Troops rescue kidnapped victim in Enugu

The troops of 103 Battalion (Rear) of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, presently on Operation UDOKA II had rescued Dr Maxwell Ayim from suspected kidnappers between Four Corner and Amokwe Junction in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. This is contained in a statement issued in Enugu on Saturday by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army. Unuakhalu said that Ayim was rescued unhurt on Thursday. According to him, the rescue operation was conducted when troops deployed at Udi checkpoint received a distress call from the police on the incident. Unuakhalu said that on arrival, the troops came in contact with the kidnappers, adding that due to the troops’ superior fire, members of the criminal gang fled in disarray with gunshot wounds into the nearby bushes. The army spokesman said that the gallant troops during further exploitation of the gang withdrawal route found the victim abandoned by the gang. “Troops proceeded to rescue the victim. He had since been reunited with his family after preliminary medical checks. “Joint Task Force Operation UDOKA II therefore, calls on the law abiding and good citizens of Enugu and the South-East region in general not to relent in providing timely, credible and reliable Information. “This will help in putting an end to the spiral of kidnapping activities and sundry criminality within the region. “Operation UDOKA II will continue combating crime and criminality in accordance with the extant rules and regulations guiding its operations,” he said.

Breaking News: Tribunal Upholds Caleb Mutfwang’s Election as Plateau Governor

The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal, which convened in Jos, North Central Nigeria on Friday, has affirmed the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the Plateau State gubernatorial election. The tribunal, consisting of three members, issued a unanimous judgment on Friday, ruling against the petitioner on the grounds that the petition lacked merit. The petitioner, who is also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, saw all three of their arguments dismissed by the tribunal. The election results from March 20, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof Idris Amali, declared Mutfwang as the winner with 525,299 votes, were upheld. Yilwatda, the APC candidate, secured 481,370 votes. The PDP emerged victorious in 10 local government areas, including Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Lantang North, Langtang South, Riyom, Mikang, Mangu, Jos East, Qua’an Pan, and Pokkos. Meanwhile, the APC garnered the highest number of votes in seven local government areas: Jos East, Kanke, Kanam, Pankshin, Shendam, Wase, and Jos North. This decision by the tribunal solidifies Caleb Mutfwang’s position as the governor of Plateau State, bringing an end to the election dispute. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

Gunmen Kill 10 Persons, Injure One In Plateau

Tragedy struck the peaceful community of Kulben in the Gindiri District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau, as a group of gunmen unleashed a horrifying attack. The assailants, in a senseless act of violence, claimed the lives of ten innocent individuals while leaving one person critically injured. The harrowing incident unfolded on a fateful Sunday night, forever altering the lives of the community’s residents. Mr. Jerry Datim, a distressed member of the community, recounted the terrifying events that transpired. “Last night, at about 8:40 p.m., some gunmen attacked Kulben community, killed 10 persons and injured one,” he painfully shared. The attackers descended upon the village, their bullets tearing through the tranquility of the night as they fired indiscriminately. Panic swept through the community as people scrambled for safety, but tragically, some were unable to escape the hail of bullets, their lifeless bodies discovered later. In the midst of the chaos, the community did what they could to alert the security forces to the unfolding tragedy. “We alerted the security personnel, but before they got there, the attackers had moved from the community,” Mr. Datim revealed. The swift and ruthless nature of the assault left little time for intervention. Despite the urgency of the situation, attempts to reach out to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, for an official statement were met with unavailability. However, an unnamed senior police officer confirmed that the law enforcement agencies had launched a comprehensive manhunt to track down and bring the attackers to justice. Axccording to him, the full force of the law would be employed to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act faced the consequences of their actions.

Breaking: FCT lacks special status, equal to all others, Tribunal rules

In a recent development, the Presidential Election Petition Court has clarified that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) does not hold a special status and is not of greater significance than any other state in Nigeria. Previously, the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, asserted in their petitions that President Bola Tinubu had not garnered 25% of the votes in Abuja, which, according to them, rendered his victory in the polls invalid. However, during the ruling on the preliminary objections raised by the respondents, the panel’s chairman, Justice Haruna Tsammani, explicitly stated that Abuja does not enjoy a unique or elevated status in comparison to other Nigerian states. He emphasized, “This court acknowledges that the FCT does not possess any special status and is on equal footing with all other states in Nigeria.”

