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How we used woman to seduce lawmaker and rob him of $2,000 –Suspected kidnapper

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Police have arrested Cyril Isong, an information technology expert, for the alleged kidnapping of a member of the House of Representatives.

Isong, who lived in Abuja, is said to have conspired with others on the loose to lure the lawmaker to a short-term rental apartment in Asokoro, Abuja, with a woman and then held him hostage, robbing him of $2,000 and N65,000 in the process.

Following a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, by Isong, operatives of the Force Intelligence Response Team led by DCP Tunji Disu tracked him down recently in Akwa Ibom.

Read Also: Bauchi govt to receive N30bn collateral from World Bank to tackle flood

The victim was said to have alleged in the petition that on August 4, 2020, he received a call from an unknown caller who introduced himself as Sani and claimed to be a  former National Assembly member.

Sani reportedly claimed that he was having health challenges and was advised to contact the lawmaker who was in charge of the affairs of former members of the House.

The rep alleged that he directed Sani to his house in Abuja but the caller gave an excuse he had been rendered immobile by the illness and appealed to the lawmaker to come to his apartment in Asokoro.

On getting to the short let facility, the victim reportedly  met two men who introduced themselves as Sani’s brothers. He was said to have been attacked immediately he was ushered in, blindfolded and tied up.

“They collected $2,000 and N65,000 found on him. They searched his car and took all his valuables. They demanded a number to call for a ransom. He begged them and they freed him. He reported the incident at the Asokoro Police Station. Luckily on August 31, 2021 Isong was arrested in his state in Akwa Ibom.” a police source said.

Isong, 36, claimed he read chats between his wife and the lawmaker on the former’s phone, adding that the wife broke up with him when he confronted her about her relationship with the rep.

Read Also:  In Borno, troops kill’scores of ISWAP terrorists’ destroy equipment

He said, “I studied Information Technology and got married in 2017. The first two years of our marriage were beautiful and we travelled across the world for business and pleasure. I thought our marriage was made in heaven until the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed everything. We lost many goods and we were indebted.

“Suddenly I noticed that my wife started locking her phones and as a computer guru, I was able to tap into her line and started reading her discussion with various men. I was frustrated reading how she begged them for money. The honourable (lawmaker) was one of such persons. He even visited our house pretending to be a family friend. It was his visit that led to the final break-up of my marriage because I confronted my wife and she got angry and left.”

Isong said he organised the kidnapping to ‘deal with’ the lawmaker and involved some cult members he knew while in the university.

He explained that they lured the lawmaker into an apartment in Asokoro, held him hostage and dispossessed him of his cash and other valuables.

Read Also:  Breaking: Pilot, passenger narrowly escape death as another plane crashes

He stated, “They were the ones who arranged one beautiful lady who spoke to him through a video call. The apartment is a short let in an estate in Asokoro and it’s N80,000 per night. On the agreed date, the honourable came; we grabbed him and tied him up. I did not speak throughout because he might recognise my voice

“We gathered all of the valuables and cash found on him and in his vehicle.” Instead of calling his family for more money, he requested our account number. We decided to leave him and flee because I knew he was planning a trap for us. We didn’t succeed in defeating him. Because I couldn’t afford to pay rent in Abuja, I returned to Akwa Ibom. The cops apprehended me when I went into a bank to open an account.”

Isong claimed that he had defrauded two other people using similar methods to those used against the lawmaker.

He said, “One of the victims was Tania who ran a restaurant. We were friends but when my wife left, we started dating. She closed down her restaurant and I helped her to sell the valuables. I kept N300,000 and promised to give her but failed.

“She kept disturbing me and I knew that I would not pay because I was indebted. She is rich but refused to let go. I called her with an unknown number and introduced educational tourism to her in case she wanted her daughter to study abroad. We lured her into an apartment and collected N80,000 cash from her.’’

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He stated that the third person was her sister-in-law who he invited to the Asokoro apartment under false pretences.

