confessed to have dumped into a river,” Kyari said.

    NAN

  • Mexican reporter shot dead at Christmas party

    Mexican reporter shot dead at Christmas party

    A Mexican reporter was shot dead Tuesday at his son’s school Christmas party, authorities confirmed, bringing the total number of journalists killed in the country in 2017 to 12.

    Unknown assailants burst into the school in the state of Veracruz and shot Gumaro Aguilando in front of children and parents.

    The state is known as one of the most dangerous for journalists, with several killed.

    Veracruz governor Miguel Yunes said he was saddened by the “devious and cowardly attack” and had ordered extra protection for the journalist’s family.

    The 35-year-old had apparently been threatened before and requested protection from the government’s protection programme, according to Alicia Bremont, the head of the Association of Independent Journalists in Acayucan.

    The killing makes Mexico the most deadly country in the world for journalists, alongside Syria, according to figures published by media organisation Reporters Without Borders on Monday.

    In its annual report on violence against journalists it said 12 had been killed in Mexico  this year.

    Home to several powerful drug cartels, journalists in Mexico who cover topics linked to organised crime or political corruption quickly become targets.

    NAN

    Read Also: Gunmen shoot AIT reporter in Bayelsa

  • FRSC deploys 500 personnel, 18 vehicles in Enugu

    FRSC deploys 500 personnel, 18 vehicles in Enugu

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has deployed over 500 personnel to man all critical road corridors in Enugu State for its special Yuletide patrol.

    The critical road corridors include: Enugu-Onitsha Road; Enugu-Port Harcourt Road; Enugu-Onitsha Old Road; Enugu-Nsukka Road and Enugu-Abakaliki Road.

    The Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, Mr Edward Zamber, said in Enugu on Wednesday that the command had also deployed 18 vehicles for logistics.

    Zamber also said that the command had deployed over 15 motorcycles within the five unit commands under the command.

    He said that among the 18 vehicles were two specially equipped medical ambulances for quick response to accidents on the critical road corridors.

    He said the command had been given a 700-tonne tow truck that could remove any type of heavy duty vehicle that broke down on any road in the state.

    “We are deploying over 500 personnel, excluding special marshals that would be working with us from time to time.

    “We have streamlined our operation to the critical road corridors, road bends and curves as well as identified accident prone spots in the state.

    “The command for now is running a 24-hour road surveillance shift each day to ensure we stay on the road always.

    “The command is also working in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the police and military in the state to  ensure safety and security of lives and property of our people,’’ the sector commander said.

    “We in the command are wishing Nigerians a safe ride to their destination as well as reminding them that safety on the road is everybody’s responsibility,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • ICYMI: Court dissolves marriage over wife’s penchant for twisting husband’s testicles

    ICYMI: Court dissolves marriage over wife’s penchant for twisting husband’s testicles

    An Igando Customary Court in Lagos State on Tuesday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between Mr Chukwuma Onwumere and his wife, Obianuju, following the respondent’s threat to the  petitioner’s life by always twisting his testicles anytime they were fighting.

    The president of the court, Mr Moses Akinniyi, in his judgment said the estranged couple was tired of the marriage, adding that all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

    “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

    “The court pronounced the marriage between Mr Chukwuma Onwumere and Mrs Obianuju Onwumere dissolved today ( Tuesday ); both parties, henceforth, cease to be husband and wife.

    “Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance and molestation,” Akinniyi ruled.
    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that Chukwuma had earlier told the court that his wife was a threat to his life.
    “My wife had wanted to kill me by always grabbing my testicles anytime we were fighting.

    “Apart from twisting my scrotum, she was always hitting me with dangerous weapons over trivial issues.
    “She once cut me with a machete on my head during one of our fights,” he said.
    The 43-year-old petitioner said that his wife was in the habit of going out and returning at will, adding that each time he cautioned her she would engage him in a fight.

    Obianuju also said that his wife was fond of disrespecting him and his relations.

    He, therefore, implored the court to dissolve their five-year-old marriage, saying that he was no longer interested in the relationship.

