NDLEA arrests 10 ‘online drug traffickers’ in Abuja

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested ten suspected online drug traffickers operating in Abuja.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday that the agency arrested the suspects following their undercover operation during the week.

Among those arrested was one Ese Patrick, who was accused of running an illicit drug business on Instagram.

Babafemi said the 28-year-old was picked up alongside her boyfriend as they brought deliveries for undercover NDLEA operatives who had ordered the drugs online.

He said the agency subsequently raided Patrick’s residence and “confiscated 400 grams of Arizona weed”, which she allegedly uses in baking the brownies.

Peter Nkejika, another suspect, was also apprehended on May 24 after his despatch rider was picked up with “N510,000 worth of Loud”, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis.

Also apprehended was one Dolapo Benjamin, said to be the owner of five motorcycles allegedly used in distributing the drugs.

In Gwagwalada, the NDLEA said it seized drugs weighing 105.5 kilograms in a luxury bus and arrested three persons in connection with the illicit substance.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said the agency also confiscated drugs that were being transported to New Zealand and the United Arab Emirate in Lagos.

“The agency has 445 grams of Methamphetamine going to New Zealand and concealed inside USB chargers and hair attachments, with another 450 grams of cannabis Sativa going to UAE and concealed inside local soap containers at a courier company in Lagos,” he said.

- THECABLE

Governor Sani Bello out of Nigeria as bandits rule Niger state

 

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger is at present not in Nigeria as bandits increasingly turned his state into a playground.

The bandits latest acts were the attacks on several communities in Tegina, Wushishi and Batati.

The bandits capped their reign of impunity with the kidnapping of over 200 students of Tegina Islamiyya school on Sunday.

But in a shock disclosure, the chief press secretary to Governor Bello said the governor had left the country before the recent attacks on “a security mission”.

“The Gov who had left the country to explore all possibilities of strengthening the state’s security architecture before the incident happened, is expected back soon.

“He has, however, given directives to the security operatives and state govt officials to do all they can towards ensuring the safe return of the abducted Tegina Islamiyya children and others”.

Bandits on Sunday not only kidnapped the students of Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Tegina, they also kidnapped some passengers of a Sharon Bus travelling to Minna.

Two persons were shot in the course of the mass abduction in Tegina, Rafi LGA.

One of them was confirmed dead, while the other person is critically injured.

“The State Govt is still gathering detail security report on the attack so as to take necessary measures to secure the release of those abducted”, the chief press secretary said on Twitter.

Niger state in central Nigeria has been, in recent times, been facing unrelenting attacks by bandits and terrorists, leading to displacement of thousands of people from their villages.

In February, 42 people were abducted for ransom in Kagara, among them 27 students.

- PM NEWS

Gulak: We don’t spill blood, assassination not part of our agenda – IPOB insists

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has insisted that it’s not a terrorist group and does not spill blood.

IPOB, while distancing itself from Gulak’s death, stressed that the assassination of politicians is not part of its agenda.

IPOB made the remark while insisting that it was not responsible for the murder of Ahmed Gulak, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some gunmen murdered Gulak while on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday.

The Nigeria intelligence community had linked the Gulak’s killing to IPOB, but the state Police Command had refuted such claims.

Imo State Police Command spokesman, Bala Elkana, had said armed bandits murdered the former presidential aide.

However, Elkana later recanted his earlier remark, saying men of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, killed Gulak.

A Situation Report, SITREP, had confirmed that ESN operatives had waylaid and killed Gulak along the airport road at Obiangwu Junction at Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

Reacting, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, distanced the secessionist group from the assassination.

A statement by Powerful reads: “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the untenable allegation by the security agencies that IPOB was responsible for the assassination of former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri Imo State.

“We, therefore, state without equivocations that IPOB knows nothing about the said assassination. We had nothing in common with Gulak and could not have killed him.

“This is purely a smokescreen to justify their long awaited plan to declare another special military operation in the Eastern region to kill more innocent Biafrans.

“IPOB is not a terrorist organization and does not spill blood.

“For us, connecting with the assassination of Gulak is simply to pitch the East against the core Islamic North as a cover and justification for another round of pogrom against Easterners living in the North.

“We are only after the restoration of Biafra. Assassination of politicians is not part of our agenda.”

