The Yobe State Government has announced a further relaxation of the curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru towns.
This decision was made following a security council meeting with heads of security agencies, presided over by Governor Mai Buni.
According to a press statement issued by Mamman Mohammed, the Director General on Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, the curfew will now be enforced from 6 pm to 6 am, starting Wednesday.
Mohammed stated that the meeting expressed concern over the emergence of hoodlums and criminals who exploited the nationwide protest to vandalize and loot government and private properties in the affected local government areas.
He urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their wards to prevent them from being used as agents of destruction and looting.
Governor Buni commended the security organizations for their mature and professional handling of the situation.
Yobe Govt further relaxes curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru
Yobe Govt further relaxes curfew in Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru
Soldiers rescue abducted ex-LG chairman, arrest Boko Haram commanders, others
In a series of operations, the Nigerian Army has rescued kidnap victims and apprehended suspected Boko Haram commanders and terrorist logistic suppliers, among others.
In a statement shared on X.com on Tuesday, the NA revealed that soldiers rescued an abducted former LG chairman and arrested a notorious kidnapping kingpin in Egbe Community of Yagba Local Government Area in Kogi State.
The statement partly read, “The suspect, Mohammed Bello, who belonged to a seven-man syndicate specialised in kidnapping unsuspecting citizens, has been on the security agencies’ wanted criminals’ watchlist.
“The same troops responded to a distress call regarding a kidnapping incident involving the former Chairman of Kabba Local Government Area.
“They engaged the terrorists in Egbe Forest, capturing one suspect and rescuing the victim. He has since been reunited with his family.”
Similarly, soldiers in Ebonyi State were said to have aborted a kidnap attempt in Ezza-Umuhuali Village of Ishielu Local Government Area and arrested a suspect in possession of an Automated Teller Machine card, 48 different international passports, and other items.
Additionally, the army said its troops apprehended two key Boko Haram commanders in Borno State who had been linked to several attacks on military installations.
The statement added, “On 4 August 2024 in Borno State, while acting on credible intelligence regarding terrorists’ movements, troops apprehended two Boko Haram commanders who infiltrated the Damasak Internally Displaced Persons camp in Mobbar Local Government Area.
“The suspects, Bana Yamode and Babagana Usman, who claimed to be visiting their families in the camp, had previously led attacks on troops in the area.”
In the same operation, the troops also apprehended two suspected Boko Haram logistic suppliers, identified as Mustapha Ismaila, 49, and Abdulmudalabi Haruna, 30, and rescued two minors.
Meanwhile, 50 Boko Haram suspects and their families were said to have surrendered to soldiers stationed in Bama, Gwoza, and Dikwa Local Government Areas, following intensified operations against the terrorists.
In a separate operation in Yobe State, three Boko Haram collaborators, who admitted to being involved in kidnapping and armed robbery activities, were reported to have been arrested at Gubio Market in Gubio Local Government Area of the state.
The statement also reported that troops deployed in Jigawa State arrested nine hoodlums involved in looting a shop in Kazaure town, recovering items including 255 bags of fertilizer, three bags of rice, a solar panel, and five motorcycles.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, the troops arrested five suspected cultists and another suspect involved in motorcycle theft.
In the statement, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, commended the troops for their commitment to the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
He also urged the public to support security agencies by providing credible information to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing operations.
According Online reported in July that troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke arrested two notorious terrorists after a fierce shootout at Geshi Village in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State
Ndume meets APC NWC, apologises for anti-President comments
The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District of Borno State, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday, expressed regrets over his open criticisms of the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume expressed his regrets while speaking to journalists in Abuja shortly after a closed-door meeting with the APC National Working Committee.
Ndume, an APC chieftain, had been relieved of his role as the Chief Whip of the Senate on account of his open criticisms of his party and the President.
The Senate sacked him after receiving a letter to the same effect from the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The party warned him to desist from further attacking it, and the President or he should consider leaving.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after a two-hour closed-door meeting with the APC NWC, Ndume said he regretted taking his criticisms public rather than making it an in-house affair.
He, however, insisted that he spoke the truth.
He said, “I was invited by the party, and here I am to discuss family matters. Actually, the national chairman is not just a chairman to me but also a father. With what has happened, it is not surprising that I was invited to hear my side, and we had a family discussion.
“I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point and I told the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended within the party. That is something that (will be corrected) moving forward. But whatever I said or did was out of patriotism.
“Those issues may have been said strongly, but they are true. Again, I should have talked to the party at the last bus stop. Next time when I want to talk, I will come and get clearance or at least talk to the party.”
