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Obi Appeals to Authorities: Rethink Onitsha Head Bridge Market Closure

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Obi Appeals to Authorities: Rethink Onitsha Head Bridge Market Closure

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha to reopen so that those in need can survive and earn a living.
He claims that the move by security and regulatory organizations to completely shut down the market is having an impact on the innocent merchants who depend on it for their livelihood.
Obi said he recognizes and agrees that some parts of the market should be free of illegal, hard, and expired medications, but he urged the relevant authorities to do so without closing the market altogether.

Read Also: Katsina Village Hit by Military Jet Bombing, Six Civilians Dead

He claimed that the complete closure of the market has cut off the means of subsistence for some innocent dealers who deal in other legitimate materials.
According to reports, Obi submitted the information on Monday through a post on his 𝕏 account.

Due to suspected drug trafficking in the Ogbo Ogwu area of the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha, security and regulatory authorities have shuttered the entire market.

“While it is clear that such illegal drug trading is wrong and that the government should do everything in its power to stop the sale of counterfeit goods, particularly drugs, and bring those responsible to justice for the sake of public health and safety, I am concerned about and call for the immediate reopening of nearby markets that were also negatively impacted by the closure.

The closure of other nearby markets that are not engaged, such as Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets, in addition to the Ogbo Ogwu Market, appears excessive and unwarranted.

Given that their ongoing closure is negatively impacting millions of people’s livelihoods, particularly during this trying time in our nation, Peter Obi argued, “I therefore appeal for their immediate reopening.”

We Handled Similar Problems Further, when I was governor, Obi suggested that the state and other relevant authorities handle the situation in a more transparent and balanced manner because they must remember the financial impact of their actions on those who have been excluded from the market due to circumstances that are not their fault.

Additionally, the search should be transparent, with store owners present as the law and due procedure are followed to inspect their establishments and remove any materials.

Why open up additional marketplaces to the closure if the intention is to carry out a valid search? What offenses do they have?

In my stint as governor of Anambra state, we encountered similar circumstances on several occasions.

“We worked cooperatively and deliberately with the appropriate agencies to address any public health issues that we came across. We ensured fairness and due process by collaborating closely with security agencies and regulatory bodies in cases that required market interventions.

The livelihoods were protected and needless interruptions were avoided.

“To avoid causing unnecessary hardship to merchants, their families, and the state economy, the current approach should be reevaluated.

“Economic stability and security will both be improved by a more transparent and balanced approach.

“We should constantly keep in mind the collateral economic implications of nearby market closures while working toward the goal of improved public health. “-PO,” Obi said.

Katsina Village Hit by Military Jet Bombing, Six Civilians Dead

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Katsina Village Hit by Military Jet Bombing, Six Civilians Dead

A military airstrike in Katsina State’s Safana Local Government Area’s Zakka ward struck the Yauni hamlet, killing six civilians.
Three other security guards, including two police officers and a member of the state-owned Community Watch Corps (CWC), were slain in a gunfight with bandits earlier, according to Daily Trust.
According to a local who talked to the aforementioned website on condition of anonymity, the incident happened as a result of Saturday’s local government election.

According to reports, the bandits intended to attack Zakka village voters.

Read Also: NDLEA Official Newlywed Burnt Alive in Kaduna

But after learning of their scheme, the security personnel apparently took action to stop it from being carried out, which resulted in a gunfight with the bandits that claimed the lives of a police officer and a CWC agent. A third police officer was wounded and ultimately passed away.
Six family members were killed and one woman was injured when a military fighter plane, which was probably there to provide reinforcement, dropped a bomb at Yauni settlement, south of Zakka, following that incident, according to the source.

Residents of Katsina have previously died as a result of unintentional bombing.

A military fighter plane launched a bomb in Kunkunni hamlet, which is located in the same Safana Local Government Area, in July 2022, killing at least two people.

NDLEA Official Newlywed Burnt Alive in Kaduna

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NDLEA Official Newlywed Burnt Alive in Kaduna

In Kaduna State’s Igabi Local Government Area, a mob cruelly killed Aliyu Imran, a recently married National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agent.
It was discovered that a vengeful crowd in the Gadan-Gayan area of Igabi LGA set Imran, the Assistant Superintendent of Narcotic 1, on fire.
According to reports, this incident happened after a car that Imran and his coworkers were chasing was involved in a crash that claimed lives.

At least three people were killed when the culprit tried to elude capture by reversing his car while the cop and his crew were pursuing him, according to reports.
Imran apparently stepped in to defuse the situation, but the mob attacked him after he did so.

