Wike relaxes curfew in Rivers LGAs

Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has reviewed the curfew in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of the state from 8.30pm to 6am starting effective Sunday May 16, 2021.

Governor Wike however announced that the curfew time in other parts of the state remains 7pm to 6am until further notice.

He disclosed this when he addressed the people of the state, in a broadcast, Saturday evening.

He urged the residents to be vigilant as they go about their lawful businesses, assuring that security officials are on ground to address any state of insecurity. 

#EndSARS: Two Victims Of Police Brutality Receive N11m Compensation

The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims of SARS has again given out cheques to more victims of police brutality.

At the panel’s sitting on Saturday, two victims were awarded the sum of N11 million as compensation.

With the new compensations, the panel has now given out a total sum of N68. 25 million to 12 petitioners.

In the petition of late Rasheed Olanrewaju Kareem, his widow was awarded the sum of N10m for the extra judicial killing.

The brother of the deceased, Olalekan Bankole, who testified on February 16, had said that the deceased was shot in the head by police officers from the Area C Command in Surulere.

The incident was said to have occurred on October 21, 2020 during the #EndSARS protests.

The panel found that the police authorities failed to investigate the unjustified shooting of unarmed persons at the Tejuosho and Aralile areas of Surulere in Lagos, as well as the extrajudicial killing of the deceased and other persons.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi recommended that “the Nigeria Police Force carries out an independent investigation into the sporadic and deliberate shooting, in order to confirm who carried out the shooting” and prosecute them accordingly.

In the petition of Yinka Austin Adebayo, the panel awarded him the sum of N1 million naira as compensation for the unlawful arrest, brutality and torture meted on him by police operatives between September 28 and 30, 2017.

In reaching its decision, the panel found that on the totality of evidence adduced by the petitioner, the Petitioner’s evidence was undefended, strong and uncontroverted by the Police.

It was also corroborated by the evidence of the second witness as proof that Mr Austin’s rights were infringed upon unjustifiably, having being cleared by the DPO of the Ojo Police Command in Lagos of committing any crime, yet he was still transferred to the SARS unit at Ikeja.

The panel frowned at the illegal confiscation of his car and further held that he was entitled to compensation in the sum of N1m for the violation of his personal liberty and degrading treatment meted to him.

At Least 12 Killed As Tornado Hits China

Two tornadoes that struck central and eastern China killed at least 12 people and injured more than 400, authorities said Saturday.

Violent winds of more than 260 kilometres per hour (160 miles per hour) blasted the central city of Wuhan on Friday night.

Eight people died and more than 280 were injured there, authorities said, adding that around 30 homes had collapsed.

Vehicles were crushed by falling objects, trees uprooted, buildings partially destroyed and electricity pylons felled, leaving more than 26,000 homes without power.

The gale damaged two construction cranes, one of which toppled onto the site below, causing significant damage.

In Suzhou, near Shanghai, another tornado with winds of more than 200 kilometres per hour wreaked havoc.

Four people were killed and one remains missing, according to local authorities.

Images shared on social media showed a black whirlwind that left a trail of destruction.

In May, a windstorm caused the deaths of 11 people in a different town also close to Shanghai.

AFP

Israel destroys Gaza tower housing AP and Al Jazeera offices

Israel destroyed a 12-storey tower block in Gaza housing the offices of the U.S.-based Associated Press and other news media on Saturday, saying the building was also used by the Islamist militant group Hamas.

The al-Jalaa building in Gaza City, which also houses the offices of Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera as well as other offices and apartments, had been evacuated after the owner received advanced warning of the impending strike.

A Palestinian journalist was wounded in the strike, Palestinian media reported, and debris and shrapnel flew dozens of yards away.

The Israeli military said its "fighter jets struck a multi-story building which contained military assets belonging to the intelligence offices of the Hamas terror organization".

It said it had provided advance warning to civilians in the building, allowing them to get out.

AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt called the strike "an incredibly disturbing development". He said a dozen AP journalists and freelancers had been in the building and had been evacuated in time.

"We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza," he said in a statement."The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what happened today."

“The aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza," he said in a statement.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus rejected the notion that Israel was seeking to silence the media. "That is totally false, the media is not the target," he told Reuters.

Conricus called the building a legitimate military target, saying it contained Hamas military intelligence. He said Hamas might have calculated that by placing their "assets" inside a building with news media offices in it "they probably hoped that would keep them safe from Israeli attack".

The Israeli military has said during nearly a week of intense conflict that its strikes on buildings in Gaza are aimed at hitting targets used by Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the enclave.

Hamas militants have fired more than 2,000 rockets at Israel during the latest violence. Palestinians medics say at least 139 people, including 39 children, have been killed in Gaza. Israel has reported nine dead, including two children.