When asked to address the speculation that his membership was withdrawn by the ruling party, Ndume expressed surprise.
“My membership? No, I have not been expelled. Even the party did not say, ‘We don’t want you here’ because the party is my father. The only thing the party said is ‘If you don’t want this house, you can go to any house.’ But where will I go? This is my house,” he said.
Asked if he would equally apologise to the President and the Senate, Ndume said, “The President and the Senate have nothing to do with this. The President did not take offence. I didn’t insult the President or say anything against the party.”
Also speaking, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said Ndume had apologised and had been forgiven.
He said, “We are quite satisfied with his apology. As he said, we invited him. As a party, the APC is the father of everybody. We are free to invite legislators, members of the executive and even all appointed party members in the government. That is why we decided to come together.
“It is a family issue, and we need to resolve it. We are writing to the National Assembly to convey what has transpired between Senator Ndume and the party. As you are aware, he has apologised to the party with the hope that they can review their position.”
Ogun doctors embark on indefinite strike over pay differences
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State branch, have embarked on an indefinite strike following unresolved issues on pay disparity between federal and state medical workers.
The State Chairman of the Medical Association, Dr. Azeem Kunle Ashimi, disclosed this at a press briefing held on Tuesday at the association’s secretariat, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He explained that the decision to proceed on an indefinite strike came after a failed 3-day warning strike.
Ashimi noted that the strike, which began on Saturday, August 3, 2024, is primarily aimed at addressing the pay disparity between federal and state medical workers.
He said: “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to reach a compromise with the government.
“The government continues to plea that the issues of minimum wage and other related matters are common, but my people believe that we need to address the issues on the ground.
READ ALSO: Ogun doctors threaten strike over poor working conditions
“The core of the doctors’ grievances lies in the reviewed CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure), which they believe should be implemented to stem the exodus of medical professionals from Ogun State.
“Ogun State is losing a lot of doctors daily, because of the pay disparity. If the reviewed CONMESS is paid, it will encourage the doctors to stay.”
In efforts to retain medical personnel, the NMA said it has undertaken various initiatives over the past two years.
He explained: “We have recorded achievements aimed at helping doctors feel a sense of belonging in the community.
“We’ve facilitated access to land for housing, started a cooperative society for savings, and other measures.
“However, aligning the state workers’ pay with federal workers’ pay would go a long way in encouraging doctors to remain.
“I attended a meeting on human resources for health and I’m not happy with the way doctors are leaving Nigeria, especially from the state where I practice and where I’m the Chairman of NMA. People are leaving in droves.”
Ashimi, however, stressed that the strike would be short-lived, if addressed properly.
The post Ogun doctors embark on indefinite strike over pay differences appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
BREAKING: ECOWAS defence chiefs meet in Abuja
The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, are currently in a meeting at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting is chaired by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who is the chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
At the meeting are the Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Ahmed Lawan.
Others are the Chairman of House Committee of Defence, representative of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa and service chiefs, and the Chief of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries, except Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Details shortly…
BREAKING: ECOWAS defence chiefs meet in Abuja
Ighodalo not disqualified from Edo poll – Campaign director
The Deputy Director-General of the Asue Ogie Campaign Management, Rev. Olu Martins, has described as fake the news making the rounds that the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has been disqualified from contesting the election.
Martin described Ighodalo’s purported disqualification by the Court of Appeal as “a concocted story, fake, imaginary, diabolical and satanic creation of the warped minds of the opposition.”
In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, the campaign leader said, “Contrary to the fake news being peddled by merchants of lies and propaganda, no Appeal Court ruling has disqualified Dr. Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the PDP in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
“The rudderless opposition, in a bid to divert attention from its total rejection by the people of Edo State, having seen through its unpreparedness for the election, had gone to town with fake news that Ighodalo has been disqualified. It’s not true. It’s fake news.
“We call on the good people of Edo State and the nation at large to disregard the fake news. This is criminal forgery and that is even putting it mildly.
“They are liars and propagandists. This is their trademark. They have nothing to offer the people of Edo State.
“Ighodalo remains a high-flying, bona fide candidate of the PDP and he is in the race for the election in 45 days’ time.
“Our candidate enjoys massive acceptance across all the three senatorial zones, and he is more than ready to lead Edo State as a chief servant to a new dawn of prosperity for all.”
The social media was on Monday awash with the claim that the Court of Appeal ruled on interlocutory summons among other issues canvassed by the reinstated Edo State governor, Philip Shaibu, and others.
#EndBadGovernance Protest: Onanuga slams Atiku’s warning to security agencies
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has faulted former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s warning on security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists.
