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‘Old video’: No protest at Lekki toll gate, Police say

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The Lagos State Police Command have debunked reports that youths staged a protest at Lekki toll gate on Monday.

Recall that police and military personnel were deployed to the toll gate to forestall the resumption of the #EndSARS protest against police brutality.

However, in reaction, Lagos police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, tweeted this to counter a video which has been circulated severally on social media with claims that it emanated from the protest ground.

Mr Adejobi said the video was from the #EndSARS protest in October.

“The attention of the Lagos State police command has been drawn to this viral video that some youths staged a protest at Lekki tollgate today 7th Dec 2020. It’s not true. This was a very old video before the tollgate was set ablaze.”

Adejobi added that “Lagos has been calm and it will remain calm. No cause for alarm in Lagos State.”

He, however, urged Lagosians to go about their businesses without fear.

Security in Borno, North-East far better under Buhari – Zulum

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Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, says the security situation in the state as well as the North-East has improved under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Zulum said this while addressing the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) elders in Maiduguri on Monday.

The delegation was led by the head of ACF board of trustees, Shehu Malami and the chairman, Audu Ogbeh.

The visit was to commiserate with the Borno government and people over the massacre of 40 Zabarmari farmers.

Despite the killings, however, the governor said the security situation is much better under the current administration.

“From statewide statistics on affairs in the 27 local government areas since 2011, the fact is that despite the recent happenings, the security situation in Borno and indeed that of the entire North-East sub-region is still far better under Buhari,” he said.

“Unlike the years before Buhari when a number of local government were no-go-areas, we now have citizens led by our traditional rulers, safely back to Bama, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Dikwa, Ngala, Monguno, Kukawa, Damboa, Konduga, Mafa, all of which no one could visit not talk of living in before.

“Our emirs were all in exile. Today, Bama is coming back to life and so is Askira-Uba, Damboa, Gwoza and others. Life is returning to Baga. This was impossible before Buhari. It was not possible to move a few kilometres out of Maiduguri.

“Insurgents attacked and took over the Army Barracks at Monguno, Bama, Giwa Barracks and Multinational Joint Task Force Headquarters at Baga to mention just a few. There were daily attacks and bomb blasts in many parts of Maiduguri but all of these have stopped under Buhari. No one can dispute these records.”

Zulum added that the people will remain optimistic and keep doing their part in efforts to find sustainable peace in Borno.

Woman arrested for marrying two men

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A 41-year-old woman in Zimbabwe, Moreblesing Maridza, has been arrested and arraigned in court for marrying two men at the same time.

Zimbabwean newspaper, the Sunday News, reported on December 6 that Maridza of Platinum Park in Zvishavane region, got married to David Mhuru while still legally married to James Chivandire, and when asked her reasons for marrying another man, she said Chivandire had refused to sleep with her for 12 years.

Maridza was arraigned on charges of bigamy which she pleaded guilty to, telling the court that her first husband had become mentally challenged and was no longer capable of performing his duties as a husband, which prompted her to marry Mhuru.

The matter only came to light when an officer at the Registrar-General’s office observed that Maridza had two valid marriage certificates and she was promptly arrested and charged to court.

She was sentenced to six months in prison with three months suspended on the condition that she pays a fine of five thousand Zimbabwean dollars.

Obiano pledges to complete all ongoing projects before leaving office in 2022

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Anambra State Government says all the ongoing road projects being executed by Gov. Willie Obiano-led administration will be completed before the end of his tenure in March 17, 2022.

The State Commissioner for Works, Chief Marcel Ifejiofor, made the disclosure on Monday during the inspection of Nsugbe/Akpaka road project in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

Ifejiofor said the government regarded road projects as very important way of developing the state, saying, “our concern is not to count the number of kilometers of roads we constructed, but the positive impact the roads make on a people.”

According to him, we hope and believe that this dry season, people living in Nsugbe area will smile because government will encourage the company handling this project to ensure it completed the work on this very important road.

“We are impressed with the contractor and others handling our road projects because they are working according to specifications,” he said.

Ifejiofor said that most of the road projects being done by the state recorded slow progress in 2020 due to the effects of Coronavirus and other environmental challenges this year.