While the Officer in Charge (OC) sought for help, he was stabbed.

According to accounts cited by the media outlet, a brave police officer took him to a nearby hospital, but the crowd then stormed the hospital, dragged him out, and burned him.

The grieving family of Imran has voiced their displeasure and accused the NDLEA of failing to release a statement, offer them condolences, or provide them with compensation.

“Some NDLEA agents conducted an operation in Gadan-Gayan on Friday. They’re hiding it. This is our organization. Are you aware of what they typically do? In the event of an accident such as this one in which an officer is killed or involved, the NDLEA will attempt to conceal the incident in order to avoid providing the deceased family with compensation.

The suspect reversed and began driving away from the patrolling officers while some of them were on patrol.

The officers then pursued the car that was attempting to flee from them using their own vehicle. As a result, four individuals were killed in an accident involving the car they were pursuing.

Aliyu Imran, one of our policemen, descended to try to defuse the situation when they arrived. Then he began to be attacked. I have personally been in a similar circumstance in the past.Usually, you leave right away if you notice that things are becoming tense.

The OC (Officer-in-Charge), who oversaw the operation, began to say, “Okay,” when he came down to try to defuse the situation. You should all inbox each other. As in, let’s go. Saying “inbox” indicates that you should get into your car and let’s go.

Thus, they left Aliyu Imran there during the process. He was stabbed by those people. According to the report, one of the police officers there stabbed him and then rode him to a nearby hospital for treatment.

He claimed that the crowd dragged the NDLEA officer out and burned him alive after following the officers to the hospital.

The tragic development was further conveyed by the source: “You know what’s heartbreaking? Last December, he got married. Yesterday (Saturday), while they were burying him, his wife passed out.

“The mob became aggressive as Aliyu got out of the car to try to defuse the situation. I’ve been in similar mob scenarios during operations, so I know how these things get out of hand. The best course of action as tensions increase is to depart right away.

They abandoned Aliyu Imran in the confusion. He was repeatedly stabbed by the mob as they attacked him.

In an attempt to save his life, a policeman rode his bike to a neighboring hospital. However, when Aliyu was still struggling to survive, the same crowd broke into the hospital, pulled him out, and set him on fire.

“His family has received no assistance from the agency. The incident has not even been formally addressed by them. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, and NDLEA has previously concealed them.

According to the source, this is not the first time a cop has died while performing their duties.

He pointed out that these incidents frequently go unreported, leaving the families with little to no compensation.

Following the tragic incident, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi denied allegations that the organization fails its fallen officers.

He confirmed that the agency chairman is speaking with the dead officer’s family directly.

Read Also: Matawalle Responds to Babachir Lawal, Insists Northerners Will Support Tinubu in 2027

“A delegation from the agency’s headquarters, headed by the director of operations and general investigations, is currently in Kaduna to visit with the family as I speak with you. Furthermore, the chairman had already sent another commander. Therefore, the allegation that the family has been abandoned is untrue.

“The management has suspended the commander in question as a further indication of how seriously the organization takes this issue. Do you get it?

“The probe is still ongoing. The agency is still in constant communication with the family and is conducting a full investigation into the incident. He was cited as saying, “We are working hard to find out what happened after the tragedy.

Matawalle Responds to Babachir Lawal, Insists Northerners Will Support Tinubu in 2027

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Matawalle Responds to Babachir Lawal, Insists Northerners Will Support Tinubu in 2027

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal’s recent remarks about President Bola Tinubu’s prospects in the 2027 election have been rejected by Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defense.

In a statement released by Henshaw Ogubike, the Ministry of Defense’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Matawalle said that Lawal and his colleagues would be taken aback by the massive amount of support Tinubu would get from the North in 2027.
“Despite only having been in government for 19 months, President Bola Tinubu has significantly improved all parts of Nigeria, especially the North. The North’s populace will support Mr. President in building on the reforms and accomplishments he has started,” Matawalle said.

According to the minister, Tinubu had implemented significant reforms that called for ongoing support from the north, especially in the areas of defense and security.

Nigerian security forces apprehended 11,600 criminals, destroyed over 8,000 terrorists and bandits, and retrieved over 10,000 weapons in 2024. The North’s security has greatly improved as a result of this strong effort.

Approximately 8,000 abduction victims were successfully rescued, demonstrating the government’s dedication to guaranteeing everyone’s safety. Additionally, the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC), which was established in December 2024 in partnership with the UK’s National Crime Agency, has improved strategic cooperation in the anti-kidnapping effort,” he said.
He added that Lawal’s assertions of northern discontent with Tinubu were unfounded and an effort to create division.
“The North is unwavering in its backing of President Tinubu. The minister went on to say, “Any suggestion to the contrary is an intentional attempt to erode our national unity.”