He added, “When she arrived, I tied her up. We saw a lot of money in her dollar account but to withdraw. It was  hard. We just took the N500,000 cash found on her and disappeared.”

Bauchi govt to receive N30bn collateral from World Bank to tackle flood

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coic
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The state government will receive a N30 billion intervention from the World Bank to help combat environmental problems caused by flood disasters in various local government areas of Bauchi State during the rainy season.

This was revealed on Saturday by Dr Kabir Ibrahim, Director-General of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), at the start of sand evacuation in Cheledi, Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Flooding was rife in the state, according to Ibrahim, and it had wreaked havoc on many local government areas, including Kirfi.

Read Also:  Gbajabiamila Mourns Tordue Salem Vanguard reporter

According to him, the devastation caused by flooding was so enormous that the state government solicited the support of the World Bank in order to tackle the menace.

The BASEPA boss informed that the state government had agreed to pay N1 billion as its own counterpart fund, adding that this had been captured in the state’s 2022 budget proposal.

“We know that the state government cannot do it alone. That is why we asked for World Bank intervention funding, which they promised after paying the counterpart fund and it is one of the state government priorities at the moment,” Dr Ibrahim said.

In his remarks, the chairman of Kirfi LGA, Garba Musa Bara, said people of the area were determined to contribute their quota to the evacuation exercise with a view to avoiding the disaster it could cause.

According to the council boss, “We have been able to get the listening ears of the DG BASEPA, who mobilised to come here and evacuate the sand that is a menace to us from our pathways.

Read Also:  Breaking: Pilot, passenger narrowly escape death as another plane crashes

“We have made arrangements to run away from what would eventually bring such disaster in the future.”

On his part, the district head of Cheledi, Alhaji Sale Bello, commended the state governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, for his prompt action and self-response during the last flooding in Kirfi communities.

Bello assured that the people of the area are always ready to abide by the laws of the land and respect constituted authority as well.

He explained that the sand evacuation exercise was timely, considering the fact that the harvesting period had commenced, while people were also preparing for the next line of action for irrigation farming.

Gbajabiamila Mourns Tordue Salem Vanguard reporter

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Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has expressed sorrow over the death of Mr. Tordue Salem, a reporter for the Vanguard newspapers who covered the House.

Police discovered Mr. Salem’s body on Thursday, a month after he went missing.

Salem, whom the Speaker described as a “vibrant and committed journalist,” went missing for nearly a month before his body was discovered in an Abuja morgue, according to the Speaker.

Read Also:  In Borno, troops kill’scores of ISWAP terrorists’ destroy equipment

Salem distinguished himself as one of the best journalists who covered the House’s activities for many years, according to Gbajabiamila.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson Lanre Lasisi, Speaker Gbajabiamila sent his condolences to the late Salem’s family, Vanguard newspapers, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the House of Representatives Press Corps.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the late journalist, Gbajabiamila prayed God to grant his family and colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss, adding that Salem would be sorely missed.

NAF jet kill Several ISWAP fighters in Matte

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coic
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In Marte Local Government Area in Borno State, Nigerian Airforce jets killed a large number of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
According to sources, the attack happened on Friday while they were meeting with their new leader, Sani Shuwaram, at Sabon Tumbun and Jibularam.
The Nigerian Army and Air Force jets carried out a coordinated aerial and ground operation, targeting the newly-appointed Wali of ISWAP, Sani Shuwaram, and his other Senior Commanders. “The strikes were carried out after the Air Task Force conducted an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance study.

“Several jihadists were killed, including high-ranking insurgents’ commanders, foot soldiers and Hisbah police of the ISWAP faction

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“A ground assessment confirmed that some of the ISWAP top Commanders that were at the scene at the time of the strikes include; Muhammed Bako, Special Militant Forces Commander (Rijal Ann); Muhammad Malumma, a Chief Judge of Marte; Goni Mustapha, the Chief Imam; Muhammed Ba’ana, Commander of Kirta; Muhammed Ali, Amir of Kwalaram; Ibn Umar, Chief Prosecutor; Bakura Gana, Commander of Jubularam; and Malam Musa, Amir of Jubularam.”