    Read Also: ‘My wife is a party freak’ husband tells court

    Obianuju  who was the respondent in her submission  denied all the allegations levelled against her by the petitioner.

    She said that her husband was actually a threat to her life.
    “My husband was always beating me; all the scars on my body were as a result of his battering. There was a day he beat me and one of my teeth went off.
    “There was also a night while sleeping that I saw my husband with a charm in his hand, moving round my bed and reciting some incantations.
    “I quickly stood up from the bed, but he left my room and placed the charm at my door step,’’ the 34-year-old woman said.
    The mother of two said that her husband moved her belongings to her village on the allegation that she had witchcraft.

    “My husband took my property to my parents, saying that he was told by a spiritualist that I am a witch.
    “He told my parents that he was no longer interested in our marriage,” she said.
    She also denied the allegation that she attacked her husband with a machete, saying there was no machete in their matrimonial home.
    The respondent, therefore, pleaded with the court to grant her husband’s wish by dissolving the marriage.

  • Police contributes N10bn to National housing fund – IGP

    Police contributes N10bn to National housing fund – IGP

    The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said it had contributed over N10 billion in remittances to the National Housing Fund since the inception of the scheme.

    The Inspector – General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, made the disclosure at the inauguration of the Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank Cash Centre and ATM gallery in Abuja.

    Idris said that the establishment of the bank became imperative to provide police officers with unhindered access to the National Housing Fund.

    He also said that the bank had also provided officers with loans at lower interest rates than obtained in other commercial banks.

    Read Also: Police to strengthen ‘bail is free’ campaign

    He promised to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of all police investments to enhance welfare of personnel.

    “It is my earnest belief that the Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank is strategically positioned to drive our ambitious welfare agenda,”the police boss said.

    He said that the force would continue to support and encourage synergy toward achieving the welfare objectives of the bank.

    He said that the police management would consider ways of encouraging and engaging other police investments and Institutions in mobilising fund to support the bank.

    The Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank, retired DIG Uba Ringim, said that the bank had successfully disbursed mortgage loans to over 500 police personnel.

    Ringim said the bank had also processed over 400 National housing fund loans approval from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for personnel.

    He further said that over 200 police officers were beneficiaries of other loan products with the lowest interest rates.

    He said that the cash centre would avail the bank customers with the opportunity to walk in and access wide range of products and mortgage services.

    The chairman said that the bank had obtained CBN approval for the deployment of three additional ATMs in Garki, Wuse and Dei-Dei, all in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that the Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank commenced business in 2015 to provide personnel with affordable and quality housing.

  • A’Ibom Christmas Groove: Tuface, Tiwa, Wizkid, others to perform

    A’Ibom Christmas Groove: Tuface, Tiwa, Wizkid, others to perform

    Wizkid, Tuface, Tiwa Savage, and others to perform at Akwa Ibom Christmas Groove Wizkid, Tuface, Tiwa Savage will perform at the maiden edition of the Akwa Ibom Christmas groove tagged, “Ukap’isua,” scheduled to hold Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 in Uyo.

    Mr Victor Antai, state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, listed other acts to include Tekno, Phyno and many more.

    He said more than 100,000 fun seekers are also expected at the “Ukap’isua’’ groove which means the end of the year Christmas festival and would feature musical concerts, dance party and beach competitions.

    According to him, the star studded event will also include a parade of five bands along the carnival routes, University of Uyo mini stadium – Ikot Ekpene road – Aka road – UdoUdoma Avenue – Unity Park.

    He said that five bands have been named after tourist attractions and historical features in the state such as, Blue River Band, Rolling Hills Band, The Beach Town Band, The Bridge Band and The Plaza Band.

    He said, “the bands are named after tourist attractions and historical features in the state.’’

    “The bands will further expound on the significance of their respective tourism features in their costumes, presentation and parade, thereby helping to market the tourist potentials of the state.’’

    “Following our highly successful outing in `Orange September,’ a series of events organised to commemorate the 30th anniversary of our dear state.

    “The Ministry of Culture and Tourism under my supervision has decided to undertake another major event in our conscious and regular efforts to further stamp the state as a tourism destination.