In order to harness the agricultural potential of the North, empower millions of farmers, and enhance food security, Matawalle cited the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a crucial economic effort.

It is anticipated that this project will improve food security and change rural communities. The efficiency of the government’s agriculture policies is demonstrated by the recent drop in grain prices nationwide, he said.

He also pointed to the administration’s emphasis on building roads and enhancing the transportation system as evidence of Tinubu’s dedication to the North.

“Moreover, Tinubu’s enactment of local government autonomy enables local administrations to operate efficiently, guaranteeing accountability and improved governance at the local level,” he said.

Instead of discounting Tinubu’s accomplishments, Matawalle urged detractors like Lawal to conduct an unbiased assessment of his leadership.

We in the North must evaluate the observable advantages of the president’s initiatives. “The progress being made should not be overshadowed by the cries of dissent,” he said.

I Rather Die In Detention Than Get Tried By A Partial Court – Nnamdi Kanu

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I Rather Die In Detention Than Get Tried By A Partial Court – Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu, the President of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has declared that he will not stand trial in any court that does not uphold the rule of law.
Kanu was said to have revealed this in an open letter to address the matter of his court trials following his incarceration in Kenya.
In a letter titled “Open Letter to the General Public,” which his attorney, Aloy Ejimakor, published on Friday, the IPOB leader denounced the Federal Government’s purported decision to use the legal system to achieve its goals.

According to his account, Justice Binta Nyako, who had recused herself from his case, was forced to sit on the same case without appealing the court ruling that had done so.

Read Also: CBN Ordered to Reverse ATM Fee Increase Within 48 Hours

“Greetings from Nigeria and around the world to all good-willed men and women. After my extraordinary rendition in 2021, I have been subjected to a series of executive and judicial frauds, which have compelled me to take the unusual step of writing this Open Letter with the sole purpose of drawing the public’s attention to them,” he said.

Kanu stated that he would rather die in custody than be denied a fair trial. There are plenty of competent attorneys in the country who prefer to base their rulings on the Constitution, he said.

When I wrap up this open letter, I want to be clear that it should not be interpreted as indicating that there are no good Nigerian judges who can be relied upon to administer fair justice in my case. It’s not the problem.

Rather, the problem is that my case is purposefully being avoided by justices and judges who are thought to be dedicated to upholding the rule of law, even if it means that the federal government must lose. Regardless, if it means I have to spend the rest of my life in custody before I can appear before a fair and unbiased court, then so be it. Let me state this for everyone’s benefit, though: I will not submit to a trial run by a judge or court whose authority does not meet constitutional requirements. He said, “Never, never now.”

CBN Ordered to Reverse ATM Fee Increase Within 48 Hours

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CBN Ordered to Reverse ATM Fee Increase Within 48 Hours

In response to criticism from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been under pressure to remove the transaction fees it recently implemented for Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The advocacy group demands that the CBN governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, immediately reverse the policy, which it calls “unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, and unjust,” and has given him a 48-hour ultimatum.

Concerns that the hike in ATM fees would disproportionately affect low-income Nigerians and exacerbate the already poor economic situation were raised by SERAP in an open letter dated February 15, 2025, written by Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization’s deputy director.

The group stressed the need for the CBN to reevaluate the policy. According to the statement, “The exercise of CBN’s statutory powers and functions should not cause suffering to impoverished Nigerians and contribute to violations of human rights.”

The CBN recently announced the contentious fee increase as a component of its revised banking regulations. A fee of N100 will now be applied for every N20,000 withdrawn from ATMs controlled by a bank but situated outside of its branch locations under the new policy. A further fee of up to N500 would be applied for ATM withdrawals of N20,000 at shopping malls, airports, and standalone cash points. These fees are scheduled to go into effect on March 1, 2025.

SERAP vehemently opposed the program, claiming that it puts commercial banks ahead of regular people. “Wealthy banks and their stockholders should have paid the higher ATM transaction fees, not the general public. The letter claimed that while this approach helps the CBN and financial institutions, it makes life more difficult for Nigerians who are struggling.

Additionally, the group emphasized that banks still report enormous profits, frequently at the expense of their clients. The poor should not be disproportionately disadvantaged by CBN policies, which significantly favor banks that generate trillions of naira in profits. This choice stands in stark contrast to the numerous pledges made by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to combat poverty.