U.S. ENVOY IN ISRAEL

The destruction of the building came the day after U.S. President Joe Biden's envoy Hady Amr arrived in Israel amid diplomatic efforts to restore calm and ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting on Sunday.

Asked why entire building was destroyed, Conricus said: "There was no way of taking down only the Hamas facilities that were in the building. They occupied several floors in the building and it was impossible only to take down those floors. It was deemed necessary to take down the whole building."

Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, accused Israel on Twitter of targeting media so that "the world can’t see Palestinians being massacred".

An Al Jazeera report on the strike on its English-language website quoted journalist Safwat al-Kahlout as saying: “I have been working here for 11 years. I have been covering many events from this building, we have lived personal professional experiences. Now everything, in two seconds, just vanished.”

Israel pounds Gaza to curb Palestinian militants but rockets still fly

As the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip lit up the skies and sent civilians running for cover for a fifth night running on Friday, diplomats stepped up efforts to try and end the violence.

As Gazans marked a grim Eid al-Fitr feast marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and Israel began a holiday weekend with no sign of an end to fighting, casualties spread further afield, with Palestinians reporting 11 killed in the West Bank amid clashes between protesters and Israeli security forces.

The Israeli military said more than 2,000 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel since the start of the conflict, around half of which were intercepted by missile defence systems and 350 fell into the Gaza Strip.

At least 126 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 31 children and 20 women, and 950 others wounded, Palestinian medical officials said.

Among eight dead in Israel were a soldier patrolling the Gaza border and six Israeli civilians, including two children, Israeli authorities said.

Ahead of a session of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday to discuss the situation, Biden administration envoy Hady Amr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs, flew in on Friday.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel said the aim of his trip was "to reinforce the need to work toward a sustainable calm."

Israel launched day-long attacks to destroy what it said were several km (miles) of tunnels, launch sites and weapon manufacturing warehouses used by the militants in an effort to halt the rocket attacks.

The Israeli operation included 160 aircraft as well as tanks and artillery firing from outside the Gaza Strip, Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said. It included a bank that, Israel said, handled the day-to-day cash flow of Hamas and its armed wing.

There have also been clashes between Jews and Israel's minority Arab community in mixed cities across Israel. The Israeli police said they had arrested at least 23 people over the unrest.

The Israeli army said late on Friday three rockets had been fired from Syria at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights but there were no reports of any damage.

DIPLOMATIC FLURRY

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was focused on leveraging U.S. relationships in the region to end the crisis diplomatically, adding that Israel had a right to self-defence.

Egypt was leading regional efforts to secure a ceasefire. Cairo was pushing for both sides to cease fire from midnight on Friday pending further negotiations, two Egyptian security sources said, with Egypt leaning on Hamas and others, including the United States, trying to reach an agreement with Israel.

The foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan discussed efforts to end the Gaza confrontation and to prevent "provocations" in Jerusalem, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

"The talks have taken a real and serious path on Friday," a Palestinian official said. "The mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations are stepping up their contacts with all sides in a bid to restore calm, but a deal hasn't yet been reached."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also appealed for an immediate ceasefire.

"Fighting has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism...," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, launched the rocket attacks on Monday, in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, in East Jerusalem.

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, who led Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque, decried its treatment by Israeli forces. He said its "sanctity has been violated several times during the holy month of Ramadan" in what he called violations "unprecedented" since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Israel says it makes every effort to preserve civilian life, including warning in advance of attacks. read more

"What we were targeting is an elaborate system of tunnels that spans underneath Gaza, mostly in the north but not limited to, and is a network that the operatives of Hamas use in order to move, in order to hide, for cover," Conricus told foreign reporters, adding that the network was known as "the Metro".

The Israeli military has put the number of militants killed so far in the Israeli attacks at between 80 and 90.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said there were reports of more than 200 housing units destroyed or severely damaged in Gaza and hundreds of people seeking shelter in schools in the north of the coastal enclave.

Major airlines have suspended flights to Israel and at least two owners of tankers delivering crude oil asked to divert from Ashkelon to the port of Haifa, farther north of Gaza, because of the conflict, shipping sources said on Friday.

There were pro-Palestinian protests in Jordan,Bangladesh and elsewhere, but the broader picture across the Islamic world, where Muslims are marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday and where restrictions on movement due to COVID-19 are in place in some countries, was noticeably muted.

Airlines Suspend Flights To Israel

Israel’s escalating conflict with the Palestinians saw several airlines on Thursday suspend services to the Jewish state amid global alarm and diplomatic efforts to halt the spiralling violence.

