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  • Why kidnappings, killings persist in Nigeria, by Interfaith forum 

    The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) on Friday attributed the unending kidnappings and killings in the country to lack of enough intelligence by security agencies.

    IDFP expressed concern that government has to act fast before the situation gets out of hand.

    The Co-chairperson of IDFP, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, who spoke to reporters at the ongoing two-day workshop on gender and child rights, said the security agencies have all it takes to fight the criminals.

    Sanni said adequate intelligence gathering amongst security operatives will help end what he described as the unfortunate development.

    He called for synergy between local communities and security operatives to achieve positive change.

    His words: “Government should be in charge of security with the collaboration of local community. Government cannot do it alone. The local community cannot do it alone. But the problem we have is the fact that it seems that the security agencies are not on top of the situation. And government has to do something fast because the situation is becoming alarming and it is almost all over the country.

    “Initially, it was isolated to the northeast. Now, it is moving to the northwest and southwest and everywhere. We need a lot of efforts from the government to tackle the security agencies to be on top of the situation.

    Read Also: Address killings within 48 hrs, Reps tell Buhari

    “But we as local people, we live with these criminals and we should be able to know where they are hiding and hibernating so as to collaborate with government to see that the situation is put in check.

    “The security agencies have all it takes to fight these criminals. Every year, we know how much is voted and budgeted for security, so where is all the money going to? And I believe that the problem we really have is not having good intelligence. If we have good intelligence, we will be able to know where these criminals are hiding and fished out and punished.”

    On the gender and child rights, the clergy said: “There are so many interventions about the rights of women, but it is not localized. Some men do not want the women to know their rights. And there must be a balance.”

  • Our deadly exploits, by seven-man robbery, kidnap gang

    Seven men suspected of murdering an America-trained soldier,  Chuks Okebata, on January 12, 2017, in Okigwe area of Imo State, have been arrested by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    The suspects are: Sunday Igwe, alias, School Boy; Michael Ahamefula; Oyebuchi Echefule;  Ndubusi Isaac; Victor Dagogo; Chima Okoro and John Edet.

    According to a police source, the suspects were rounded up  at separate locations in Imo, Abia and Rivers states.

    Two AK-47 rifles and six magazines loaded with 127 live ammunition were recovered from them.

    Sources said  efforts to apprehend the suspects, who were said to have carried out several high profile kidnappings and armed robbery operations around Imo, Abia and Rivers states, commenced a few months after the America-trained soldier was kidnapped and killed.

    The source also disclosed that several persons who had fallen victim of the gang’s activities wrote petitions to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, alerting him of their plights.

    “Consequently, the crack team of operatives, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, was deployed in the South East to track down the suspects and bring their activities to an end.

    “Based on the information provided by some of the victims, the IRT operatives in Abia State trailed the leader of the gang, School-Boy, to a hotel in Aba  and apprehended him there.”

    Read also: Kidnap gang’s engineer who allegedly aid suspects’ escape arrested

    A member of the IRT team, who did not want his name in print because he was not authorised to comment on the issue, said they were on the trail of the gang leader for six months. “We eventually arrested him and  recovered two AK-47 rifles and six magazine loaded  with 127 live ammunition from him. Then, we went after his gang members and arrested his second- in -command, Michael Ahamefula, alongside another gang member, Oyebuchi Echefule, in a hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    “We went on to arrest Ndubusi Isaac, Victor Dagogo, Chima Okoro and John Edet, who are members of the gang in Orlu and Aba areas of Imo and Abia states.”

    In their confessional statements, the suspects said they were members of a deadly armed robbery and kidnapping gang terrorising Imo, Abia and Rivers states.

    The leader of the gang, School-Boy, said  Okebata, was killed because he tried to kill them after he was kidnapped.

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  • Lagos Rugby Union League kicks off on Saturday

    The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has revealed that the Lagos Men’s Rugby Union League will kick off on Saturday 13th April 2019 at the main bowl National Stadium, Lagos.

    Acting Technical Director; Dele Coker expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the Silver Cup by Rugby Africa.

    “The Silver Cup cancellation is now behind us meaning we can now focus on local rugby.”

