Matawalle Condoles With Zamfara Communities Over Bandits’ Attacks

The former Governor of Zamfara state, Dr. Bello Muhammad, Matawalle Maradun, has condoled with the people of Maru and Kaura Namoda local government area of Zamfara State, over the recent bandits’ attacks. Matallela said he received with shock, the news of recent attacks of marauding bandits in their numbers, killing innocent people and abducted several others, and left many with various degree of injuries. The former governor said he was saddened by the news of the attacks and called on the people of various communities in the state to report any suspicious movements of the bandits to security agencies. This is contained in a statement by the media coordinating office of the former governor, signed by the Coordinator, Ibrahim Dosara. It said “on behalf of myself, my family and political gladiators, I would like to extend my deep sympathy and condolences to Maru and Kaura Namoda Emirates; local government councils and indeed, the Zamfara State Government over these ugly attacks, killings and kidnapping of innocent lives across the two local government areas.  “I must say we are utterly shocked and dismayed at the terrible human loss incurred and the excruciating pain that ensues. May Almighty Allah ease your pain and grant you patience. “We are all terribly sorry to witness the mindless acts of banditry in the two local government areas and other parts of the state, resulting in so much death and destruction. No words are enough to condemn such acts.  “Let me hope that the state government and the detachment of troops the Bola Ahmed Tinubu government deployed to the state, along with other security operatives will work together, assert themselves, and ensure that such callous and barbaric attacks, killings and kidnappings are stopped in all parts of the state.  “We share the grief of our countrymen and offer our sympathies. “I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and other victims of the attacks.  “My thoughts and prayers go out to the relatives of those who were killed in the latest waves of the tragic attacks.  “I write to you on behalf of my family and political associates to express our shock, horror and profound distress at the appalling events and tragic loss of life in the two local government areas and beyond.  “What happened was a dreadful blow to us all and to the civilized values which we share and cherish. “I am deeply shocked and filled with grief over the terrible atrocity and losses brought on to your respective communities and people. “The unbelievable disregard to our community values, of human life and dignity, that exhibited in the ferocious plans behind these acts comes as a horrifying awareness to all of us, a threat to humanity and humankind.  “All of us have been impressed by the courage and dedication of our security operatives and rescue workers, and for the dignity and resilience which lies behind the commitment and determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, to prevail against such monstrous evil. “We, who value democracy and freedom, stand shoulder to shoulder with the the government of Zamfara state at this time.” “As the son of the soil and the minister of state, Defence, I would like to reassure you of my commitment and resilience to implement the far-reaching decisions and policies of the Tinubu administration to defeat these monsters and to bring back the lost glory of our dear state in particular and the country in general.”

Gunmen Kidnap Plateau NUJ Chairman

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Plateau state, Kapdaba Gobum, was abducted by suspected kidnappers.  He was allegedly kidnapped on Tuesday night.  This happened after he left the Press Centre, headed for his house in the Bukuru area of Jos South. Former General Manager of the Plateau Publishing and Printing Company (PPPC), Jonathan Ishaku, and the immediate past chairman of NUJ, Paul Jatau, have confirmed the incident.  Ishaku mentioned, “But early this morning (Thursday), the kidnappers called his wife and demanded N35 million.” Jatau expressed surprise at this development and wondered why journalists should be victims of kidnapping.  The former NUJ chairman recently retired as a senior editor with the Nigerian Standard, published by the PPPC.

I Can’t Deny Or Confirm Arrest Of CBN Deputy Gov, Aisha Ahmad- DSS Spokesman

The Department of State Services (DSS) has kept mum on the reported arrest of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Financial System Stability, Aisha Ahmad. The media has been awash on Sunday with reports that the secret police apprehended Ahmad over her alleged involvement in the acquisition of shares in Polaris Bank, Titan Bank/Union Bank. It was gathered that the banker is being quizzed on how $300 million meant to complete the acquisition of Union Bank was raised by Titan Bank. Although the details of the arrest are still sketchy, the secret police and the apex bank have not reacted to the reports. According to reports on Channels Television on Sunday, when contacted, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said that he cannot confirm or deny that Ahmad is in their custody or has been invited for questioning. He stated that in the course of any investigation, people can be invited for questioning and those invitations are carried out within the ambit of the law. This is coming about two months after the secret service arrested Ahmad’s former boss at the CBN, Godwin Emefiele. He has been in the DSS custody since then. Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was first charged with possession of a firearm but was later charged with N6.9 billion fraud.