Read Also: IGP’s Committee Review Forces Over 340 Police Officers Into Retirement

SERAP threatened to challenge the policy in court if the CBN did not take action within the allotted 48 hours, as part of its ultimatum. “Within 48 hours of receiving and/or publishing this letter, we would appreciate it if the suggested actions were taken. SERAP will take all necessary legal steps to force you and the CBN to abide by our request in the public interest if we don’t hear back from you by then.

IGP’s Committee Review Forces Over 340 Police Officers Into Retirement

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IGP’s Committee Review Forces Over 340 Police Officers Into Retirement

According to reports, after their tenure was reviewed by a disciplinary commission, more than 340 officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) decided to resign.
According to reports, this decision was made before the committee, which was established by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, submitted its final report.
The committee was assisted in the screening process by the Force Management and met Monday through Tuesday at the Force’s headquarters in Louis Edet House, Abuja.

Although it is still unknown whether possible punishments had an impact on the officers’ retirement decisions, sources close to the committee attested to their departure.

According to reports, these officers, many of them were over 60 or had served for more than 35 years, had not carried out their retirement arrangements when they were supposed to.

Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Benneth Igweh, who was in charge of Zone 7, two Commissioners of Police, and a top police lawyer were among those called for review.

The Nation said that it was verified that AIG Igweh had formally transferred his duties to Mohammed Gumel, his replacement.

The officers who were supposed to have retired since 2020 but had not done so for a variety of reasons—such as moving from rank-and-file to senior officer posts without completing the required training at the police academy—were the focus of the committee.

By Tuesday, the committee had finished its evaluation, and more than 340 officers had filed their retirements, according to a person with knowledge of the screening procedure.

They are mostly senior officers. People who know they were meant to depart last year have already gone. I don’t know if anyone received a penalty.

The committee and the force management team were permitted to participate in the officer screening process.

They are the ones who were expected to have retired between 2020 and the present. Although they didn’t change their age, the majority of them skipped the police academy and went from being rank and file to senior cops.

The regulation states that you must quit as a rank-and-file officer in order to advance to the position of senior officer. However, the majority of them didn’t. The two levels were where they were working.

According to the source, “they have a retirement age as constables and a retirement age as senior officers or commissioned officers.”

In addition, senior officers who had served more than 35 years or reached the age of 60 were previously required to retire immediately by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The decision was reexamined following a previous plenary meeting in 2017, which resulted in a change of the retirement standards, according to Ikechukwu Ani, PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations.

In a statement following their meeting on January 31, 2025, the PSC confirmed that the policy went against previous regulations and now mandated that all officials who met the age or service standards retire right away.

Read Also: JUST IN: PDP Links APC Official to Alleged Forgery in Udeh-Okoye Ruling

The Inspector-General of Police was informed of the ruling and instructed to take appropriate measures.

IGP Egbetokun’s tenure extension by President Bola Tinubu raised some concerns about the timing of these retirements, but Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation, stressed that the President’s actions were legal.

JUST IN: PDP Links APC Official to Alleged Forgery in Udeh-Okoye Ruling

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JUST IN: PDP Links APC Official to Alleged Forgery in Udeh-Okoye Ruling

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is accused of being behind the PDP’s dismissal of the alleged forgery in the case that confirmed Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary.
According to reports, the PDP announced this in response to a court decision that ordered an examination of its primary election standards due to claims of fraud.
Recall that Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Samuel Anyanwu are vying for the role of national secretary, causing a leadership crisis within the PDP.
After Anyanwu was elected as the PDP’s candidate for governor of Imo state in 2023, Udeh-Okoye was chosen by the party’s southeast zonal executive committee to succeed him.

Anyanwu has secured injunctions from the courts to prevent his dismissal.

However, the high court’s ruling that barred Anyanwu’s dismissal was overturned by appellate court judge Ridwan Abdullahi in December 2024 for lack of merit.

The crisis took a fresh turn when an Abuja magistrate court ordered the police to look into claims that party executives used fake documents at the court of appeal hearing.

In response to a petition submitted by Mike Iheanaetu, a member of the PDP, the court issued the order.

PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba responded to the court decision by calling the forgery accusation “funny” and “misleading,” emphasizing that the incident is the fault of a senior APC official.

Read Also: JUST IN: Opposition Party Clarifies Stance on Endorsing Peter Obi for 2027

“Our party is shocked by the level of desperation being displayed by these individuals,” the statement says. It claims that these individuals are acting with the support of a top APC official who has repeatedly vowed to destroy the PDP in order to allow the APC to firmly establish an oppressive and totalitarian one-party system in our country, much to the chagrin and harm of Nigerians.