    He further revealed that the previous season witnessed many innovations, including the division of the competition into two which made room for four teams in the Premier division and three in division two. He added that management has altered the format this year to keep all teams in the same division to foster improvement and increase the game time of all the teams.

    “We must see rugby as entertainment. Every club must know that it is a fun sport.  The players, coaches and referees must play more games and work together to put up a good show for rugby fans. Thanks to CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited for their continued support,” says Coker.

    The three matches will be played at the National Stadium main bowl on Saturday from 11 am to 5pm with the first game involving last season’s champions Cowrie Rugby Club from Victoria Island facing Eco II Rugby Club from Olodi Apapa.

    Other games will see last season’s third placed team, Nigeria Police Rugby club play Gosar Rugby Club and Kings College Old Boys will play Lagos Rugby Club in the last match of the day.

    NRFF’s General Manager added that the Northern league which is the oldest in the country will kick off during the raining season due to the tough grounds and the South South/ South East League will kick off next month.

  • Ogun herbalist, friend allegedly kill man for human sacrifice

    An Ogun State-based herbalist, Owolabi Mesioye and his friend identified simply as Oloruntoyin have been arrested after they allegedly killed an unnamed man for human sacrifice.

    The offence was committed at about 10 pm on March 28, 2019 at Alaako-Ijeun Egboro area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Vital organs of the victim were removed.

    According to sources, Oloruntoyin allegedly lured the unidentified victim to his home near Mesioye’s residence at night, and then beckoned to the herbalist that he had brought the sacrificial man for the propitiation they earlier discussed.

    The duo lured the victim to the back of Oloruntoyin’s residence, where they allegedly hit him with a charm that made him unconscious.

    Neighbours who saw Oloruntoyin when he brought the undientified man home were said to have become suspicious when they did not see him man again.

    The worried neighbours then launched a search for the missing man for two days before they found his mutilated body floating on a fish pond at the back of Oloruntoyin’s house on Thursday March 28, 2019.

    The matter was reported at the Ibara Police Division, but men of the station could not visit the scene until the following day.

    It was learnt that Mesioye who was to celebrate his annual Ifa festival on March 30 had denied his complicity in the human sacrifice scandal.

    He was said to have accused residents of the area of being hostile to him and trying to frame him up for what he knew nothing about.

    Residents said they had warned the embattled herbalist several times to desist from placing sacrifices at major junctions in the community to no avail.

    ‘’The herbalist had been warned several times to desist from placing sacrifices at junctions in the community. He was summoned to a meeting by the community leaders but he did not honour the invitation. Same with Oloruntoyin, who also has not been attending landlords’ meetings,’’ said a source.

    Police spokesman, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, where the suspects are currently detained.

  • Ninth Assembly will rise above political, ethnic divides -Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has said that the 9th National Assembly will rise above political, religious, and ethnic divides to address the myriads of challenges facing Nigerians.

    Speaking during the dinner to mark the end of the orientation programme organised for Ninth National Assembly members-elect, Ekweremadu described the institution as Nigeria in microcosm.

    He stressed that bringing together the members-elect from across the country had not only helped them to garner basic legislative knowledge but familiarise them with one another and better appreciate peculiar challenges faced by various parts of Nigeria.

    He said: “After elections comes the onerous business of governance, and I am greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and determination of distinguished senators and honourable members-elect to rise above narrow politics.

    “It gladdens the heart that members-elect are aware that once sworn in as distinguished senators and honourable members, we are bound by our oath of office and rules to always act in the overall interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Nigeria.

    Read also: 9th Assembly: North East APC backs South East for Speaker, endorses Onyeheocha

    “We are bound by these instruments to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We may all have come in different vehicles as represented by our various political parties, but poverty and hunger faced by the masses of Nigeria have no political party.”

    The lawmaker added that “we may profess different religions, but the insecurity taking a toll on our people has no religion.

    “Therefore, it is imperative and we are indeed inclined to work as a team for the peace, justice, equity and national prosperity, irrespective of political leanings and diversities.

    “Ours is a call to service, a call to deliver democracy dividends, a call to meet the expectations of our people, and a call to ensure that the government of Nigeria works for the people, and I have no doubt that we will deliver on our mandates.”

    Ekweremadu urged them to remain true to the oath of allegiance they would take on the inauguration day to serve the people.