- PM NEWS

SOUTH VS PARASITE NORTH !!! IGP orders ‘Operation Restore Peace’ to crush IPOB, secessionist agitators

 

The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba on Tuesday ordered the new special operational action plan, code-named, “Operation Restore Peace” to crush members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other secessionist groups in the South East.

Baba officially launched Operation RP on Tuesday for the stabilization of security order in the South-East Geopolitical Zone of the country.

The IGP launched the special operation at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu as part of efforts targeted at returning the South-Eastern region to its historical pride of place where its people are known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial.

Baba noted that the special operation has become necessary to engender all-inclusive security actions to roll-back the murderous attacks, violence, proliferation of weapons and other threats to law and order occasioned by the separatist agenda being heightened by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South-East region.

The IGP observed that activities of the group in the region had assumed an armed dimension in which important political and community leaders as well as personnel and assets of the Nigeria Police, Military and other security agencies, critical national infrastructure are being constantly targeted in clearly well-coordinated, premeditated manners.

“This is in addition to deepening inter-ethnic prejudice and intolerance, unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence, loss of lives and massive destruction of properties,” he said.

Baba assured the nation that in the coming days the special operation would be extended to other parts of the South-East region to confront criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps and re-order cherished national values in the region.

The IGP further said that the “Operation RP” would be replicated in other parts of the country, to address peculiar crimes, including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, amongst others.

“The ‘Operation’ will be carried out by operatives of the Force in collaboration with the Armed Forces, the intelligence community and other sister security agencies.

“The personnel deployed have been charged to be civil with the law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements operating under any guise whatsoever who may attempt to test the collective will of the people,” he said.

Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, commended the IGP for initiating the special operation.

He described the operation as timely, and believed it would help in rejigging and re-tooling the security architecture of the South-East.

Other dignitaries at the event are; the Deputy Governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States, traditional rulers, religious leaders, among others.

- PM NEWS

Ngige: Workers threatening to switch off national grid over Kaduna strike

 

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to call off the strike in Kaduna.

The NLC embarked on a five-day warning strike on Monday to protest the disengagement of 4,000 workers across the state.

However, the Kaduna government had said the decision was taken because the huge wage bill wasn’t sustainable for the state.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Charles Akpan, his spokesman, Ngige said he has received information that workers in the power sector want to trigger a nationwide blackout in solidarity with their colleagues in Kaduna state.

According to NAN, the minister, however, appealed for calm and understanding on all sides.

“This is because we have it on good authority, following complaints by the Minster of Power that workers have threatened to trigger a nationwide blackout by interfering or switching off the national grid,” Ngige said.

Ngige, who said the federal government will wade into the matter, urged the workers to give room for dialogue.

“We are not unaware of what is going on in Kaduna state. It is a labour issue which has snowballed into a national strike and picketing by the two labour centres and affiliate unions,” the statement reads.

“We hope and also urge the Kaduna state governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable. We also appeal to leaders of the labour centres to step down action to make way for discussion.

“My ministry is wading into the matter and therefore calls on the warring parties to give peace a chance.”

He also appealed to all workers on essential duties not to join the strike.

- THECABLE

EPL: Bruno Fernandes named Player Of The Year

 Manchester United midfielder, Bruno Fernandes has been named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the second successive season.

Fernandes is the Reds’ top scorer this season and has contributed 11 assists in the Premier League and five more in Europe.

The Portugal international also broke Frank Lampard’s goal record for a midfielder in the Premier League era with his goal against Liverpool last week.

Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani emerged as the main rivals for the award, but Fernandes clinched it after polling 63% of the votes.

Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford finished in fourth and fifth respectively.

- DAILY POST

Anthony Joshua reveals plan B if fight with Fury fails

 

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Anthony Joshua is looking for another opponent after Tyson Fury was ruled to fight Deontay Wilder again.

Hearn also gave Fury a deadline of the end of this week to resolve his obligations to Wilder and confirm a fight with Joshua.

Joshua may instead face Usyk and then reschedule a fight with Fury to December.

Fury had previously confirmed that he would face IBF, WBA and WBO titleholder Joshua on August 14 in Saudi Arabia in the most anticipated fight in the sport, but 24 hours later a court of arbitration ruled that he must meet Wilder again by September 15.

