The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nine

  • Nine regain freedom in Akwa Ibom community

    Nine persons abducted by cult and banditry syndicate operating in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo axis of Akwa Ibom State have been rescued by security operatives.

    Their rescue came as relative calm and normalcy returned to the area with the syndicate smashed.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel disclosed this yesterday during the monthly prayer meeting at the State Government House Chapel, in Uyo.

    He said: “We made a remarkable breakthrough in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo, it’s been calm. We can now feel the peace across the entire state.”

    He recounted that on the first day of the last month, “God gave us a message, God said Baal Shall Not Speak Again, and within a week a lot of commotions took place.

    “And we followed it up by praying that God should let the wickedness of the wicked perish with the wicked but establish the just.

    Refusing to speak further on the fate of the alleged culprits, Emmanuel said security strategies and action were best kept under wraps.

    The governor however said there had been repentance by some young members of the gangs.

    “A whole lot of them have repented, they have come out to say they are sorry.

    “If God says we should forgive, I think we may find a way to forgive those who have come out to repent. They might be the best evangelists.”

    He said from his interaction with one of them, so many of them had not acquired formal education and were carrying out the heinous activities out of ignorance.

    The Governor charged the Church and parents to do a lot more in moulding and shaping young people to grow up in the knowledge of sound moral principles.

    “If they did not go to school, the church through Sunday school would have done in them what formal education could not do.”

    He berated the Federal Government for not considering any oil-producing states for refund of Paris and London loans.

    According to him: “A nation where you use our crude oil money to settle Paris Club and London Club, and when it came to a time for refunds, no single oil producing state could be considered, rather a state that did not contribute anything was given N17bn, and they gave us the oil producing states nothing.”

    Citing such action as injustice, Emmanuel echoed the biblical aphorism that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach.

     

  • Nine die in Taraba attack

    The Police in Taraba State have confirmed the death of nine persons in yesterday’s early morning attack on Tutuwa in Ussa Local Government Area.

    The police spokesman, David Misal, said a yet-to-be identified armed militia allegedly carried out the attack.

    Misal said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the command, Aliyu Tafida, and heads of other security agencies, have moved in to assess the situation.

    Chairman of Ussa council Rimansikwe Karma, who also confirmed the attack, said three persons were injured.

    Karma said the hoodlums attacked the village about 5am when residents were going for their early morning prayers.

    He said: “Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when they were attacked.

    “Nine persons died and three others sustained injuries; they are being treated at Takum General Hospital.

    “The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before security personnel arrived.”

    The Police in Borno State have said two Boko Haram bombers were killed in a failed bid to attack a mosque in Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri.

    Police Commissioner Damien Chukwu said the incident occurred about 5.30 am.

    Chukwu said the female suicide bombers hid in an uncompleted building and detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) before reaching their target.

    He said: “They were first sighted by members of the vigilance group, who informed policemen.

    ‘’After a hot chase, they ran into an uncompleted building.

    “In an attempt to escape arrest, they detonated their IEDs, killing themselves.

    “The police Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team have been called in to sanitise the area.”

  • Nine councils endorse Ikpeazu for second term

    Nine councils endorse Ikpeazu for second term

    Nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State have endorsed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term.

    Aba North; Aba South; Isialangwa North; Isialangwa South; Osisioma; Obingwa; Ugwunagbo; Ukwa West and Ukwa East said on the basis of his performance, Ikpeazu deserves to be reelected for a second term. They called on all sons and daughters of the area to work for the governor’s victory in 2019.

    The endorsement came at Okpuala Ngwa, the ancestral headquarters of the Ngwa people, during the Great Ukwa Ngwa Declaration at the weekend.

    Former Senate President Adolfus Wabara, who moved the motion for the endorsement, said: “Our son and brother, Okezie Ikpeazu, is a silent achiever and performer. He has performed creditably well and that confers on him the right to lead once more. Our people today speak with one voice to make a proclamation in support of the governor, asking him to contest for governor again in 2019.”

    Chief Chukwu Wachukwu, who seconded the motion, said: “Abia North was governor for eight years with Orji Uzo Kalu, Abia Central governed for eight years with Senator Theodore Orji and Abia South is completing four years with Governor Ikpeazu. Therefore, we, as a people, unanimously declare our support for the re-election of Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State in 2019, because he has done well and also because he must complete the eight year tenure of Abia South.”

    Statesman Emmanuel Adaelu explained that the governor has the constitutional right to seek re-election in 2019, and as such deserves the support of his people.

    “We have seen governors in Abia State and I will boldly state that there has not been any like Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. He has done so well and the evidence of his great works are everywhere for the world to see.

    “So we are boldly and eloquently declaring our support for him to re-contest in 2019.”

  • Buhari names CCB chair, nine others

    Buhari names CCB chair, nine others

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked the Senate to confirm Muhammed Isa and nine others as chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    In a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, Buhari requested the lawmakers to expedite action on the confirmation of the nominees.

    Isa, who is expected to head the bureau, hails from Jigawa, North West. Others members included Murtala Kankia (member, Katsina, North West), Emmanuel Attah (member, Cross River, South South), Danjuma Sado (member, Edo, South South)  Obolo Opanachi, (member, Kogi, North Central) and Ken Madaki Alkali, (member Nasarawa, North Central.).Others are S.F. Ogundare, (member, Oyo, South West), Ganiyu Hamzat, (member, Ogun, South West), Sahad Abubakar, (member, Gombe North East) and Vincent Nwanne, (member, Ebonyi, South East).