– KLM –

Dutch airline KLM has halted flights to Israel for the time being, Dutch public broadcaster NOS said. A flight from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport that was postponed earlier in the week due to the violence has been cancelled for good and KLM is deciding whether a flight due on Sunday can go ahead, NOS said.

– BA, Virgin –

British Airways cancelled its service to and from Tel Aviv on Thursday and Virgin Atlantic also did the same for Thursday and Friday.

Both airlines said they are monitoring the situation closely.

– Lufthansa –

Germany’s flag carrier cancelled flights for Thursday and Friday, adding: “Lufthansa expects to resume its flight operations to Israel beginning Saturday, May 15.”

– Aeroflot –

Aeroflot cancelled its Moscow-Tel Aviv flight for Friday but did not specify if others would be cancelled in the coming days.

– Iberia –

The Spanish airline cancelled its flight Madrid to Tel Aviv for Thursday and Friday-Saturday’s return leg.

An Iberia spokeswoman told AFP: “We will take further decisions based on the evolution of the situation.”

– US airlines –

United, which operates 18 flight weekly to Israel, said it was suspending operations.

Delta and American Airlines also confirmed they have suspended services between New York and Tel Aviv.

– LOT –

The Polish airline said it had “suspended flights to Israel for the moment”. Spokesman Krzysztof Moczulski added: “I suppose that we will not be flying there in the coming days”.

AFP

Ondo university student commits suicide

The management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State says it will investigate the reason behind the death of one its students identified as Feranmi Fasunle.

Fasunle reportedly died as a result of the sniper she allegedly drank on Wednesday night.

It was gathered that the 200-level student of the Department of Political Science at the varsity drank the insecticide on Wednesday night in her room and was later rushed to the school’s health centre but was later referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo where she gave up the ghost early Thursday.

The reason for taking the action against herself was yet unknown. It was insinuated in some quarters that the deceased had relationship issue but some of her friends refuted this as they said she had no boyfriend.

The Head of Media and Protocols of institution, Victor Akinpelumi, speaking on the incident, described the student’s death as unfortunate, saying there was indication that Fasunle committed suicide for another reason and not on relationship matter.

Akinpelumi said, “It is true that she committed suicide. We have not been officially briefed but the only details we have is that she took sniper and she was later rushed to the state health centre and from there she was referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo.

“The bad incident happened on Wednesday and we have not carried out our findings to ascertain if she committed suicide over relationship issues but from what we gathered she had no boyfriend.

“The doctor, who spoke with me, said those who brought her said they were close to her and that she was not involved in any relationship. So, why she did that to herself is what we are yet to know.

“We will further react if we later know why she took that decision to take her own life.”

Go with water, food, prepare for worst situation in Egypt, Azeez advises Enyimba

Former Enyimba of Aba striker, Abu Azeez, believes the Peoples Elephant will beat Pyramids of Egypt in the CAF Confederation Cup if they plan their travels and other logistics well.

Azeez, who advised the Aba team to prepare for rough times in the hands of Pyramids on March 16, said the Egyptians could use every foul mean available to get the advantage in the quarterfinal clash.

Azeez predicted that Pyramids would create an unpleasant atmosphere to put Enyimba under pressure and get the advantage in their home leg of the tie.

To counter whatever Pyramids throw at them, Azeez advised Enyimba’s management to travel with food, water and other sensitive materials to Egypt, saying the move would help to keep the players safe ahead of the game.

“North African teams are aggressive in CAF organised championships, especially at the knock out stage of the tournament.

“To avoid unpleasant experience, Enyimba should travel with their water, food and other personal materials needed for the trip to Egypt.

“The club management should also organise special transportation from the airport to the hotel immediately they arrive in Egypt to avoid unnecessary delay by the host.

“The hotel the players and officials will lodge must be okay and safe for the team,” he said.

Narrating the team’s ordeal when he was still playing for the Aba side, Azeez said, “I remember when Enyimba played against a Tunisian team in a CAF Champions League and a substance that would make players weak was sprayed inside the dressing room.

“We had to change outside the dressing room at the stadium. When we escaped that incident, as the team was entering the stadium some spectators started throwing objects, which even injured one of our officials.

“The intimidation and frustration put the team under pressure in the encounter, which made Enyimba lose 0-3. But thank God, we had already won 3-0 in Nigeria, so, the game ended in a penalty shoot out which Enyimba won.”

The first leg of the quarterfinals will hold on May 16, while the return leg holds May 23.

FG debunks reports of new COVID-19 restrictions

The Federal Government on Tuesday denied media reports that it has “introduced or re-introduced’’ new restrictions on COVID-19.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the rebuttal at a meeting with Online Publishers in Lagos.

Mohammed said there were no new restrictions, adding that the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 only reiterated existing regulations to control the spread of the disease.