In a statement, on Tuesday, Onanuga stated that Atiku “this evening tweeted the absurd: he warned security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists who masqueraded as protesters.”
He said as a statesman, Atiku’s warning ought to be to the looting mob in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Jigawa states, who hijacked what was advertised by organisers as a peaceful protest.
He added that the security forces had remained professional, and even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters.
“We are surprised that Alhaji Atiku is still relying on Section 40 of our constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that is now clearly a riot, a rampage in some parts of the country.
“Section 45 of the constitution says the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute.
“They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order,” said the Presidential aide.
READ ALSO: Tinubu’s aide, Onanuga, says Labour’s N494k minimum wage demand is ‘unreasonable’
“They, however, reinforced their constitutional duty, today, when they said they cannot sit by idly and watch hoodlums destroy the country and its democracy.
“The Service Chiefs and the officers and men of our security outfits should be commended for their patriotic duty to our country.
“As a supporter and enabler of the destructive ‘protests,’ Alhaji Atiku certainly wants the sinister protest to continue inspite of the red signals from the streets,” Onanuga added.
He lashed out at the former Vice President for condoning the destruction of private and public property and investments of citizens.
He said Atiku ought to have risen above the sentiment he expressed and put the country’s stability ahead of whatever advantages he hoped to reap from the insurrection on the streets.
“We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in United Kingdom, who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in UK.
“They called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the wanton destruction of public and private assets.
“Such nationalistic temperament as displayed by opposition figures like Rishi Sunak, the immediate-past Prime Minister of UK is expected of Alhaji Atiku,” said Onanuga
The post #EndBadGovernance Protest: Onanuga slams Atiku’s warning to security agencies appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Group demands full implementation of Orosanya Report
An Akwa Ibom-based Socio-cultural Group, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, has urged President Bola Tinubu to fully implement Stephen Orosanye’s Report to reduce the cost of governance in the country.
The group, which made the call in a communiqué at the end of its 54th General Assembly in Uyo, also called for a reduction in the size of the Federal Executive Council.
In the communiqué signed by the President, Mr James Edet and the Secretary, Mr Bassey Bassey, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, said that the Orosanya report had the solution to the challenge of the high cost of governance.
It would be recalled that the Orosanya Report, which was first issued in 2012, recommended the rationalisation and reduction of the number of departments and agencies of government.
It urged the Federal Government to plough back any savings made from the implementation of the report to programmes that would improve the welfare of the citizenry.
The group expressed worries that the Federal Government had yet to merge some ministries, agencies and departments as recommended by the report.
“We also call on the Federal Government to consider scrapping the present bicameral legislative structure in favour of the unicameral system.
“It is also our request that the government should drastically reduce the size of government. It should take steps to reduce the current economic pains,” the communique read in parts.
The group further urged political leaders to be more patriotic by using public funds to implement projects that would improve the welfare of the people.
On the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest, the group said that although it was within the right of the citizenry to protest, the protesters must not indulge in violence and crime.
It urged the protesters not to indulge in activities that would tarnish the international image of the country in any way.
Group demands full implementation of Orosanya Report
Tobi Amusan races into semifinals of women’s 100mH in Paris
Nigerian sprinter, Tobi Amusan has raced into the semifinal of the women’s 100m Hurdles at the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris.
She has now qualified for three consecutive semifinals at the Olympics, executing a clean race to safely get through to the next round.
More to follow…
The post Tobi Amusan races into semifinals of women’s 100mH in Paris appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
EndBadGovernance: Sowore is defeated politician, can’t speak from Washington – Oshiomhole
A former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed one of the organizers of the EndBadGovernance protest, Omoyele Sowore as a defeated politician.
Oshiomhole, who appeared on Arise TV on Wednesday morning, said there was no need for the protest, adding President Bola Tinubu was doing everything within his power to solve the economic challenges facing Nigeria.
The lawmaker said that he does recognise anyone among those who called themselves organizers of the nationwide protest, which has entered its eighth day.
“I listen to all those names you mentioned and the others, I don’t know them. Which Nigerian does not know Wole Soyinka? Who didn’t know Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory? Who doesn’t know Femi Falana?” He said.
“I know Sowore as a defeated presidential candidate. And when you’re defeated in an election, you wait for the man who won the election.
“Give him time. Sowore cannot be seen as speaking for the people because he is still nursing the pain of his defeat.
“So, that’s not the guy to speak for people in Kano, for those people who throw bombs in Maiduguri or those people who hijack cars in.”
EndBadGovernance: Sowore is defeated politician, can’t speak from Washington – Oshiomhole