Kidnapped UNIJOS professor, husband regain freedom

A professor with the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Grace Ayanbimpe and her husband, Isaac Iyanbimpe who were kidnapped on Monday have been freed.

DAILY POST had reported that the professor and her husband were kidnapped on Monday when gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded their residence behind Haske Quarters, Lamingo in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

It was gathered that the victims were released on Monday night, hours after their abduction.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba confirmed to DAILY POST correspondent on Tuesday morning that they were rescued unhurt.

According to him, the development was aided by hunters and vigilante group in the area.

The PPRO said, “With the Concerted effort of the Police Tactical Team, Plateau State Command, hunters and vigilantes, the kidnapped victims, Prof Grace Ayanbimpe and her husband, Mr Isaac Ayanbimpe were released unhurt”.

Arewa Forum: How to end open grazing

Chief Audu Ogbe, the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said stopping herders from West African countries from entering Nigeria as advocated by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje is one of the ways that open grazing can be stopped in the country.

The ACF chairman said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna, that the suggestion by Kano State Governor would help to contain open grazing and farmer/herder conflicts.

He Nigeria should seek an amendment to Article 3 of the ECOWAS protocol, “especially as regards free movement of cattle and other livestock without special permit.

” If it is done, we have over five million hectares of land in old grazing reserves left, enough to accommodate over 40 million cows if well grassed and watered.”

He also urged Northern States Governors to look at the viability of those spaces to develop ranches for lease to Nigerian herders, so that the matter of open grazing can be brought to an end.

“Thereafter, any herders found roaming can be penalised and our ECOWAS neighbours can find ways to deal with their own issues the way they deem fit.”

The forum chairman advised Nigeria to seek support from Africa Development Bank, the World Bank, European Union, Kuwait Fund or any source willing to support the initiative.

Ogbe maintained that hurling abuses, suspicion and threats as currently trending, “will only produce grief and disaster.”

He agreed that nobody would accept the attitude of herdsmen who trespass into farms with their cattle,  eat up the crops and rape or kill any one raising objections.

Ogbe said governors should not think that merely banning open grazing would end the crisis, as the bulk of the violent herders were from neighboring countries, who have no regards to boundaries, whether State or regional.

He added those were the herdsmen that must be stopped.

ASUU joins NLC warning strike in Kaduna

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University Chapter, has directed its members to join the ongoing warning strike by public sector workers in Kaduna State.

The ASUU Chairperson, Dr Peter Adamu gave the directive in a circular to the members of the union, issued in Kaduna on Monday.

Adamu said: “I am directed by the National Secretariat of our great union through the Zonal office Kano, for members to join the warning strike.

“Members should remember that ASUU is an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the principal officers of ASUU were part of the NLC National Executive Council that took the decision on the strike action.

“Also, members that violate the strike action must note that the union will not be there for them when the wrath of the governor falls on them.

“We must unite for a just cause because injury to one is injury to all.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said at the five-day strike action that it would run its full course unless the state government attended to the workers grievances.

Some of the grievances included the recent sack of 7,000 local government workers and refusal of the state government to settle the entitlements of about 50, 000 it disengaged from service from 2017 to date.

Government activities in the state were completely paralised on the first day of the strike on Monday, with banks, schools, hospitals, water, electricity, rail and air services shut.

Gunmen kidnap UNIJOS professor, husband in Plateau

A professor with the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Jos, Grace Ayanbimpe, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

The PUNCH learnt that the professor was abducted in the early hours of Monday alongside her husband by the gunmen who stormed their residence behind Haske Quarters, Lamingo in Jos North Local Government Area of the state

A resident of the community, Philip Dachung, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Jos on Monday.

Dachung said, “The kidnappers came to their house around 2 am. They broke into their apartment and shot into the air. Neighbors who were terrified by sounds of gunshots could not come out for the fear of being hit by stray bullets.

“So, this morning, we discovered that the gunmen had taken the professor and her husband away. We don’t where they are right now.”

A staff of the University of Jos, who also confirmed the incident, said, “This morning, we got information that Prof Grace Ayanbimpe of Department of Medical Microbiology was abducted from their residence along with her husband.

“Please, pray for their safe and quick release from their abductors. May we also see the end of insecurity in our country.”

The Head, Department of Medical Microbiology of the University of Jos, Dr Mark Okolo, declined to speak on the incident when contacted by our correspondent.

Also, the Spokesman of State Police Command, Ubah Ogaba, promised to get back to our correspondent when contacted.

Suspected armed robber beaten to death in Ondo

 A suspected armed robber named Emmanuel who has been terrorising the residents of Ayede-Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State has been mobbed to death.

It was gathered that the suspect who had been convicted earlier had been on the watch list of residents of the town after he was released, returned and continued his nefarious activities.

However, the suspect met his waterloo on Sunday when he was trying to escape with four motorcycles he had snatched from their owners but the truck being used to convey them broke down.

He was caught and the residents mobbed him, beating him up mercilessly.

The spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Tee-Leo Ikoro confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Monday via a telephone conversation, noting that the suspect had been badly injured before the police arrived at the scene.

According to Ikoro, the suspect died before getting to the hospital.

Ikoro frowned at the jungle justice done against the suspect, adding that the police is presently investigating the incident.