     

  • Nine Ibadan indigene students get scholarship

    The Ibadan Descendants’ Union (IDU) in New York, United States (U.S.) has given scholarships to indigent students of Ibadan origin in tertiary institutions. Each of the beneficiaries went home with the N50,000 cash.

    At the presentation ceremony held at the main auditorium of Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Chief Olalekan Alabi, who chaired the event, urged the beneficiaries to justify the union’s investment in their career.

    He said: “The money given to you is only meant for your education. It is not to go buy latest phone or designer wears. It is meant to aid your studies and be good ambassadors of your family, your institutions, Oyo State and Nigeria.”

    The union president, Alhaji Olawale Olalere, said the scholarship was aimed at helping brilliant students of Ibadan origin to achieve excellence. He said: “This scholarship will be given yearly to indigent students. We intend to do more as we plan to expand the award. We will encourage contributions from members of the society and the government.”

    Nine students from three institutions benefitted from the scheme. They are Adelabu Hammed, Olapade Ayodeji Bayowa, Adenike Adeleke and Jimoh Akanni, all of University of Ibadan (UI).

    Others are Ajoke Hazeez, Habeeb Olatunji and Adewale Olatunji, all of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY), while two students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Esther Oladipupo and Olajesu Akanji, also benefitted.

  • Aminatu Papapa on nine month course

    Aminatu Papapa on nine month course

    POPULAR Yoruba actress, Bukky Adekogbe, popularly known as Aminatu Papapa, is expecting her second child with her actor husband Lukman Raji.

    The actress, who was recently spotted at an event, is said to be heavily pregnant, and according to reports, might put to bed before the end of the year.

    Though she is reportedly not to be legally married to the father of her child, they have been together for a while, a union which produced a daugther.

    Undoubtedly, she is talented in her role interpretation especially as a tout. The actress delved into the make-believe world a couple of years back under Murphy Afolabi’s caucus and since then, she has featured in several hit movies. She has also produced thriller movies, like Aminatu Papapa, Omo Oro and others.

    Bukky Adekogbe, was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Adekogbe. She hails from Lagos state.

    She attended Apostolic Primary School, Ebute Metta and later went to Oke Odo High school, Ebute Metta. She also attended College of Education, Akoka and later furthered her education at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) all in Lagos State.

    She joined the movie industry since 2005 and started acting professionally in 2011.

  • Chibok girls: Nine months after

    SIR: Tomorrow January 9 marks 270 days, nine months since the abduction of school girls in Chibok town, Borno State. With about 37 days to election, it is becoming hopeless that Chibok girls will be released anytime soon. Campaigns and election matters will soon dominate the whole news in Nigeria and indeed the world. The much discussed election is undoubtedly going to be a great test on Nigeria and indeed for Africa’s democracy, and indeed security.

    The level of hopelessness among Nigerians is also increasing by the day. Nigerians must rise beyond the politics of tribe and religion. Uprightness, capacity to deliver on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians is one good reason why Nigerians must converge even if it is for the first time to rescue this land.

    Under normal circumstances, the Chibok girls ought to have graduated if that incident had not occurred. It is likely that some of them would have been in the university by now. Some of them could have been married with babies by now. Some of them could have started legitimate business by now. All of those dreams are gone at least for now.

    Nigerians must remain in prayers for a better Nigeria, put all their commitment into a free, fair and credible elections come February.

     

    •Comrade Abdulbaqi Jari Katsina

    Katsina State

  • Nine students going for JAMB die in Aba auto crash

    •Five others killed in Awka

    Nine students on their way to Aba from Port Harcourt for today’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) yesterday lost their lives in a motor accident.

    Twelve other passengers were killed in a separate accident in Awka,Anambra State, yesterday, after a trailer rammed into three other vehicles.

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), however confirmed five dead and 17 injured in the accident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University junction.

    The first accident occurred at Obeaku-Ihe in Ugwunagbor Local Government Area of Abia State between a Hiace bus with registration number, Rivers XY 249 PHC and a Mack Truck with registration number XC 109 SLK.

    Seven died on the spot while two died in hospital.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, said the remains of the dead including the driver of the bus and his conductor had been deposited at the mortuary.

    The injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

    The PPRO said: “the students were coming from Port Harcourt to Aba in a Hiace bus when their driver rammed into the Mack truck packed by the road side of the express.

    He said that most of the 15 passengers were believed to be on their way to Aba for the UTME, against the background of items recovered from the scene of the accident.

    An eyewitness, who gave his name as Victor Iheakamdu said that the bus driver lost control of his vehicle when he wanted to overtake the vehicle in front of him.

    “When he saw an oncoming vehicle after he had engaged in overtaking the car in front of him, he veered off the express and then rammed into the Mack truck that was packed on the road.”

    The other accident was caused after the brake of the diesel-laden trailer unexpectedly failed, leaving the driver to lose control.

    Time was 4pm .

    The trailer rammed into three L-300 Mitsubishi buses.

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), police, army and the Civil Defence Corps (NCSDC) personnel had a hectic time trying to rescue the injured and clear the road for smooth traffic.

    The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Hygenius Omeje, confirmed the accident and the casualty figures.