The minister, a member of the steering committee, said the committee’s national incident manager Mukhtar Mohammed was quoted out of context during the briefing of the committee on Monday in Abuja.

He said the only thing that was newly introduced was that anyone, including Nigerians travelling from Brazil, Turkey or India, must go through compulsory quarantine.

“What we did was the need to remind people of the existing extant regulations on Covid-19.

“Government has not introduced anything new. You can still travel by air or road or any other means but ensure you wear your face mask.

“We have not opened night clubs, the regulations on social distancing, social and religious gatherings, use of face mask are still in place.

“The curfew between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. is still on and we are saying people must obey the existing protocols,’’ he said.

The minister said the emphasis became imperative because Nigerians were taking things for granted and behaving as if COVID-19 had gone.

He said India made the same mistake and they were paying dearly for it at the moment

“This is the mistake that India made when they actually boasted they had conquered Covid-19.

“They were holding political campaigns and religious festivals when a new variant of COVID -19 surfaced.

“Today, they are recording more than 400,000 case per day and about 4,000 lives lost daily.

“This is why every citizen must know where we are going,’’ he said.

Mohammed said Nigeria had been fortunate not to record a high rate of infection that it would not have the health infrastructure to handle.

FG To Prosecute 400 Suspects For Funding Terrorism – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government is set to prosecute 400 suspects arrested for allegedly funding terrorism in the country.

This is according to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this on Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos.

He also reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in tackling the menace of insurgency, banditry and other security threats across the country.

“The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has announced that the Federal Government is set to prosecute 400 suspects arrested for allegedly funding terrorism,” he said.

“This is unprecedented and its a testament to the government’s determination to decisively tackle terrorism and other violent crimes.”

The Minister also appealed to Nigerians to support security agencies, who face the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect others.

Mohammed also described attacks on security formations as a declaration of war against the country, condemning the assault on security operatives.

He added, “While the government continues with these efforts to restore peace and security continues, I want to appeal to all of us to play our part in lowering the palpable tension in the polity as a result of the security challenges. The first step is to tone down the rhetoric.

“Now, there is a growing dangerous trend which I will like to comment on. It is the practice of launching deadly attacks against the nation’s security personnel. Soldiers as well as police, customs, and other security agents have been killed and maimed in some parts of the country in this growing trend of targeting security forces.

“I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the nation. It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force.”

Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.

The country has been battling terrorism for more than a decade which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the northeast.

Police Arrest Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Ammunition In Imo

The Police have arrested suspected armed robbers and recovered ammunition in Imo State.

The suspects were said to be a part of the robbery gang that has been terrorising Nekede and its environs.

In a statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Ikeokwu Orlando, the suspects, Godwin Danladi and Bamaiyi Gada were arrested at Eziobodo in Owerri West LGA of Imo State.

“At the point of arrest, one AK47 rifle, two magazines, two live ammunition, one Military Camouflage, and some other Military Accouterments were recovered from them”.

Read Full Statement Below

On 11/05/21, operatives of the Divisional Police Hqrs, Nekede/Ihiagwa, acting on a report of Armed robbery stormed a criminal hideout at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, and arrested the following:-

– GODWIN DANLADI “M” 20 yrs old

– BAMAIYI GADA “M” yrs old

At the point of arrest, one AK47 rifle, two magazines, two live ammunition, one Military Camouflage, and some other Military Accouterments were recovered from them.

They confessed to being part of the Armed Robbery gang that has been terrorising Nekede and the environs.

They are strongly believed to be part of the prison inmates that escaped from the Correctional Service on 5/04/21. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.

SP IKEOKWU GODSON ORLANDO
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
IMO STATE

Culled from Channels TV.

Queen Elizabeth returns to public stage detailing UK govt’s new agenda

Queen Elizabeth II opened a new session of parliament on Tuesday, in her first public appearance since the funeral of her late husband Prince Philip, as she revealed the Conservative government’s post-pandemic legislative agenda.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, buoyant after his party’s triumph in local and regional elections in England last week, is vowing to deliver on his mantra to “build back better” with a wide-ranging raft of policies.

But he faces renewed questions over the UK’s cohesion after pro-independence forces won a majority in elections to the Scottish parliament with pledges to hold another referendum on breaking away from the centuries-old union.

Johnson’s government, after rolling out a successful coronavirus vaccination drive, is intent on reopening the economy and refocusing on long-term promises to “level up” prosperity across Britain.

“My government’s priority is to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the United Kingdom stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before,” the 95-year-old monarch said in a speech from a gilded throne in the upper House of Lords.

Borders focus
The Queen said the government would introduce an environment bill to set legally binding emissions targets as Britain prepares to host the UN’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November.