  • Fuel queues back at filling stations in Lagos

    Many petrol retail outlets in Lagos and Abuja yesterday closed shops while the few that sold had long queues as motorists waited to fill their vehicles’ tanks and buy some in kegs to keep as reserves in expectation that fuel scarcity could worsen.

    However, oil marketers assured there was no scarcity and advised fuel consumers not to engage in panic-buying as what led to the gap in fuel supply and distribution, which resulted in the queues at fuel stations, was a minor operational problem.

    The problem, according to the marketers, has been addressed and depots are loading 24 hours, and whatever supply gap there is will be closed between today and tomorrow.

    The Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Mr. Clement Isong, told The Nation that all their members’ depots had fuel.

    He said there was a slight technical hiccup which the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the marketers had already resolved, adding that there would be normal supply, and any envisaged scarcity would be over this weekend.

    Read also: Disregard rumour of fuel scarcity, NNPC tells Nigerians

    Companies that make up MOMAN include Total Nigeria Plc, Conoil Plc, Oando Plc, 11Plc (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), MRS Oil Nigeria Plc and Forte Oil Plc.

    Isong said: “All the tanks have product. There is no supply shortage. What caused the queue is a minor operational hiccup. Whenever there is such technical issue and it takes up to 12 hours to resolve, it upsets supply and distribution chains, and that is what happened in this scenario because it created backlogs of loadings that could have been done earlier.

    “However, the problem has been resolved. One of the vessels berthed at the port loaded into our tanks yesterday (Thursday), another one will discharge today (Friday) and the third vessel will discharge tomorrow (today).

    “I advise the public not to embark on panic-buying as there is enough fuel. The gap in supply created by the technical problem will be closed within the weekend as our members are loading 24 hours through the weekend.

    However, an official of one of the depots owned by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), who did not want his identity disclosed, said it was slight scarcity.

    According to him, during the election period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not make enough fuel imports. As a result of that shortage in import, there was not enough fuel to go round and the NNPC resorted to rationing what it had in stock.

    “If 10 depots are supposed to get supply from NNPC and only five depots were able to get at the end of the day, certainly, there must be a gap, and that is the reason you see queues at the filling stations.

    “For instance, there are marketers who have paid for fuel in our depot in the past two to three weeks, and they are yet to be loaded because of inadequate fuel. But I believe that supply shortfall will be addressed soon.

    “It is not something so serious. I assume it is a costly oversight on the part of the NNPC.”

  • 4-yr-old electrocuted in Niger

    A four year old boy, Arafat Jibrin has been electrocuted in Niger State after straying  into a structure housing an electric transformer.

    The incident occurred at nighfall on Thursday at the Senior Quarters of the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate in Maikunkele, a suburb of Minna.

    The boy was searching for his sister who had gone out to fetch water when he strayed into the transformer  enclosure where he was electrocuted.

    Read Also: IMF to Nigeria: remove fuel subsidy

    Sources said a passerby  raised the alarm on noticing  an unusual activity in the enclosure, but the boy had been burnt beyond recognition before he could be rescued.

    The remains of the boy were eventually  evacuated from the scene  and buried according to Islamic rites on Thursday night.

  • Rugby Africa calls off 2019 Silver Cup

    Rugby Africa has notified Unions on the decision of its executive to cancel this year’s Silver Cup billed to hold at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi in Lagos, Nigeria due to financial constraints.

    Nigeria was scheduled to play host to Ghana, Madagascar and Botswana in the Silver Cup Pool A from 6th-17th June, while Cote d’Ivoire was billed to host Senegal, Mauritius and Rwanda in Pool B from 15 – 23 June, with the winner of each pool meeting in a final match to determine the Silver Cup champions

    In a letter dated 10th April, 2019, signed by Rugby Africa President, Khaled Babbou and addressed to the Unions participating in the Rugby Africa Silver Cup and Gold Cup, Rugby Africa said the cancellation became imminent following Kwese Sports’ premature termination of sponsorship contract leaving the rugby body without adequate funding for the year 2019. Kwese Sports are Rugby Africa’s leading partner.

    Rugby Africa will advise on alternative format if feasible.

