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Ethiopia declares three-day mourning as landslide kills 250

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Ethiopia declares three-day mourning as landslide kills 250

Ethiopia announced on Friday three days of mourning following a devastating landslide in a southern remote part of the country where more than 250 people lost their lives.

Rescuers are continuing the grim search for bodies in the tiny locality of Kencho Shacha Gozdi, while distraught survivors bury those who perished in the disaster, the deadliest landslide on record in the Horn of Africa nation.

UN humanitarian agency OCHA, citing local authorities, said on Thursday that 257 people have died and warned the toll could reach 500.

“The House of Peoples’ Representatives has announced a three-day national mourning for the people who lost their lives in the landslide accident,” Ethiopia’s parliament said, adding that it would start from Saturday.

The period of remembrance would allow “comfort to their relatives and all the people of our country,” added the statement, shared by the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission said earlier Friday that humanitarian aid and rehabilitation was “well under way” in the region.

It said a “structure for emergency disaster response coordination and integration” had been established, putting the number of people needing to be relocated at 6,000.

OCHA had said more than 15,000 people need to be evacuated because of the risk of further landslides, including small children and thousands of pregnant women or new mothers.

Aid had begun arriving, it said, including four trucks from the Ethiopian Red Cross Society.

Officials said most of the victims were buried when they rushed to help after a first landslide, which followed heavy rains Sunday in the area that lies about 480 kilometres (300 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa.

International offers of condolences have flooded in, including from the African Union, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and World Health

Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian.

Africa’s second most populous nation is often afflicted by climate-related disasters and more than 21 million people or about 18 percent of the population rely on humanitarian aid as a result of conflict, flooding or drought.

AFP.

125 Boko Haram terrorists, financiers convicted in mass trial — FG

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125 Boko Haram terrorists, financiers convicted in mass trial — FG

The Federal Government on Friday disclosed that 125 Boko Haram terrorists and financiers were convicted in the resumed mass trial held over two days in Kainji, Niger State.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication & Publicity, Office of the AGF, Kamarudeen Ogundele, noted that the convicts were tried on charges bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, rendering material support, and cases relating to International Criminal Court criminality.

He said the trials were held under the Giwa Project Kainji Phase Five, between Tuesday and Wednesday, before five Federal High Court judges led by Justice Binta Nyako.

Others are Justices Joyce Abdulmalik, Emeka Nwite, Obiora Egwuatu, and Mobolaji Olajuwon.

He added that all 125 of them were found guilty on the charges brought against them.

The statement read in part: “The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is superintending over the trial in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

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Delta: East West road bridge collapses, transporters seek alternative routes

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Delta: East West road bridge collapses, transporters seek alternative routes

The Uwheru Community bridge along the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State has collapsed.
Details as to the cause of the collapse are still sketchy at the time of this report.
TVN Correspondent in Warri reports that passengers and transporters coming from Port-Court, Rivers and other Niger Delta States have been forced to completely abandon a section of the road where the incident occurred using only one lane.
A cross-section of drivers have now appealed to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to help repair the road and make it motorable for the masses in that axis.
Delta: East West road bridge collapses, transporters seek alternative routes

Airfares may rise as NAMA set to raise levy by 800%

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Airfares may rise as NAMA set to raise levy by 800%

Amid complaints by the Airline Operators of Nigeria over multiple taxation, the Federal Government has expressed its intention to further raise its charges.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Umar Farouk, announced this on Friday at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents seminar themed “Aviation Survivability amidst a Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,” held in Ikeja, Lagos.

He stated that the agency would raise its en-route navigational charges from N2,000 and N6,000 to N18,000 and N54,000 per flight. Similarly, the airspace agency increased the extension of service hours to airlines from N50,000 to N450,000, representing an 800 per cent increase per extension to enable the agency to recover the cost of diesel and other logistics during the extension period.

This means that airfares might also skyrocket by 800 per cent.

In January, NAMA and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority held a strategic meeting with some airline operators to review what has been described as the outdated N16,000 terminal en-route navigational charges.

He said, “The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency relies on statutory fees for the management of the airspace (remember that aviation takes place only in the air). These funds are generated from services we provide to the flying community. Without these funds, NAMA can’t discharge its responsibility of ensuring the safety of our airspace effectively. We mainly generate these funds through the airline companies.”

Farouk also noted that in 2023, NAMA had an expenditure of about N21 billion in personnel costs alone, over N12 billion in capital costs, and over N10 billion in overhead costs, adding that all these were to be funded without the Federal Government budgetary allocation.

