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Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

Sen. Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, on Tuesday condemned the killing of 20 persons in some communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

Abe made the condemnation in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, in Port Harcourt.

According to him, no fewer than 20 people were killed on January 5; several houses were burnt in the past few days following coordinated attacks by suspected cultists in Asarama, Unyeada and Ajakajak communities.

Read also: Rivers PDP chair hails security agencies, Wike for ending killings

Abe expressed his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, property and those injured during the attacks.

The Lawmaker called on the security agencies to work round the clock and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were brought to book.

“Every life is precious and no one has the right to take the life of another, because all lives belong to God, the Creator.

“I pray that God will give strength to all families directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Abe appealed to all Rivers communities to be good neighbours, provide security and comfort to any displaced persons that fled to their communities for safety.

“We must find strength to stand together and defeat this evil,” he said.

NAN

January 9, 2018
Suspected drug traffickers kill NDLEA officer in Kano

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ), retired Col. Mustapha Abdullah, says one of its officers in Kano command has been killed by some suspected drug traffickers.

Abdullah disclosed this on Friday in Kano when he addressed officers and men of the agency.

He sympathised with them and the family of the victim.

The chairman said that two other officers attacked by the suspects were receiving treatment.

He described the attack as an attempt to discourage the agency in its efforts toward ensuring that the country is free from the activities of drug traffickers.

“The officer that was killed, Mr Tanko Amfani was in company of his colleagues while coming back from Rano Local Government Area on a mission to arrest some suspected drug traffickers.

“But unfortunately, they were attacked at the early hours of Thursday,” he said.

Abdullah said that only someone who is on hard drugs can carry out such attack on the officers.

“It would not discourage us from discharging our responsibilities.

“Therefore, I am calling on our officers not to relent in their efforts”, he said.

According to Abdallah, the agency has in recent times lost three other officers at Okene, in Kogi State

He commiserated with the families of the four officers who lost their lives in Kogi and Kano while serving the nation.

Abdallah assured the personnel that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to equip the officers more and also ensure their welfare in order to boost their morale.

He said that more personnel would soon be recruited by the agency to strengthen its manpower.

In his remarks, the NDLEA Commander in Kano, Alhaji Hamza Umar said that the riffles used by the attackers were not locally-made but AK 47 guns which are not ordinary.

He appealed to the general public to continue to give the agency all the necessary support in order to succeed in the fight against drug trafficking.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Man in court for alleged sodomy

A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday, granted a N100, 000 bail to an applicant, Mike Ugochukwu, 30, who is facing a case of alleged sodomy.

The accused is facing trial for allegedly attempting to sexually abuse four male teenagers.

The defendant, who resides at Kurudu, Abuja, is facing a one-count charge of attempting to commit sodomy, an offence, which contravenes Section 95 of the Penal Code.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendant to the bail with a reasonable and reliable surety in like sum.

He said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and submit his drivers’ licence or National Identity Card and passport photographs to the court clerk.

The Prosecutor, Mr Mahmud Ismail’la, had informed the court that the neighbours of the defendant, Mrs Grace Monday and Ezekiel Shiga, reported the matter to Kurudu Police Station on December 29, 2017.

He also said that the boys, whose ages are below 18 years, had reported the sexual advances made to them by the defendant to their parents.

Ismail’la said the defendant had made several attempts to abuse the boys by luring any of them at various times and they had been warned against it by their parents in the past.

The prosecutor said that the defendant had earlier admitted committing the offences during police investigations.

After listening to the charge, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the matter was adjourned to January 31 for hearing.

NAN

January 5, 2018
42 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

Forty two ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos from January 5 to Jan. 30.

The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to NAN in Lagos on Friday.

NPA said that the ships contained buck wheat, frozen fish, bulk gas, bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel, bulk sugar, diesel, petrol and containers laden with goods.

The document indicated that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, containers, aviation fuel and petrol.

January 5, 2018
DPR seals four filling stations in Owo

The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) says it has sealed four filling stations in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State for hoarding fuel and selling above pump price.

The Controller of DPR in-charge of Ondo and Ekiti, Mr Adewale Oseni, told newsmen on Friday in Owo that the operation was carried out late Thursday night and Friday morning.

“We also auctioned the product to motorists before the stations were sealed off.

“The operators of the stations still have to pay the imposed fine to deter them from selling above the pump price.

“We hope it will send some lessons to erring marketers,” he said.

Also Read: DPR, Oyo govt seal 10 filling stations in Ibadan

Oseni said that the Federal Government would soon bring in more fuel to the state through the major marketers.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Man docked over alleged theft of Aluminum

A 28-year-old man, Olayiwola Sunday, who allegedly broke into a house and stole an aluminum frame and other valuable items valued at N500,000, was on Friday brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

Sunday, who has no fixed address, is facing two-count charge of stealing and burglary.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offences on December 7 at about 5.00 a.m at Pen Estate, Lafenwa, Ota.

Gbesi said that the accused broke into the house of one John Adebayo to steal an aluminum frame and other valuable items valued at N500, 000.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr S. O. Banjo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Banjo said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

He also ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun Government and submit four recent passport photographs to the court.