“Despite the rulings of several higher-ranking courts, including the Supreme Court, which have declared that matters pertaining to the nomination of candidates for elections are solely internal affairs of political parties over which the courts have no jurisdiction, our party is horrified by the scandalous and reprehensible attempt by these desperate individuals to involve the police and an Abuja magistrate court in the party’s internal affairs.”

JUST IN: Opposition Party Clarifies Stance on Endorsing Peter Obi for 2027

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JUST IN: Opposition Party Clarifies Stance on Endorsing Peter Obi for 2027

According to reports, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has backed Peter Obi as its nominee for president in the general election scheduled for 2027.

“Mere rumors and a figment of the peddlers’ imaginations,” the party said of the charges.

In an Abuja statement issued Sunday evening, ZLP National Publicity Secretary Khalid Arewa confirmed that the accusations were untrue and that the party had not taken any such action.

Claims that the party had given Obi a free ticket for the 2027 elections prompted the clarification.

With the help of young Nigerians, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the general election of 2023, became a huge favorite. He finished as the second runner-up in the election, which was won by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To improve his chances in the 2027 election, there have been recent rumors that Obi is trying to put together a coalition with other opposition groups.

However, the ZLP has disassociated itself from any debate about the upcoming election cycle or endorsement of Obi.

According to the party’s statement, “ZLP wishes to address a misleading publication that is circulating on various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), to falsely attribute to our party an offer of a free ticket to Peter Obi for the 2027 presidential election.”

We don’t know which handle posted this false information. We don’t have any authority over that account, and we’re not connected to the people that operate it.

We firmly refute this allegation in its entirety and declare that the statement does not represent the opinions, choices, or stance of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Our Constitution, beliefs, and values serve as the foundation for our party’s leadership and decision-making processes, and they forbid such baseless and frivolous accusations, just as we don’t have agreements with anybody on any matters pertaining to false claims.

Read Also: NNPC Refutes Allegations, States Dangote Refinery Provides Majority of Lagos Fuel

Once more, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has not yet begun to negotiate with any individuals or organizations regarding the 2027 presidential election; as a result, the aforementioned publication is a huge fabrication.

Therefore, we caution anyone attempting to profit from ZLP’s envious position to do so or risk being caught and turned over to the security services.

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) is a legal and responsible political organization dedicated to advancing democracy, sound governance, and the welfare of all Nigerians.

“The public is urged to ignore this false information and to only trust official statements from our party’s authorized channels.”Please take appropriate guidance.

NNPC Refutes Allegations, States Dangote Refinery Provides Majority of Lagos Fuel

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NNPC Refutes Allegations, States Dangote Refinery Provides Majority of Lagos Fuel

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has denounced false assertions that their fuel is short-lived, as presented in a widely shared viral video.
Olufemi Soneye, a NNPC spokesman, reportedly stated that the claim was completely unsubstantiated and unfounded, stemming from amateur, unconfirmed research that is devoid of professional oversight, credibility, and accuracy.
Dangote Refinery contributed a substantial portion of the petroleum sold at NNPC filling stations in Lagos, according to a statement released by NNPC on Saturday.

“NNPC Ltd reaffirms that its fuel is meticulously formulated with one of the best compositions, guaranteeing consumers environmental sustainability, durability, and optimal efficiency.”It’s also critical to highlight that a sizable portion of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sold at NNPC retail stations in Lagos, the location of the false film, comes from the Dangote Refinery, a key partner in advancing regional production and energy security. By upholding stringent industry standards, Dangote Refinery ensures the caliber of petroleum products that are delivered to our customers.

Economic saboteurs are making yet another frantic effort to mislead the public and damage NNPC Ltd.’s reputation with this deceptive video. Deliberate disinformation intended to sabotage our operations and deceive Nigerians would not be accepted,” it stated.

NNPC further stated that it will be pursuing legal action against anybody who wished to damage the company’s reputation by spreading false information about its goods.

Read Also: Weekly Cement Price Report: Dangote, BUA, and Market Trends

Going forward, “NNPC Ltd will take strong legal action against people or organizations that purposefully disseminate false information about our operations and brand.” The law will hold those who commit such heinous acts completely responsible.

“We encourage people to ignore such fake information and only trust reliable sources for factual information. It further stated that NNPC Ltd is unwavering in its goal to guarantee gasoline quality, affordability, and availability for all Nigerians while upholding international industry standards.

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