Asked if he was now looking at a different opponent for Joshua, Hearn told Matchroom: “Absolutely. I had been focusing on Plan A. The only fight was Fury and we hope it can still take place.

“The game changed – we have to have a Plan B in place, and probably a Plan C.

“We have different options. The one that springs to mind is Usyk.

“If Team Fury don’t get their act together by the end of this week then we will have no option but to look for an alternative fight”.

- PM NEWS

NAFDAC approves Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine for emergency use

 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has given approval for the use of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, made the announcement in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The NAFDAC DG said the vaccine is for emergency use.

The approval brings to three the number of COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Nigeria by the agency — after AstraZeneca and Pfizer were authorised in February and April respectively.

Adeyeye said the agency made a thorough evaluation of the J&J vaccine and concluded that the data on the vaccine was robust and met the criteria for efficacy, safety and quality.

She said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known risks.

“Results from a clinical trial involving people in the United States, South Africa and Latin American countries found that Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is effective for 18 years of age and above,” she said.

“The Phase III clinical trial involved over 44,000 people. Half received a single dose of the vaccine and half were given placebo (a dummy injection).”

The NAFDAC DG said the trial found a 67 percent reduction in the number of symptomatic COVID cases after two weeks in people who received J&J COVID-19 vaccine.

She said the vaccine will be monitored and subjected to several procedures that applied specifically to COVID-19 vaccines.

According to her, the manufacturers had been required to provide monthly safety reports in addition to the regular updates generated by NAFDAC activities.

Adeyeye said the ministry of health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) will announce when the vaccine becomes available for use in the country.

- THECABLE

Maintain 30km/hr speed limit to stay alive, FRSC to motorists

 

The Rivers State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has advised motorists to adhere to the recommended 30km/hr speed limit to ensure their safety on the road.

The state Sector Commander of the FRSC Corps Commander, Salisu Galanduci advised this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt in commemoration of the 2021 United Nations Global road safety week.

The theme of this year’s UN Global road safety week is “Street for Live”

The road safety boss said the campaign is aimed at “creating awareness on the need for motorists plying the urban areas to adhere to the speed limit of 30km/hr”.

He said” this year based on so many considerations, united nations picked 30km/hr for urban areas like Port Harcourt. So if we don’t educate motorists, if you allow people to drive at the speed they want, then there’s a probability that passersby may be hit by the drivers”.

“That is why it is very important to especially in the Port Harcourt city that the populace knows the importance of driving at a maximum of 30km/hrs”.

Speaking further on the theme of this year’s campaign, the sector commander explained that there “cannot be life if there are no good streets”.

Galadunci also cautioned road users to strictly adhere to safety rules while expressing the command’s readiness to ensure a safer road for all.

- DAILY POST

Igboho warns FG: ‘Attack on IPOB an attack on Yoruba nation’

 

Self-acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has warned the Federal Government not to attack members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying that attack on the group is an attack on Yoruba nation.

Igboho, who is leading a group championing the breakaway of Yoruba from Nigeria warned that he would join  forces with their South East brothers to repel any further attack by .the Nigerian Army on the region.

Igboho, in a statement by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, said attacks on the South-East is an attack on the Yoruba people.

He called on the Federal government to put an urgent stop to raids in the South-East region.

Igboho said if there are further attacks on people of the South-East, Yoruba Nation Now agitators would mobilise and support them.

“We would like to inform the FG of Nigeria that any attack on the South-East is an attack on the Yorubas.

“Biafra people have been targeted by the Nigeria Army and if there are any further attacks on them, we would have no other option but to support our brothers and sisters in Biafraland,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Remove IPOB from terrorism list – Ohanaeze youths to Buhari

 

Youths of the South-East Zone of Nigeria have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from the list of terrorist organisations in the country.

The youths further said part of the steps towards peace in the region would be the de-proscription of IPOB and the release of any of its members in prison.

The youths made this call after an emergency meeting of South East youth stakeholders held on Friday in Awka, the Anambra state capital.

The group’s communique was read to journalists by Comrade Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth, on behalf of other groups.

These are National Youth Council of Nigeria (south-East), Nigerian Youth Congress(South-East) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The communique regretted the heightened insecurity in the South-East which has resulted in the loss of lives of our people, security agents and properties.

It also consoled with the families of the bereaved.”