The case was adjourned until January 31, for hearing.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Motorcycle operator in court over alleged theft

A 22- year-old motorcycle operator, Dejo Bajowa, who allegedly stole motorcycle valued at N120,000, was on Friday docked before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State.

The accused of no fixed address is standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ayodeji Omoyeigha, told the court that the accused on Nov.16, at No.6, Kewe St., Okitipupa, conspired with other now at large to steal an unregistered Suzuki motorcycle.

Omoyeigha said that the motorcycle was given to him by the owner, Michael Ijiri, to pay on instalments.

He said that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 516 and 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, and Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Read also: Court jails two for stealing yam

The Magistrate, Mr Chris Ojuola, granted the accused bail of N50,000 with a surety in like sum, who must produce evidence of a year tax clearance.

Ojuola adjourned the case until Jan. 15 for further hearing.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Sri Lankan president honours World youngest author

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday honoured a Sri Lankan child who set a Guinness World Record as the world’s youngest author, a statement from the President’s office said.

The president received the 5-year-old boy, Thanuwana Serasinghe along with his parents in his office on Friday and offered a copy of his book titled Junk Food to the president.

Also Read: Sri Lanka seeks partnership with Nigeria in tea production

According to the statement, “the child had only taken three days to write the book.’’

The president gave his blessings to the child and wished him success in his education.

(Xinhua/NAN)

January 5, 2018
ASP arrested for killing farmers

The Adamawa Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a policeman who was alleged to have shot to death seven farmers in the state.

The arrest followed a petition by a Civil Society Organization, Progressive Mind for Development Initiate.

The petition signed by the President of the CSO, Abubakar Abdulsalam, alleged that the officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, committed the offence on November 23, 2017.

It indicated that the police officer, while in charge of Safer Highways Patrol Team, arrested the farmers who were working on their farms at the outskirts of Gombi town, tied and shot them to death.

The petition further alleged that the same officer had on April 30, 2016, while in charge of a police outpost in Kem village, Shelleng Local Government area of the state, killed four people suspected of committing robbery.

“We as a concerned organization consider the act of the suspect (policeman) as an act against the provision of the Constitution and infringement on the fundamental rights of the people in question.

“If such act is not checked it will continue to spread like wild fire and eventually Nigeria will be unsafe for its citizens,” it added.

Spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, Othman Abubakar, said the policeman had been arrested and detained as investigation continues into the case.

NAN

January 5, 2018
Liberia’s NEC presents certificate of return to Weah

Liberia ’s National Elections Commission ( NEC ) has presented certificate of return to the President-elect, George Weah; Vice President-elect, Jewel Howard-Taylor, and the newly elected members of the House of Representatives.

Chairman of NEC, Mr Jerome Korkoya, performed the ceremony at the commission’s headquarters in Monrovia on Thursday evening.

According to local media, 66 out of the 73 elected lawmakers were certificated, leaving out seven who are facing legal challenges over their election in the October 10 general polls.

The new leaders will be sworn in on January 22, which is the third working Monday of January as stipulated in the Liberian Constitution.

Speaking at the occasion, the NEC boss reminded the newly elected public officers of the huge responsibility that comes with the mantle of leadership entrusted to them.

“The certificate we are presenting to you represents conferral of legitimacy to pronounce you to the world as the duly elected officials.

“”It is also an embodiment of the power, trust and aspiration reposed in you by your various constituents and the people of Liberia as a whole.

“Expectations are high to change the people’s living conditions through the laws, policies and programmes of the incoming government.

He acknowledged the contributions of international partners including ECOWAS, AU, USAID, EU and UNDP, which led to the successful conduct of the elections.

Korkoya expressed appreciation to all contestants in the elections for respecting the rule of law by exploring judicial means to seek redress after the elections.

The president-elect, George Weah, described his election as a unifying factor in the country.

Weah pledged to fulfil his campaign promised of improving the lives of Liberians, calling on members of the legislature to put aside politics and work in the interest of the country.

“I went to Boakai (outgoing Vice President) not to make news but because campaign is over and it is time to do the Liberian people’s work.

“Our quest is for all Liberians to work together to move our country forward; in the interest of the people let’s work,” he said.

The president-elect reiterated his assurance of greater freedoms, saying he would not interfere with the tenants of democracy, especially political dissent.

“I am your friend but my interest is the Liberian people.

“Any attempt to promote clampdown on the political rights of fewer Liberians has the propensity of disuniting the country,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the elected lawmakers, the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hans Barchue, promised to work with the CDC-led government.

Also Read: ‘Change is on,’ says George Weah

In separate remarks, members of the international community present at the occasion restated their commitment to support the incoming administration.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Farid Zarif, lauded Liberians for their peaceful participation in the electoral process.

Zarif called on the new administration to build on the gains made under the leadership of outgoing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

He urged the new government to properly manage the country’s abundant natural resources to improve the lives of Liberians.

“Let me quote you Mr. President-elect that it doesn’t make sense that Liberia is so rich, yet its people are so poor.

“That is the beginning of another vision. Let’s bring the two things together,” he said.

NAN

January 5, 2018