BREAKING: Army confirms Brig Gen’s death in Borno attack

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On Saturday, a Brigadier General was killed in an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province in the Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, according to the Nigerian Army.

The Army stated in a statement signed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, on Saturday that the troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai were engaged in a fierce gun battle with terrorists, which resulted in the deaths of three other soldiers.

Read Also:  Minister tasks Military with joint operations to put end to insurgency

“A gallant senior officer, Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu, and three soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counteroffensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location,” the statement read in part. The senior officer’s family and soldiers have been contacted.

“The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya deeply commiserates with the families and relations of the fallen heroes. He has also directed that the troops continue in the ferrocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.”

Nwachukwu, in the statement, also noted that the military had deployed five A – Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat with which they destroyed nine gun trucks and one armoured personnel carrier of the terrorists.

Read Also:  In Borno, troops kill’scores of ISWAP terrorists’ destroy equipment

He went on to say that the fight was still going on when he filed the statement.

Earlier, the Brigadier General and three other soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in Borno State.

In Borno, troops kill’scores of ISWAP terrorists’ destroy equipment

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coic
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In an encounter on Saturday at Askira Uba Local Government Area in Borno, troops from the Joint Task Force, North East Operation Hadin Kai, killed several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, made the announcement in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Nwachukwu stated that the OPHK Air Component assisted in the destruction of five A-Jets, two A-29s, two Dragon combat vehicles, and nine gun trucks belonging to the terrorists.

Read Also:  Group urges US President Joe Biden to designate Buhari, Tinubu, El-Rufai as terrorist sponsors

He revealed that Dzarma Zirkusu, a brave senior officer, and three soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice having successfully defended the civilians in the town.

Mr Nwachukwu stated that the deceased officer and soldiers displayed uncommon bravery by providing reinforcement in a counter-offensive against terrorists and successfully defending the location.

He stated that the senior officer’s and soldiers’ families had been contacted.
Faruk Yahaya, the Chief of Army Staff, has expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of the fallen heroes, according to him.

Mr Yahaya stated that the valiant officer and soldiers bravely defended Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the lives of Nigerians, even at the risk of their own lives.

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He also ordered the troops to keep up the ferocious counter-offensive and close pursuit to eliminate to the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.

Nigeria Handled COVID-19 with Strategic Leadership–Vice President Osinbajo

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Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, says Nigeria’s effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of strategic leadership in a crisis.
He said this during a public presentation of (Rtd.) Major-General Pat Akem-book, Vingir’s Winning Leadership.
According to him, Nigeria was able to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic by deploying a responsive and effective public health framework after a presidential order in 2020.

The global pandemic’s ramifications

He said it came at a time when more developed and wealthy countries were grappling with the global pandemic’s aftermath.

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With the daunting challenges of the twenty-first century, such leadership, which can effectively mobilize national and organizational resources to achieve results, is more important than ever, according to Professor Osinbajo.

“Knowledgeable and agile leadership at the strategic level, as General Pat Akem argues in Winning Leadership, is able to mobilize resources – human, financial, and material – of nations and organizations in an effective and result-oriented manner.”

“Such leadership can achieve goals and visions while also protecting and promoting interests. To put it another way, effective strategic leadership gives purposeful direction and inspires.”

Unfortunately unprepared

“One of the biggest surprises for many was how some of the world’s wealthiest and most developed economies were tragically unprepared to handle a public health crisis on the scale and uncertainty of Covid-19,” the Vice President said. Countries with lower economic profiles, on the other hand, quickly put in place a responsive and effective public health framework.”

Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, he continued, has been lauded both locally and internationally as a result of such strategic leadership.

Read Also:  COVID-19: Nigeria records one death and 86 new infections on Sunday

As an example, the VP cited the formation of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, an inter-ministerial interagency team led by the Secretary of the Federation Government (SGF). Professor Osinbajo recalled how the PTF coordinated the national response, set the rules, and briefed the nation on a daily basis for months.