The group also called on the South-East Governors to liaise with the relevant stakeholders especially the youth to arrest the current security challenges in the South East.

It condemned in totality the wanton destruction of lives and properties in the South-East and called on the perpetrators to desist from such forthwith and seek for a proper means of airing their grievances.

“As a step towards genuine peace and reconciliation as championed by Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Federal Government and South-East Governors should as a matter of urgency unproscribe IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) as a terrorist organization.

“Furthermore, we call for the release of all political prisoners of Igbo extraction.”

The group called on the South-east governors to encourage community policing by strengthening and digitalizing the local vigilantes.

It also aligned with the resolution of the southern governors and call for necessary legal framework for immediate implementation of the resolution.

“There is a need for a quarterly interface between the Governors of the South-East and the Youth stakeholders so that the issues of the zone will be regularly reviewed.

“We call on the South-East Governors to fully implement the recommendations of the #ENDSARS panel report especially on Youth Development, and to review the Laws of their various State Security Council Committee to include critical youth stakeholders, while urging for full implementation, support and fund for community policing committee which was constituted last year,” the communique concluded.

- PM NEWS

Lebanese national Simo impregnates 7 minors in Jos

 

Plateau Police Command has arrested a middle-aged Lebanese national identified as Simo, for allegedly sleeping with 14 under-aged girls in the Abattoir Community, a suburb of Jos, the state capital.

According to Africa Independent Television, the Lebanese was said to have lured his victims to his residence, while seven of them are allegedly pregnant.

The command’s spokesman, ASP, Gabriel Ubah, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect said his arrest followed a complaint by the family of an 11-year-old girl who he allegedly molested.

The complaint further led to the discovery of his other victims in the community, a situation that angered community members who stormed the Police Station, calling for justice for the victims.

“We have an issue about a Lebanese man using girls of age 10-13 to act pornography. He was arrested yesterday (Thursday) but now he is nowhere to be found and the policemen are saying nothing about it.

“The police have refused to release the girls in question. So there is uproar around the station because the youths insist that the girls must be released and that the man must not go free,” One of the angry youths told newsmen.

Ubah, however, said an investigation is ongoing with the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

- PM NEWS

Yoruba peace group: Government should focus on restructuring — not 2023 elections

 The Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (TYLPI), a non-governmental organisation, says efforts should be focused on restructuring the country, not on the 2023 general election.

There have been secession agitations, while some persons have called for Nigeria to be restructured to allow for regional governments.

On Tuesday, governors of 17 southern states after a meeting in Asaba, Delta state, issued a communique demanding that “urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian federation”.

Reacting to the position of the governors in a statement issued on Friday and signed by Tunde Ipinmisho, director of publicity and media affairs, TYLPI said it will be hurtful to the nation’s strategic interest to go ahead with the election without addressing the fundamental structural problems in the polity.

The group said not restructuring the country “has given rise to mass discontent, economic difficulties, social instability and crippling insecurity”.

TYLPI also noted that Nigeria’s survival and prosperity depends on the urgent restructuring of the country, which the group said will give the citizens a sense of belonging as well as create the right atmosphere for sustainable development.

“TYLPI, a think tank of Yoruba professionals, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, said it was pleased that the idea of restructuring was gaining the required traction, noting that the Executive and Legislative arms of government, through statements by the Minister of Information and the upcoming sensitisation on restructuring by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Reforms, respectively, indicated that restructuring had gone mainstream,” the statement reads.

The group commended the southern governors for their “brave and timely initiative”, and urged the federal government and governors in the northern states to support the restructuring agenda.

TYLPI said the governors have spoken the mind of the people through the communique, adding that it is a way of moving the country forward.

- THECABLE

Champions League final: Man City players hate me – Guardiola

 Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his players hate him for his constant rotation.

For their away clash against Newcastle United on Friday night, Guardiola made a few changes to his starting XI.

The Spaniard went for a front three of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres.

Torres netted a sublime hat-trick as City won 4-3 and Guardiola has defended his decision to always rotate, as they eye a stunning Treble with the Champions League final against Chelsea on May 29.

“The season is long. We cannot play the season with just 11 players. The best striker we can buy, we cannot play all the minutes because of injuries, a lot of games.

‘You have to have 15, 16, 17 top players and after that the academy, lots of interesting players who can help.