“All that we are assuring the people of the state is that no ongoing road project would be left uncompleted before the end of this government.

“As soon as the 2021 budget is passed into law, we will add more roads and ensure that every road we started would be delivered,” he said.

Ifejiofor however, called on the federal government to step up action towards fixing failed federal roads in the state, saying that bad state of federal roads in the state was putting pressure on state roads.

“I lived almost 20 years in the United States of America and it is a serious crime to do substandard jobs over there.

“My interest is not to make excess profit and expose the masses to undue sufferings, but to ensure that this very important road is executed well,” he said.
The Nsugbe/Akpaka road is meant to decongest traffic on ’33 area’ in Onitsha for travellers to Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum local government areas as well as those coming from Nsukka/Benue axis to Onitsha.

Chief Owelle Mbaso, Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Obiano on Political Matters, said the quality and number of roads done by the administration was a plus for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party.

Mrs Faith Ndife, a resident of Nsugbe area thanked Obiano for embarking on the Nsugbe/Akpaka road project, but appealed to him to step up action on the project to ensure its completion.

“We are happy that government is doing this Nsugbe/Akpaka road, but we will be happier if the project is completed because it would bring more development to our area,” she said.

Buhari issues warning as #EndSARS protests resume

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President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that any act of hooliganism hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be dealt with decisively.

The president gave this warning on Monday following the resumption of EndSARS protests across the country.

Some youths stormed the streets of Lagos, Oshogbo and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in continuation of their demand to end police brutality.

With the arson the arson and killings that accompanied the last episode, President Buhari, however, said that peace and stability must be maintained.

The president was quoted in a tweet by the presidency.

“President @MBuhari today in Abuja warned that any act of hooliganism hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be dealt with decisively to ensure peace and stability in the country,” the tweet said.

Calls for Buhari’s impeachment not logical, mischievous – House of Reps

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The House of Representatives has described the calls for President Muhammadu Buhari’s impeachment as illogical and mischievous.

House spokesman Benjamin Kalu said the demand for Buhari’s impeachment by Kingsley Chinda, a lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in Rivers State was the “opinion of a single member of the opposition party in the house.”

He said calls for impeachment were not logical because Buhari is yet to appear before the House to explain what his administration is doing to address the security issue.

“If this call came post-President’s visit for the failure to dialogue well enough in securing solutions or due to his inability to put our positions to use, it would appear logical,” Kalu said in a statement on Sunday.

“Unfortunately, this call is not only illogical, it appears as a tool mischievously thrown up to disrupt the agenda of the coming visit with all it sets out to achieve in the spirit of nation-building which remains the mantra of the 9th Assembly and is considered a joint task.”

Earlier on Sunday, Chinda called on Nigerians irrespective of political party, tribe, or religion to compel their representatives to commence impeachment process against the president over the rising cases of insecurity in the country.

Last week, about 48 rice farmers were killed in Zabarmari, about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri, on Saturday, November 28. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack.

The killings prompted Nigerians, particularly northern groups to demand Buhari’s resignation. While the Nigerian Senate called for the sack of service chiefs, the House of Representatives summoned the president to appear before it.

Kalu said the purported call to impeach Buhari “does not in any way reflect either the minority, majority or general position of the 9th House of Representatives and should be disregarded like his other divisive, distracting, destabilizing and destructive positions.

“The motive behind this press release as well as the timing leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of most progressives who were instructed by their constituents to request for an interaction with the president.”

The House of Representatives spokesman urged Nigerians to be patient and wait for the outcome of their meeting with Buhari “before being misled by a lone voice on a frolic of his (Chinda) own, whose private opinion in no way represents the position of the House of Representatives.”

3 bandits killed in gunfire exchange with troops in Benue

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Three armed bandits have been killed and others wounded during an encounter with troops of Sector one, Operation WHIRL STROKE yesterday, at Tsehombe-Adaka village in Benue State.

The troops according to the Coordinator Defence Media Operations Maj.-Gen John Enenche responded to a distress call from Local vigilante members reporting ongoing attack by suspected armed herdsmen on the community.

”Troops immediately mobilized to the location leading to a shoot out between troops and armed bandits.