“The task force issued and enforced COVID-19 protocols for travel and general movement quickly,” he said. We imposed travel restrictions on Nigeria before the rest of the OECD. The African Center of Excellence for Genomic of Infectious Diseases in Ede provided Africa with the first genomic sequence for Corona virus SARS 2 after the first case was discovered.

“When the first doses of vaccines came, the task force developed the protocols and the public health system already used to mass vaccination campaigns, deployed across the country in every nook and cranny of Nigeria so that the first eligible vaccine candidates received their vaccinations seamlessly.”

Buttressing his point on strategic leadership, Professor Osinbajo said such kind of leadership requires imagination, clarity of vision and effective implementation due to current global challenges, changes and opportunities.

Read Also:  Minister tasks Military with joint operations to put end to insurgency

The VP further noted that, “as a nation, the threats to our corporate existence today are unprecedented and hitherto unimagined. It is against this background that the author’s prescriptions have to be taken seriously. As he pointed out, exceptional leaders do not just emerge, they are the products of deliberate efforts in policy making, training and grooming.”

While acknowledging that “there are no silver bullets that leaders can deploy to solve 21st Century economic, social and security challenges,” Professor Osinbajo stated that “only knowledgeable, well developed, trained and motivated leaders will win.”

The VP explained: “The strategies and techniques of yesterday will not work today, in the corporate workplace, in our public institutions and even in our homes. Thanks in no small part to the leaps made in technological advancement.

“The advent of social media has completely changed the nature of human interactions, and with that has added layers of ambiguity and complexity in state-corporate relations. In terms of human capital, what drives today’s workforce is very different even from just two decades ago.

Professor Osinbajo described the book as an essential contribution to the existing body of knowledge on the subject of strategic leadership.

Read Also:  COVID-19: NCDC reports two deaths and 290 new infections on Thursday

He also noted that its public presentation was timely and “coming at the most auspicious moment in our nation’s history.”

Paradigm in Leadership

The VP said the book offered multiple pathways through which leaders can tackle unique challenges of current times which he said demanded new paradigm in leadership.

Highlighting the author’s vast experience in both combat and a successful administrative experience locally in the Nigerian Military and in service to the UN and ECOWAS, the VP stated that “Major General Pat Akem-Vingir has outdone himself with this important new book, and he has articulated military strategies and fresh thinking on the concept of strategic leadership.”

“There are many books and ideas on leadership but one of the reasons why I think this book Winning Leadership is unique is that it draws from the best scholars in the world on the subject—leaders of advanced militaries and C-suite leaders of international organisations and institutions,” the VP stated.

Read Also:  Group applauds military for putting pressure on insurgents, bandits

Dignitaries at the book presentation, where the author expressed appreciation for the support and encouragement he drew from serving Nigeria in the military, included the former Chief of Army Staff, retired General Azubuike Ihejirika, who represented former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, as Chairman of the event.

Others were the wife of Benue State Governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom; former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; and the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama.

Breaking: Pilot, passenger narrowly escape death as another plane crashes

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After plummeting into the water off City Beach in Perth, just 10 kilometers from the CBD, two men made a miraculous escape from a crashed plane.

Shortly after 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, local time, police responded to a report of a small plane hitting the water.

Read Also:  Group urges US President Joe Biden to designate Buhari, Tinubu, El-Rufai as terrorist sponsors

Inspector Vic Hussey told reporters that after taking off from Jandakot Airport, the plane had been in the air for about 20-30 minutes when the pilot reported an engine problem.

“He’d taken a flight north along the coast. Inspector Hussey said, “He just said he was looking for a safe spot to land, and the safest spot he could think of was the ocean, so that’s where he landed.”

Onlookers swam out to help the pilot and his passenger, both of whom managed to exit the plane through its windows and made their way to shore, about 20 metres away.