    “As we all know, yuletide periods in the state have hitherto been bereft of hyped activities.

    “During this period we usually witness an outflow of human traffic into neighbouring states as indigenes and fun seekers leave the state in their numbers to other parts of the country in search of entertainment and recreation.

    “It is in an attempt to remedy this and spice up the yuletide experience for the citizens of Akwa Ibom State, while effectively marketing our huge tourist potentials that the Ministry has decided to host “Ukap’isua.”

    “We hope to create during this same period, a unique experience that will not only create recreation and entertainment, but also market our huge tourism potentials,’’ Antai said.

    He explained that “Ukap’isua would commence with the opening of the festival village, located at the auspicious Ibom Unity Park, Udoudoma Avenue, Uyo.

    Antai said that the festival village would host relaxation spots, shopping stalls and other recreational facilities.

    The commissioner expressed the commitment of the state government to focus on tourism as major source of revenue generation and jobs creation rather than depending solely on oil.

  • Federal and states partnership crucial to national development – Osinbajo

    Federal and states partnership crucial to national development – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the collaboration of the Federal and state government is crucial to achieving development plans of the country.

    He stated this on Tuesday at the retreat of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with Secretaries to the State Governments held in Abuja.

    He noted that the business of governing needs innovations to tackle complex challenges, adding that the two tiers of government were in a better situation to resolve them through partnership.

    “But despite the important initiatives and decisions of fg we will achieve little if we do not have relevant state government agencies actively working with the federal government to implement them.

    “So, the role of the SGFs is clearly central to cascading the action points and conclusions to the relevant MDAs in their states.

    “And this is so, whether we are implementing the federal government’s fertilizer policy or the anchor borrowers scheme in the states.’’

    He said that one of the challenges of federalism is that while the federal and state governments enjoy individual autonomy, they must still operate as one government.

    He noted that the objective was for the government of the federation to serve the best economic and social interest of the people.

    “So when we speak of the Nigerian economy it is the sum of the economies of the federal government and the states.

    “Yet each government determines its own priorities, draws its own budget and implements its own programmes and projects.
    “So a meeting such as this, where the agenda and modalities for collaboration may be set is in my view an eminently sensible idea and requires the support of all of us if we are to meet the expectations of our people,’’ he said.

    The Vice President stated that one of the crucial concerns of the federal government’s economic development agenda was to improve local and foreign investments in the country.

    Osinbajo remarked that the SGFs office coordinates the Ecological fund and NEMA that frequently intervened in the states.

    He said it was the responsibility of the SGFs office to interface with the states to ensure that such interventions were improved.

  • Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction only 10% completed

    Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction only 10% completed

    The Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction in Lagos State has achieved only 10 per cent completion, an official of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing ( FMPWH ), has said.

    Mrs Olukorede Keisha, an FMPWH engineer supervising the project, said on Tuesday at the project site that presence of gas pipes and other public utilities in the road’s Right of Way ( RoW ) delayed the project execution.

    The engineer said that the contractors handling the project had, however, resolved the problem.

    Keisha said that 200 metres of concrete road and 230 metres of drains had been constructed on section one of the project.

    “The project is about 10 per cent completed; we finished 230 metres of drain and 200 metres of concrete road on section one.

    “We have about four layers of road to make the pavement rigid; the road thickness is 600mm,’’ she said.

    She said that the project had four sections.

    Keisha told NAN that a design alteration was done to take care of the gas pipelines in the RoW of the road so as to meet the completion date of June 2018.

    “There is no need to relocate the pipelines again; the pipes are encased. We had to redesign in order to safeguard the pipes for work to continue.

    “It is a shift in alignment, we shifted it forward,’’ she said.

    She said that the redesign gave the opportunity for deep excavation to lay a solid foundation for a durable concrete road.

    On potholes on some portions of the highway, Keisha said that rehabilitation work had begun on the bad portions.

    According to Keisha, the ministry will use the Christmas holiday to take care of the most critical portions on the reconstruction zone and other roads in Apapa.

    NAN reports that some rolling machines were being used to compact construction materials on about 500 metres stretch of the road on the Ijora/CMS Carriageway.

