The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday met with heads of security agencies in the state.
The governor convened the meeting to address the crises in some local government secretariats in the state.
The state has been gripped by tension arising from the expiration of the tenure of the local government chairmen.
Fubara had earlier on Tuesday directed the 23 local government chairmen in the state to hand over to heads of administration of their various councils.
READ ALSO: Rivers police ready to tackle brewing crisis over LG chairmen’s tenure expiration – Disu
He gave the directive after the council chairmen refused to vacate offices and claimed their tenures had been extended by six months.
The governor, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the meeting was to devise effective strategies to prevent further invasions of local government offices.
He warned the chairmen against unlawful attempts to return to their positions.
“We must respect the rule of law and the democratic transitions that uphold our governance structures,” the governor stated.
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Fubara meets security chiefs as local govt crisis spreads
Abia confirms 109 cases of stooling, but no cholera
The Abia State government said on Tuesday there was no confirmed case of cholera in the state.
The Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Orie Agomoh, disclosed this to journalists in Umuahia.
She, however, said 109 cases of stooling and vomiting suspected to be cholera outbreaks were recorded in the state between January and this month.
She noted that two earlier samples collected and tested using Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) showed positive results.
However, a repeated test of the samples sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja was confirmed negative for cholera.
Agomoh revealed that one case each was recorded in Ohafia and Osisioma local government areas while Arochukwu, Umunneochi, Bende, and Ikwuano recorded 42, 39, 17, and nine cases respectively.
She said: “The State Ministry of Health emphasizes that Abia State has not recorded any confirmed positive case of cholera within the period under review.
“Nevertheless, because of ongoing outbreak reported in some states, the Ministry has instituted response measures towards prevention and identification of any suspected case and appropriate treatment.
“As part of the intervention, citizens are advised to continue to observe preventive measures to stay safe.”
Some states in the country have reported outbreaks of cholera with Lagos confirming 17 cases and 15 deaths last weekend.
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Police take over 23 Rivers LG secretariats as crisis spreads
The Rivers State Police Command said it has taken over the 23 local government councils in the state as well as some critical infrastructure in the oil and gas-rich state.
The police said the action was to forestall further bloodbath as well as a breakdown of law and order due to the spread of the crisis over the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen.
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
Iringe-Koko also confirmed the killing of a policeman and a member of a local vigilante outfit.
The statement reads, “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.
“Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.”
Iringe-Koko stressed that anyone with the intention of disrupting peace in the state would face the full wrath of the law.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
With this development, the directive of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to heads of local government administration to take charge of affairs of the 23 LG council may be kept on hold.
On Monday, some youths in the Degema LG of the state took over the council headquarters and locked the entrance as LG chairmen in the state under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 House of Assembly members empowering them to extend their tenure by six months.
It’s disheartening hearing Tinubu mocking fellow citizens -LP
The leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday, said it was disappointed by President Bola Tinubu’s consistent appeal for Nigerians to be patient, with the usual excuse of inheriting a near-comatose economy.
The opposition party, however, stated that it was not surprised as any government that ‘unleashed excruciating poverty’ on the masses for over a year will always struggle to come up with innumerable excuses to cover up its inadequacies.
The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ifoh said they found it disheartening that the government cannot even spare a moment to consider the sufferings of Nigerians in the past year of the current administration.
According to him, the show of opulence and humongous money expended on projects such as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima’s lodge and the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway are insensitive to the average Nigerian.
He said, “It was, to say the least, disheartening to hear Mr. President mock his fellow citizens by saying Nigerians are not the only ones facing poverty. Assuming but not conceding that what he said is true, Nigerians who are at the receiving end of his harsh economic policies don’t need to be reminded about the pain and hunger they have been forced to live with by the very people who put them in that situation in the first place.
“Maybe this administration needs to be reminded that it was elected to reduce if not eliminate poverty, hunger and disease. But what we have seen is an obsession with opulence. We are yet to get over the billions appropriated for the renovation of the President and Vice President’s lodges, now we hear they want new jets to join the Presidential fleet.
“Our schools and health institutions are on their knees, the same government claims it cannot afford to pay public servants a living wage but has enough to make itself comfortable at the expense of the suffering masses.”
He added, “Mr. President, we implore you to uphold the constitution you swore to protect. The constitution says the security and welfare of the populace shall be the primary purpose of the existence of your government. Enough is this mockery.”
Justin Timberlake arrested for drunk driving
Pop star Justin Timberlake was arrested and arraigned Tuesday on charges of driving while intoxicated in a chic town east of New York City, local prosecutors said.