Police arrest robbery suspects on 2nd Niger Bridge

Operatives of Anambra State Police Command, attached to Harbour Division, have arrested two robbery suspects dispossessing unsuspecting citizens of their valuables on the recently inaugurated 2nd Niger Bridge. The Police team was on surveillance patrol on the Bridge when they apprehended the suspects who were about to steal expansion joints near the Obosi end of the bridge. A statement issued to journalists in Awka on Monday by DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the suspects are now helping police in further investigations. According to Ikenga, one of the suspects hails from Enugu State and the other from Ebonyi State. The PPRO said when searched, two daggers and five sim cards removed from previously stolen phones, were recovered from the suspects, aged between 20 and 22 years. He added that the Covert Police Team monitored the gang and swooped on them, arresting two of the gangsters while others fled. Ikenga quoted the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, to have commended the Police Team for its vigilance and courage in confronting the gang. He stated that the CP had directed the owners of the recovered sim cards be located with a view to assembling evidence for successful prosecution of the arrested suspects.

Armed robbers kill soldier in Benin heist

A soldier has been killed in a robbery attack in Benin on Wednesday, the police confirmed on Thursday. Spokesman of the police in Edo, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, told newsmen that the robbery took place at the First Eastern Circular and Akpakpaba Roads intersection in the Edo capital. She said the soldier was shot dead by suspected armed robbers who attacked the patrol van conveying the soldier and two of his colleagues. The patrol van itself was escorting another van loaded with “Ghana-Must-Go’’ bags presumably loaded with cash. Nwabuzor said investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack was ongoing. “Edo State Police Command can confirm that a soldier was killed in Benin on Wednesday. A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighbourhood. “The hoodlums carted away the `Ghana-Must-Go’ bags believed to have been loaded with cash from the van. “Since they were in their patrol vehicle, they should be armed. The assailants acted on information, Nwabuzor added. An eyewitness said that the assailants, numbering four, drove in an unmarked Toyota Camry car against traffic flow as they headed towards the army vehicle. He said two of the assailants alighted from the vehicle and opened fire on the soldiers. “The soldiers jumped out of the vehicle but one of them was hit by bullets and could not escape from the scene. “Many people would have died if the soldiers had responded to the hail of bullets shot at them as the area is a busy spot for business activities,’’ the witness said. 

Angry protesters pull down NASS Complex gate

*We’ll address your demands within 7 days- Senate The members of the organised Labour Unions protesting the removal of fuel subsidy on Wednesday pulled down the gates of the National Assembly in Abuja. The protesters numbering over 5,000, first converged at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, from where they matched to the Federal Ministry of Justice before proceeding to the National Assembly. However, following the failure of the security officials to adhere and open the gate to them, the angry protesters pulled down the gates and thronged into the assembly complex to vent their anger. The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are currently protesting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Meanwhile, the National Assembly (NASS) has pledged to review and address the organised Labour demands within the next one week. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said this when organised labour took its mass protest to the National Assembly Complex where it submitted a list of its demands on Wednesday in Abuja. The mass protest was organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over anti-poor and workers policies of the Federal Government. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as; “We condemn increase in school fees, “Stop importation of Petrol, Revive the Refineries,” and” Increase in price of fuel responsible for inflation, poverty among others. Akpabio, who was represented by Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, assured the protesting workers that NASS was in support of their struggle. “We have keenly followed what is going on when we realized that there was a breakdown in the discussions between the Presidency and the NLC. I want to assure you that we will find a permanent solution to this. “Please give us one week and we will make progress and if you are not satisfied with the progress we are making, then you can take further action,” he said. He also said that a committee had been set up to look at the demands of organized labour. He added that by the close of the day or tomorrow, they will call the first meeting with labour to start the discussions and the engagements would continue. “We will do our best as your representatives to come out with solutions acceptable to you and realistic enough,” he said. Ndume also assured that the letter which contained their demands and terms of reference would be handed over to the leadership of the senate. Earlier, NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero said the nationwide mass protest was to express workers’ frustrations and grievances about the anti-poor policies that had brought hardship to Nigerians. He added, ”For almost two months now, we have been engaged in discussions without fruitful motion. We got frustrated.” He, however, said that the demands of the labour include the immediate implementation of the resolutions jointly signed with organised Labour and government. Ajaero also called for the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of government including the recent hike in PMS price, school fees and VAT. He also urged the Federal Government to fix the country’s local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. According to him, release the eight months withheld salaries of the university lectures and workers. “Accord appropriate recognition and support to the Presidential Steering Committee and the work of its Subcommittees. “Also put a stop to in human actions and policies of government,” he added. Also speaking, Mr Festus Osifo, TUC President called for the reduction in the cost of governance. Osifo said that the governments was “insensitive to the plight of the masses.” “The Nigerian masses have been battered. They have gone through excruciating pains but in all of this, we have not heard what the President has to say about the cost of governance. “We want you in the National Assembly to show sacrifice. We want you to cut down your budget. “We want you to buy Nigerian made cars and not imported vehicles because you are creating jobs over there and importing poverty here. “We want you to show leadership because we elected you to work for us,” he said.