An explosion suspected to be a planted Improvised Explosive Device, IED, has exploded at the popular Buni Yadi market in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Channels Television reports that the incident occured around 12.30 pm this afternoon, injuring a girl, according to a resident of Buni, Ali Hassan.
Details to follow….
IED explodes at Yobe livestock market
IED explodes at Yobe livestock market
Police foil attempted carjacking, kill two, arrest others in Abuja
Two suspected armed robbers were killed on Thursday night while trying to hijack a Prado Jeep at gunpoint in the Jahi area of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
This was confirmed by FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, during a press briefing at the police command in Abuja on Friday.
There, he also presented two arrested members of the robbery gang, according to Daily Trust.
The incident occurred around 10.45pm on Thursday.
He said, “A four-member robbery gang encountered a crime prevention patrol led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Mabushi Police Division.
“The robbers initiated a gunfight upon spotting the police, leading to a fierce exchange of fire.
“Two of the robbers were shot dead during the confrontation.”
The CP revealed that the two arrested suspects, identified as Joshua Godfrey, also known as Dogo, and Abdulsalam Mamuda, both residents of Mabushi village, were apprehended following the shootout.
“While during the crossfire with our men, two among the four-men robbery gang whose names were identified as Joshua Godfrey A.K.A. Dogo and Abdulsalam Mamuda both of Mabushi village were arrested,” he said.
Two other vehicles were recovered by the police.
“A blue Toyota Matrix with the registration number BWR 626 JB, used by the robbers, was recovered at the scene.
“The suspects also led the police to another stolen vehicle, a Toyota Corolla with the registration number RBC 743 AH, believed to have been taken from another victim,” he added.
Reaffirming the police command’s dedication to ensuring public safety, Igweh “urged residents and medical facilities in the Federal Capital Territory to report any individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.”
Earlier in 2021, the police gunned down two suspected armed robbers at Gwarimpa, Abuja.
The deceased, who were members of a four-man gang were killed while robbing their victims at 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa.
August 1: Don’t use protest as cover for insurrection, anarchy — IMPI
The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) says protests are legitimate in a democracy, but should be used as cover for insurrection and anarchy.
Mr Niyi Akinsiju, the chairman of IMPI policy analyst group, said although protests were acceptable in a constitutional democracy, no government would tolerate a call to anarchy and disturbance of public peace.
He said it would seem that some individuals and groups were laying the groundwork for insurrection under the cover of a peaceful protest.
Akinsiju said that a peaceful protest is often well organised, orderly and non-violent.
IMPI said: “For several weeks, we have quietly watched as some individuals and groups mobilised for what they call’ 10 days of rage’ starting on Aug.1.
“Their mode of preparation, gauged from their actions and speeches, shows that they may be bracing up for riots, chaos, and violence, which are antithetical to peaceful protest.
“Engagement in peaceful protest as a means to reduce the cost of living should be seen from the perspective of actions being taken to ameliorate whatever conditions are considered unpalatable.
“Interestingly, within the time that some are mobilising for the protest, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has continued to roll out policies and programmes to address perceived challenges”
Those policies, according to him, are targeted at stemming the effects of the global cost of living crisis as it affects the country. (NAN)
August 1: Don’t use protest as cover for insurrection, anarchy — IMPI
Edo Guber: Disregard Udeh’s hoodwinked charades – NRM tells INEC
The National Rescue Movement, NRM, has said that its National Management Committee (NMC) was unaware that its absconded National Chairman, Issac Udeh, and its governorship candidate for the Edo guber election, Dr Dennis Akoriogie, staged a flag off of the party’s campaign.
A statement signed by Comrade Olusola Afuye, the National Publicity Secretary of the Movement, said the flag-off was done without the knowledge of the members of the Party’s National Management Committee and/or the State
Executive Committee, Edo State Chapter in accordance with the party’s constitution.
The National Management Committee condemned the action of Mr. Isaac Udeh, who, according to the statement, ”Nicodemusly’ hid himself at Bolingo Hotel Abuja, to hand over the party’s flag to its candidate; an action inimical to the Modus Operandi of our great party and usurpation of the power of the National Management Committee (NMC); and therefore null, void and of no effect”
The statement added, “In the light of this show of shame, the party hereby requests election stakeholders to disregard the Udeh’s hoodwinked
charades.