Inspector Hussey said the two men were, incredibly, “all good”, and quipped that they “should go and buy a lottery ticket”.

Read Also:  Minister tasks Military with joint operations to put end to insurgency

“They’re OK. No injuries. All good. It’s a very lucky day for them today,” he said.

The response from emergency services included multiple police units, Water Police and a Police Air Wing helicopter.

Minister tasks Military with joint operations to put end to insurgency

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Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), the Minister of Defence, has directed members of the Nigerian Armed Forces to reinforce total compliance with acceptable regimentation norms in order to improve the Fighting Forces’ combat readiness.

General Magashi gave the directive in his addresses at the 2021 Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Annual Leadership Lecture Series and Biennial Reunion held at the Corps headquarters in Jaji Cantonment, Kaduna State, according to a statement from the Ministry.
He explained the pressing need to increase regimentation tempo, emphasizing that it cannot be compromised if the expected high level of military professionalism is to be achieved the national defense pedigree is to be elevated to a higher echelon

Read Also:  Buhari govt mulls paying Nigerians transport allowance after fuel subsidy removal in 2022

The Defence Minister, who was also a decorated Infantry General, praised the initiative for preserving the reunion culture, which he described as a “virtual platform” aimed at broadening the horizon of horizontal and vertical combat capacity and capabilities.

The General, who had previously commissioned the newly constructed Quarter Guards and the expansion of the Corps Headquarters Office Complex, among other things, described the Infantry Day Theme as “Repositioning Nigerian Army Infantry Corps To Win All Land Battles In A Joint Environment” as apt.

The 20th and longest-serving Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who is also the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, delivered this year’s reunion lecture, titled Command and Leadership In The Nigerian Army: My Style and Experience.

Read Also:  Police remained silent over death of Vanguard reporter

Retired Veteran Infantry officers praised and contributed to the 26-page paper, which focused on general and specific administrative models, leadership quality, troop deployment, use of surface power, and counter-terrorism operations.

Group urges US President Joe Biden to designate Buhari, Tinubu, El-Rufai as terrorist sponsors

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Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication (GATE), a non-profit organization based in the United States, urged President Joe Biden on Friday to designate President Muhammadu Buhari, former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other Nigerian government officials as sponsors of terrorism in the country.

Former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, Director-General of Department of State Services Yusuf Magaji Bichi, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Pantami, his Information and Culture counterpart Lai Mohammed, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami are among those named in the petition.
The group described the killings in several parts of the country as “state-sponsored terrorism” in a 26-page petition signed by GATE’s Principal Advocate, Robert Berry, and addressed to US Secretary of State, Anthony J. Blinken.

Read Also:  Group applauds military for putting pressure on insurgents, bandits

It also claimed that Nigerian government officials were “sponsoring terrorism by engaging in terrorist activities such as terrorist training, funding, financing, and recruitment, while using their offices as a safe haven, transit, and operational base for terrorists.”
“The Nigerian government officials have used the instrument of power and are using the veil of sovereignty in knowingly consenting to and promoting the use of Nigeria as a breeding ground and recruitment nursery for international terrorism activities contrary to the foreign relations authorizations act fiscal years 1988 and 1989 (P.L.100 to 204:22 U.S.C 2656f), as amended,” the petition read.

“The current Nigerian government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, is pursuing a global Jihadist agenda that is comparable to, if not more insidious than, the Afghan Taliban’s.

“It’s made even more dangerous by the fact that it’s laced with genocidal tendencies.” It is in the best interests of the US and all democratic countries around the world to recognize and address this threat as soon as possible.

“This is to stop the Buhari government’s global jihadist agenda from spreading further and to stop an impending ethnic and religious genocide.”

Read Also:  Buhari govt mulls paying Nigerians transport allowance after fuel subsidy removal in 2022

The group also gave Washington a two-month deadline to act on its petition, saying it would be forced to file a Writ of Mandamus in US Federal Court to compel Biden and Blinken to issue the designation in accordance with the law.”

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