FG suspends Emirates flights from Nigeria — third time in 2021

The federal government has suspended inbound and outbound flights of Emirates Airlines for the third time in 2021.

Emirates made this known in a statement issued on Monday, saying it remains committed to Nigeria.

The airline advised affected passengers to keep their ticket for future flights.

“In line with government directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with effect from 21 June 2021 until further notice,” the statement reads.

“Customers travelling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel. Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE.

“We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking. Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we look forward to resuming passenger services when conditions allow.”

This directive comes less than two days after the Dubai Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management eased travel restrictions to Nigerian passengers under a new COVID-19 health and safety protocol.

Authorities in Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates had been engaging in diplomatic discussions over issues relating to COVID-19 protocol.

In February, Emirates directed Nigerian travellers at the Lagos and Abuja airports to conduct rapid COVID-19 tests before departure, which led to a ban on Emirates flights in Nigeria.

The ban was later lifted after the airline agreed to stop the rapid antigen tests. 

On March 15, the federal government reintroduced the ban, explaining that Emirates had continued to conduct rapid antigen tests for passengers before departure from Nigeria.

Five persons can’t decide for us – Igbos tackle Southeast Govs for disowning IPOB

There has been outrage amongst Igbos following the recent pronouncement by the southeastern Governors who met in Enugu State on Saturday.

DAILY POST has reported that the five governors in the region, on Wednesday disowned the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stating that the group does not speak for the Igbos.

Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, David Umahi, who stated this while addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, said they believe in one Nigeria.

The meeting was targeted at proffering solutions for the current insecurity ravaging the region particularly Imo, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi State.

“We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South East and elsewhere.

“We firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for the South East.

“The impression that South-East leaders are silent over some of our youths’ agitations for secession is not correct.

“South-East Governors, Ohanaeze President, National Assembly members, notable leaders had come out publicly many times in the past to speak against such agitations.

“In order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, South-East leaders have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders to speak to address such fears,” he said.

Reacting, some indigenes of the region took to their social media handles to lambast the governors for taking decisions that do not represent the common voice of their electorates.

Here are some of the reactions from Facebook:

Omesi Bonn Pillar said, “Southeast governors forum cannot speak for the youths and of course we have decided to exit Nigeria whether or not the governors want it.

“The said governors have mortgaged our future for so long until the advent of IPOB which has come to rescue and set us free by process of giving us Biafra—and that we have aligned with. We are asking for a referendum in order to settle everything”.

According to Ifeanyi Ejimkonye, “It’s quite unfortunate, disheartening and irritating that south east governors can officially disown IPOB and support one Nigeria with the high level of marginalization just because of their selfish interest. I am so ashamed of so-called Southeast Governors.”

“You people should continue showcasing stupidity, greediness and insensitivity. It’s now obvious that you people are not speaking for Igbos. Chukwu Okike Abiama will punish you people one after the other.”

Bob Eluwa: “Miserable five persons’ opinion doesn’t matter concerning the future of about 40 million people”.

Victor Mbaka, “South east governors nobody is begging you people to support us agitating for Biafra only God support we are asking for because I know the problem we are facing in the South East from you people call governors but as far as everybody is still alive you people call governors most reap it, all the blood of Innocent youth you people will face the judgement when time comes”.

The situation is not different from Twitter as many who, despite the ban on the microblogging platform, expressed their opinions using the medium.

DAILY POST compiled some of the reactions as follows:

@Suitzio: “Instead of them after a long deliberation, we’ll be engaging our people in the coming weeks to know exactly what they want, as it appears Nigeria is drifting off course. For now we urge our people home and abroad to be calm and work for the peace and progress of SE”.

@Stevedameze: “Who are these “Southeast Governors?” Do we really recognize them? I am not sure if they know that they don’t speak for the Igbos. They’ve lost any credibility & a vote of no-confidence has been passed on them. The so-called governors don’t even have a word of their own”.