“That’s why the players hate me because they want to play every single day, but sometimes it is not possible because when you have all these alternatives, sometimes it is difficult to let the same players play,” he said.

- DAILY POST

Falana: Farmer-herder clashes can be addressed if policy makers abandon primitive ideas

 

The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a civil society coalition led by Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has advised those encouraging herders to reject modern animal husbandry to learn from countries that have adopted ranching.

On Tuesday, the southern governors had announced their resolve to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot in the region in order to tackle insecurity and address clashes between farmers and herders.

But different reactions have trailed the announcement.

Usman Yusuf, former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), had faulted the decision of the southern governors, saying the governors must provide land for herders to graze their cattle and that “giving a blanket ban is irresponsible”.

However, Falana noted that the Northern Governors Forum, as well as the Nigeria Governors Forum had earlier resolved to ban open grazing, but the ex-NHIS boss did not condemn their decisions.

He said such “divide-and-rule tactics” are designed to further polarise the masses, adding that the decision of the governors to ban open grazing is in line with section 1 of the land use act.

Falana explained that herders are free to acquire land for cattle business, adding that any person who wishes to use land in any state is required to apply for a certificate of occupancy issued by the governor.

“At the virtual meeting of the Northern Governors Forum held on February 9, 2021, the members unanimously resolved to ban open grazing,” Falana said.

“In response to the call of the Northern Governors Forum for an urgent meeting, the Nigeria Governors Forum held a virtual meeting on the 11th February, 2021. At the meeting, the 36 state governors agreed by consensus to end nomadic cattle rearing in the country in order to end the incessant violent clashes between farmers and herders.

“At its own meeting held at Asaba, Delta State on May 11, 2021,  the Southern Governors Forum reiterated the decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum to ban open grazing in the country.

“Curiously, Professor Usman Yusuf has condemned the decision of the Southern Governors Forum on the ban. Even though he did not condemn the decisions of the Northern Governors Forum and the Nigeria Governors Forum, Professor Usman has argued that the decision of the Southern Governors Forum could not be justified under the Land Use Act.

“Such divide-and-rule tactics are designed to further polarise the masses of our people. In any case, the decision of all the governors to ban open grazing is in line with section 1 of the Land Use Act which has vested the entire land in every state in the governors on behalf of the people. Accordingly, any person or corporate body that wishes to use land in any state is required to apply for a certificate of occupancy issued by the governor.

“As I had repeatedly maintained, the worsening insecurity in the country including the violent clashes between herders and farmers can only be seriously addressed if policy makers are prepared to abandon primitive ideas and embrace scientific solutions.

“Those who are encouraging herders to reject modern animal husbandry are advised to learn from Botswana, South Africa,  Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia that have effectively adopted ranching to end clashes between herders and farmers.”

- THECABLE

I warned Nigerians against Buhari in 2015 – Adebanjo

 Leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said he warned Nigerians not to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, saying Nigerians were deceived that the President would fight corruption and wipe out Boko Haram in six months.

Adebanjo recalled that he, at the time, accused Buhari of being a feudalist, dictator and a tribalist with no regard for the rule of law.

However, he said Nigerians went ahead to vote for the incumbent because they were bombarded with propaganda, adding that, “Nigerians now know better that Buhari has failed in his promises.”

He said, “Six years ago, I warned the nation of the danger of voting for Buhari. I accused him of being a feudalist by birth, a dictator by training and a religious fanatic, a tribalist who has no respect for the rule of law. But, we were bombarded with the propaganda that he will ruthlessly fight corruption which they said was the bane of Jonathan administration”.

According to the Yoruba leader, the Nigerian economy under Buhari is now in tatters, as corruption grows in arithmetic proportion.

While speaking on Friday at the group’s meeting held at his Ogbo residence in Odogbolu, Ogun State, Adebanjo maintained that “the nation’s security has collapsed”, with the government becoming so helpless that it now negotiates with bandits.

He added that the clamour for Buhari’s resignation or impeachment is growing louder by the day.

The Afenifere chieftain said there may be no election in Nigeria in 2023 if the nation is not restructured and returned back to true federalism.

“There must be a country before elections are held. If Buhari is sincere about keeping the country together, he must restructure the country now,” he said.

Adebanjo stressed that federalism is the only answer to stop the division of Nigeria, telling Buhari that tagging advocates of restructuring as secessionist is mischievous.