A “counter-state threats bill”, meanwhile, will provide the security services with tools to tackle hostile activity by foreign states and foreign actors.

New measures will also aim to strengthen Britain’s borders and deter “criminals who facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys”, after rising numbers of asylum-seekers coming on boats across the Channel from France.

Tightening immigration rules and securing borders were vote-winning promises of Johnson’s campaign for leaving the European Union in Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum, as well as in securing his thumping 2019 election win.

But by differentiating between asylum-seekers who enter by legal channels and those who enter Britain from “safe” destinations like France, the government has provoked anger among refugee groups.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR has said the proposals could breach international law and be “expensive and hard to implement”.

But Johnson’s spokesman has insisted the plans comply with all laws.

Meanwhile, ministers will legislate to address racial and ethnic disparities, ban gay conversion therapy, enhance animal rights and help more people to own their own home.

The government will also implement the fastest-ever increase in public funding for research and development and establish an advanced research agency.

‘Historic opportunity’
Normally an annual event replete with five centuries of tradition and pageantry, which last occurred in late 2019 amid political acrimony over Brexit, the monarch’s state opening of parliament was scaled back this year due to the pandemic.

This meant far fewer attendees and the Queen travelled to Westminster by car instead of in a horse-drawn carriage. She also wore a powder-blue day dress and feathered hat instead of robes and a crown.

Only a select few from parliament’s two chambers were allowed to attend to maintain social distancing, and those present needed to have tested negative for Covid.

The Queen — Britain’s longest-serving monarch — was accompanied by her 72-year-old son and heir, Prince Charles, as she returned to public duties three weeks after the Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest. He died last month, aged 99.

Johnson said separately that countering coronavirus remained the “number one priority” but insisted the recovery provided a “historic opportunity to change things for the better”.

“As the United Kingdom gets back on its feet, we will turbo-charge our economic recovery in every part of our country, increasing and spreading opportunity,” he added.

Union future
In her speech, written by the government, the Queen also detailed plans to “strengthen the economic ties across the union”, in part by improving national infrastructure.

The monarch’s role is to stay above the political fray but the future of her kingdom could be at stake after the election results north of the border gave new impetus to the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP).

When Scots last voted on the question of quitting the UK in 2014, Queen Elizabeth issued a guarded remark for voters to “think very carefully about the future”.

They opted against independence then, and Johnson’s flat rejection of SNP demands for a fresh referendum threatens to open a new constitutional crisis in the queen’s post-Brexit realm.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday that it would be “absurd and completely outrageous” for the UK Supreme Court to have to step in and adjudicate on any referendum’s legality.

Okorocha urges FG to reduce hunger, says Nigerians are angry

Former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has urged the Nigerian government to change its approach in the fight against insecurity and economic problems.

Okorocha identified injustice and poverty as the main factors responsible for the current level of insecurity in Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator said if the government hopes to lower the level of anger in the land, it must begin to tackle every sense of injustice and do all that is possible to make the people happy.

Okorocha made this statement when he joined the Ona of Abaji and hundreds of other Muslim faithful especially the needy and less privileged in the breaking of their Ramadan fast on Monday in Abuja.

The former Imo State governor said over 75% of Nigerian citizens are angry at the turn of events in the country, adding that nothing useful can come out of a country with so much bitterness and anger.

“You can’t solve a problem unless you know the causative. The cause of our Nigerian problem lies in injustice and poverty and the quicker the government moves to address the issue of injustice, the better it is for our nation to reduce the level of anger on the nation,” Okorocha said.

“Yes, things are not okay with our nation. Yes, we have big challenges but we must never give up on this nation called Nigeria and I believe a new Nigeria will soon be born.”

He said what the country needs to find is a new approach to the situation that will replace anger with love.

“If abuses and anger could have helped this nation; I’m sure by now we would have solved this problem,” Okorocha said. “So we must change our style as a nation, imbibe the spirit of brotherhood, prayers and love.”

Okorocha advised the government to apply more dialogue than the use of deadly weapons against insurgents and bandits in the country.

“I appeal that the Nigerian government must change our style. It appears the old style of force and use of modern equipment to fight our insurgents have not helped us. It is increasing rather in geometric proportion despite the efforts of government,” Okorocha said.

PHOTOS: Bishop Oyedepo, others present as Pastor Dare Adeboye is laid to rest

 

Pastor Dare Adeboye, the third son of Pastor Enoch Adeboye has been laid to rest. Dare died in his sleep on May 4, 2021, in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria.

His funeral mass which held at the Redemption Camp was officiated by Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide.

Pastor Dare left behind a wife and children.