Police foil bandit attack on police station, Juma’at prayer in Zamfara

The police command in Zamfara said its operatives repelled bandits who attacked the Divisional Police Station in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state. The command said it also arrested a 35-year-old suspected female informant. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar disclosed this at the weekend at a media briefing in Gusau. Abubakar said police operatives attached to the police station acted on credible intelligence that a group of armed bandits was planning to carry out the attack. “The police operatives mobilised, confronted the bandits, and engaged them in a gun battle which lasted for hours. “As a result of this, one of the bandits was neutralised while the others escaped to the bushes spilling blood on their paths because of the wounds they sustained. “Police investigation that followed the incident resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old female suspected to be an informant from Rukudawa village. “The suspect confessed that she has been working with bandit kingpin Dankarami Gwaska as his informant and has given her the task of monitoring activities at the police stations for him. “Two handsets containing bandits’ telephone numbers were recovered from her,” Abubakar said. “On July 28 Police Tactical Operatives attached to 34 PMF, deployed to Magarya community in the same Zurmi local government area acted on an intelligence report that suspected armed men were on their way to attack Muslims during Juma’at prayers at Kwata village in Magarya district. “The police operatives confronted them and succeeded in foiling the attack and the bandits escaped to the bushes. “Two AK47 rifles, four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and Bajaj motorcycle were recovered at the scene while the command is still pursuing the suspects with a view to arresting and prosecuting them. “On July 27 at about 1330hrs, Police Tactical Team attached to Area Command Gusau acted on intelligence that led to the arrest of two suspected bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the Saminaka area in Gusau Metropolis,” the command’s spokesman added. 

Stevedore Services: Transportation Ministry to shut down Chevron Warri Jetty

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has disclosed its intention to shut down the Chevron Warri Jetty within two weeks following overt disregard by Chevron Nigeria Limited to hinder stevedore services regardless of extant laws and standard procedures. The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who made this known at a meeting between Chevron Nigeria Limited, Bena-Franco, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the National Inland Waterways (NIWA) at the Ministry in Abuja, stated that the Ministry of Transportation has the mandate to guide activities going on in the maritime sector and will act accordingly to protect that at all times. In this regard, Ajani informed representatives of Chevron that the Nigerian Ports Authority as the master stevedore has assigned a stevedore company in the last two years to the Warri jetty and has been denied access by Chevron despite all efforts by NPA. Chevron also has avoided all meetings by the Federal Ministry of Transportation & National Stevedore Association to resolve this matter. She advised that it will be in their best interest to grant Bena – Franco access to the jetty. “You have the next two (2) weeks to register this stevedore that has been assigned to you by the Federal Government of Nigeria to oversee what goes on at that jetty” Ajani emphasised. In addition, the inability of representatives of Chevron Nigeria Limited to substantiate the status of the operating license for the jetty, the Permanent Secretary mandated the task force on private jetties to avail her evidence of approval granted to the company immediately. Furthermore, she noted that failure to comply within the next two weeks will leave the Ministry with no option but to shut operations at the Warri jetty.

Stella Oketete not under our investigation- Code of Conduct Bureau

The Code of Conduct Bureau has denied reports making the rounds in some online media platforms that the Executive Director of NEXIM Bank, Stella Erhuvwu Oketete is under investigation by the Bureau. In a statement signed by the Director Investigation and Monitoring, Gwimi S.P. on behalf of the Chairman of the Bureau, and made available to the media, he noted that the information did not in any way emanate from their office, and as such, advised the general public to disregard the information. “The attention of the Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB) has been drawn to the nefarious and deceptive letter with Ref No. CCB/HQ/11&M/NB/099 dated 21st March 2023 purported to have emanated from the Bureau on the above-named Public Officer being investigated by the Bureau in an online media, particularly published by the Sahara Reporters on the 29th July 2023. “The Code of Conduct Bureau wishes to state clearly that it has no hand in the information in circulation, as such the general public should disregard the letter and it’s content,” the statement said. NIGERIAN ANCHOR had reported that an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Oladotun Hassan, asked the Nigerian Senate to disqualify one of the ministerial nominees, Stella Okotete, over allegations of corruption. Read more.. Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force also ordered a discreet investigation of Okotete over alleged falsification of documents and monumental fraud. The human rights lawyer ordered a proper investigation over the alleged use of various front companies as proxies to defraud banks of billions of naira and dollars. The petition called for a reversal of Okotete’s appointment, stating that she was not qualified to hold such a position. “Predicated upon our demand for the independent and conscientious thorough background investigation and profiling of the culprit’s academic credentials and sequence of events as stated in her unsubstantiated and ridiculously padded CV as follows: “To investigate her academic profile as regards her school’s records of exams, school fees payments and NYSC certificate, as well allowance payments during years of service. “To investigate her disqualification by the Senate and her noncompliance to Senate resolution and ruling is highly contemptuous and disobedience to the constituted authority of Senate,” the petition partly read. The Nigeria Police Force investigation order followed a petition by Barrister Aare Oladotun Hassan Esq of Juryman Associate Chambers against the ministerial nominee to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged falsification of documents, fraudulent misrepresentation of qualification to hold Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) statutory position, corrupt practice, monumental fraud and misappropriation. The lawyer in had in April, written a petition to the National Assembly through Akinyelure, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to look into the issue of the Executive Director of Nexim Bank.