The 43-year-old Timberlake, known for such hits as “SexyBack” and “Cry Me a River,” was taken into custody in Sag Harbor, part of the affluent Hamptons community, in the early hours of Tuesday.
“Justin Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor for driving while intoxicated,” the prosecutor’s office in Suffolk County said in a statement emailed to AFP.
“He was arraigned in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and released on his own recognizance,” the statement said, adding that Timberlake’s next court date would be a virtual appearance on July 26.
CBS, citing court documents, quoted a police officer as saying Timberlake was “in an intoxicated condition” when he was pulled over shortly after midnight after driving through a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road.
Timberlake’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” and he “performed poorly on all standard field sobriety tests,” CBS reported.
The singer-actor, who is currently on tour in support of his latest album, allegedly told police he “had one martini” and was following his friends home.
Timberlake shot to stardom as a member of the boy band NSYNC before launching a solo career and eventually making the transition to acting. He has won 10 Grammy awards and four Emmy awards.
He is married to actress Jessica Biel. The couple has two sons.
AFP
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Nvidia becomes world’s most valuable company on stock market
Nvidia edged ahead of other tech companies Tuesday to become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company in the latest sign of the might of artificial intelligence.
The chip company, which has enjoyed a monumental ascent over the last 18 months amid enthusiasm over generative AI, jumped 3.4 percent near 1:25 pm (1725 GMT), giving it a market capitalization of about $3.3 trillion, slightly ahead of Microsoft and Apple.
The California-based company, which is led by Jensen Huang, has seen profits soar due to torrid demand for its powerful GPU chips, which have set the industry’s pace in pushing new advances in AI.
In May, Nvidia reported a net profit of $14.9 billion, while its revenue of $26 billion was almost four times what it took in during the same fiscal quarter last year.
“We believe over the next year the race to $4 trillion market cap in tech will be front and center between Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft,” said a note earlier this week from Wedbush Securities.
“Nvidia’s GPU chips are in essence the new gold or oil in the tech sector as more enterprises and consumers quickly head down this path with the 4th Industrial Revolution well underway.”
Earlier in February, Nvidia opened new tab hit $2tn in market value for the first time, riding on an insatiable demand for its chips that made the Silicon Valley firm the pioneer of the generative artificial intelligence boom, Reuters reported.
Nvidia
Nvidia, founded in 1993, is a leading technology company renowned for its graphics processing units (GPUs), which dominate both gaming and professional markets under the GeForce and Quadro brands.
The company’s GPUs are crucial in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, with its CUDA platform enabling parallel computing.
Nvidia has expanded into the automotive industry with its Drive platform for autonomous vehicles and into other sectors like healthcare and robotics with the Jetson product line.
Known for significant growth and innovation, Nvidia’s acquisitions, including Mellanox Technologies and the pending ARM Holdings deal, have bolstered its market reach and technological prowess.
The company’s stock, traded under NVDA, reflects its robust position in the tech industry.
AFP
Bandits kill six, abduct others in Kaduna fresh attack
Six persons have been confirmed killed while several others were kidnapped when some bandits invaded the Bauda and Chibiya communities in Maro Ward in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the rampaging bandits stormed the villages on Monday afternoon and unleashed terror killing the non-suspecting resident while they razed houses.
The local government Chairman, Ibrahim Gajere who confirmed the incident in a statement obtained by According Online on Tuesday, said the bandits rode on motorcycles fully armed with sophisticated weapons killing two persons in Bauda and three three others in Chibiya while one person is yet to be identified.
The victims were identified as; Mamuda Tanimu -Ungwan Sarki, Yusuf Paul – Bauda, Amuse Wasika – Chibiya, Laraba Timothy – Chibiya, Saratu Amuse -Chibiya
and a visitor.
While those whose houses were razed down by the assailants are identified as;
Paul Anthony, Yusuf Paul, Hosea Moni, Victor Yusuf, Benedict Paul, Yohanna Moni, Joseph Yusuf.
According to him, seven residential houses were also set ablaze alongside eight motorcycles.
“Although most of the victims killed were attacked while working on their farms, two persons were killed in their homes.
“Security operatives have been notified of the sad incident and have intensified patrol within and around the general Area.”
When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and text messages sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
In February, some bandits invaded the Gindin Duste Makyali community in Kaduna, killing at least 12 people during the attack.
Putin hails North Korea’s support for Ukraine war
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, landed in North Korea on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, kicking off a visit set to boost defence ties between the two nuclear-armed countries as Moscow pursues its war in Ukraine.