“The Party is deeply disturbed by the ignorance shown by our candidate, Dr Dennis Aikoriogie who should have known better that Mr. Isaac Udeh cannot singlehandedly hand over a party flag to him. In fact, this show of shame is a dangerous situation that portends failure.
“The Party wonders if the candidate has forgotten so soon how he came into the party, got his nomination form, screened and subsequently emerged as the NRM’s candidate and those that stood firmly with him when charlatans were using underhand factors to rubbish his efforts and trying to cut short his desired ambition. It would be recalled that the struggle against his exclusion on the INEC Candidates list, the National Management Committee staged a robust protest at the INEC Headquarters covered by the media.
“The party is shocked that the candidate is now deceiving himself in a sudden and accidental friendship with Mr. Issac Udeh, who undermined the party’s effort to have him uploaded as candidate of the party.
“It is obvious that the NRM National Management Committee is so magnanimous in victory and ready to uphold the party’s principles, which is the reason the leadership is happy after the high court judgement that validated his candidature.
“However, for the sanctity and respect of our party structures, especially the State Executive Committee (SEC), the National leadership of the party cannot keep a blind eye for any candidate to relegate the State Executive Committee in exercising its responsibilities to our great party before, during and after the election.
Stakeholders may not have forgotten that Mr. Isaac Udeh had sponsored a mob crowd in Benin and paraded them as members of NRM in order to stage a parallel primary meant to frustrate the candidacy of Dr Dennis Osaron Aikoriogie.
“Udeh connived with disgruntled elements in INEC Headquarters and Benin to submit the name of one Barr Irabor as his candidate.
“An illegal activity the party National Management Committee fought so hard to overturn even as Prof Mahmood Yakubu set a high-powered Panel to look into it.
“Thereafter, the same Isaac Udeh’s ‘candidate’ with his tacit approval approached a federal high court to declare him as candidate of the party.
“The National Management Committee of the NRM is clear that the party will not condone any act of lawlessness or brigandage targeted at undermining any organ of the party or our constitution.
“We do not blame Isaac nor Denis Aikoriogie. The duo have no idea of the strength of the party in Edo State especially where we have tested the ground during the last governorship election in which the NRM came fifth even with our candidate withdrawing for Obaseki.
“The National Management Committee by this release directs Isaac Udeh, who has not visited the party National Secretariat since February 2023, to report to the Office on or before 2pm Friday 26th July, 2024 or risk further sanction from the party as no officer of
the party is bigger than the party as ours is an organization run by law.
“Finally, the National Management Committee of the NRM will update the members of the public in the coming days on our stand in the Edo Guber Poll and urge all our gallant party faithful and supporters under the leadership of the indefatigable grassroots
mobilizer and revered Chief Sam Arase in Edo State to be patient and keep selling the NRM message to the good people of Edo State as we take necessary steps to address the numerous atrocious infractions.”
Edo Guber: Disregard Udeh’s hoodwinked charades – NRM tells INEC
Porn, betting sites recorded 162m Nigerian visitors in June
A recent report by global data and business intelligence platform StatiSense has revealed that Nigerian mobile users made over 162 million visits to porn and betting websites in June 2024.
The platform’s latest data, which highlights the top ten websites visited by Nigerians on mobile devices last month, shows a significant portion of this traffic is directed towards adult content and gambling sites.
According to a post shared by StatiSense on its official X page, the top visited websites included a mix of search engines, social media apps, and betting platforms. Notably, Xvideos and Xnxx, two adult sites, collectively received 80.18 million visits, ranking second and sixth respectively. READ MORE
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Budget probe: Reps give EFCC chairman 4-day ultimatum to honour invitation
The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes has given Mr Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, till July 30 to appear before it over budgetary allocation issues.
The committee said that Olukoyede, along with his management team, should appear to answer questions relating to the commission’s budget performance and its challenges.
Rep. Obinna Onwusibe, the chairman of the committee, expressed the panel’s displeasure at an oversight of the commission’s office in Abuja.
The committee condemned what it described as the snobbish attitude of the chairman and the denial of the committee’s members access into the commission’s complex.
Following the denial of access into the commission’s complex, the committee members headed back to their bus and returned to the National Assembly.
The committee had visited the EFCC headquarters after communicating with the anti-graft agency and agreeing on a date for an oversight visit.
The committee was, however, surprisingly told that the chairman was called for an unexplained emergency development at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Reacting, the committee chairman said: “In performing our constitutional functions we had written to the EFCC for this oversight visit.