@Nj99625368: “An adult do not need the consent of his parent to become a Gay/Lesbian. The so-called Leaders must understand that their consent is never needed for us to have a different political opinion. It’s called “Right to choose just as they have chosen which party to belong”.

@KennyAry1: “When was the last time any of our politicians listened to the yearning of the people and acted on their behalf? The last time I checked these men have been representing themselves and not their people. What do y’all expect when elections in black nations aren’t ‘election’ but ‘selection’.

@CharleslyObim0: “This is meaningless. Have they ever supported #IPOB #MaziNnamdiKanu. Leaders that tried to kill their own son by inviting the enemies to kill him and many others in his fathers compound in the name of python dance.”

BREAKING: Police engage bandits in gun duel, kill 14 in Benue

No fewer than 14 bandits who attacked a police station in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State have been killed.

DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday norning when the assailants invaded the police station to launch a reprisal attack on the operatives for arresting some of their members.

This was contained in a statement issued by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Anene Sewuese Catherine.

The statement reads, “on 19th June, 2021 five bandits were arrested and detained at Kastina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

“On 20th June, 2021 at about 0130hrs more than fifty other gang members of the detainees mobilized and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts”.

“Officers at the division who were already at alert engaged them in a gun duel and were able to subdue the bandits. Fourteen (14) of them were brought down during the exchange of fire while several others escaped with gunshot injuries. Operatives in the area are currently on the trail of suspects at large.”

While assuring people of Kastina-Ala town of adequate security from the force, DSP Anene advised members of the public to avail every useful information about the bandits to the police.

Woman reveals what stranger did to her along Kaduna-Lafia express road

A Nigerian woman has taken to Facebook to narrate on how she was treated by a total stranger while she was traveling with her family along Kaduna-Lafia express road.

According to her, her car broke down in the middle of the road while she was apprehensive and concerned about her safety and that of her kids, a man who appeared to be a villager appeared in his old car and rendered her the much needed help

Read her full story below:

I was traveling from Kaduna to Lafia with my kids, then suddenly in d middle of no where, my car developed a fault, I had to park. I was alone with my kids in d car. While I was thinking of what to do, I couldn’t leave the kids there in the bush in search of a mechanic.

Just when I decided to lock the car so that we all join a commercial bus to d next town in search of a mechanic, a small old car just parked in front of me with nylon bags packed in it. it was an elderly man who from my observation supplies nylon bags to shops around d villages.

He picked me and the kids to the next town, got a mechanic for me, brought us back to d car and stayed there until d car was fixed. I tried to transfer money to the mechanic to buy d affected spare part but my village pple refused to allow d transfer go through.

This baba paid cash and he settled d driver too. Then he copied his account number for me on a piece of paper for me to transfer his money when I get to my destination. The Baba became my friend. Once in a while I call him to check on him. He was an angel.

Shar

Bandit attack: Kebbi governor vows to lead search, rescue operations in forest

The Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, has vowed to lead a search and rescue mission into the forest where over 100 students kidnapped on Thursday from Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, are believed to be held by their kidnappers.

Newsmen reported that bandits abducted a large number of students and teachers at the federal secondary school in the state. A police officer was killed during the attack.

Meanwhile, addressing a crowd of sympathisers who visited him on Saturday at the Government House in Kebbi, Bagudu said he was ready to lead hunters and vigilantes to face the bandits.

Flanked by state governors who were in the state on a solidarity visit, led by the chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Bagudu told a crowd including hundreds of local hunters to get ready for the mission.

A video seen by newsmen and a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Yahaya Sarki, captured the governor speaking at the event.

“We will go out there and like I promised, the day we will move out, I will not be in the office because I will lead the movement and this will be done to rescue the abductees.”

Bagudu said it is not weapons that win war, “it is the will that bad people cannot triumph and we will show that we have enough willpower.

“President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies have been doing the best they can with limited resources. But, we also need to mobilise, kit ourselves and take on these bandits. Our various scriptures as Muslims and Christians allow us to put our lives at risk in defence of our honour, property and our faiths.

