In a banditry raid on a police station in Niger State on Thursday, three police officers were killed and an undetermined number of others were abducted.

The gunmen stormed Ishau police station in the Paikoro Local Government Area of the state and carried out the attack in the middle of the night.

Zubakpere, Kuna, Aboloso, Kudami, Dakolon Daji, Nugwazi, Amale, Adunu, Ishau, and parts of Beni were among the 11 communities attacked in the Kafin-koro area.

According to reports, the gunmen kidnapped many people in six of the communities, including a village chief and four of his children, as well as five women.

Wasiu Abiodun, the police spokesperson in Niger State, did not respond to phone calls seeking confirmation at the time of filing this report.

Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has praised the effectiveness of collaborative efforts with neighboring states to combat insecurity in the North Central states.

He stated this at the first expanded security meeting in 2022, which brought together all 17 graded chiefs in the territory to review the year 2021 and look ahead to 2022.

“And this is one aspect that we will continue to improve on,” he says, “because that is where all the security agencies within the FCT and their counterparts in neighboring states that make up the G7 states: the FCT, Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau.”
“Overall, we appreciated all of the agencies’ efforts, and despite what happened here and there in rural communities, we are pleased with the efforts.”

“And we identified areas where we will provide them with additional assistance, and we intend to do so,” Bello said.

Read also: Sanwo-Olu Slammed For Speaking With Two Out -Of -School Girls With Bucket Of Water On Their Heads

In other news, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 593 polling units in the FCT have no registered voters, 1,328 polling units have between 0 and 50 registered voters, and 546 polling units have over 1,000 registered voters.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, made the announcement at the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Expanded Stakeholders Security Meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, invited the INEC boss to the meeting so that he could brief FCT stakeholders on preparations for the Area Councils Election on February 12.
Yakubu stated that the commission had already informed political parties, civil society organizations, the media, and national security agencies of the development.

He stated that INEC had decided that no election would be held in polling units without the presence of registered voters.

He went on to say that no materials had been produced for those units, and that no personnel would be sent to them.

However, Yakubu stated that voting would take place in all other polling units, noting that INEC would deploy more than one BVAS in congested polling units to expedite voter accreditation.

He also stated that INE would send more personnel to those locations, and that the commission had agreed with security agencies to send more personnel to maintain peace and order.

According to him, the commission is providing hard copies of the details locations of these polling units to all stakeholders at this meeting in order to ensure transparency.

“Soft copies of the documents have also been uploaded to our website.” We hope to accomplish two goals by doing so.

“The first step is to make sure that voters in the FCT, and indeed all Nigerians, are aware of these polling units and the arrangements that have been made for them on election day.

“Second, to enlist the help of all stakeholders to ensure that these polling units are filled in time for the general election in 2023.”

“In this regard, we need the support of traditional, community, and religious leaders in particular,” the INEC chairman said.

Yakubu, who emphasized the importance of peace for the success of the area council elections, assured that INEC would safeguard the process’ integrity.

“We are keeping a close eye on all of our officials, whether they are adhoc or regular employees, to ensure that they follow the rules to the letter. All political parties, candidates, and supporters should follow suit.”

On social media, Nigerians chastised Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for speaking with two out-of-school girls in Anthony Village while they carried heavy buckets of water on their heads.
At around 11 a.m., the Governor stopped his convoy on his way to an official function along Anthony Village for a brief chat with the girls who were on an errand for a bean cake vendor during school hours, according to Naija News.

The Governor had come to a halt in his convoy to inquire about their absence from school.

Amarachi Chinedu, 9, and Suwebat Husseini, 12, both told him that their parents couldn’t afford tuition.

According to reports, he discovered their parents and promised to take full responsibility for the girls’ upbringing and education.

“This morning (Thursday), I had firsthand experience of what many vulnerable children in our society may be going through. On my way to this function, I saw something that made my heart bleed,” he explained.

“I was able to hear their stories because of my encounter with them, and I have taken it upon myself to ensure that these girls do not suffer the same fate again.” I’m not going to abandon them.

“Amarachi and Suwebat will resume their studies. This is a classic example of what we as a society need to do differently. It is unnecessary to inquire as to what brought their parents to Lagos in the first place. We must ensure that their future is not jeopardized.

“These two girls will be in my and the first lady’s care. There are a number of Amarachi and Suwebat who will not be able to take advantage of this opportunity. We can all make the same decision and listen to the stories of vulnerable children.
“We can all make a difference if we choose to take on this responsibility as a people and give voice to the vulnerable.” Giving mankind a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is the greatest act of kindness.” Governor Sanwo Olu made the announcement to the press.

Netizens reacted angrily to the video, accusing the Governor of speaking to the girls while they were still wearing buckets on their heads.

‘Put the heavy bucket down from their head before interrogating them,’ Morris-Monye wrote.

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‘Abi o. He should have relieved them of their heavy burden first, though,’ wrote zemiraposh.

‘Election na your mate?’ wrote everywomansecret. Nigerians are used to politicians with their brainlessness; in the same Lagos where thousands of children are out of school, you are just pretending to be surprised to see two children on the street, “na who do you” oga?’

‘How will they get heartfelt pictures if the bucket dey down, they want stories that touch picture,’ hrmking zino wrote.

‘He wasn’t doing it out of humanity, he was doing it for a purpose, he acted like a nice man but being a nice person wasn’t his ways, he couldn’t perfect it to the end by relieving them, u can’t give what you don’t have,’ thyreligion wrote.

‘Arrrrahgg social media!!!!’ wrote oluwaseunbells. Let’s put aside the fact that they are younger than the Governor in terms of age and that he can converse with them while they have the pepper on their heads abeggy… Thank you, #sanwoolu, and please do more because there are a lot of kids out of school during this time! Make a quick response group, and let’s get South West Education back on track.’

‘As someone who has had to carry a heavy bucket of water to get water, the last thing I want to do is stand and answer questions,’ wrote ovzyanne.