He described the 1999 constitution as the cause of instability, alleging that “it was imposed on us by the military dominated by Northern Muslims after the coup of 1966.”

Adebanjo asserted that the Yorubas’ irreducible minimum condition of staying in Nigeria is restructuring, stressing that, “anything short of that is ‘to thy tent, oh Isreal,’ The unity of horse and the rider in which a section of the country is the rider and we the horse is most unacceptable.”

- DAILY POST

Why Buhari’s government cannot unite Nigeria – Soyinka

 

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s government cannot unite Nigeria due to its systemic failure.

Soyinka stated this at the book reading and signing of two of his books titled ‘Trumpism in Academe’ and ‘Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth’ in Abuja on Saturday.

He was responding to former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who asked if he could write a story that would inspire unity among the various tribes in the country.

In response, Soyinka claimed Nigeria had lost a key opportunity to unite.

“We had a critical moment and we lost that moment. The moment when this country could have come together.

“There has been more than one moment and we lost the moment. Will another one come? I don’t know. Right now I don’t see it under this government quite frankly.

“There is a failure, a systemic failure in present governance and I don’t know who can put it together,” Soyinka added.

Soyinka however insisted that Nigeria should remain one entity.

- DAILY POST

We were brought to Ogun to work as sales girls but ended up as prostitutes – Rescued underaged girls

 

At least, 22 underaged girls of Akwa Ibom State of origin were on Friday rescued from a prostitution home in Ogun State, DAILY POST reports.

The girls were said to have been lured from Akwa Ibom to Ogun State with phony offers of employment.

Some of them said they were brought to the Gateway State to work as sales girls, but they were later locked in different rooms to work as prostitutes.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the arrest to DAILY POST on Saturday.

Oyeyemi said the rescue operation was coordinated by the Area commander of Ota, ACP Muhideen Obe, having gathered credible intelligence.

Obe had been informed that minors were being recruited from other states and used as commercial sex workers at one KOLAB hotel in Itele Ota.

The police team, according to Oyeyemi, stormed the said hotel at about 8pm, “where the 22 teenagers, whose ages are between 10 and 14 years were rescued.”

“On interrogation, the girls narrated how they were lured from their respective villages in Akwa Ibom State to come to Ogun State, with the promise to employ them as sales girls in restaurants and supermarkets, only for them to get to Lagos and got transferred to a brothel in Ogun State as commercial sex workers.”

The girls, according to the police spokesperson, narrated that “they were deprived of using phone or any communication devices, thereby making it impossible for them to reach out to their parents or relations.”

DAILY POST learnt that the manager of the hotel, one 33-year-old Isaac Ogbaji and 10 other male suspects were arrested during the operation.

Meanwhile, the Ogun Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has ordered that the family support unit of the Ota Area command rake over the investigation of the case.

The unit is to identify the recruiting cartel and bring same to justice as soon as possible.

- DAILY POST

Scores of gunmen in buses attack Akwa Ibom police station

 

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has confirmed the attack by gunmen of a Divisional Police Headquarters in Odoro Ikpe in Ini Local Government Area (LGA).

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, disclosed this while carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of the attacked police station.

Macdon said: “Yes, there was an attack of the Divisional Police Headquarters, Odoro Ikpe.

“Six persons, including five officers and a wife of an officer, were killed.”

He said items destroyed included vehicles and other valuables.

A witness said that the hoodlums came in two buses and a Sienna car filled with armed men, numbering about 40.

He said that the gunmen arrived the place with sophisticated weapons and broke into the police facility at about 2:45 a.m, killing five policemen on duty, injuring many others and setting vehicles alight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that police stations and other security posts in Akwa Ibom have experienced cases of early morning attacks.

The attacks had led to the death of officers and destruction of facilities, including utility vehicles and infrastructure.

The Chairman of Ini LGA, Mr Isreal Idaisin, also confirmed the attack on the police station.

He commended the youths of the area whom, he said, were proactive in raising alarm which helped to reduce the number of casualties.

“I urge the good people of Ini LGA to stay calm as we are working with relevant security agencies and the state government to ensure that the situation is contained and necessary modalities put in place to forestall a reoccurrence.

“There is no cause for fear as the culprits will be brought to book in no distant time,” he said.

- PM NEWS