“The latest letter to EFCC was last week and we all agreed that the oversight is going to be today.
“The essence of the oversight is for the committee to know the budget performance of the EFCC as appropriated by this National Assembly.
“That was exactly why we went and to also see other things, including the challenges being faced by the EFCC.”
He said the committee had requested that the chairman, and all the zonal commanders of the EFCC be invited today for us to interface with them.
“But, the committee also saw that they were not on ground,” he said.
The committee, however, resolved that it would not continue with the oversight and resolved further to summon the EFCC chairman and his team to appear before it.
“As far as we’re concerned, the functions and integrity of this 10th National Assembly cannot be taken for granted.
“We’ve written severally to the commission, requesting information and documents and are yet to get them,” he said.
Budget probe: Reps give EFCC chairman 4-day ultimatum to honour invitation
Dangote Refinery should be national pride, not vilified – APC chieftain
A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in South Africa, Bola Babarinde, says the Dangote Refinery should be a national pride.
Babarinde in a statement on Friday, said critics of the refinery should focus on constructive solutions rather than negative publicity.
He noted that the refinery represented a significant stride towards self-sufficiency in the petroleum industry.
According to him, unlike those who siphoned the nation’s wealth and stashed it abroad, Alhaji Aliko Dangote reinvested in Nigeria, creating infrastructure and job opportunities for Nigerians.
Babarinde noted that Dangote throughout his career had maintained a strategic relationship with successive governments in the country.
He said critics, however, argued that his close ties with political powers had afforded him undue advantages, including favourable policies and contracts.
The APC chieftain said that Dangote supporters, however, saw in him a savvy businessman, who understood the importance of aligning with the government to foster national development.
“Despite these controversies, Dangote remained a steadfast and focused entrepreneur.
“His commitment to Nigeria is evident in his investments and the jobs created by his enterprises.
“While some wealthier Nigerians amassed fortunes through dubious means, Dangote’s wealth is largely traceable to legitimate business ventures.
“This transparency sets him apart from corrupt politicians and civil servants who exploited public resources for personal gains.
“Aliko Dangote remains a complex figure in Nigerian business and politics and his story is one of ambition, strategy, and resilience.
“While his methods and relationships with power may invite scrutiny, his contributions to Nigeria’s economic landscape are undeniable.
“As the nation seeks a path to prosperity, figures like Dangote play a crucial role, albeit one that requires careful balancing of national interests and individual enterprise,” he said.
Dangote Refinery should be national pride, not vilified – APC chieftain
Group requests Wike to grant Eagle Square for protest
A group under the aegis of the Take It Back movement has requested the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to grant them the use of Eagle Square for the proposed #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled from August 1 to August 10.
The group made this disclosure in a letter written and signed by its Director of Mobilisation, Damilare Adenola, to Wike on Friday.
They highlighted demands, including the provision of a 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security for the convenience of Nigerian citizens who would be camped out at the location.
The statement titled, ‘Request for use of Eagle Square Abuja for #EndBadGovernance protest,’ read, “As one of the groups organizing the forthcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, #DaysOfRage starting from August 1st to 10th, 2024, we at the Take It Back Movement write to your esteemed office to notify you of our decision to use Eagle Square as a point of convergence for patriotic Nigerians to demand better governance.
“This request entails using this national asset day and night for the duration of the historic protest. Also, note that the protest may be prolonged beyond ten days as we embark on resolving the protracted national crisis occasioned by the ruling party.
“Further, your office must also ensure the provision of a 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security for the convenience of Nigerian citizens who will be camped out at Eagle Square.”
The group further requested the honour and courtesy accorded to foreign and local dignitaries who had used the space for the protesters while appealing for the removal of the outer wire mesh barrier facing the Aso Rock Villa for easy access to the Presidential Villa during the protest.
Meanwhile, ahead of the proposed protest, the FCT police have deployed 4,200 policemen throughout the nation’s capital.
The command also announced the deployment of explosive ordnance device experts at various strategic locations.
In a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the command said the deployment was to ensure public safety and protection of protesters and to prevent the protests from being hijacked by non-state actors.
She added that, in collaboration with sister security agencies, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, and stop-and-search operations would take place.
Food scarcity: Bauchi farmers get fertilizer as Foundation moves to boost agricultural productivity
Amid the soaring food inflation in Nigeria, occasioned by shortage of foodstuffs, farmers in Kaduna State have received 6,000 bags of fertilizer and other farm inputs from Wunti Al-khair Foundation as part of a programme aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the country.