Ahead of Putin’s late-night touchdown, huge banners with a smiling photograph of the Russian leader reading “We ardently welcome President Putin!” were hung from lampposts across Pyongyang alongside Russian flags, images in Russian state media showed.
The trip is Putin’s first to the isolated nation in 24 years, with a recent confrontation between North and South Korean troops on the countries’ shared border highlighting regional security tensions.
Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since North Korea’s founding after World War II and have drawn even closer since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to the West isolating Putin internationally.
The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with much-needed arms, including ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine.
The North has denied giving Russia military hardware, but ahead of his trip, Putin thanked Kim Jong Un’s government for helping the war effort.
“We highly appreciate that the DPRK (North Korea) is firmly supporting the special military operations of Russia being conducted in Ukraine,” Putin wrote in an article published by Pyongyang’s state media on Tuesday.
Russia and the North are “now actively developing the many-sided partnership”, Putin wrote.
Both countries are under rafts of UN sanctions — Pyongyang since 2006 over banned nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine.
Putin praised North Korea for “defending their interests very effectively despite the US economic pressure, provocation, blackmail and military threats that have lasted for decades”.
He also hailed Moscow and Pyongyang for “maintaining the common line and stand at the UN”.
North Korea said the visit showed bilateral ties “are getting stronger day by day”, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
US concern
The North has described allegations of supplying weapons to Russia as “absurd”.
However, it did thank Russia for using its UN veto in March to effectively end monitoring of sanctions violations just as UN experts were starting to probe alleged arms transfers.
The United States voiced “concern” on Monday about Putin’s trip because of the security implications for South Korea as well as Ukraine.
The two Koreas have remained technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict and the border dividing them is one of the most heavily fortified in the world.
“We know North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to hit Ukrainian targets (and) there could be some reciprocity here that could affect security on the Korean peninsula,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Highlighting those security concerns, South Korea said its troops fired warning shots at soldiers from the North who briefly crossed the border on Tuesday and then retreated.
The South’s military said it believed the North Korean soldiers accidentally crossed as they were fortifying the border, but said some of them were wounded after detonating landmines.
‘Lonely bromance’
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Putin’s trip showed how he was “dependent” on authoritarian leaders.
“Their closest friends and the biggest supporters of the Russian war effort — war of aggression — (are) North Korea, Iran and China,” Stoltenberg said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the international community to counter “the lonely bromance” between Putin and Kim by increasing arms supplies to Kyiv.
“The best way to respond to it is to continue strengthening the diplomatic coalition for just and lasting peace in Ukraine and delivering more Patriots and ammunition to Ukraine,” Kuleba told AFP.
North Korea is eager for high-end military technology to advance its nuclear, missile, satellite and nuclear-powered submarine programmes, according to experts.
The Kremlin released a document on Tuesday confirming that Russia plans to sign a “strategic partnership” treaty with North Korea.
Given North Korea’s chronic resource shortages, Pyongyang is expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in areas such as tourism, agriculture and mining, “in exchange for providing military supplies” to Russia, a report from the Seoul-based Institute for National Security Strategy report said.
Other issues including “cooperation on the deployment of North Korean workers or the supply of energy to North Korea — both of which would violate sanctions… are also likely to be discussed” behind the scenes, INSS researcher Kim Sung-bae wrote.
AFP
Eight die in Iran hospital fire
At least eight people have died in a fire incident at a hospital in Iran.
Reports said the fire broke out in a hospital in the city of Rasht near the Caspian Sea in the north of the country on Tuesday.
According to initial findings, the dead were patients in an intensive care unit.
READ ALSO: Iranian film-maker sentenced to 8 years in prison
The head of the city emergency services told journalists dozens of firefighters were deployed.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Around 140 patients were rescued though there were concerns that there could be more victims.
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Policeman, vigilante member killed in Rivers LG crisis
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of a policeman and a member of a local security outfit in Eberi-Omuma in Omuma Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
They were reported killed during a crisis that broke out following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the elected chairmen of local governments and ward councillors on June 17.
The incident occurred around 1pm as a source said a policeman attached to a politician in the area had first shot the vigilante who is a member of the Omuma Security Planning and Advisory Committee and was in one of the groups that clashed at Omuma council secretariat.
Sequel to the incident, the victim’s men took up the security personnel in reprisal and fled the area immediately.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying, “Yes, we lost a police officer and a vigilante member, Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”
Iringe-Koko said the command would soon issue a detailed statement on the crisis that rocked the state and the steps it has taken so far.
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