See more photos below:

Distracted nurse gives woman six doses of Covid-19 vaccine in a single shot

 A 23-year-old Italian woman who was mistakenly given six doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine all at once was released from a hospital on Monday, 10 May, without having suffered any apparent adverse reactions, local health authorities said. The incident occurred on Sunday morning at the Noa Hospital in Massa, in Tuscany.

According to CBS News, the patient was kept under observation for approximately 24 hours in the hospital’s emergency room. Doctors said she was given fluids and anti-inflammatory and fever medications as preventative measures.

“This person at this time will certainly not have side effects,” said Dr. Antonella Vicenti, director of infectious diseases at Noa Hospital. She said Pfizer studies had shown that people who receive up to 5-times the normal dosage did not suffer any consequences. She also said that patients in Israel and Germany who had accidentally been given 5-times the usual dosage also showed no adverse reactions.

“The patient did not have a fever and did not have any pain except for pain at the inoculation site, nor any other manifestations,” said Vincenti. “She was a bit frightened, thus we preferred to keep her here until this morning.”

Vincenti said it remained to be seen what long-term effects if any, the overdose might have on the young woman’s antibody levels, and thus her immune response to the coronavirus. She said the hospital would test her blood regularly to monitor her immune response and determine whether she should still get the scheduled second dose after a number of weeks.

Dr. Tommaso Bellandi, director of patient security for the northwest Tuscany health authority, said the accident occurred because the nurse had an attention lapse.

“This is something that should never happen,” he said. “Unfortunately, due to our limits as human beings, as well as organizational limits, these things can happen.”

He said the hospital had launched an investigation to review safety procedures.

Bellandi explained that each vial of the Pfizer vaccine contains six doses, which must be individually extracted and placed in separate vials, where they are then diluted. The nurse administering the vaccine on Sunday mistakenly injected all of the liquid from an undiluted vial.

“She thought that the dilution had taken place,” said Bellandi. “They are both transparent liquids of the same density. Unfortunately, this contributed to the error,” he said.

The nurse immediately realized her error and alerted the patient as well as the attending physician, who at once began monitoring the young woman for adverse reactions. Local health authorities and the patient’s family were immediately notified, too.

Bellandi said the incident occurred on an extremely busy day, during a period in which health workers were trying to administer as many vaccine doses as possible.

“I’m not trying to justify something that we hoped would never happen,” he said. “We are extremely regretful, especially towards the young woman.”

Bellandi said the nurse and the attending doctor were “heartbroken” at what had occurred, and a psychologist described them as “traumatized” by the event.

Insecurity: Police ban personnel from escorting principals to South-East states

Owing to the incessant attacks on police and other security formations in the South-East, the Nigerian Police Force (Delta State Command) has issued a red alert, urging its personnel to refrain from escorting their principals to states in the region.

According to a wireless message sighted by The Street Journal, the police accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security outfit of being behind the frequent attacks on security operatives.

The message which originated from the Delta Police Command and addressed to the Chief Security Officer of the Delta State Government House, Chief Superintendents of Police and other line officers, partly read:

“Sequel to the incessant attacks and snatching of arms and ammunition by the proscribed IPOB and ESN elements in the eastern states of Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo and Rivers States, the COMPOL DOPS directs you warn personnel of yours that escort of their principals to the six (6) eastern states is suspended forthwith until the security situation improves.

“Ensure strict compliance, please.”

The security situation in the South-East has deteriorated over the last few months with several policemen and operatives of the Nigerian Military being killed and their weapons carted away.

Both IPOB and ESN have continued to claim innocent despite the federal government pointing accusing fingers at them.

Similarly, several police stations across the South-East, including Nsukka, Nnewi, Obosi, Orlu, Onitsha, Aba and many others have come under attacks, a development that has led to the death of many police officers and vandalization of security facilities.

Yoruba actor, Olumide Olajide arrested for defrauding traders with fake bank alerts

One Olumide Olajide who claims to be a Yoruba film actor has been arrested for allegedly defrauding traders with fake bank alerts in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Olajide was paraded at the Police Command Headquarters alongside his partner, Wemimo Adeyanju, a Higher National Diploma student in one of the polytechnics in the South-West.

Speaking on how he was able to generate fake bank alerts, Olajide said he would ask for the account numbers and names of the sellers after buying goods from them, after which he would use the information to generate their details by dialing the USSD code of his bank.

After generating the recipient’s name, he said he would alter the old bank alert sent to him by his bank and change the date and the amount, and resend the same to the recipient. According to him, the fake alert sent will show on the recipient’s phone as a genuine alert from his bank.

“I did it just three times before I was arrested. After seeing the alert, they would allow me to go away with the goods paid for with the fake bank alert. I went to another shop and a woman recognized me through the display photograph on my WhatsApp and raised the alarm,” PUNCH quoted Olajide as saying.