”The gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits by superior firepower, following which troops successfully neutralised 3 of the armed bandits while others escaped with gunshot wounds. Troops recovered one AK 47 rifle loaded with one magazine containing 5 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

”The gallant troops have continued to dominate the area with aggressive patrols to deter further attacks, while efforts are ongoing to locate and neutralise other bandits that might still be hibernating in the area.” He added.

Enyimba, Rivers United Advance In CAF Competitions

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NIGERIA’s Enyimba and Rivers United survived scares to reach the next round of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup respectively on Sunday.
Needing just to avoid defeat against Burkinabe side FC Rahimo after winning the first 1-0 away, Enyimba had to fend off a late charge to stay in the competition.
The second leg in Aba ended 1-1. Captain Austin Oladapo gave the People’s Elephant the lead in the 60th minute but despite their dominant display they could not extend the advantage.
Instead, it was Rahimo that equalised 15 minutes later to set up a tense finish.
Two-time African champions Enyimba will now face even stiffer opposition in the next round as they go up against wizened campaigners Al Merrikh of Sudan.
Rivers United were even closer to elimination than Enyimba, the Port Harcourt club needing a penalty shootout to see off Equatorial Guinea’s Futuro Kings at the Adokiye Amiasimaka Stadium.
The Pride of Rivers needed to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg and they scored two first-half goals through Godwin Aguda and Kehinde Adedipe to set them on their way.
But Asu Pedro pulled one back for the visitors to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate. Rivers United won the penalty shootout 2-0 and will face Bloemfontein Celtics of South Africa in the next round.

Read: Police warn organisers of fresh #EndSARS protest in Lagos

I’m pleased with bye-elections outcomes – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari says he is pleased with the outcomes of various bye-elections held in different parts of the country.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said results from the polls showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remained the choice of the people adding that they will not be disappointed.

The statement which added that the people would not be taken for granted, thanked the Interim Management Committee of APC led by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, party leaders and representatives for what it described as their impressionable performance.

The statement read: “Results coming from the states of the long list of bye-elections show definitely that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), remains the chosen party of Nigerians.

Read: FG commences payment of N30,000 grant to taxi, bus, okada drivers

“We do not take this confidence of the people for granted and we will not fail them.
“Nigerians who appreciate the efforts of the administration in making life better for all citizens, especially under an economy facing the severest test from the global Coronavirus pandemic will not be disappointed.

“We thank them immensely for their trust in the party and government. We equally thank the Interim Management Committee of the party under the capable leadership of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, the Governor of Yobe State, the Progressive Governors Forum under Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, all our governors, parliamentarians, state, local government and ward level APC chapters and the entire ranks of the membership for this brave and impressionable performance.

“While congratulating the successful candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari in particular, is very pleased with the election outcomes and urges the party to uphold the spirit of hard work, unity, progress, cooperation that forms the bedrock of these victories.”

Read also: Enyimba, Rivers United advance in CAF competitions

Enyimba, Rivers United advance in CAF competitions

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NIGERIA’s Enyimba and Rivers United survived scares to reach the next round of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup respectively on Sunday.
Needing just to avoid defeat against Burkinabe side FC Rahimo after winning the first 1-0 away, Enyimba had to fend off a late charge to stay in the competition.
The second leg in Aba ended 1-1. Captain Austin Oladapo gave the People’s Elephant the lead in the 60th minute but despite their dominant display they could not extend the advantage.
Instead, it was Rahimo that equalised 15 minutes later to set up a tense finish.
Two-time African champions Enyimba will now face even stiffer opposition in the next round as they go up against wizened campaigners Al Merrikh of Sudan.
Rivers United were even closer to elimination than Enyimba, the Port Harcourt club needing a penalty shootout to see off Equatorial Guinea’s Futuro Kings at the Adokiye Amiasimaka Stadium.
The Pride of Rivers needed to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg and they scored two first-half goals through Godwin Aguda and Kehinde Adedipe to set them on their way.
But Asu Pedro pulled one back for the visitors to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate. Rivers United won the penalty shootout 2-0 and will face Bloemfontein Celtics of South Africa in the next round.