The bags of fertilizer and other farm inputs were distributed to farmers across 20 local government areas of Bauchi State in the first phase of the programme.
In a statement on Thursday, the foundation which has the core objective of ameliorating hardship faced by Nigerians due to rising food prices, said the programme was launched in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The development is coming amid escalating economic hardship, and worsening hunger, in Nigeria, which is facing a severe food crisis that has led to food inflation surging to 40.8 per cent in June 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.
The latest NBS food price index shows that the prices of some food items have risen by over 250 per cent year-on-year.
Specifically, the NBS said the average price of 1kg of brown beans skyrocketed by 252.13 per cent, from N651.12 in June 2023 to N2,292.76 in June 2024. Tomatoes recorded an even steeper increase of 320.67 per cent, with prices rising from N547.28 to N2,302.26 per kg.
An official of the foundation, Ismail Wunti, disclosed that, in line with efforts to tackle the food crisis, the distribution of fertilizers would be extended to farmers in other parts of the country.
The first phase of the project began in seven Bauchi LGAs, including Toro, Alkaleri, Kirfi, Misau, Dambam and Darazo. Other LGAs will receive the farm inputs on Saturday.
The beneficiaries include members of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, and individual small-scale farmers selected from wards across the state, according to Wunti.
Wunti noted that the programme is aimed at alleviating the economic burden on farmers struggling with high prices of essential commodities and farming inputs, particularly fertilizers.
He said, “This initiative is a significant contribution towards achieving food sufficiency and security, and is expected to bring relief to farmers, enhance agricultural productivity, and boost economic growth,” he said.
The Head of Enterprises of the foundation, Mr. Ango Mustapha, further explained that the rationale behind the gesture is to assist local farmers, considering the high cost of fertilizer.
Noting that all selected farmers would receive two bags of fertilizer, he urged the beneficiaries to use the fertilizers judiciously so that it would translate to a bumper harvest by the end of the year.
Bauchi State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Yakubu Sambo, commended the foundation for supporting local farmers with fertilizers.
He said the initiative was timely, considering the high prices of fertilizer in the country.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Ibrahim Fada, Hajiya Hauwa’u Abbas and Yusuf Kilishi, from Bauchi LGA, expressed happiness at the development.
Also, farmers from Toro Local Government, including Mrs Tabita Dabo, Yusuf Yan’Kwanan Lame and Ibrahim Yari, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the support.
Yari described the gesture as a significant succor in view of the exorbitant prices of fertilizer in the country.
Food scarcity: Bauchi farmers get fertilizer as Foundation moves to boost agricultural productivity
Hardship: Shelve planned protest -Tompolo urges Nigerian youths
Niger Delta leader and Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has called on the organisers of the proposed nationwide protest to listen to well-meaning Nigerians’ call to stop the action.
Tompolo, while admitting to citizens’ right to protest, noted that the current hardship in the country did not start from the past year of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding that it was long in the making.
“I wish to add my voice to all well-meaning Nigerians, including our revered traditional rulers, on the call to shelve the proposed hardship protest billed to start on August 1, 2024.
“It is true that there is hunger and hardship in the country. However, it must be pointed out that hunger and hardship did not start today.
“President Tinubu is working hard to revamp the economy with well-thought-out policies and programmes in addressing the issues of the economy and security, which are the basis of other problems in the country.
“I am aware of Mr. President’s efforts to get things right in the country, and truly things are getting better. For instance, there has been a great improvement in the oil and gas sector in the last year, which is still the main source of our economy,” he said.
He said he was aware of the right of the citizenry to protest government policies and programmes in any country, stressing that it was one sure way for the citizens to participate effectively in governance, by checking the excesses of any government.
Tompolo urged the organizers to know that the timing is wrong, saying that the protest may cause more harm than good, as security reports have indicated that the protest will be hijacked by unscrupulous elements.
“Against this background, I have joined other Patriotic Nigerians to appeal to prospective protesters to call off the proposed protest and engage governments at all levels to find lasting solutions to the country’s problems. You must agree that the threat of protest only has achieved its aim, as Mr. President has said loud and clear, that he has heard the voices of prospective protesters,” he added.
Hardship: Shelve planned protest -Tompolo urges Nigerian youths