“In what the bandits are doing, they have challenged all these , so we can’t let them.”

Bagudu asked the hunters to go back and mobilise, pending when he would get the necessary clearance from the security agencies, adding, “and we will meet in the field.”

Fayemi said he was in the state as a representative of Nigerian governors to commiserate with the government and people of Kebbi over the unfortunate incident.

“We are here in solidarity with our brother, the governor of Kebbi State and all the good people of Kebbi State on the unfortunate incident at FGC Birnin Yauri.

“Whatever you can do to make it the last one in Kebbi, please put up the effort,” he charged the hunters.

The NGF Chairman also conveyed the message of President Buhari to the people, expressing how deeply concerned he is over the Birnin Yauri incident.

He prayed it will be the first and last incident of school attack in Kebbi State.

The leader of the hunters in Gwandu emirate, Hassan Muhammad, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Dajin Sarkin Gwandu, told the governor and his entourage that the hunters have no fear in facing the bandits to save the school children but they need the support of the government.

“Our local hunters will join the operation as they are also ready to sacrifice their lives for the success of the mission,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, the Nigerian military said operatives had rescued two of the kidnapped teachers and five of the students. The military also said it rescued 800 rustled cows from the bandits.

“Nigerian Army troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji who have been on a hot pursuit of kidnappers and bandits following an unfortunate abduction incident in Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri yesterday 17 June 2021 have so far, rescued two teachers and five students after a fierce exchange of fire with the criminals,” Onyema Nwachukwu, the army spokesperson, said on Friday.

However, Nwachukwu said the operatives also found the body of a female student who was believed to have died from exhaustion while the kidnappers were taking them away on foot.

NDLEA boss: At least 10 million Nigerians are addicted to Indian hemp

 

The chairman/chief executive officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Gen Buba Marwa (retd), has said at least about 10.6 millions Nigerians are addicted to cannabis consumption saying the trend of drug abuse in the country was highly worrisome.

Marwa disclosed this at the weekend during the celebration of ogidi day in ijumu local government area of Kogi State where he was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Aare Jagunmolu of Ogidi kingdom.

The NDLEA boss who pleaded with parents and guardians to take proper care of their children said the use of illicit drugs has destroyed many families and ruined lives of youths and said all hands must be on deck to arrest the ugly trend.

In his words, “today, no fewer than 14.3 million Nigerians, young people and adults from the age of 16 to 64 years abuse drugs, with cannabis being the commonly abused substance. At least 10.6 million people are addicted to cannabis in the past year.

“What is most heartbreaking is that majority of them are young people who are initiated into cannabis use around the age of 19.
There is also increasing use of other psychotropic drugs, especially heroin, again, by a growing number of young people who are mostly initiated at the age of 22 years.

“The more you unravel the statistics of drug uses in Nigeria, the more damning it becomes. And when you combine these damning data with the recent results of the activities of the NDLEA, then you begin to get worried.

“In the past four months, we have arrested more than 2,180 drug traffickers, intercepted and seized over two million kilograms of assorted illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol and cannabis.

”Broadly speaking, the agency has been able to seize drugs and cash worth over N90 billion within the first four months of this year.

“We have filed over 2,000 drug cases in court. Over 500 have been sentenced and are now serving different jail terms. And we still have over 1,500 of the cases pending in court. With this reality, it will be ironic to expect peace , security and meaningful development in Nigeria’ he added

At the ceremony, the traditional ruler of the ancient town and the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule said the reason the chieftaincy title was conferred on Marwa was because of his steadfast love for the community and especially the i numerous indigenes of the community who the former governor has positively touch their lives.

Oba Sule said most of the development projects in the community were solely carried out through self help and appeal to government and we’ll meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the community for rapid transformation.