Ozo reveals his current relationship status with Nengi

 

2020 Big Brother Naija housemate, Ozoemena Chukwu Joseph has opened up on the current status of his relationship with his ex-housemate, Rebecca Nengi Hampson.
Most fans of the two reality stars have tipped them to become married couples after they started sailing their ship whilst in the Big Brother Naija lockdown house.
Ozo has always expressed his love for the former Bayelsa beauty queen.
However, in an interview he had with BBNaija host and TV presenter, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Ozo revealed that he and Nengi they are focusing on being the best in their respective careers after coming out of the lockdown house.

According to the sports enthusiast, Nengi and him have just remained friends for now they are good friends for that matter.

New York Mayoral candidate to include Nigerians in government

Eric Adams, a leading New York City Mayoral candidate, has assured the Nigerian community of a place in his government if elected the mayor in November.

Adams gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in New York on the sidelines of a debate convened by The Nigerian Forum.

The forum is a coalition of the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians and the Nigerian-Americans Public Affairs Committee, a political action committee.

“You are going to see yourselves in my government. It is time to tear down those barriers and walls that prevent you from being decision-makers.

“We’re going to empower your non-profits so that outsiders wouldn’t come in your communities and deliver services.

“You know what your communities need. I’m going to empower you with resources so that you can provide the services that are needed.

“No more are we going to allow others to build up our community. This is our opportunity.’’

Adams, who is contesting on the platform of the Democratic Party, said he had been to Lagos and other parts of Africa helping the people.

According to him, he knows exactly how it feels to be a Nigerian or an African living in the U.S.

“To my brothers and sisters from the Nigerian community, this is an important moment for you.

“You have to ask yourselves, people are now coming to you to support them but where were they when it was time to deal with serious issues in this community?

“I don’t have to introduce myself to you. I’m just saying hello to good friends. I know what it is to be in Lagos helping young people learning the skillsets and opportunities.

“I know what it is to be on the continent of Africa.

“This is an opportunity for one of your own to become the mayor of the city of New York.

“We are going to do real partnership with good and services, US$ 22.5 billion budget for your small businesses to operate.’’

The New York City mayoral election is very competitive and strategic due to the city’s diverse nature and an annual budget of about US$100 billion, the largest municipal budget in the U.S.

No fewer than 13 Democratic and two Republican candidates have qualified for the city’s 2021 mayoral election following Democratic and Republican primaries on June 22, 2021, and a general election on Nov. 2, 2021.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that no fewer than three Nigerians are contesting in the city council’s elections.

They are Prof. Ranti Ogunleye, contesting for Staten Island City 49; Dr George Onuorah, contesting for Queens district 21; and Chris Durosinmi, contesting for Brooklyn District 37.

The Nigerian community is therefore positioning itself as an organized and important voting bloc that has enough weight to pull support for a candidate whose agenda resonates with the community.

Insecurity: Gunmen Attack Another Police Station in Abia

Gunmen in the early hours of Monday razed Ubakala police station in Apumiri community, Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

Ubakala police station is located off the ever-busy Ubakala-Old Umuahia road.

No life was lost in the attack, which lasted for about an hour.

Vehicles within the premises were burnt while the the police building was set ablaze, The Nation reports.

This latest attack comes three days after a police station in Bende Local Government Area (LGA) of the State was razed down by fire and detainees freed.

It was gathered that a policeman on duty was shot in the leg as the hoodlums made their way out of the scene.

Photos from Davido’s daughter, Imade’s 6th birthday

 

Davido’s daughter Imade had a ball yesterday, May 16th when her parents threw her a birthday party.
The party was held at the playground in Banana Island, Ikoyi.
Imade turned 6 on Friday, May 14th.
Her parents, Sophia Momodu and Davido were seen at the party getting along very well.

More photos below…

We’ve grounded Kaduna – NLC President dares El-Rufai

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on Monday stormed the Kaduna State Secretariat of the labour union and said their five-day warning strike calling for the reinstatement of sacked workers has commenced successfully with the total grounding of activities in the state.

Speaking at the rally, he said that they took the action because the Kaduna State Government’s action has caused untold hardship on those affected and their families.

“The railways are not working, the airport is shut down, fuel stations are locked, power is cut off and there is massive solidarity,” he said.

Wabba also accused the government of lying over several issues, including talks it said it had with the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

“The Government lied that they called us for a meeting yesterday. I actually received a call around 9pm yesterday for a meeting, I told them to make the invitation formal, but the person that called me later called back saying that the meeting had been cancelled.

“I have the number that called me and recorded the conversation,” he said.

The NLC President added that asides the sacked workers, the increment of school fees at the state-owned university is also an issue troubling the union because most of the children are wards of sacked workers.

“We gathered that about 70 per cent of the children at Kaduna State University (KASU) are Indigenes of Kaduna State and some of their parents have been sacked,” he added.

Speaking further, he said he has also received calls from market traders whose stalls have been demolished and commercial tricycle and okada riders complaining of exorbitant taxing from Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA).

Hundreds of workers and union members were seen with placards with the inscriptions such as: “El-rufai, enough is enough, stop mass sack, workers are not slaveS.”

DAILYPOST recalls that the Kaduna State Council of the NLC, penultimate week, had resolved to down tools for five days from Sunday, May 16, as proposed by the National Secretariat, to serve as warning over the sacking of over 4,000 workers in the state; hike in school fees of state-owned tertiary institutions among other issues.