He said NAMA had been charging as low as N11,000 per flight when a one-way domestic ticket cost only N16,000.

He mentioned that while ticket prices today have gone up astronomically to as high as between N150,000 to N200,000 for a one-way economy ticket owing to the prevailing economic circumstances, NAMA navigational charges had remained the same since June 2008.

“Currently, our unit rate for international flights charged for service provision is about $70, and domestic flights are charged N6,000. While NAMA recognises the difficult economic environment in which aviation operates in Nigeria, it is equally a part of the ecosystem.

“It goes to the same market to procure equipment and other services like training. If NAMA is to survive and continue to guarantee safety and efficiency in the airspace, it must breathe.

“Even though most costs in the economy have increased by more than 1,000 percent, NAMA has proposed to increase its fees by 800%. The new rates for en-route and terminal navigation charges are to be reviewed from N2,000 and N6,000 to N18,000 and N54,000 per flight.

“Also, the extension of service hours is to be reviewed from N50,000 to N450,000 per extension to enable the agency to recover the cost of diesel and other logistics during the period of extension”.

“The largest percentage of NAMA’s revenue comes from en-route navigation charges (domestic and international flights) and terminal navigation charges (domestic and international flights). While international flights pay in US dollars, domestic flights pay in the Nigerian currency.”

23 electricity workers died in Q1 2024 – NERC

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23 electricity workers died in Q1 2024 – NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed that 23 electricity workers died in the line of duty in the first quarter of this year in the country.
The commission disclosed this in its latest report made available to journalists on Friday.
It added that 23 workers died while 31 others sustained injuries in 55 accidents during the period.
The report read: “The total number of accidents in 2024/Q1 was 55 which resulted in 31 injuries and 23 fatalities.
“The major causes of casualties (deaths and injuries) recorded in Q1 2024 are wire snaps – six deaths and six injuries; illegal/unauthorized access – five deaths and two injuries; acts of vandalism – two deaths and five injuries; unsafe acts/conditions – 10 deaths and 12 injuries; falls from height – two injuries.
“Breakdown of the number of casualties – Eko Disco (13), Benin Disco (8); Jos Disco (6), and Aba Power (6).
“Cumulatively, Discos accounted for 96.30 percent of casualties recorded in 2024/Q1 continuing a trend observed in previous quarters (98.48 percent in 2023/Q4) that the distribution segment is the biggest contributor to safety issues experienced in the NESI (Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry.”
The post 23 electricity workers died in Q1 2024 – NERC appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Israel plans offensive against Lebanon’s Hezbollah

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Israel plans offensive against Lebanon’s Hezbollah

An Israeli military commander said Friday that troops in the country’s north were preparing for “a decisive offensive” against Lebanon’s Hezbollah after months of deadly cross-border exchanges.

Israeli forces have traded near-daily fire with Hamas ally Hezbollah since the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s commanding officer in the north, Major General Ori Gordin, told troops that “we have already eliminated more than 500 terrorists in Lebanon, the great majority of them from Hezbollah”, an army statement said.

According to an AFP tally, more than nine months of violence have killed at least 523 people in Lebanon.

Most of them, 342 people, have been confirmed to be Hezbollah militants

but the tally also includes 104 civilians. Gordin did not mention civilian casualties.

In northern Israel, at least 18 Israeli soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed, according to the military.

The exchanges of fire have been largely restricted to the border areas and displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese as well as Israeli residents.

The Israeli military has “destroyed thousands” of targets across the border, Gordin said.

The statement said troops were now preparing “for the transition to offence”.

“When the moment comes and we go on the offensive, it will be a decisive offensive,” Gordin added.

Iran-backed Hezbollah says it is acting in support of Hamas with its attacks on Israel since October 8.

The escalating violence and unsuccessful mediation efforts have raised fears of an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which last went to war in 2006.

Israel has demanded that parts of southern Lebanon be cleared of Hezbollah militants in line with a UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war.

AFP.

Police arrests two suspected bandits’ informants in Katsina

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Police arrests two suspected bandits’ informants in Katsina

Police operatives in Katsina have arrested two suspected bandits’ informants and recovered suspected rustled animals in the state.
The spokesman for the state police command, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Katsina.
He said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the state’s Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and hunters in Jibia local government area of the state.
The spokesman said: “On July 25, 2024, a team of police operatives attached to Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters while on routine patrol in collaboration with the KSCWC and Hunters, successfully arrested two suspects, all from Zandam village, in Jibia LGA.
“The suspects were arrested along Magama cemetery in possession of two rams, one sheep, and a goat, suspected to have been rustled.”
“In the course of the investigation, the duo confessed to having received the rustled animals from a suspected notorious bandits’ leader called Nura of Mazanya village in Jibia, now at large.
“The suspects were on their way to dispose of the animals at Magama market, in Jibia local government when they were arrested.”
The post Police arrests two suspected bandits’ informants in Katsina appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Submit your names, addresses to police, IG tells hunger protest organisers

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Submit your names, addresses to police, IG tells hunger protest organisers

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.