BREAKING: Southeast Govs disown IPOB, say secessionist group not speaking for Igbos

 

Governors in the Southeastern part of Nigeria, under the umbrella of South East Governors’ Forum have declared that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB are not speaking for the entire region on the call for secession.

The governors who met on Saturday in Enugu State to figure out ways of curbing the current security crisis bedeviling the region condemned all secession agitation in the country.

Chairman of the forum, David Umahi who stated this while addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, said they believe in one Nigeria.

“We condemn in totality, the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South East and elsewhere.

“We firmly proclaim that we do not support them, they do not speak for South East.

“The impression that South-East leaders are silent over some of our youths’ agitations for secession is not correct.

“South-East Governors, Ohanaeze President, National Assembly members, notable leaders had come out publicly many times in the past to speak against such agitations.

“In order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, South-East leaders have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears,” he said.

Angry youths allegedly attack Fulani herdsmen, destroy police station at Odo-Owa, Kwara

A group of angry youths in Odo-Owa community of Oke-Ero Local Government Area in Kwara State, on Thursday, protested against the presence of Fulani herdsmen in their community.

It is the second fracas in two months in the community over alleged Fulani invasion.

The first incident happened when the house and hotel of Ramon, an alleged Fulani kidnap kingpin, were destroyed following allegations of criminality against him by the Odo-Owa community.

It was gathered that the youths accused the Fulani herdsmen of being involved in kidnappings in the community.

In the process, they allegedly destroyed houses belonging to Fulani herdsmen during the fracas which occurred at about 2000hours, Thursday night.

The action of the angry youths was to enforce the ultimatum issued to Fulani herdsmen to vacate their community, which expired on Thursday.

It was further gathered that police operatives of Odo Owa police station who attempted to stop the unlawful action of the youths were attacked and their station destroyed.

However, in a response to a text message on the development sent to the spokesman of the state police command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi said ” The Odo-Owa police station was not attacked by the youths as alleged.

“The youths became agitated as a result of some suspects arrested in connection with a case under investigation,” he added.

Ajayi, said, “the youths dispersed immediately they were made to understand the rationale behind the arrest of those suspects.”

13 injured, 25 cars destroyed as LPG tanker explodes in Lagos

No fewer than 13 persons sustained various degrees of injuries on Thursday night after a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker exploded at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, opposite Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Zonal Coordinator, South West Zonal Office, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the development to newsmen in Ikeja on Friday, NAN reports.

Farinloye said about 25 cars were destroyed in the explosion which was caused by leakage while the LPG tanker was in motion.

“The fire affected the premises of Ogun State Property Investment Company (OPIC) Plaza besides Sheraton Hotels, which houses different commercial outfits including a Chinese Restaurant.

“After concerted efforts of five fire trucks from the Lagos State Fire Service and two trucks from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Response Unit the fire was put out.

“The initial search and rescue activities revealed that 13 persons sustained various degrees of burns. Out of this, nine are males while four are females,” Farinloye said.

According to him, the affected victims were attended to at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for First Aid.

“Preliminary assessment of vehicles damaged indicated that about 25 were destroyed as at now,” he added.

Nnamdi Kanu: Place bounty on your leaders’ heads instead – Shehu Sani tells Northern groups

Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central at the 8th National Assembly, has slammed the Northern groups who placed a bounty on Kanu’s whereabouts.

DAILY POST had reported that 17 Northern groups under the aegis of Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) on Thursday declared Kanu wanted over the killings and destruction of properties owned by Northerners in the Southeast.

The President of the group, Dr Auwal Abdullahi, while addressing a press conference, also placed a N100m bounty on Kanu.

Reacting, Senator Sani faulted the move, stating that the group should have channeled their efforts towards ending the terrorism and banditry currently ravaging their region.

The former lawmaker made the remark on Friday in a post on his official Facebook page.

“We have terrorists and bandits here up north, killing and kidnapping our people; why not the Northern groups place a price tag on the heads of their leaders instead of placing them on someone far abroad,” he said.