    The machines were compacting soil-based materials to connect to a concrete section of the road.

    Read Also: Contractors handling Sukuk road projects to be paid soon-DMO

    Meanwhile, some of the road users have appealed for speedy completion of the project.

    A food vendor, Mrs Kaka Kolo, appealed to the Federal Government to increase funding for road repair in Apapa.

    “Trailers are the ones spoiling the road always. The best thing is for government to give contractors more money to repair roads.

    “Government should not wait for potholes to get big and trailers start falling before it does something,’’ she said.

    Also, Mallam Awal Usman, a truck driver, called for repair of all bad roads on the axis.

    He urged collaboration of all government agencies to end gridlock in Apapa.

    Usman, however, praised traffic managers for checking traffic offences compounding gridlock on the axis.

    Another truck driver, Mr Odu Nwoye, told NAN that the efforts of traffic managers had reduced accidents caused by bad roads and reckless driving on the axis.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on June 17 signed a N4.34 billion Memorandum of Understanding  ( MoU ) with AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd. and some other stakeholders for the reconstruction of the four-kilometre Apapa-Wharf Road.

    The project is being funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

  • U.S. ICT university to boost ICT in Adamawa

    U.S. ICT university to boost ICT in Adamawa

    Prof. Victor Mbarika, the President, Board of Trustees, ICT University American Foundation has expressed determination of the university to boost ICT in Adamawa.

    Mbarika made the pledge on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa in Yola.

    He said that the ICT network would include e-book library for the state university, e-learning centres in tertiary institutions, e-taxation and e-payment, among others.

    The president said that e-learning centres would provide opportunities for students to access their courses online.

    He said that the e-library would attract American publishers to download their works by at least providing 1,000 books online.

    Mbarika said that the areas of interest by the ICT University would cover the Adamawa State University, Mubi, Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.

    He said that Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adamawa State Board of Internal Revenue and Bureau for Public Procurement were among areas of interest.

    He said that the partnership would equally create a window for an exchange programme between the students of the university and Adamawa.

    He commended Bindow for his giant stride in the development of road infrastructure.

    “Your roads are among the cleanest I have ever seen,’’ he said.

    Responding, Bindow said that the giant stride development would not only stop on road infrastructure but in other areas of development.

    He said that the administration had declared state of emergency in education and health.

    He said that the administration had rehabilitated 263 schools destroyed by insurgency.

    The governor said that the administration had commenced the repositioning of the state university to compete with world class universities.

    Bindow said that the administration had also sought the enactments for the establishment of State and Local Independent Audit Office which would operate independently devoid of any interference.

    According to him, all these are the demonstration of our commitment to prudence and accountability in governance.

    He commended the ICT University, U.S., for choosing Adamawa for its pilot programme.

    NAN reports that the ICT University American Foundation, was founded in 1880 by the American government.

    The university’s cardinal objective is to be a premier destination for research, innovation and training of scholars in relevant contents for developing economies.

  • IG says police curtail cases of kidnapping

    IG says police curtail cases of kidnapping

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Monday said the Nigeria Police Force had curtailed the activities of high class kidnap kingpins in the country.

    Idris made the disclosure when a former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

    He said the force was also addressing cases of armed robbery, farmers and herdsmen clashes and cattle rustling.

    The police boss said he had marshaled out strategies to check security challenges threatening the country.

    “All we need and will continue to solicit for is the support of the citizenry in giving us adequate information and support to ensure security of lives and property,” he said.

    He reiterated the force’s commitment to provide Nigerians the best policing.

    On sports, Idris said the institution would continue to promote sports as a veritable tool for physical fitness of personnel and national development.

    Read also: Police parade arms recovered from criminals in Bayelsa

    He noted that Nigeria had always relied on the force to produce athletes for international competitions.

    Idris added that the force was committed to allocate a percentage of its personnel to sports to make the country great in sports.

    Kanu promised to partner with the force to contribute his quota toward national development and enhanced service delivery.

    “I will like to be part of any police programme to contribute my quota to national development, “he said.

    NAN