Police sources told the publication that Olajide had an app on his phone through which he was generating fake bank alerts to defraud traders.

Wemimo added that he went out with the prime suspect. He admitted that Olajide used the fake bank alert to purchase some items on an occasion that he accompanied him.

“He did it once. He was the one who did it, but I followed him that day,” Wemimo Adeyanju stated.

Soldier shoots fruit seller dead after refusing to pay for banana

 

The family of a fruit seller identified as Abdulkadir Musa has been thrown into mourning after he was shot dead by a soldier in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

According to PUNCH, the unidentified soldier shot the fruit seller for refusing him to go away with his bunch of bananas without paying for them.

The father of the deceased, Alhaji Mustafa Musa, told the publication that two soldiers went to his son’s fruit stand on Sunday and purchased a bunch of bananas.

According to Alhaji Mustapha, when the soldiers paid for the bunch, they tried to collect another one for free and this led to a squabble.

“They bought a bunch of banana for N300 and instead of them taking the one they paid for, they also took another one and wanted to go with it, but my son did not allow them to do so.

“When they insisted that they must go with the bunch of bananas, the fruit vendor rushed to the police station, which was very close to the scene of the incident, and reported the case, and the two soldiers were arrested, but they were released shortly after,” the fruit seller’s father said.

Mustafa added that immediately the soldiers were released, one of them went home, fetched a gun and returned to the scene, and shot the fruit vendor.

“My son was shot in the back and we took him to the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, but unfortunately, he lost his life,” Mustafa said.

The father added that he reported the issue to all relevant authorities, including the Human Rights Commission, so that action could be taken against the soldier, who killed his son.

Four men arrested for allegedly kidnapping 13-year-old girl

Four members of a kidnap syndicate, have been arrested by operatives of Ogun state police command, for allegedly kidnapping a 13 yrs old girl in Onipanu area of Ado odo ota local government area of the state. 

 

A statement released by DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, says the four suspects, John Nelson, 21yrs, Adeleke Ayotunde 29yrs, Adekunle Basit 20yrs and Abey Fagbemi 20yrs, were arrested, following a complaint lodged at Onipanu divisional headquarters, by one Adejunwon Odunowo, who reported that his 13year old daughter Susan Odunowo, was sent on an errand by her mother at about 6:30 p.m. of 6th of May 2021, but didn't return home. Adejuwon told the police that he later received an anonymous phone call, demanding for the sum of N500,000 as ransom if he ever wants to see his daughter again. 
 
''Upon the report, the Dpo Onipanu division, CSP Bamidele Job, detailed his crack detectives,to embarked on intelligence and technical based investigation, in order to unravel those behind the devilish act. 
On the 8th of May 2021, the detectives successfully traced one of the suspects to Cele area of ota, where he was arrested. His arrest, led to the apprehension of two other members of the gang at a factory in ota. It was then discovered that the victim was being kept in a room, owned by Adekunle Basit. Detectives swiftly moved in there, and rescued the victim unhurt. 
The leader of the gang, Abbey Fagbemi, who took to flight immediately he heard of the arrest of his fellow gang members, was later arrested at about 7:30 am of Monday 10th of May 2021.
The victim has since been reunited with her family'' the statement in part read
 
Oyeyemi said the state commissioner of police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti kidnapping section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department, for discreet investigation and prosecution. He also appealed to members of the public, to adhere strictly to various security advice given by the command, in order not to fall victim of kidnap syndicates. 
 

FG extends work from home directive for civil servants till June 11

The Federal Government's work-from-home directive for civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below, has been extended till June 11. 

Civil servants were directed by the Presidential Steering Committee On COVID-19 domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to work from home till June 11, 2021, after which the directive may be reviewed.

PSC's  National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed who gave the directive said; 

 “All Government staff on GL. 12 and below are to continue to stay at home until 11th June, 2021."

‘Nigerians can’t stand two more years of Buhari regime’

 The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday, threw its weight behind calls for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, warning Nigeria cannot survive two more years under this regime. Speaking during AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ programme, spokesman of the forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, called on members of the National Assembly to begin the process of impeaching the president, noting that the lawmakers must realise that the country is in a dire state.

Baba-Ahmed, who pointed out that the challenges bedeviling the country were more than mere talking and issuing statements, said now is the time to act.

He said: “Those who have constitutional responsibility must realise that the country is in a dire strait, and do something other than just talking and making promises. The second option is for citizens to get together and decide to do something.

“The third option is that those leaders who are failing will recognise the fact that they are the problem, and they will resign because they clearly have nothing to offer in terms of leadership,” he said.