He spoke while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday.

He said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.

Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.

“However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.

“To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.”

The IG added that the information expected from the organizers also includes measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.

He added that by providing the information, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.

He also said the police needed to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.

Other guidelines, as issued by Egbetokun, are, “Establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.

“We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.”

Details later…

JNI urges protesters, FG to engage in talks

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JNI urges protesters, FG to engage in talks

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, appealed on Friday to protest conveners, stakeholders, and the Federal Government to engage in dialogue before the situation escalates.

The Muslim organisation acknowledged that Nigerians are facing difficult challenges but noted that protests might not be the solution.

In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, in Kaduna State, the JNI highlighted that the global landscape has shown that protests have led to uncontrollable situations in countries such as Libya, Syria, and Iraq.

JNI urged the government to secure the country to ensure access to land and cultivation, provide subsidised farming materials, promote industrialisation, and enhance the quality of education.

According to the statement, the JNI advocated for sober reflection, sincere humility, and continued prayer to Allah, while citing Qur’anic guidance and the Prophet’s teachings on supplication.

The statement read in part: “Arising from the recent calls and counter-calls for protests in Nigeria, driven by food insecurity, inflation, abject poverty, and escalating national security challenges, it becomes very worrying and requires immediate attention.

“Therefore, the JNI, under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with all sense of responsibility, appeals to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as other critical stakeholders and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), to urgently engage in critical and realistic dialogue before the situation deteriorates or snowballs into an uncontrollable scenario.

“Nigerians, no doubt, are facing difficult challenges, but protests might not be the panacea. The global landscape is replete with sordid tales of the repercussions of protests in Libya, Syria, Iraq, the US (Capitol Hill), Ukraine, Tunisia, Sudan, Russia, among others, which did not yield the desired results but rather rendered most of these countries either ungovernable or partly destroyed.”

The organisation noted: “A glance at events in Kenya provides some insights into what might envelop our dear nation Nigeria, which is struggling to overcome the multiple challenges facing the country. Undoubtedly, protests in Nigeria could undermine our efforts to address these challenges.”

The JNI urged Nigerians to “avoid the pitfalls they have fallen into in their attempts to achieve good governance, against the notion that protests are the only way forward because that is the language the government is said to understand.”

“The FGN should make more concerted efforts to secure the country, ensuring that citizens have access to their lands and can cultivate them, and provide subsidised farming materials,” among other measures across the Federation.

Group requests security support from Lagos CP for upcoming hunger protest

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Group requests security support from Lagos CP for upcoming hunger protest

The Active Citizens Group Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, has informed the state Commissioner of Police about their upcoming participation in a nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024.
In a letter, the group’s state coordinator, Adamma Ukpabi, outlined their plans for a peaceful demonstration, emphasizing their right to free speech and assembly.
The protest will follow two designated routes: the mainland route, starting at NAHCO Bus Stop and concluding at International Airport, Ikeja, and the island route, beginning at Marwa Bus Stop in Lekki Phase 1 and ending at Eti-Osa Local Government.
The letter, titled “Subject: Notification of Peaceful Protest and Request for Security Support,” addressed to the Commissioner of Police, reads:
“Dear Commissioner of Police, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing on behalf of Active Citizens Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, to formally notify you of our planned participation in the nationwide peaceful protest against bad governance scheduled to take place from August 1 to 10, 2024.
“Our aim is to peacefully exercise our constitutional right to free speech and assembly as we voice our demands for improved governance and accountability from our leaders,” Ukpabi wrote.
The group has requested police support at both protest sites to ensure safety, manage traffic, and reduce disruption to public activities.
“We trust in the professionalism and dedication of the Lagos State Police Command to uphold public safety and protect citizens’ rights. We are open to any advice or suggestions you may have to facilitate the success of these peaceful demonstrations,” the letter continued.
The protest, which has gained significant attention on social media, is organized under the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria and seeks to address the ongoing economic challenges in the country.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has voiced concerns that the protest might escalate similarly to the recent demonstrations in Kenya, which started peacefully but turned violent over tax issues.
The post Group requests security support from Lagos CP for upcoming hunger protest appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

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