    “As you have been notified several times since last year after the bidding process – and this was confirmed during the General Assembly – the contract between Rugby Africa and Kwese Sports was prematurely terminated for no fault of ours. Sadly this leaves Rugby Africa with a gap in its 2019 budget which is currently not being compensated by other resources.

    “As presented in the 2018 financial statements, Rugby Africa also has a cash-flow deficit at the end of 2018 due to late payments from Kwese Sports regarding the 2018 licence fees. This is an added financial risk to monitor.

    “For these reasons, we regret to inform you that the 2019 Silver Cup and the 2019 Gold Cup tournaments are cancelled. Rugby Africa’s Exco is currently working in conjuction with World Rugby to suggest other formats of fifteen-a-side competitions which will be financially viable in 2019 and won’t jeopardize the future of Rugby Africa’s competitions.

    “At the same time, we are working on a new Rugby World Cup Qualifier model which needs to be sustainable, inclusive and attractive, Unions will be consulted in this process with an aim to release the final fixtures for 2020 in October 2019.

    “We understand that this decision may impact your own programme and will be a disappointment for your players. Rugby Africa’s Exco in collaboration with Steph Nel – Rugby Service Manager Africa for World Rugby – have considered many different approaches and although it was hard call to make, we felt that this was the only viable options. We do look forward to working with you on an exciting project for 2020.

    “We will come back to you shortly about possible other options for men’s fifteen-a-side competition in 2019 as well as the final dates and venue for the Olympic Qualifiers,” the letter read.

  • Breast cancer patient needs N.8m for surgery

    A woman, Theresa Isaac, who is battling with breast cancer has appealed to kind-hearted Nigerians for financial support for surgery.

    The cost of the surgery, according to her medical report is N800,000.

    The woman, who has been down  with cancer for more than one year is billed to undergo six courses of chemotherapy and surgery at the Nigerian Christian  Hospital, Nlagu, Abia State.

    Read Also: ‘Breast cancer not death sentence’

    A doctor’s report on her condition says:‘’Histology done shows invasive ductal cancer of the left breast. She will require six courses of chemotherapy each estimated at N35,000 each and a surgery estimated at N250,000.

    The 44-year-old patient, who is a native  of Benue State also appealed to the state government and other top political office holders in the state to come to her aid.

    Donations can be forwarded to a Fidelity Bank Plc account number 6322103028 with her name, Isaac Theresa.

    She can also be reached on the mobile telephone number 09027320094.

  • Boy regains eyesight after battling cataract for 11 years

    An 11-year old boy, Genesis Osekose, has regained his eyesight after battling cataract from birth.

    Genesis regained his eyesight after he underwent surgery in a medical outreach sponsored by Seplat Petroleum Development Company under it’s “You can see” project.

    Parents of Genesis rolled on the floor as the bandage on Genesis eyes were removed and he counted fingers placed before him.

    Mother of Genesis, Grace, aged 41, said they noticed his problem when he was one.

    Grace said they took him to several hospitals but the amount they were asked to pay was above their income.

    “Our son started having cataract when he was one. We took him to the hospital but we could not afford the money they demanded. Whenever he is walking, he does not walk straight. The eyes were always paining him.

    “A neighbour introduced us to the Seplat programme in Warri. They operated on the eyes and he could see properly. We have been battling the ailment for the past 11 years. He is in primary four because he could not see writings on the board. He always complained that his teachers used to beat him.”

    His father Joseph said he left his job in finding solution to the ailment of Genesis.

    “They demanded N240, 000 in Bayelsa State. I left my son’s fate to the hands of God when I could not raise the money.”

    Read Also: Boy drowns in stagnant pool in Kano

    External Affairs Manager of Seplat, Chioma Nwachukwu, said the project was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the firm to give back to the host communities.

    Chioma said the project was meant to restore vision to indigent people and touch lives of many individuals.

    She stated that over 65,000 persons have benefitted from the project since 2012 while 3000 successful surgeries were carried out.

    Her words, “We know the important of vision to people. We have been doing this since 2012. We have recorded a lot of success just like the case of little Genesis.

    “We also do medical screening for ailment such as diabetes and hypertension after which drugs are given to beneficiaries.”

    Commissioner for Oil Gas, Joseph Ugheoke, said the Edo State Government has provided enabling environment for investment to thrive in the State.