“Or, as our democratic system provides, those with the responsibility to get them off, should impeach those who are failing. If the president can’t deliver, he should be impeached.

“Sadly, we don’t have a National Assembly that appears to have the levels of patriotism and concern beyond partisan politics to realise that when this roof falls, it also falls on their heads. Partisanship is so pronounced that the people we elected and sent to Abuja think they serve the President rather than the Nigerian people.

“Ordinarily, the legislators should look at the record of the administration, understand the areas where the President has failed, understand areas where there is clearly no evidence that they are going to do anything about it and refer to the Constitution that says the whole purpose of government is to secure citizens and pursue their welfare,” Baba-Ahmed said.

Earlier in February, the National Assembly had requested President Buhari to appear before it over the state of insecurity. However, the President did not honour the request. Section 143 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to remove the President if he is incapable of effectively discharging his duty.

But the possibility of impeaching the President is low because the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), controls both chambers of the National Assembly. Also, past threats of impeachment failed to yield any action. In 2020, the PDP caucus, under the leadership of Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) threatened to commence an impeachment process over insecurity and corruption in the country. It never did.

THE Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has faulted the call by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for the impeachment of President Buhari due to the appalling security situation in the country. BMO Chairman, Mr Niyi Akinsiju, maintained that such position by NEF was tantamount to an invitation to anarchy.

Akinsiju, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that NEF’s position was politically motivated, adding that those calling for the impeachment of the President do not mean well for the country.

He noted: “They are entitled to their own opinion on the performance of the President. However, we insist that the vast majority of Nigerians who agree that the President is living up to their expectations would not allow any move to impeach him.

“The President is on top of his game in securing the lives and properties of Nigerians. There is no country in the world that is not grappling with a security challenge or the other. Even the advanced countries of the world are not exempted.

“The President is working round the clock to addressed the concern raised by Nigerians on the issue. The security architecture is being rejigged to tackle the latest challenge, especially coming from the Southeast geopolitical zone.”

HOWEVER, an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives on National Security has called for the submission of memoranda on a planned security summit. The four-day summit has been scheduled for May 24 to 28.

According to a statement by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Akubueze, the deadline for submission is May 20. The Special Ad Hoc Committee on National Security was constituted by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, on March 17.

According to the statement, memoranda should be solution-focused with emphasis on “local and community level security options, strategic kinetic national security, and non-military and non-kinetic security.”

This is not the first time lawmakers will be holding security summits in the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari. In 2018, the Senate had a summit on security and another was held 14 months later in 2019.

This latest one is coming amid an increase in killings and general insecurity across the country. Last month, the lower chamber asked the President to declare a State of Emergency on security, while the lawmakers also made 11 other resolutions on security.

An opposition lawmaker, Dachung Bagos (PDP, Plateau), had said the lawmakers would consider the option of impeachment if nothing changes after the summit.

MEANWHILE, the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has thrown its weight behind the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, on his recent call for a summit to address the lingering insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the country.

Babalola had last week while speaking during the 10th NBA public lecture held in his honour expressed regret over the wave of insecurity in the country and called for a summit titled ‘Summit of Hope’ where leaders across board will discuss workable solutions to prevent the nation from sliding into anarchy.

But an online report stated that the legal icon was daring the Federal Government by proposing the summit. The NBA, in its reaction, has therefore dismissed the report, which suggested that the legal icon wanted to destabilise or topple President Buhari’s government.

The NBA chairman, Adeyemi Adewumi, in a statement on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, while condemning the alleged malicious and misleading report, said Babalola was being patriotic by calling for the summit over the precarious situation in the country.

He said: “The Nigerian Bar Association condemns this criminally mischievous publication and calls on every Nigerian to disregard and discountenance its content but appreciate the patriotic and nationalistic move by way of suggestion, of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN to restore the hope of Nigerians.

“The publication is an attempt to hoodwink Nigerians into believing a negatively and falsely reported news as against the genuine reasoning behind Aare Afe Babalola’s call to restore hope for Nigerians amidst her numerous challenges.

“We wonder how the most nationalistic suggestion to summon all living former Nigerian presidents, leadership of the National Assembly, governors, religious leaders and frontline traditional rulers, as well as Civil Society Organisations, which was made in the most unparalleled good faith, now amounts to conspiracy to remove the government from power.

“The rationale behind Babalola’s call was to prevent the country from disintegrating and drifting into anarchy so that it can remain an indivisible entity. We must however state unequivocally that the law is very clear on the right of every Nigerian, including Afe Babalola, to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Ameneded).

“The law is equally clear on the right of every Nigerian, either singly or together, to advise government, in good faith, on how the country can move forward devoid of disintegration and anarchy.”

Culled from The Guardian.